Ok, so I originally had something completely different on my blogging calendar for today. But after sharing this on my Instagram story on Wednesday and receiving an email asking me to blog it, I decided to change tracks!

I was cleaning out my office earlier this week and stumbled across a list of goals I’d made back in 2011. They were written in the quiet desperation of my corporate job- office door closed, staring dejectedly at a blank pad of bland, yellow post-it notes. A ballpoint pen in my hand, and the overwhelming frustrating of having big dreams, but no idea how to make them come true. So I began this list, because if nothing else, it gave me hope. 

Five-year goals from 2011 | Abby Grace Photography

It’s crazy- I wrote these goals as a series of “yeah right” items. As in, “yeah right, that’ll never happen.” But you know what? We’ve checked off almost every single one of these items. In 2011, I had no idea this was where we’d be five years in the future- God has blessed us SO abundantly! So for entertainment and encouragement purposes, I’m sharing that iconic yellow post-it note list today!

  1. Get pricing up to $5k- we’re averaging 50 to 60% higher than that these days!
  2. Go solo- I left my corporate job on June 1, 2012 🙂
  3. Get published in a magazine- done!
  4. Host a workshop- we’ve hosted five in-person workshops, and have reached SO many more students with my online course, A Practical Wedding Workshop Live!
  5. 5,000 fans on Facebook- done! Although, how much that actually matters anymore is up for debate. Most of my focus is on Instagram these days!
  6. TEN albums! (I think I wanted ten studio sample albums…)- Who needs ten studio samples? That’s crazy! I have four. No, wait… five. Yes, five! As my work has grown, I’ve updated my sample albums and can’t bring myself to throw away the old ones. Alright, so maybe 10 wasn’t that far off…
  7. Shoot 26 weddings in one year- We’ve actually limited our calendar to 15-20 weddings per year!
  8. Buy the D3s (or whatever version it’s up to)- I switched from Nikon to Canon shortly after writing this list, and I LOVE my Canon 5dmk3! So, I’d say this one has been accomplished
  9. Buy TWO D3s- Ok, Abby, now you’re just being greedy. JK- I believe in having a SOLID back-up camera, so my 5dmk2 is in my camera bag at all times as well!
  10. Go to WPPI- check! I’ve been twice, and even had the opportunity to speak at the Honeybook booth this last March!
  11. Travel across the country for a wedding- I’ve had the joy of shooting as far away as California on a few occasions now!
  12. Go to Europe for a wedding- anyone remember James & Deanna’s wedding in Surrey, England? And then all the opportunities I’ve had to travel to England, Italy, France and the Netherlands for anniversary and engagement sessions! I’m so, so grateful for my couples!
  13. Buy a home where I can have an office- I remember thinking this one was a stretch. The housing prices in northern Virginia are off the CHARTS. But we bought our current home in 2014, and BOTH Matt & I have offices!
  14. Be able to spend more time with Matt- yes! By leaving my desk job, it gave me more time back with my husband. And then when Matt joined the business as my office manager, it made time together even more possible. 
  15. Teach a teen to shoot well- This was stemming from Matt’s job as a youth pastor- I wanted to teach one of our high schoolers how to be a photographer. He left that job not too long after I wrote this, so I never saw this one through. 
  16. Mentor someone- check!
  17. Be mentored- check!
  18. Find a way to change the industry- Vague much, Abby? In all seriousness, I’d say being a part of the Creative at Heart Conference has done that!
  19. Become FIERCE competition- If by “competition” I meant “capable of photographing at a high caliber,” then I’d say this one is a check! I don’t like feeling like I’m “competing” within the industry- it feeds into way too much anxiety and insecurity. 
  20. Be the “big name” on the east coast- Can I just apologize for how full of myself I was in 2011? I’m a work in progress, guys.
  21. Invent the next “signature” shot- I know, I’m rolling my eyes at myself over here, too. 
  22. Find a way to spread the gospel through photography- Ok, that’s a good one. I’m hoping my blog has helped with that one!

If you haven’t taken the time to sit down and dream about where you’d like to be in five years, stop now and do it. Write out a list. And who knows- maybe you’ll stumble upon it again in five years and will be able to CELEBRATE all the growth you’ve seen!

(No, seriously- go write that list! It doesn’t have to be fancy or pretty- mine is on POST-IT notes, for crying out loud!)

Photog Friday: My 5 year goals….from 2011

August 12, 2016

  1. Holly says:

    I am a high school photo teacher and I can make your teen goal come true!! You and Matt should come play one day!!!

  2. Mindy Mullen says:

    Thank you for this post!!! I am just starting my photography journey and I feel like I’m completely at a loss of how to make anything happen! I need to write it out in front of me, put one foot in front of the other, and take small steps to make progress!! Thank you 🙂

  3. Jean says:

    I love this! You are so amazing!

  4. Get it girl! I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished in the past 5 years. and you’re just getting started. I just know! xo,
    – j.

  5. Karen Field aka Mom says:

    It is so awesome to see you make these goals! You’ve surpassed many of them! Your humility is admirable, too! It was huge getting Matt into the business! Mission accomplished!

  6. This was SO awesome to read–especially the whole “Stop freaking out at weddings bit”. I’m still so there!

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