2015 time for New Beginnings

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

It is the beginning to a new year and with that we need to backup for the big 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 that his strength is the ability to forget about a bad play and focus on what is going on 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 are needing to do.

That is a great message for all of us in the beginning of a New Year. This is a time for a new beginning 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 are constantly faced with a choice of two paths or more. Which path 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. Bounce these ideas off a few people for their perspective and listen.

What is missing in the portfolio?

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?

Find the personal project

Take the time to create a portfolio of work and specifically show what you can do if given the chance. Very few clients if any will give you the opportunity to shoot something for them that you haven't done before. Go and create a package of work that shows when you are given complete creative control this is what you can produce.

A couple of things happen once you have created a package that will be in your portfolio that shows all you can do. First you may just get the attentions of people 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.

Create a plan and timeline

Once you have an idea then execute the idea. You need to get that special project on the calendar now and not in a couple of months or you are losing time to show clients. Find a way that you can execute your creative concept easily. Try and minimize all the variables that you will not have control over.

You may want to shoot something in your hometown or even backyard as opposed to traveling around the world.

Make 2015 a Remarkable Year!

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