Has 2009 been a good year for you?

[candidrachel]

I keep hearing all this doom and gloom on the news about the recession and stuff so I thought I'd start a thread about what's the best thing you have achieved this year. It doesn't have to be photography related even something great thats happened in your regular jobs.

I'll start:

Yes, its been a great year for me. Probably one of the best I've had in a few years. Its so true that life begins at 40. I know its a cliche but its true! Haven't gained much financially but experience wise and "wise" being the operative word here.

In February qualified as Life Coach
March: Passed City and Guilds Maths Level 1 & 2 (with 98%)

April : Decided to get serious in Photography. Put adds offering "free wedding photography"

June: Wedding 1
Jully: Wedding 2 & 3
Aug: Wedding 4

Aug: Joined DPS!

Nov: Got my firework photos onto my son's school website. That meant alot to me.

Since joining DPS I've learnt so much on this site and now looking back at my old photos I realize just how much I don't know! Lol!

Things can only get better!

What about you? What's your biggest achievement this year?

[windrider86]

ok, I have to ask, if you are getting serious about photography, why are you doing so many free weddings?

2009 has been probably the best/worst year of my entire life. I have had so many amazing things happen to me and for me. In that same breath I've had so many horrible tragedies.

Had my art hanging in DIA and in the governors office and state capital. Been published in many magazines. Had a record year in sales. Had offers like you wouldnt beleive. Traveled all over the country doing shoots.

My father died, my grandmother died, my friends son was killed, had several friends pass away. My son in law has had 3 operation on his back and is still unable to work. The loist goes on.

I am hopefull that 2010 is going to be a good, no great year. And am starting out with moving my child and her family closer so we can be togther more

[candidrachel]

Windrider - Actually doing wedding for "free" was a big mistake. I did it off my own bat without any proper market research. It wasn't so much a distaster photography quality wise just that I was getting all the chavs (white trash) from the rough end of town wanting something for nothing

One woman phoned up and said that she just wanted "snaps" of the ceremony then they were all heading down to the local Kings Head for some beers. Needless to say that they weren't exactly the sort of clientele I was after. I turned that one down and several other enquiries of a similar nature!

The whole reason for doing it for free was for experience. Thats what I gained. I enjoyed taking the photographs. Actually, I went on a wedding photography course recently and the pro said that there is nothing wrong with shooting for free "initially" just to get a portfolio together which is what I was trying to achieve.

I have since learnt that it certainly doesn't pay to do free shoots.

[Free]

'09 has been awesome!

Plenty of clients, cash to blow on camera and gear, drunk lots of beer (and almost as much whiskey), smoked a few cubans!

The missus works for the Government in a position they can't do without, so she had no worries regarding work security either.

To be honest every one in small business in my neck of the woods has had a great year (except those in tourism, they've had a rough trot).

[Nicole]

I'd say 2009 has been a pretty good year.

In my non-photography life, my biggest achievement was finishing the proposal for my PhD (while that might not sound impressive, in my faculty/school the proposal is about a 100 page document that takes about 12-15 months to write). So getting that done and approved so I can start my actual research was definitely a massive achievement.

In my photography life, it was a good year too! This was the year I actually started accomplishing something with my photography. It's only a little, but given that it hasn't been my primary objective, I'm really please with how it's going. So, to that end, I got a few photos hanging up in a little gallery/printing place (and sold about a half dozen shots!) and I got accepted to a NZ stock photography site (and sold a few shots there too). So as you can guess, the resolution for the new year is to improve on those things.

[Jim Bryant]

I'm looking forward to telling everyone do not work for free

[BEGM83]

09 has been a mixed bag for me.

Personally its much of a muchness but done a load of things ive not done in years - travel, music fesitvals, getting to more gigs etc. My daughter continues to make me smile each day having started school this year and had her first nativity (proper proud mum me!!)
Work is still the same - as in ive still got a job (WOO HOO!)

I blame my DSLR for some of what ive got up to though - to justify the expense ive made myself get out there to practice when my little girl is at her dads and ive had a great time doing it learning what i can and cant do and that because i like doing one thing doesn't mean im actually any good at it and vice versa

So in 2010 ive booked myself onto a 'proper' photography course locally (City and Guilds type thing) at a night school so that i can start to get the shots i want not the ones i think i want

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

I'm looking forward to telling everyone do not work for free

Noted :P

Photo Booth Biz: Went from 10 gigs in 2008 to 30 in 2009, plus several charity gigs for the tax break. Looking to expand into selling photo booths, and researching DJ opportunities as well. So far, I've managed to keep competition from sprouting up in my area by keeping my prices low (if you can call $900/job low).

Photography: Went from no photography knowledge to a decently-known speed photographer, including 28 shots on Explore, 3 of which made front page. Shot 3 weddings (one solo, two as secondary) and several portrait, maternity, and baby sessions. Got known locally as "the guy that is always available to shoot just about anything, just for the fun of it". Became a freelancer for the local paper, with two published photos a month. Currently have a website and am casually going to market myself as a weekend-warrior wedding photographer.

Personal: It's been rough. Had a major family crisis in late August that almost tore us apart, but we got through it and our relationship is stronger than ever. Professionally, I was just placed as the team lead on all my programs, so 2010 is going to be very interesting.

[gturner]

It was survival mode for 2009 and expect more of the same for 2010. Kept the head down and missed all the manure flying about. I managed it fairly well and learnt a heap about other interesting things in the process.

Joined the Botanical Society, did a weekly "Africa Opinion" radio spot for a small Irish radio station which was a hoot and most importantly invested in some L lenses and spent time in the tips section of DPS

Completed my spiritual journey by joining the Skeptic Society. Skeptic » Home » The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine Highly entertaining and educational for those who can't handle the bunk that is served up as truth on a daily basis.

[candleman]

sounds like some great stuff happened to people


2007 & 2008 were the worst years of my life


2009 was great!!

the highlight for me was:

• photographed my first AD Campaign for a new clothing brand
  now being sold in Route66 and several other high end stores in NZ, and i've been told i'm the photographer for the new season being released early next year!
  
• earned myself some good equipment and built up my skills allot
  
• won a few competitions, and placed well in a few more too.
  
• did a few paid family portraits (not as many as i'd have liked.. but hey)
• made pretty good biscuit money from my online stock sales
  
• got a great payrise, and an almost unheard of Christmas bonus.

some bad stuff too..
two deaths, and a suicide in the family.. i packed on the beef...

personal..

• got re-united with a great old friend..
• son did well at school
• car cost me lots of money because its a piece of crap Honda

2010 is going to be brilliant.