1. Find your tribe.

It really does take a village. Finding your support system will help you celebrate your wins and learn from your failures. It may take a bit of time, but finding others that can relate to your journey and contribute to it in some way are priceless. If you're not sure where to start looking, Facebook offers a great search engine for that! Look for groups that revolve around a major topic of importance to you. If you want to find solace in other photographers only, then look to local photography groups - even ones that cater to your niche. If you're looking for a bit of variety, groups for creatives or entrepreneurs can be a perfect fit! Groups like Rising Tide (they have local branches called Tuesdays Together), Spark from Freelancers Union, or Better Together can offer just the right group. Often it'll take going to several different group meetings before you find the folks that feel like a good fit, but when you do - magic!

2. Experiment.

In the spirit of change, don't be afraid to get out of your editing rut! We get used to the way our style looks, but often a bit of experimenting is just what we need to push us to the next level. Presets and brushes are a great way to experiment with different styles without having to create them from scratch! Since they can all be tweaked after being applied, you can use them as a base and create a new look for yourself. Even if you don't use presets of any kind, just playing with sliders and clicking into different parts of Lightroom that you haven't used before can be a fun way to see what different settings are at your disposal.

3. Explore new locations.

We all have our go-to locations, but nothing gets creativity going quite like breaking with routine. Take some time every once in a while to go exploring, even if it's within your town. Finding new parks, beautiful streets, adorable storefronts, or spots that offer a unique backdrop will not only get you out of the house more, but will serve your clients. The next time someone is looking for portraits but wants something different, you'll have a list of suggestions ready for them!

4. Read the owner's manual.

It's so easy to get a new camera or flash or lens and just dive right into using it without paying any attention to the owner's manual. As soon an issue comes up, though, that manual is the go-to spot for problem solving. Cameras these days have so many features, though, that it's worth it to read the manual even when there isn't a problem to troubleshoot! You'll find out about all sorts of options available for you to expand on your techniques, and you'll learn about features or shortcuts that you never knew existed.

5. Master one new editing technique.

It's so easy to get used to the rhythm and workflow that works for you, but education never stops! Learning a new technique, whether for shooting or editing, can be a great way to evolve your style and stay inspired. It offers you a break from routine and keeps those photography muscles well-trained! If your newfound skills end up being something that can be applied for client work, even better!

6. Find a mentor.

Just as important as your tribe can be finding a mentor. A mentor can provide guidance and inspiration, as well as accountability. Not sure where to start looking? Don't be afraid to ask a photographer that you admire! Take a look at professionals in your region that are doing the sort of work you aspire to, and reach out to them. Often, they're thrilled to have a fan and willing to begin a professional relationship. If you ask them to mentor you, be sure that you give back to them as much as possible as a token of gratitude. Ask them what you can do for them so that it's a balanced relationship.

7. Do one thing you didn't have the courage to do for your business last year.

This one is big. We all have fears that hold us back at one point or another. Just for a moment, imagine what you'd want to do if there was no fear holding you back. Got something in mind? Great. Now plot out how to actually make that happen! Maybe it's as simple as calling your leads instead of using email (guilty!). Or maybe it's something larger like sending a pitch for a large job that you would absolutely love to do. The things that scare us a bit are often the ones that pay off the most once we take the leap.

8. Choose a cause close to your heart and find a way to use your photo skills to help.

We all want to give back somehow, and organizations always need photos they can use. Whatever cause is close to your heart, contact and organization in that field and ask how you can help! These would most likely all be volunteer opportunities, but those can be the most rewarding. Most non-profits are always scrambling for images they can use in social media to gain traction and bring in funds, so offer to spend a bit of time with them and provide photos they can use for marketing!

9. Streamline your workflow.

Nothing is more precious than time, so why waste more of it than you have to? As a business owner, spending less time on each session also means that your financial bottom line improves. Your bank accounts will be happier, your family and friends will be happy to see more of you, and you'll be happy with all that extra time on your hands! Not sure how to streamline your workflow? Consider having templates for emails (this is perfect for replying to online inquiries, delivering galleries, or invoicing emails). Take a look at your Lightroom process and consider things like applying presets that you can then fine tune, syncing edits once you have one photo fully-edited, and creating presets for exporting files so you have consistent output.

10. Diversify.

Whether you're looking at your subject, your techniques, your locations, your income streams, your marketing approach... diversify! If you diversify any part of our creative process, it will breathe new life into a routine that can feel stale. If you diversify your subject, it can reveal weaknesses that you can improve on, making you a stronger photographer all around. If you diversify income streams, it can be a lifesaver when you're in a slump with photo sessions or if there's an unexpected medical situation that limits your abilities for some time. No matter what you apply it to, diversifying is definitely something to consider this year!

11. Maintain a consistent "look".

Especially when dealing with clients, consistency is key. Start by making sure that your photos look consistent within each session - check things like skin tones and compare your whites from photo to photo. Next, take a look at how things look from session to session. When you select your favorites for your online portfolio, do they all look like they came from the same photographer? Presets can help create some consistency if you're just starting out, as well as taking advantage of Lightroom's ability to sync edits. There's a fine line between showing variety and being inconsistent, so it's always a good idea to check in with how you're doing on consistency. Your clients will be happier knowing exactly what they can expect to get from you after a fun session!

12. Share your knowledge with the world.

One of the best things about advancing in any field is being able to pass that knowledge on to others. Photography is absolutely no different! There are loads of online publications that are constantly on the lookout for contributors. You can also start your own blog or vlog, which can help strengthen your brand at the same time. Or maybe you prefer to share your knowledge in person? Consider teaching or offering yourself as a mentor or advisor in local photography groups.

13. Get organized.

It's an ongoing struggle, yes, but working on your organization is necessary. Need ideas on what to organize? Take an afternoon to tidy up your office so that your space is decluttered while you work. Get a folder to hold all your business receipts for this year so that you have them in one place. If you only do digital receipts, create a folder for them in your email so that you have them in one spot when tax time comes around. Need major help with financials? Look into possible software to track it for you. Freshbooks is a very common one, and project management programs like 17Hats and Honeybook are geared towards creatives and handle financials as well as project tracking and client databases. Want to be completely hands-off? Consider budgeting for a bookeeper or assistant that can handle it for you and save you the headache.

14. Find a comfortable way to say "No".

One of the toughest things as a creative and as a business owner can be saying "No" to requests that aren't a good fit for us. It's time to rethink the idea of saying "No". Find what it is about setting those boundaries that is difficult for you and then find a way around them. For example, if you don't want to disappoint, then maybe you don't necessarily say "no". Rather, you can say "I would love to do that, but ...". Often times, a simple re-phrasing can be enough to change the mindset for us. Also, this is a great time to create policies for your work. For example, maybe you create a blanket policy that nobody gets free sessions, and only blood relatives get a small discount. Once you have policies in place, it becomes easier to point to these company policies as a reason for why a free session just isn't feasible. This is also a great resolution to practice with your tribe! Ask for their feedback and suggestions that would apply for your personality.

15. Track your goals (both successes and failures).

It's great to have all these goals. It really is. Having goals and not tracking them, though, is setting yourself up for disappointment. It's so easy to set a big goal in January and then forget about it or get off track by March! Instead, create some check-points throughout the year so that you can hold yourself accountable and raise your chances at reaching that amazing goal! While you're scheduling check-points, assign a mini goal to each one. For example, if you want to enter a specific international photo competition, make your first check-point a deadline for having gone through your photo archives for possible entry photos. By your second check-point, you can have researched all the entry requirements for display so you know exactly how much time and money it will required. And so on... And don't forget to track your failures, too! Knowing when you haven't reached a goal can be pivotal in seeing why you didn't hit the goal. When you see a goal that hasn't been reached, take a moment to see if you can track back to find the reason why it wasn't reached, and then set steps to correct that. 

16. Aim high and dream big.

It's so easy to get caught up in the everyday struggles that you let your dreams get lost. Taking time to remember those big dreams and take steps towards it is vital, though. Did you always dream of winning a major photo competition? Select your favorite photo and enter! Entering a local competition is also a great way to learn the ins and outs while you build up to your dream competition. Did you always dream of working with a certain publication? Study their style and begin improving on your techniques until your work is up to par with what you see being published, then begin contacting photo editors to let them know you're available for hire!

17. Don't forget to take photos for FUN!

At the end of the day, make sure you have fun! Whether you work on saving time, finding a mentor, or tracking your goals, the end goal for all of us should still be to have fun with what we do. Take a bit of time every once in a while to photograph something just because you find beauty in it - not because a client requested it, or because your family needs photos for their cards, or because this charity desperately needs photos for an event.