2018 Goals

Photo by the wizard that is Tim Dunk.

The start of 2018? Already? 

Happy New Year everybody, I know I'm a week late but it's taken a while to sink in. I'm seeing so many amazing 2017 round up's from my wonderful wedding photographer pals, and I am sitting here thinking about all of the things I really should have got around to. Like posting my best of 2016. And blogging something, anything at all. 2017 was such a whirlwind year and I had the most amazing time with my couples far and wide, as well as some going on some amazing workshops and making lots of new awesome friends (you know who you are). Topped with second shooting with some mighty cool photographers. Lots of things to talk about. Yet somehow, I managed not to share any of it.

I don't know what it is about writing a blog post but when it comes to putting pen to paper, or rather hands to keyboard, I just get writers block. In real life I'm nothing like that. I think it must be something to do with all those long days and late nights writing my overly complicated dissertation in my University days; the title of which was something like ‘Post-war hangover – social documentary photography and the cyclical search for a national identity’. Or something like that. 

My lack of blogging activity got me thinking about all the things I'd really like to do this year - so in a very tis' the season manner I thought I'd actually try and have a go at making some New Year resolutions. Yeah, you heard me, those things people write down on the 1st January and say they'll do, but never actually stick to, even the realistic easy peasy ones. Like donate blood (*mentally adds that to list*). I'm not saying I'll stick to them, but I'm putting some of them out in the world, so I'm kind of accountable to... everyone. Or just the one sole person that reads this post. It's a bit of a miss-mash of personal and business goals, so bare with me.

2018 GOALS:

1. Blog! Yes that's right. The thing I dread for no real reason at all. For the next month I am going to write about one wedding from 2017 and post it, once a week or try to at least. I love weddings. I love taking photos of them. But I somehow never get round to actually sharing them with the wider world. I have such an awesome time with all my couples and I imagine, if you are a couple looking for your potential wedding photographer you'd really like to see a load of ruddy lovely images to inspire you right? Hopefully, by getting into the swing of writing at the beginning of the New Year (like now) I'll continue the new habit. 

Lucy + Damien in the South of France last September, coming soon on the blog.

2. Take more portraits of my wonderful friends, or people I don't know - headshots anyone? In the spare time I've had this year I have really enjoyed taking portraits - for no reason other than just because. So, do more of this.

Shelley of Kindred Photography looking all kinds of lovely somewhere in the Lake District.

Charlotte of Electric Blue Photography, hanging out in Digbeth in Birmingham, our favourite place.

One of my favourite faces, Lizzie of Shoot it Momma, trusting me when I told her to sit in the corner.

3. Following from above a little. Do some portrait sessions that are a little bit different – experiment with lighting, locations, me. I really want to explore my brain this year and unleash ALL of the creativity.

Not my crazy brain, but behind the scenes on a music video in Birmingham for Gorillabot band. You get the idea though?

4. Take more self portraits - pretty self explanatory right?

Goal 3 meets goal 4. My first attempt, a bit Tim Burton meets Edgar Allan Poe.

5. Shoot more analogue film (and maybe develop). I did an early spring clean and came across loads of film cameras I had and all my dad’s old darkroom stuff. So maybe, just maybe, I'll find the time to make use of these awesome finds.

Dusting off the old point and shoot. 

6. Photograph more families. I know your phone can be a pretty awesome tool these days, but there's nothing quite like having an outside eye document the everyday. I love doing this for my friends and would really love to start doing this more.

This one gives me all the feels, my wonderful friend Will comforting his little one.

7. Make more wedding highlights films. This year I set myself a challenge to give it a go after seeing the lovely wedding photographer Camera Hannah's workshop at Snap Photography Festival. So I tried it, loved it and I want to make more! Turn on the HD here's the first one I made in August at Kirsten and Dan's destination wedding in Skiathos, Greece.

That all might sound pretty simple, right? We shall see - it's not like I have to move house, shoot a load of wonderful weddings (I am soooo excited), undertake a really awesome documentary commission, plus have more adventures with some of my favourites. I thought about adding ‘put together a best of 2017 post’ but, if I'm honest, I think that would be one step beyond my resolution abilities. 

‘Maybe next Tuesday’ as my 3 year old nephew would say.

Kate Jackson is a Birmingham based alternative wedding photographer specialising in natural & relaxed documentary wedding photography. She offers professional photography services in the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Cotswolds and UK Wide as well as travelling further afield for Destination Weddings in Europe & Worldwide.