2009 was a year of love, balance, stress, learning, dreaming, hoping, and discovering who I am. It was my first full year in business. A year of meeting amazing people and photographing their beautiful moments. I was so honored to have met so many amazing heartfelt people. Starting a photography business was such a risk. It has been full of excitement and full of tears too. I’ve never worked this hard at something in my life. Balancing two jobs was a constant struggle. The self doubt at times was unbearable. I couldn’t have made it through this year without the constant support of my husband who always listened to me yammer on and wouldn’t let me give up no matter how much I wanted too. There are also other wonderful photographers I’ve met this year, new and old who have provided support and friendship. I truly appreciate every one of you. I hope we only grow closer over the years. I also wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my clients who referred me to others and gave kind words. Also, to my friends for just being their wonderful selves. I wish we all lived closer, but I’m glad distance doesn’t ruin our relationships. My father also listened to my stories and provided the encouragement I needed. I truly think 2009 has given me confidence, heart, and the strength to better myself. I’m excited to see what 2010 will bring.
As I was looking to 2010 I realized it was time for a new goal list. I’m known for writing lists, most of the lists I lose (especially grocery lists).I think when you write down your goals you are more likely to accomplish them. I’m sharing them with you to hold me accountable and also if you want to help with any of my goals. If you have a goal list I would love to see it. I really would like to have this be a conversation and a support system for others to work on their goals too. We can help each other work towards the things we want to accomplish in this life.
I decided to do the 101 goals in 1001 days after seeing it on several photographers sites. I like it better than the traditional yearly list because it gives you time to work on your goals and makes you really think about what will be important for the next several years. I will be blogging whenever a goal is accomplished to keep myself and you up-to-date. All the goals in Purple are currently being worked on. When a goal moves to Gold it is finished. I can’t wait to see more Gold! The 1001 days ends on October 16, 2012. It will be interesting to see where I am at that point.
1) Visit my friend Jason in Japan
2) Go on a weekly date with Josh (15-143)
3) Make homemade lasagna
4) Read 15 business books to improve my photography business (1-15)
5) Get published on a wedding blog site (stylemepretty, ruffledblog, etc)
6) Find parts of my business to outsource
7) Shorten turn around times for weddings
8) Travel to Australia
9) Go visit my family in Phoenix for Christmas
10) Clean and Organize my closet
11) Go on a hot air balloon ride
12) Make an engagement guest book sample album
13) Grow my hair out
14) Finish Spanish Rosetta stone Lessons 1,2, and 3
15) Attend an off camera lighting workshop
16) Go to a photographer mentoring session
17) Visit Maly and Kevin in CT
18) Learn how to sew
19) Enter photo(s) into a print competition
20) Second shoot with two photographers (2-2)
21) Run 4 miles without stopping
23) Develop pricing guides for wedding clients
24) Develop pricing guide for my portrait clients
25) Redesign my blog site
26) Update my flickr
27) Blog everyday for a month (0-30)
28) Become a full time photographer
29) Order Canvases
30) Buy a decent desk and office chair
32) Attend Imaging USA
33) Update my wardrobe
34) Complete a newspaper crossword puzzle (without cheating too much)
35) Volunteer with ALS
36) Book 15-20 weddings in 2011 and 2012
37) Add slideshows to my website for prospective clients to view
38) Have my work published in a magazine (the knot etc)
39) Go on a picnic
40) Photograph a session with film
41) Decorate my living room
42) Learn how to make homemade pasta sauce
43) Have photos taken of Josh and me
44) Do a video blog post
45) Send a care package
46) Find a system to organize my business expenses and income
47) Visit my Godparents in Florida
48) Send random postcards to people I love just because (0-10)
49) Design a Thank you Card to send to my clients
50) Find cute Thank you gifts to send to clients
51) Design nice packaging to send to my clients for prints etc
52) Go to Sedona
53) Visit my Mom’s grave in Arizona
54) Write one personal blog a week (11-143)
55) Watch the Godfather Part I and II
56) Watch 5 old movies (0-5)
57) Relocate to a warmer climate
58) Read a Brave New World
59) Document the life of someone battling ALS
60) Lose 10 pounds
61) Book a destination wedding in another country
62) Workout 4 days a week for a month
63) Master flash lighting – off camera
64) Journal weekly for 1 month (0-4)
65) Buy new sheets and comforter
66) Organize external hard drives
67) Get Josh to try sushi again (but has to be a good restaurant)
68) Create a Family Album
69) Have my car washed and detailed
70) Take Murray on one walk a week during the summer
71) Have new photos taken of me for my site
72) Take a 4 self portraits (0-4)
73) Create 3 photo books with my personal work (0-3)
74) Display my work at a local coffee shop
75) Develop and document my post processing workflow
76) Post on OSP 50 times (1-50)
77) Take an class (not photography related)
78) Pay off 3 credit cards (3-3)
79) Start a travel fund
80) Get 250 followers on twitter
81) Photograph a ghost town
82) Create a list of the places I want to travel to in my lifetime
83) Cook 3 things from a cookbook I own (0-3)
84) Print and frame our wedding photos to display in our house
85) Print and frame a wedding photo to give as a gift to our fathers
86) Design and print our wedding album
87) Photograph a bridal session
88) Have new business cards made
89) Go bowling with Josh
90) Get 250 friends on business facebook page
91) Go roller skating
92) Write a list of 50 things that make me happy
93) Buy new jewelry
94) Have brunch
95) Write 101 meaningful comments on other photographers blogs (10-101)
96) Purchase a roller camera bag for weddings
97) Have my photos critiqued by a photographer I admire
98) Take another photographer out to lunch
99) Try an in studio viewing after a portrait session
100) Get accepted into Modern Portrait Photographers
101) Take my father in law out to dinner and pay (this is harder than it sounds)
Another Favorite
