As a photographer, setting goals for the new year can be valuable to stay motivated, focused, and on track with your professional development. Whether you’re just starting in your career or are an experienced photographer, this will help you take your craft to the next level. You’ll be able to achieve greater success.

So, why do need to do this for the new year? Here are a few reasons:

Goals give you direction and focus

By setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals, you can clearly understand what you want to accomplish and how you plan to get there. This can help you focus on your priorities and avoid getting sidetracked by distractions or less important tasks.

woman with camera reflected in window goals
Photo by Lauri Novak

They help you track your progress

You can track your progress and see how far you’ve come by setting goals. This can be especially helpful if you’re working on a long-term project or trying to improve your skills in a specific area. By regularly reviewing and measuring your progress, you can stay motivated and continue to make progress toward your ultimate objectives.

Goals keep you motivated

Setting and working toward the result can be a great source of motivation. Seeing yourself progressing and getting closer to achieving your goals can give you a sense of accomplishment and drive you to keep going. This can be especially important when working on a challenging project or facing setbacks.

Tips on how photographers can set goals for the new year

Exhibiting in a gallery is a great goal. Photo by Lauri Novak

Start with your long-term vision

Before setting specific goals, take some time to think about your long-term vision as a photographer. What will you accomplish in the next 5, 10, or 20 years? How do you want to grow and develop as a photographer? Having a clear vision of your long-term goals can help guide your decision-making and give you a sense of direction.

Break them down into smaller, achievable steps

Once you understand your long-term vision, start breaking your goals into smaller, more manageable steps. This can help make your goals more achievable and give you a road map. For example, if your long-term goal is to become a professional photographer, you might set a goal to take a certain number of workshops or classes, build a portfolio, or create a website to showcase your work.

man presenting to an audience goals
Vanelli teaching at ClickCon. Photo by Lauri Novak

Make them SMART

As mentioned above, using the SMART framework can be a helpful way to set clear, achievable goals. This means ensuring that they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, instead of saying you want to “improve your photography skills,” you might say “spend at least 2 hours per week practicing new techniques and completing online photography courses, and achieve a passing grade on at least three exams by the end of the year.”

Track your progress and adjust as needed

As you work toward your goals, track your progress and adjust your goals as needed. This can help you stay on track and make any necessary changes to your plan if you’re not making the progress you had hoped for.

These tips will help you take your photography and business to the next level.