Setting goals as a photographer is easy. “I want to shoot for National Geographic.” “I want to get published.” “I want to make a living doing what I love.”
But between that dream and the deadline lies a blurry middle. Planning, persistence, and a whole lot of trial and error.
Are you aiming for your first wedding gig? A feature in a major magazine? Here’s how to turn your photography ambitions into actionable steps, and stay inspired along the way.
✧ 1. Define Your Goal — Like, Really Define It
A vague dream will get you vague results.
Instead of saying:
“I want to get published.”
Try:
“I want to get a 10-photo story published in a travel magazine within the next 12 months.”
Be as specific as possible. Name the outlet, the timeline, and the kind of work you want to submit.
Not sure what your goal is yet? Here are a few prompts to explore:
- Do I want to be hired by others or create personal work?
- What kind of stories or images excite me most?
- Whose photography career do I admire, and why?
✧ 2. Reverse Engineer the Dream
Now that you’ve defined your goal, work backward.
Let’s say your dream is to shoot your first wedding professionally. Ask yourself:
- What portfolio do I need to showcase my ability?
- Do I need to assist a pro first?
- Should I offer to shoot a wedding for a friend to get started?
- What gear do I need? Contracts? Insurance?
Every big goal is made of small steps. Break it down until your next step is something you can literally do today.
✧ 3. Make a Plan — and Put It Somewhere You’ll See
We all have notebooks full of goals we’ve forgotten about. So once you’ve broken your goal into steps, make it visible.
- Write it on a whiteboard
- Add it to your calendar
- Create a Notion board or spreadsheet
Now, schedule mini check-ins — weekly or monthly — to stay on track. Use them to reflect:
- What moved me forward?
- What roadblocks did I hit?
- What can I tweak?
Progress isn’t linear. But check-ins help you avoid drifting.
✧ 4. Get Feedback and Find Mentorship
You don’t have to do this alone.
Having someone review your portfolio, give feedback, or help clarify your next move can be game-changing. Mentorship doesn’t always have to be formal — you can:
- DM a photographer you admire
- Join a photo community (online or local)
- Take a course that includes portfolio reviews
Find voices you trust, not to tell you what to do, but to challenge you to grow.
✧ 5. Be Realistic — But Not Too Realistic
Set the bar high enough that it excites you. But not so high that the inevitable bumps in the road feel like failure.
If your dream is to shoot for Nat Geo, that’s valid. But maybe step one is getting published in a regional magazine. Maybe building a cohesive photo essay? Or shooting a passion project that aligns with their themes.
Ambition is good. But burnout isn’t.
✧ 6. Track. Tweak. Try Again.
The difference between people who dream and people who do often comes down to this: consistency.
Some days your goal will feel too big. Other days, too far away. But if you keep showing up, you’re still in the game.
Remember, the photography world isn’t always linear. But it always rewards persistence.
✧ Final Thought
Photography careers are built one frame, one pitch, one brave email at a time. So whether your goal is to book your first client, or shoot your dream assignment — don’t just wish it. Map it out.
You’ve got the vision. Now it’s time to aim it.
MELISSA MARTINSEN 