Planning for a new year as a small business owner and photographer is one of my favorite things. I am equal parts organized and spontaneous. This is the time of year I love to dream, make a plan… just so I can have a map and go off course when I want to.

I say the same thing every year, Matt reminds me. Apparently I’m predictable even when I don’t want to be. Additionally, when I let me mood affect my perspective he has a more consistent perspective, pointing out that I’m right where I need to be (or have been in the past).

So with that, let’s dive in to planning. Hopefully you can take a birds eye view of your own patterns – the times of the year you love, the things that take extra energy, and find a way to balance both.

One of my favorite ways to start the year is to just ask questions. Here are a few that help me reframe my thoughts and take stock of where I want to go :

The questions I ask to plan for a new year

• What worked last year? What didn’t work?
• What do I want to feel more of? Less of?
• What do I want to make time for? What can I stop doing?
• What can only I do? What can someone else do for me?
• What does self care look like for me? Not taking care of myself?

Spending time to journal, look back on numbers and realize what 20% of work I did made the biggest impact is so helpful. Doing everything in your business typically leads to burnout and stunted growth. My advice to you is plan for a new year that involves more of what you love.

The next step I take is to plan in Asana. I take the things that worked and gradually create a plan – from content creation to income goals, this places holds it all. It’s also really easy to use and share with a virtual assistant.

The years I had the most growth as a wedding photographer

When I look back at past years, and determine what propelled me forward the most, it really comes down to a few simple things.

Clarity is where I recommend starting. As tempting as it may be to hire someone to do the work for you, often times there is internal work we have to do ourselves. What I mean by this is no one can tell you who you are. You have to decide that. Choosing to pursue something comes from within.

Next I applied clarity to to who I was working with and what I was offering. Refining what I offered, I was able to work with ideal clients and be paid what I asked without negotiation.

Finally I was consistent in the way I showed up, worked with people and delivered a final product. It’s really easy at the start of the year to make plans you don’t stick to, but choosing to do even one thing differently can alter the course of your business.

where I was in 2015

Take a look at the goals post I wrote in 2015, and I’m amazed at how much I accomplished. I was published in print, went to several workshops + invested in mentoring, moved to the Adirondacks and more. It’s always encouraging to see how far you have come.

want help planning for a new year?

If you are a photographer who needs help planning your year – whether it’s January or June – I’m hear for you. My goal is to help photographers make their passion a real job which means building a team (even through outsourcing), raising their prices and clarifying who they serve. If you want help doing so, book a coaching call here.