Everyone wants to start off the new year on the right foot, but what if you’re left-footed?
I apologize for my humor; it hasn’t improved in 2025, but my studio photography has undoubtedly advanced. Recently, I rearranged my home studio to accommodate my growing family, which changed my approach to my photography goals. As a macro photographer, I’ve found that minor adjustments can make a significant difference.
As we transition beyond the holiday season and into the new year, let’s take a moment to reflect on the photographs we’ve created and the connections we’ve fostered over the past year. Whether your passion lies in the intimate realm of portrait photography, the enchanting atmosphere of weddings, or the breathtaking beauty of nature, the new year offers a fresh start—a clean slate and a blank canvas for exploring new opportunities.
In December, I took inventory for the upcoming year. I evaluated what aspects of my work resonated and which areas fell short. I perform this self-assessment annually because recalibrating, refocusing, and restarting help me create meaningful work. If you experienced success and satisfaction last year, congratulations! This could be the perfect time to embrace a bolder and more adventurous approach to your photography goals!
To clarify the process, we can break it down into three steps:
Tip 1: Take Inventory of What You Currently Have
Tip 2: Set Specific Goals You Want to Achieve in Your Photography
Tip 3: Create a Realistic Timeline for Accomplishing Those S.M.A.R.T Goals
Without completing these initial steps, measuring your progress and success becomes challenging.
Imagine for a moment that you are throwing darts at a target with some friends. You are the best player, consistently hitting bullseye after bullseye. Now, picture yourself agreeing to be blindfolded for the next round. Instead of hitting 10 out of 10 bullseyes, you completely miss the target every time.
Now, apply this analogy to your photography! You hit the bullseye when you focused on your subject but missed the mark completely when you couldn’t see where you were aiming.
Take some time to reflect on 2024 or even your entire photography journey. Consider how you can enhance your efficiency, resources, and skills. Perhaps you want to learn a new photography technique, master Photoshop, or start teaching workshops.
What do you have on your to-do list for 2025 to accomplish those things?
In my personal journey from being a commercial portrait photographer to a part-time macro photographer, I had to adopt new habits and ways of working. I enrolled in group and private classes to learn the fundamentals of macro photography. Concepts like pixel shifting, focus stacking, focusing rails, and macro photography software were unfamiliar. Still, now that I understand them, I can self-assess to fine-tune my techniques for success.
Ask yourself, “What would I benefit from?”
Feel free to reach out if you want to enhance your Photoshop skills or improve your technical photography abilities! We offer free photography classes and coaching at McKenna. While many online resources are available, none are directly affiliated with one of the best photography printing facilities in the USA.
If you’re considering renting a new lens or hiring an assistant, creating an action plan that outlines achievable steps and a realistic timeline is essential. Remember that life can be unpredictable, so be kind to yourself when planning.
Years ago, I was a week late on a significant photo project. Primavera Sound, a European music festival, asked me to recreate the momentous accident involving Pete Townshend, during which his faithful Rickenbacker guitar got stuck in a low-hanging ceiling while he was performing a guitar solo. I had no clear idea of how to photograph this scene for the campaign, but I knew my photo would be widely seen if I succeeded.
My vision involved building and photographing a ceiling upside down. Since I shot tethered using Capture One, managing the lighting and capture was straightforward, but the production was challenging. It took my assistants and me two weeks to build and paint the ceiling. Despite the project taking twice as long as anticipated, my client showed me kindness and rehired me for the following year’s campaign. Bullseye!
Tip 4: Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities
Make more mistakes and learn from them. Embracing the idea of making mistakes presents valuable opportunities for growth and learning. Instead of fearing failure, approach it with an open mind, recognizing that each misstep can teach you something. Take the time to reflect on what went wrong, analyze the situation, and apply those lessons to improve. This mindset fosters resilience and encourages continuous development, ultimately leading to greater success.
Tip 5: Celebrate Your Achievements
Take the time to acknowledge and celebrate your professional achievements, all while ensuring a healthy balance in your personal life. Recognizing your successes at work boosts your confidence and reminds you of the hard work and dedication you’ve put in. By celebrating these milestones, you create opportunities to reflect on your journey and appreciate the support you’ve received along the way. Ultimately, this celebration fosters a deeper connection with your relationships and enhances your overall well-being, allowing you to thrive professionally and personally.
Every year presents a valuable opportunity to reassess your purpose and photography goals, whether you are an amateur, a professional, or somewhere in between. The saying, “If you know the why, you can live any how,” (Friedrich Nietzsche) highlights that you can discover the path to success by understanding why you chose photography. Take some time to reflect on your past photographic work; this can help you connect more deeply with your clientele and elevate your artistic journey.
As photographers, we are powerful storytellers. What story will you boldly share in 2025?
This blog was written by Eric Garcia-March, our in-house Photography Education Specialist and host of our McKenna Live webinars. Prior to McKenna, Eric was a commercial photographer for over 15 years and taught classes at the Image Processing and Multimedia Technology Center in Spain and post-production classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Schedule a free one-on-one coaching session with Eric today.