Here are my 10 very ambitious targets for my photography business in 2018. Having thought about them for far too long I just need to finalise and publish them. I will review how I got on in January 2019.
1 – Stock photography
The average UK salary is £27,600, which equates to £2,300 per month. I want my stock photography to achieve 50% of this monthly level of income by the end of 2018, and 100% by the end of 2019.
Is this achievable?
I’m not sure, but there is one thing I can guarantee – I will not achieve this if I don’t try.
I made about £2 through Adobe Stock in 2017! And cannot tell you how great it was to get an email saying I had sold an image, even if it was for 53p!!
That is very ambitious aim number one.
2 – Commercial sponsorship
I want to have one commercial sponsor by the end of 2018. One company, a manufacturer of a product I use and value, whom I can work with promoting their products and at the same time my use of their products.
Another challenging target!
3 – Freelance writing
I already have one freelance writing contract, on the excellent Improve Photography website. I really enjoy this work, as well of course as the massive exposure. Writing for Improve Photography has made me change how I write, and what I write about.
Both in a positive way.
I want one more freelance writing commitment in 2018. Just one.
4 – Website
I have spent a lot of time and effort on my website in 2016 and 2017. In 2018 I am going to do very little to my website other than the following.
Image refresh – 2 pages per month.
Home page – an update on the text and images.
Travel photographer page – this needs to be produced in February 2018. You will find one image on there at the moment – a photo of Santorini.
And there is the outcome of all this work. By the end of 2018 I want to achieve 1000 visitors per month to my website. I was averaging just over 300 visitors per month before I started my writing on the Improve Photography website in late October 2018.
5 – Website
I want one source of income achieved solely from my website. This will of course be directly related to the number of visitors to my website, to the value my website has on the World Wide Web.
6 – YouTube
I want to have achieved 10,000 views by the end of 2018. 10,000 views triggers more possibilities in YouTube, which I want to get to. And hopefully the quality of my videos will improve over the course of the year to the point where I am able to produce videos for commercial clients that they want to buy.
And I want a drone too! Just thought I would throw that one into the mix here.
7 – Portfolio
I want a high quality printed portfolio of 30 prints for
- Architectural photography
- Landscape photography
- Travel photography
Interchangeable in a lovely high quality folio holder.
Actual high quality prints that I can present at meetings.
8 – Qualifications
I want to achieve my ABIPP in 2018. I never submitted my portfolio in 2016 as I was not happy with it, even though my BIPP mentor was happy with it. There is a lesson there in just going for things that I have definitely learnt.
9 – Travel photography work
I want to achieve one commercial photography booking overseas in 2018.
10 – One shop to sell my photos
Last one. I want my work in an actual shop being sold to actual people. I will get my portfolios done and get out there and see who wants to sell my work.
Summary
OK.
This looks quite tough, and a lot to do, but it is all part of a plan.
This is not everything I have planned for 2018 – just 10 things that cover a broad range of personal, professional and commercil aspects of my photography business.
I will review these targets in January 2019, and of course provide updates as and when I hit them!
Well you have to be positive about this stuff.