2011 was such an amazing year. I’ve said it before; I feel I grow every day/ year in the vast world of Photography. In 2011, I feel I was the most true to myself and my shooting style and hope that continues in 2012. I even had a few (surprise) features I am really proud of. Both ads will be featured in the upcoming 2012 issues of the Wedding Planner and Guide as well as the Once Upon a Time Bridal Guide.
The stunning Mrs. Rachel Willer
The gorgeous Mrs. Andrea Wertz
Every year I make new goals for myself whether it be business related, branding related, equipment related or for personal reasons. Last year I had one main goal, I vowed to balance my life better and learn to say no. I felt I had a much better year because of it.
My 2012 goals consist of a mixture of ideas.
# 1- Continue my life balance-I’m sticking to my guns- I will have 2 little boys and 1 big one to keep in line now! Which means less photography, keeping my sessions to a minimum, weddings to 2 a month maximum and never working on Sundays. If you want a session with my you will have to contact me 6 months in advance to be guaranteed a session this year. (I am booked into June currently) I will be doing more mini-sessions this year, I will be doing little to no traveling for sessions anymore, I shoot a lot at my own home and plan to continue that. (I do however, travel for weddings) If I am scrambling to find room for sessions or staying up till 1am editing or working every night and weekend, I don’t feel I’m giving my clients my best work or attitude. I want to give every client 100%. I realize I can’t take as many clients and do as much as I would like but in the end I feel better about delivering quality vs. quantity.
#2- Take emotions out of my business and be true to myself. Here’s a clip from an awesome article I read about pricing
“
As a general observation, I am shocked at the low prices of a lot of portrait photographers – especially new photogs, and I hope this isn’t offensive to anyone, but what is more important than your photography, is your business skills when running a business. This industry is completely saturated with underpriced photographers – many talented. Think of this — the stats are something like 95% of all photography businesses fail. What makes you feel that you should be in that 5% that does not fail? Business sense, that’s what”. (MPC BLOG)
Clients will not value your work, if YOU don’t value it.
Hand in hand with that philosophy is staying true to myself. Shooting clients who understand my work and my untraditional shooting methods, clients who understand my pricing, all clients are different and want different photographs, I need to be proactive in not only attracting my target clients but also choosing them. I have a long but to the point description of my work on my website, I have to stay true to what I do and choose clients that fit my style and I fit theirs to be successful. Please visit my website for a description of my work, style and pricing. www.danistephenson.com
#3- Network-Photography has become a growing industry especially it seems in my client area and I live in a small town. Networking with other photographers is really important to me. The relationships I made so far as priceless to me. They understand, they are supportive and most of all they are fun!
Krystal Muellenberg and I have teamed up to put on a workshop. What I learned from workshops I have attended was that I learn the most from other people(attendees), from talking shop and networking. Which is exactly what we hope to accomplish. We can only share our experiences and what we learned along the way. I’m excited to work with other photographers and share insight with them and gain insight in return. Lst year we did a mock wedding workshop that was a huge success! Check back for future workshops!
I also teach a photography class at Western Tech in Tomah, this class is fun for me, I can blab about photography and spill my guts to eager new photogs. I love to do it, I hope to find time to continue that class this year.
In addition to that, Something I loved to do since the very first time she asked me to second shoot with her is work with Krystal, we have similar shooting styles yet different points of view and we love to work together, so much in fact we are now taking on joint weddings, we had a few in 2011 and the end result was absolutely amazing for the clients, they get twice as many pictures, different angles, places, reactions, it’s sharing the responsibility of a wedding and supporting each other during the day. Be sure to check out our 2012 workshop and our joint weddings option!
In my personal life this New Year we will be welcoming our new son, Oh I can’t wait to see him! I’m very much looking forward to having an infant again, my first child was a whopping 9’13lbs and I didn’t get much “infant” time with him, when he was 3 months old he looked like a 6 month old, so much for newborn clothes. Maybe his brother will take on the role of “little brother” in more ways than one. I feel so very blessed to have a wonderful husband and our Teag (2) he’s truly the light of our life and to bring another life into our family and to give Teag a brother is so exciting. Sometimes I look around and think “pinch me” because I love my life. I’m so very grateful. Of course, no ones life is perfect, I don’t expect it to be, there is always hiccups and hurdles we face but I count my blessings. I can only have the highest hopes for 2012 to be another amazing year.
I wish all of you readers, blog followers and facebook fans the Happiest New Year and I hope 2012 is your best year ever. Thanks for following my work and being a fan, I appreciate all of you so much!
