Well it’s that time of year again where everyone starts dreaming and writing resolutions that they will forget about 2 weeks later haha. Although I did manage to accomplish my biggest goal for 2012 which was to move to Chicago so I guess I did something right!

So I’ve decided to write down goals this year and hopefully by putting them out there for the world I will be able to accomplish some of them. These are both for my personal and my business so here goes….

1. Blog more – see I’m already off to a good start! haha. Although I blog all my weddings and most of my sessions I need to get better about making a timeline and being consistent. I still haven’t blogged my October wedding and it’s January. I’m also going to try to add in a few more tips and tricks blogs as well as one personal blog a month at least. If there is anything you’d like to hear about from please shoot me a note or comment at the bottom of this blog.

2. Attend a food photography workshop – I wanted to do this last year and it sold out before I could register for the one I really wanted so I’m keeping an eye out this year! I also want to shoot more food photography.  I did attend The Youngrens workshop about wedding photography and business and it was awesome 🙂

(a pic I did of Strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing at my mom’s house awhile ago)

3. Learn to say no– this may sound weird, but I really need to be better at this. I run my own business and I work from home so that means I’m working all hours of the day, everyday. I have no set hours. There is no set time when I shut down my computer and go home for the night. In 2013 I really need to do better at saying no to people and creating more a schedule for myself. That doesn’t mean that my clients won’t still get the same service, it just means that maybe I force myself to take a take a day off once a week or that I don’t agree to drive 3 hours for a session that only lasts 1 hour on my supposed “day off” or that I don’t feel bad when I wait until the morning to return emails instead of being up at midnight doing it.

4. Loose weight – I think this is on everyone’s list right? This goes hand in hand with #3. Because I have no real schedule, I have no workout schedule. In 2012 I spent so much time on the road in my car between Indy and Chicago which means I was eating fast food 🙁 I did an internship over the summer with a food photographer, which was awesome, but racked up about 12 pounds in catered breakfast and lunches and leftover food from shoots. I rejoined the gym in Nov, but need to really get back on track. I’m signing up for this 10 week challenge that one of my photo friends is doing to hopefully hold myself accountable for getting off my butt and back into some normal jeans. Here is the info if anyone is interested – you have to sign up by midnight I believe. http://heartandsoulag.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/hello-world/

5. Be a better friend – this again goes with #3. Granted shooting weddings means that I work most weekends, which means I never see my friends. I need to be better at making time for them and not going 8 months without seeing some of them. Sorry Lindsey, Emily, Rebecca, Dixon and anyone else I haven’t seen for months 🙁

6. Network more  – Since I moved to Chicago I’ve been trying to push myself to go to as many networking things as I can and I’ve made some awesome new photos friends. I want to continue to mingle and network with other vendor in the Chicago area in 2013.

7. Book 20 weddings – I’m half way there already for 2013! For the last few years I’ve only done about 14-17 weddings a year. Well this is the first year I won’t be doing my corporate work for Cummins since I moved so I’m hoping to step it up to at least 20 weddings in addition to my family sessions. Even thought I’m not based in Chicago I will still be shooting weddings in Indiana as well – you can’t get rid of me that easily!

8. Shoot a proposal – I’m not sure how I haven’t done this yet, but it’s on my list for sure. Anyone popping the question soon? I will hide out in the bushes with my camera 🙂

9. Take a vacation – I’m not talking about a vacation to shoot a wedding or see family. I’m talking a real vacation to somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, but have never been.

10. Shoot a wedding in a new state – So far I’ve got IN, IL, WI and NY under my belt and hoping to add more to the list. Who needs a photographer in CA? 😉

11. Knock off some restaurants from my “I want to eat there” list – This may contradict #4, but since I now live the foodie wonderland of Chicago there are soooo many awesome places I want to eat at. I’ve made a list of places that include everything from an upscale hotdog joint (yah that exists) to some of my neighborhood places I’ve yet to try to some really nice (but pricey) restaurants. Yum!

12. Find a new assistant/second shooter in Chicago– I will be posted more about this in the coming weeks, but it seems that since Allie doesn’t want to move in with me (haha) I will be looking for new assistants in Chicago for the 2013 season.

13. Put myself in front of the camera – Yep that’s right for 2013 I want to have new headshots/a session done with one of the many photographer’s I admire. So if I win the challenge from #4 then I will accomplish this goal as well!

Hm…. that’s all I can think of for the moment…. 13 goals for 2013! Let’s hope I achieve some of these by the time 2014 rolls around!

A HUGE thank you to all my friends, family and clients who made 2012 an awesome year!

Becky