Your Photographic Goals are Not Going To Make You Better…
If you don’t have a system, you will never attain the goal, get disappointed, and stop striving for greatness.
I remember some of my first goals as a fledgling photographer, and how they languished in the ether of “someday”, and “soon, I’ll”, and “I should…”
I wanted to shoot for Vogue.
I wanted to have the opportunity to do work that would appear in that and other famous fashion magazines.
It was a burning goal.
It kept me going, working through the night in the darkroom, spending every nickel on film and processing, and building a portfolio of images I thought would be worthy of that prestigious magazine.
In Phoenix, Arizona.
The fashion capital of Maricopa County.
The goal burned brightly for several years, but I never got a chance to shoot for Vogue, or Elle, or W, or even Ladies Home Journal.
I could see my dreams and goals clearly in my mind. I could hold them tightly in my vision.
Big deal.
Big effin’ deal.
Nobody cared.
Nobody, in fact, cares now.
Goals are a dime a dozen.
OK, with inflation, ABuckThreeEighty and change a dozen.
All that mattered was the action taken.
Or, in my case, the action not taken.
I didn’t move to Manhattan.
I didn’t assist a big-name fashion shooter.
I didn’t make the rounds of portfolio reviews that are required.
I didn’t maintain any type of contact with any of the people or agencies in the area.
I just sat around, surrounded by the ethereal peace of my goals.
Goals vs. Systems: You Gotta Understand the Difference
Goals are creative destinations, the top of the mountain, and the rare air we long to breathe from the pinnacle of our goals.
Wooboy and howdy, I have achieved my goal!
Yeah, no. Most likely, you did not.
Because you didn’t have a system.
Systems are the map, the vehicle, and the thrill of driving all rolled into one. They’re the daily habits, routines, and practiced movements that make capturing the dream goal possible.
Possibly even inevitable.
The goal is in front of you, like a perfect image waiting to be captured.
Your system is more action-based.
- grab camera
- check ISO
- choose lens
- choose aperture
- choose exposure
- frame the composition
- make the photograph
- check for accuracy
- make another with a slight variation
- keep exposing until you wring every drop of that image onto your card (or film)
That is a system you are already familiar with.
Imagine if you did your marketing with this level of precision.
Imagine if you could find and get clients with a system-based program at its heart.
Imagine approaching a killer portfolio with a system that practically guarantees it will rock your client’s world.
Goals Can Disappoint, Systems are Dispassionate
Goals, like muses, are emotionally driven. We can make all sorts of adjustments to them.
Move them up the ladder.
Down the ladder.
Off the damn ladder altogether.
And they don’t care, they don’t react, they are unmeasurable energy in the emotional part of our being.
And when we give them up, we can become disillusioned, disappointed, and depressed.
Systems are dispassionate.
Did you get your mailers out on the date you said you would?
Binary: Yes or No.
If no, why not?
How do we make sure they go out at the correct time next month.
No tears, no emotional setbacks, no need for a therapist or to dig that old teddy bear out (c’mon, you know the one I’m talking about).
The systems just work.
And you are the catalyst.
Systems Are at the Heart of Success
Ask any renowned, or even nearly renowned, photographer about their most celebrated shots, and you’ll often hear less about luck and more about preparation. The ability to capture the moment is not an accident or a whimsical moment of serendipity.
It’s the result of a meticulously honed system.
A disciplined shooting regimen.
A tight and methodical approach to location scouting.
A constant push to the very edges of the envelope to see for themselves what can be done.
Constant learning, relearning, and practicing their craft.
Exposing their work to criticism, both glorious and harsh.
Practicing in public.
A system goes from A to B to C.
It’s the hard in hard work.
A goal is a fuzzy little dream we wish for when blowing out birthday candles. Like my wife’s lapdog, cute but worthless in a fight.
Building A System
Creating a system that works for you is an art and a science. And that blend is never going to be a formula. You gotta figure it out.
- Develop Routines: Whether it’s daily shooting practice, weekly explorations for new locations, or dedicated editing time, establish routines that sharpen skills and expand your creative vision.
- Become Consistent: Success is often about showing up, day in and day out, even when inspiration seems distant. Screw inspiration, your new partner is work.
- Stay Adaptable: Good systems evolve. Be open to tweaking your routines as you grow and learn what works best for you.
Staying Motivated
Even the best systems are tested.
You’ll face missed shots, technical setbacks, and creative droughts.
The key to perseverance is a well-constructed system and the ability to adapt while remaining motivated.
Every mishap is a chance to learn, and every frustration can lead to a system tweak that makes the whole thing run smoother.
Create Your System and Embrace the Journey
The true value of this transformation lies in the journey.
It’s within your system that creativity is nurtured, skills are honed, and excellence becomes a standard feature of your work, not a rare anomaly.
Start small. Look at your daily habits, routines, and practices.
These are the seeds from which your system will grow, transforming goals into achievements, and dreams into a daily reality.
So look, if you really want a goal, one that will actually help you get to where you want to be, then here you go.
Your goal is to form your system for greatness as soon as you can.
And then get to work!
Seriously!
Hi, I’m Don Giannatti, a photographer and mentor for up-and-coming photographers. You can find me on my website, Don Giannatti, and at my Substack site, where I also publish for creative people. All subscribers to my Substack have access to a free, long-form workshop on the business of commercial and professional photography.
I have a class coming up in May that could interest you. I call it the Client Acquisition Sprint, and it is designed to help you devise a workable, and time-tested system for finding and keeping clients. If you are interested, please check it out here for more information.
