The 08/09 Wrap Up!

So, here we are, 2009 already – and already nearing the end on January!! Doesn’t time fly when you are insanely busy and barely have time to breathe??

First, here’s how 2008 panned out:
– I took around 11500 photos (and posted only 68 online!)
– I made a bunch of new friends, online and in RL (Real Life, for the lingo-challenged, lolz!)
– I travelled to interesting places, shot very cool and interesting people, and really grew creatively
– I drowned in work overload, and definitely spent more time in front of the computer than most people get sleep (I work in IT by day, so it is probably not that surprising)
– I really enjoyed assisting a heap of awesome photographers, and learnt lots (model wrangler anyone?? *smirk* )
– I failed to get any of my planned significant photo projects done (to be fair, a few are actually too expensive to set up)
– I failed to get my outside business interests moving very far, which probably disappointed me the most
– Got my deck done (mostly, Yay!!), but didn’t make the Christmas deadline (oh well!!)

And now, here’s how I want my 2009 to look:
– More shoots, I need to at least double my shot count to something around 25000
– Post more online, and share my work more (which means keeping the various sites updated more frequently)
– Get a studio happening, or set up a deal with an existing studio (anyone want to trade a free assistant or second shooter for studio time?)
– Get the outside business interests humming (or at least moving!!)
– Continue assisting, but be more realistic about how much time I give away for free vs how much time I should charge for (or at least cover my rapidly growing costs!)
– Catch up with my friends more often, and be there when my friends need me
– Go on an overseas holiday

I’ll think of more for sure, but that is the crux of it for now!! And in 12 months time hopefully I’ll be able to report great things!

I’ve started 2009 pretty strong I think – I organised a little group to go to the Aradale Asylum for a weekend recently, and some of the shots taken are pretty amazing. Thanks to everyone involved, I think it really went well.

For those who have been there before, Aradale has changed quite a bit, with a lot of damage and previously cool shooting nooks now quite dangerous or impossible to access (like the towers). Access is a little more difficult too, with more restricted areas (it looks like NMIT is using parts of the site for biological research). I think the days of big shoots organised for anyone who turns up are no longer possible – we were asked to provide numbers, and stay duration, and there were regular patrols – it was quite a different vibe. But it is still an interesting place nonetheless.

I’ve also worked with jennipenny on a latex fashion shoot, which went really well. Here’s one of the Behind the Scenes shots, it was a great day!

Coming up, I have 2 weekends of shooting, a trip to Adelaide, and then Circa Nocturna will be upon us (which I am shooting at). All systems seem to be go, and I’m pleased with where this year is headed! Give it a couple of weeks, and I’ll be spiralling out of control again!!

Onwards and upwards!!