How to Set Photography Goals that Actually Get Results

You will hear me say over and over again that photography is a never-ending journey of learning and growing into the photographer you want to be. In fact, the opportunity to constantly learn and improve my photography skills is one of the aspects of being a photographer that I love the most. 

The New Year is upon us, and there is no time like the present to set some goals for your photography journey. Goals will help guide your direction for learning and ultimately improve your photography this next year. 

However, figuring out where to focus your learning can sometimes feel as murky as actually figuring out the steps you need to improve a specific aspect of your photography. 

So let me share my process for goal setting with you today so that you can set photography goals for yourself that will actually get you the results you want to see in 2022.

Here are my steps for achieving focus and setting attainable photography goals:  

1. Look through the images you captured this year

The first step you should take before setting goals for your photography in 2022 is to look back at the images you captured this year. Preview a good compilation of your images and then choose at least three of those images to critique. 

2. Critically reflect on those images

I don't know about you, but I'm emotionally attached on some level to every single one of my images. There's an experience, emotion and connection behind my images, so when I look at my pictures, there's more to them than the final visual result.

However, a viewer does not have the same emotional attachment to an image created by a photographer. Therefore, photographers need to create compelling images that capture and hold a viewer's attention. We can do that through many different techniques, including subject matter, intentional exposure, white balance, composition, and post-processing techniques. 

For each image you compile from your 2021 portfolio, take the time to reflect on what you did well, could improve, and what you can do differently or try next time in a similar landscape. 

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3. Choose goals for yourself based on your critique evaluation

After you've reflected on your images from 2021, jot down some goals for your photography. I'm not sure who to credit the following statement to, but some time ago, I heard something that has stuck with me, and it's along the line of:

Writing down your goals helps you get clear on what you want to achieve. Seeing your goals in writing will motivate you towards acting, which will result in you doing the work needed to improve your skills and techniques. 

I recommend you write down no more than three goals at a time. Better yet, set three goals, then prioritize those goals by number. Next, work on one goal until you feel confident, then move on to your second goal. Learning in this manner can help keep you from becoming overwhelmed and contribute to your confidence and mastery of your goals. 

Take a moment before the new year begins, and take a look back through your 2021 images. Gently critiquing a few of your pictures will help you set your 2022 photography goals so that you can work towards becoming the photographer you want to be.