As photographers, we often set goals to inspire our creativity and shape our artistic journey. A fellow photographer I know practices a wonderful tradition: each year, he selects a single word to guide his work and creativity. For 2025, his word is “Rekindle.” When he asked his community what their word for the year would be, I quickly came up with mine: “Productivity.”
Productivity—defined by Merriam-Webster as the quality or state of being productive, or a measure of how efficiently resources are used to produce a desired output—encapsulates everything I aim to achieve in 2025. For me, it’s about creating more: more shots, more prints, and more experiences. Ultimately, these efforts will produce a better photographer.
Looking back, the past year was not as productive as I would have liked. The number of frames I shot was significantly lower than in previous years. Although I printed a fair amount, much of it consisted of reprints or pieces for exhibits. As for experiences, there were a few, but photography didn’t play a central role in them. I didn’t attend any workshops or embark on long, photography-focused road trips, aside from one trip where the camera played a minor role.
For 2025, I plan to turn things around. Here’s how:
1. More Photo Trips
Travel fuels my creativity, and I’m planning to take more photography-focused trips to destinations that inspire me. These trips will not only offer opportunities to capture new shots but also serve as a way to expand my photographic repertoire.
2. Selling My Work
This year, I’ll actively reach out to businesses to sell my photography. Whether it’s through direct sales, licensing deals, or partnerships, this will be a key area of focus.
3. Creating a Gallery-Worthy Body of Work
I’ve been working on a personal project that has the potential to culminate in a gallery show. While it’s still in its formative stages, I’m determined to add more to it piece by piece, with the goal of launching it this year.
4. Exploring Personal Projects
I love the freedom of shooting what catches my eye rather than constraining myself to a single genre. This year, I’ll aim to balance this spontaneity with structured personal projects that challenge me creatively.
5. Revamping My Social Media and Website
After a recent lull in my social media activity, I’ve begun to reengage and explore new strategies to grow my presence. My website, which has fallen by the wayside, will be rebuilt with a focus on driving sales and showcasing my work in a way that reflects my vision.
6. Refining My Approach to Art Shows
Art shows have historically been my biggest source of income. For 2025, I’ll focus on participating in fewer shows but aim for bigger and better ones. Dropping the underperforming events will allow me to concentrate my efforts on those that truly contribute to my growth and success.
All of these goals hinge on one thing: producing more. To make this my most productive year yet, I’ll need to shoot more photos, print more images, and dedicate myself fully to my business. Productivity isn’t just about output—it’s about working smarter and aligning my efforts with the results I want to see.
As we step into 2025, I’m excited about the possibilities this focus on productivity will bring. Here’s to a year of creating, growing, and thriving in the world of photography.