Fujifilm X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 500, ƒ/14, 1/500

It is the beginning of a new year, and we need to look back for a great perspective on the year ahead of us.

Nikon D4, Sigma 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 DG OS HSM S, Sigma 2X, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/160

Aeneas Demetrius Williams is a former American football cornerback and free safety who played with the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was the featured speaker at the FCA Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Breakfast — at Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Aeneas said his strength is the ability to forget about a bad play and focus on what is happening right now. He can move on where many players go down a spiral of bad plays because their head is on what they screwed up and not on what they need to do. That is an excellent message for all of us at the beginning of the New Year. A New year is a time for a new start, and the reality is we should always be looking at what we can do rather than what we could have done.

Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 100, ƒ/8, 1/500

We must choose between two paths or more. Which direction will you take in the year ahead?

Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 800, ƒ/9, 1.3 sec

Where do you want to go?

Take a moment and look around you and be realistic. What are some places where you see the potential for growth that the community needs–not just what you want to do? Then, bounce these ideas off a few people for their perspective and listen.

 

Once you have an idea of some things you want to pursue, take a moment and review your portfolio. Does your portfolio show you have done what you want to propose to clients and potential customers?

 

Take the time to create a portfolio of work and specifically show what you can do if given a chance. Very few clients, if any, will provide you with the opportunity to shoot something for them that you haven’t done before. So go and create a work package showing what you can produce. A couple of things happen once you have made a package that will be in your portfolio that offers all you can do. First, you may get people’s attention to want you to do this for them. Since you have done this before, they may give you more creative control since they haven’t managed a project like this before.

 

Once you have an idea, then execute the idea. You need to get that unique project on the calendar now, not in a couple of months, or you are losing time to show clients. Find a way that you can execute your creative concept efficiently. Try and minimize all the variables that you will not have control over. For example, you may want to shoot something in your hometown or backyard instead of traveling worldwide.

 

This time next year, you want to be able to say that you did something new and different this year to stretch and grow.