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Photography Goals for 2012
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As everyone sits down to make their New Year’s Resolutions, I thought instead of resolutions, since most of us break those we should set goals instead. Last year, I made a list of possible goals for you guys.

I thought this year I would share my goals instead of just suggestions.
1. Edit 15 minutes a day. I hate to admit but I have fallen behind on editing from this past year. I know though if I just set a timer and edit 15 minutes a day then I can get through lots of photos.

2. Get a macro lens and learn to use it. I think I will be able to get that lens sometime in January but I know it will take me a while to learn how to rock it. Luckily, Clickin’ Moms has some amazing tutorials on macro shooting. I will definitely be checking those out.

3. Spend 15 minutes a day on creating photo coffee table books. I started a few years ago putting all our images from a year in one huge digital book like from a company like Blurb. I have 2007 and just finished 2008 last week. I need to do 2009 before the baby is born and then 2010 and 2011 sometime as well. Yikes! I need to get busy!

4. Take at least 2 workshops through Clickin’ Moms. They have some amazing workshops lined up this year and I am already signed up for the Natural Light 201 by Megan Cieloha that starts in a couple of weeks. I also REALLY want to take the Shooting 301: Elements of Design when that one is offered again.

5. Take weekly or bimonthly photos of myself. You know I am very passionate about making sure you are in some of the photos you are taking. Do it for your kids if not for yourself. I slacked off this past year, but I want to get back into the habit this coming year.

6. Print photos monthly. Besides having the large coffee table books of each year, I want to have photos in my hands in case a child needs to take one to school or I want to put them on my magnetic boards. Ian bought me a nice photo box that holds 2000 photos. I want to fill a lot of that up this year with prints.

7. Take more photos of all my kids together. I was so adamant about making sure I had photos of each girl by themselves as they grew up. When I was going through my photos from this year for the Top 11 of 2011, I realized I didn’t have as many of them together as I would like.

I have two other goals but I am nervous to say them out loud. They are those secret goals that I want to do but if I say it out loud then I need to get my tail in gear and actually make them happen.

8. Get my photos, style, and editing consistent enough and at a level that I can apply for Clickin’ Moms Pro.

9. Create a beginners workshop to teach in person.

Yikes! Okay, I said them!!

What are your goals? Are you going to do a Project 365 or 52 week?

36 Comments
  • December 30, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    The 105mm is my new best friend. You’re going to love a macro! My main goal is to learn more about light. I also need to (start and) complete my 2010 and 2011 blurb books. I think a 365 would be very good for me, but I just don’t think I have the time to devote to editing and posting every day, PLUS the other blog, PLUS the family blog, PLUS taking care of the kids and household. Hmm. I have two more days to figure it out, right? ;)

    • December 30, 2011 at 9:29 AM

      Well, lucky for you, you know a sister in law who ROCKS at lighting :O) You should pick her brain :O) I understand the 365 hesitation. My first year doing a 365, I was able to keep up with my family blog but my second year when this blog become more of a priority, I had to quit the family blog. I’m starting it up again though since I’m not doing a 365 this year. I look forward to hearing if you decide to do a 365 :O)

  • December 30, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    Great goals! Your tutorials are some of the best I’ve come across so I have no doubt you could put together a pretty great workshop. Good luck!

    • December 30, 2011 at 9:28 AM

      Thanks! That is very encouraging :O)

  • December 30, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    These are great goals! My biggest goal right now is I need to replace my camera! Having withdrawls…

    • December 30, 2011 at 9:51 AM

      Oh no! You need to replace that bad boy soon!!!

  • Gwyn Day
    December 30, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    I love these goals! I am going to use most of them myself! I already have one I am doing, I am taking the shooting 101 course on Jan 9 through clickinmoms! Can’t wait!
    Happy New Year!

    • December 30, 2011 at 9:52 AM

      Oh, you are going to LOVE Shooting 101!! It’s awesome and you will walk away with so much more confidence in your photography!! You’ll have to tell Lynne “hello” for me :O)

  • Kim C.
    December 30, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    Those are great goals and the ones you said out loud in surprise…go for it! You can do it! My goals this year are:
    1 clicknmoms workshop, learn my macro lens better, and to do the 366 this year! The 366 is daunting for time’s sake, but I know it will push me to be better.

    • December 30, 2011 at 9:55 AM

      You can do a 366 this year!!! Yes, it’s daunting but I know you can do it! I can’t even explain how much my photography grew my first year doing it! Here’s a post I wrote last year with some tips to help you out – http://www.clickitupanotch.com/2011/01/tips-to-make-your-project-365-a-success/ I’m not doing the link up again this year since I’m not doing it though :O)

      • Kim C.
        December 30, 2011 at 10:01 AM

        Thank you Courtney! I know I need to do this! I’m thankful for your reminder that every picture doesn’t have to be great!

  • December 30, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    OHHHHHH!!!! These are some pretty awesome goals. Wasn’t the class we took together Shooting 301?? Oh man, I don’t even know what workshops I’ve taken anymore. lol I REALLY want to take that NL class with Megan, please write a review and share photos when you’re done. I think you would rock at teaching a beginners workshop and I would love to be a tester. hehe Yes, you need to apply for CM Pro because you rock! AND I’m right there with you on printing photos every month. I am actually going to do a 2012 goal post as my first post on my new blog. I’ll let you know when it’s up. :)

    • December 30, 2011 at 9:56 AM

      Yes, we took Shooting 301 together! I know, we’ve taken so many they are hard to keep straight :O) I can’t wait to read your goals!! I may take you up on your offer to read over my workshop lessons :O) I will definitely let you know about Megan’s class! I know it’s going to be AMAZING!!! Please tell me when your goals are up or link them in this post as well so others can see them :O)

  • Gwyn Day
    December 30, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Courtney: I’ll tell her “hello!” In fact your site is where I stumbled on clickinmoms! I’m very nervous, I’m such a newbie to DSLR and I’m 53 and a lot slower at learning! lol! I can’t wait to get started and learn all the proper lingo and what it means!

    • December 30, 2011 at 10:20 AM

      Don’t be nervous! Lynne will answer any of your questions no matter how silly you think they are. I asked about a million questions :O) I wanted to get my money’s worth :O) You will love it!!!

  • Tracy Ballard
    December 30, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    I really, really like your Monday Me photos. I think I will do this…unfortunately until March they will be very boring because I’ll be studying for comps!

    • December 30, 2011 at 10:21 AM

      You can do it!! Who cares if they are boring…what’s important is that you are in photos for your kids to remember you :O)

  • December 30, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    Courtney, I LOVE your blog! I recently found it and have told all my friends about it!!!
    My goals are:
    -Be in more photos
    -I just ordered Lightroom and am waiting for it to arrive…sign up for the Clickin Moms workshop to get going.
    -Organize my thousands of photos efficiently (and purge bad ones…)
    -Take more photos consistently. I’m thinking a 52, 365 would probably be too much for now. I teach full-time and that’s a handful, especially with a little one, as you know with two kiddos! :)

    Those are a few!! Thanks for all of your tutorials and encouragement! I can tell you are a teacher…you have that kind, motivating spirit that shows through your writing! Also, congrats on baby #3!!!

    Cheers to 2012!!! :):)

  • December 30, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    GooD for you for saying them out loud! My goal is to shoot completely manual and learn the ins and outs of my new camera.

  • Sara
    December 30, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    I saw your post and said that I really needed to do the same, so here it goes
    1. Spend half hour every night to devote to learning something new about photography – it could be reading a book, a blog, an article (instead of watching tv)
    2. Learn how to use my new Nikon micro lens
    3. Learn the ins and out of my camera
    4. Try to shot in manual mode all the time
    5. Continue to learn Photoshop (I would like to practice editing every day but I will shoot for 1/2 hour every week)

    My list could go on but I want to keep it manageable. Thanks for this great idea!

    PS – I think your workshop would be great! I have learned a lot from your blog and think that you have a lot to offer!

  • December 30, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    Courtney, You rock. One of my goals is to get half as motivated as you :)

    There is so much I want to learn. I have realized I do better in a class setting or in an online class, but I just can’t afford CM classes besides maybe once a year. Do you have any other solid workshop suggestions?

    I mean I have been saving for one lens for a year now and am still saving.

  • Emily Malmgren
    December 30, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    One of my goals is to be in more photos. Which means one of my other goals is to get a wireless remote and tripod :D

  • December 31, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    i think i’ll just bookmark your post and make your goals mine as well!
    what wonderful things to aspire to do. i’m not one for new year’s resolutions but this list is very inspirational. i’ll probably use it as reminder for myself to work on certain areas too.
    thank you so much for putting together such a great site. i’ve recommended it to every mom who has asked me for photography tips. and they all love it too. i’ve learned so much here and if you put together a class, i’d sign up in a heartbeat!
    -adel

  • December 31, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    1,3&6 are all on my list for next year. I’d love to get a macro in the near future but not sure how soon I can fit that in the budget. Got a SB900 for Christmas so learning use and master it is on my list too.

  • January 1, 2012 at 12:11 AM

    Oh yea- I have many of these same goals. I did some this past year & some I planned on but never did :) SO they are all on the list again this year.

  • rachel
    January 2, 2012 at 4:19 AM

    thanks so much for sharing this, courtney! i know you have done an amazing job building this talent and you are already a mentor to at least one thousand grateful mamas, myself included. what a special family legacy you are building each day!

    i’ll have to work on my 2012 goals to share later, but i’m excited to say i just picked up lightroom! one goal is to complete a digital photo book for each year. we just celebrated 6 years together so i’d better get crackn!

    • January 4, 2012 at 5:05 PM

      You are so sweet!! I’m just so glad you have fallen in love with photography as well! I look forward to seeing your goals!! Yay for LR! You will LOVE IT!!! Good luck with your digital book!! You can do it!

      • January 5, 2012 at 7:27 AM

        thank you! excited to see what i can come up with :). i have been having a great time with your LR tutorials and learning fast!

  • January 2, 2012 at 6:11 PM

    Hi Courtney! I was so inspired by your goal post that I decided to write one of my own, it has me so excited for 2012! I loved reading your goals and I must say that I think you would make a wonderful CMPro and teacher of a photography workshop. I have learned so much from just reading your blog, I know a workshop would be amazing! Thank you for sharing and for all of the inspiration and encouragement you have offered in 2011. I hope 2012 is a great year for you, your family and your new addition to come :).

  • January 3, 2012 at 7:45 AM

    My photography goal is simply to focus on learning more every day. I’m studying books like Snapshots to Great Shots and Understanding Exposure, spending time daily on Clickinmoms, following photographers’ blogs, doing a Project 365, and basically thinking about photography most of the time.

    Thank you for your blog. I have read a lot of posts from the last year and have been following you for a couple of weeks now, and you’ve given so much helpful information here!

  • January 4, 2012 at 12:38 AM

    I LOVE your site!! Good goals for this year! I already use your website for my “class”. lol. My goals for 2012 are:

    1. Carry a camera everywhere….and use it!
    2. Learn manual mode and white balance.
    3. Make CD’s for 2011 photos.
    4. Take more photos of me and Al.
    5. Learn how to edit.
    6. Get remote.
    7. Do 365 Project.
    8. Be more creative and figure out my photography style.

    -V

  • January 4, 2012 at 3:49 AM

    My goal is to learn more about night photography…and then just get out there and do it!

  • February 13, 2012 at 3:25 PM

    I really hope the next place you guys go is Joint Base Lewis McChord so that if you get #9 going I can attend ;)

    • Courtney
      February 13, 2012 at 3:27 PM

      You are so sweet :O) However, I hate to burst your bubble but I doubt we will be going there since we just moved from Spokane before we came here :O)

  • January 9, 2014 at 9:13 PM

    forgive me if you answered this already…i searched the page & didn’t find it though my search tool can sometimes be wonky! can you tell me about this huge photo box? :)

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