Loving Our Selfies-Go Get 'Em Goal-Getters!

We should all have them. If we don’t, what is the point? To trudge along a mindless path of empathy? Naaaah, that doesn’t sound like us. That is why I KNOW you all have big plans. Big dreams. Big goals.To have big goals, you don’t have to set your sights on becoming the next “Rock Star” photographer. Make a list of what is important to you and what you want to achieve. My list looks something like this:• Wife + Mommy + Photog = doing my best!• During shoot, energy + creativity + fun = BOOM!• Capture clients personality on camera? ✓• Client & parents see photos + smiley face &/or tears = eeeeek, one happy photog!• Bring in higher sales using in person sessions and amazing samples (fingers crossed!)• Get referrals from past clients = bribery ($$$$$)• Submit more sessions to photography blogs• WIN elusive Senior Stunner on SSG just once = pee my pants• Make HOT 100 on SSG = pass out on the spot then pee my pants• Continue education to improve craft = you gotta spend it to make it!• Be the best person I can be in and out of photography = constant effort...a lot of effort!This is probably the short list, but you see where I’m going. If you are like “Pinky & the Brain” (remember them? From Animaniacs?) and want to take over the world of photography, GO FOR IT! Give yourself a time line of what you would like to accomplish first. Make some short and long-term goals and just realize, some may be harder to reach than others, but that’s okay. If we reach every goal too easily, we may have nothing to fight for, no trial and error to learn from.You don’t have to be a rock star, though, for success. If you are happy and you make your clients happy while providing for your family, how is that not success? There are PLENTY of amazing photographers out there doing ridiculously amazing things many of us have never heard of. Someone on a recent post on the SSG Facebook page commented about wanting to hear or learn from some of these photogs, who aren’t always in the limelight. It’s a great idea and it’s encouraging to someone like me, who just does what I do, loving my job, hoping to make my clients happy, make some money for my family, and maybe, just maybe, get some recognition here and there (come on, let’s all be honest, it feels good to win sometimes!!!).It can be difficult, but try not to compare yourself to others. If you do, you may find yourself getting frustrated and focused on something other than your own goals, which in turn, can tank your confidence. I find myself doing this sometimes and I remind myself I am ME, not THEM. I remember that I don’t want to shoot four sessions a week, I’m happy with one, possibly two in the summer so I don’t get bogged down and feel like my creativity is “kerplatt!”. Reminders like this are important because it brings into focus what is important to us and our businesses.These are some things that work for me, now go figure out what works for you! If you have something that helps, share it with us, we would love to hear your goals and how you work to achieve them! Good luck my fellow photogs, and keep on shooting!