Well, another year has come and gone and it’s time to dive head first into 2010. I did a lot last year to further myself as a photographer and I think I’ve come a long way, but it’s time to “kick it up a notch” as Emiril would say. So for 2010 I’m setting some goals for myself as a photographer:

1. Figure out exactly where I want to take Matt DeWitt Photography by writing a business plan and getting everything together to start an official business.
2. Formally create Matt DeWitt Photography as a business entity with all of the formal incorporation, tax, and business paperwork that goes along with being a real business.
3. Set up and maintain solid bookkeeping for all of shoots, equipment purchases, expenses, etc.
4. Develop a marketing plan for senior photos and get it out there in order to attract new senior clients for the 2010-2011 school year.
5. Continue to refine and define my brand, image, and style.
6. Work on transitioning into more of a commercial mindset and begin developing a marketing plan for gaining commercial and editorial clients.
7. Get over my “gear lust” and learn to do the best with the equipment I have. Sometimes constraints breed creativity, so I need to embrace that.
8. Keep shooting and editing. Shoot for myself and shoot for others. They only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice.

Eight things to do throughout 2010 – shouldn’t be too bad. I have to stop putting these things off and just do it. There is never a “right” time, so now is just as good of a time as any, so 2010 is going to be the year that I try to make a living with this along side my current day job and if things go well, hopefully transition into doing photography full time within the next few years.

It won’t be easy, but if I never try, then I’ll never know. I’ve been reading lots of books lately to give me the information I need and if you’re in the same boat as me, then I highly encourage you to check them out:

1. Best Business Practices for Photographers by John Harrington
2. VisionMongers by David duChemin
3. Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod
4. The Photographer’s Survival Guide by Amanda Sosa Stone and Suzanne Sease

Lots of good information in them so far and I still have a lot more to go. I guess that’s a pre-goal to everything else – finish reading these books so I can make the best and most informed decisions about my photographer business.

I’ll try to post more on my blog as well, but I’m not making it an official goal…yet. But I’ll keep up with it as best as I can.

Here’s to 2010!