What's New in 2021? | Goals, Updates, etc,
What’s up guys, it’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog here! The year is now 2021, Joe Biden is president and we are in month 11 of quarantine.
So what’s new with me?
There’s a few things that have or will be changing as 2021 comes into fruition (ok it’s day 40, but let’s be real mentally we’re all a few weeks behind) and in this post I’m gonna do my best to cover them all.
#1 - My new job
Since the end of 2019, I had been working as an event producer for a DC-based company. I learned so much from this position, and I honestly was torn when I was deciding to jump fields. The last few months of quarantine were really really hard on me when it came to remote work, and I felt like I needed a change.
Almost by complete luck (and thanks to some friends [NETWORKING IS SOOO IMPORTANT]), I found a job opening that was perfect for me. I won’t name the organization here (I’m sure they wouldn’t appreciate my potty mouth online), but the general position is Multimedia Producer & Editor for an organization in the Parks & Rec sector.
I applied as soon as I read the description, which mainly focused on videography and virtual events. I had my interview on a Friday (which I thought I really did well in) but the interviewers made it clear that I didn’t have the videography portfolio necessary for the job. They told me that they would give me until Monday to submit better proof of my videography skill. In the next 36 hours I worked non-stop to build my first ever videography reel, almost all from footage that was years old. I put blood, sweat, tears, and lots of missed sleep into that reel, and it may not have been perfect but it was enough to land me the position!
I started on December 1st and, despite a rather slow and tricky start, I have really gotten the hang of it and am loving it!
The other thing I should talk about here is that my new position is only 15 hours per week, which means I have time. Time to do what? Good question.
I’ve been slowly trying to advance my freelance career (too slowly). I’ve been working a little at my old company on the side. Most importantly I’ve been trying to make more things - more videos, more pictures, more videos of me making pictures, that sort of thing.
Despite not being a full-time position, I feel like I couldn’t be luckier right now. As my research into freelance and photography careers continued, I’ve realized have 15 guaranteed hours per week is incredibly lucky for someone with my level of experience. I’m learning, I’m earning, and I am finally appreciating both.
Ok, enough about that, time for…
#2 - My goals
I am always ambitious with my New Year’s goals, and I’ve always embraced this. Despite having never accomplished all of my goals in a given year, I have never bought into the pessimistic “New Year means nothing, changes won’t happen blahhhh”. I enjoy setting new goals, I enjoy failing them, that’s just me.
So here are my goals for 2021:
Goal: Create 50 Videos in 2021
This goal is about quantity. I’ve already released a video in 2021, which in my opinion is my best yet, but it’s week 3 and I’ve only got 1 new video on my YouTube. To justify this goal, I’m going to include videos I make for work - of which, I have 4-5 in the works at this very moment. One of the things I’m hoping to learn from my new job is how to balance multiple videos and how to bang them out quickly
Goal: Make Every Video Look Better Than It Would Have In 2020
This goal is all about QUALITY. I want more videos, but I also want them to look like they were made by a videographer, not a photographer. This should come hand in hand with the previous goal. As I make more videos, my quality and skills will improve on their own. I am looking forward to recapping my videos at the end of the year, because I have no doubt my best videos now will be embarrassing to watch in 12 months time
Goal: Go Shoot Twice Per Week
I don’t make enough photos, point blank period. I want to shoot for the sake of shooting, even if I get no results. I want to shoot film, I want to shoot video, I want to shoot street photos, I want to shoot commercial photos, real estate, landscapes, whatever. I want to capture everything in 2021
Goal: Travel To 5 New Places
The only one of my goals I checked off my list in 2020 was my travel goal, which makes no sense but I did it lol. I want to continue this goal into 2021, I think 5 is pretty tame but I can’t predict which way the pandemic is going and don’t want to shut myself down early. My hope is for 1 new country and 4 new states - right now my eyes are on Washington state, Georgia, Utah, Canada, and Uganda (my brother recently moved there)
Goal: Talk More About My ADD
A big goal of mine for this year is to talk about myself more, and one of the things that defines me most of all is my ADD. I have STRUGGLED through starting adult life and my ADD has been a huge hurdle to overcome (spoiler: I haven’t). I would love to talk more about it and work through it out-loud. Maybe it will help someone else, but really I want it to help me. I want to be myself as much as I can be, and embracing this part of me will hopefully help me do that
Goal: Work With 10 New Photographers
I would like to include other photogs in my videos more often, as well as just meeting new people and networking
Goal: Print 2 Books
I have some ideas, I would love to see them come to fruition this year (and would love to sell them!)
Goal(s): Workout More, Read 10 New Books, Complete A Road Race, Compete In A Rock Climbing Comp, Start A Podcast
I won’t go into details about these as they’re self-explanatory, just some random things that I failed to achieve in 2020, would like to get them done in 2021
#3 - New Year, New Gear
Ok, this is cheating because it’s its whole own blog post that will be coming, but it’s worth mentioning here as well. A solid portion of the gear I’ll be using this year was acquired within the last 6 months, here’s what’s new:
Nikon Z6 - my main camera, I upgraded to this in August and have loved it, a huge upgrade on my D600
Nikon 14-30mm S Lens - my new main lens, it’s versatile, compact, and great for photos and videos alike
Olympus OM-10 - This has completely rendered my old film camera obsolete, absolutely love it. Read my full thoughts about it here
Olympus Superzoom 800 & Lumix DMC LX5 - I went through a point and shoot phase, great for street photo
Peak Design Everyday Sling - The only bag I intend on wearing in the street in 2021, it’s minimal and sleek and I love it
Twod Tech Pouch - For only $10 this was a steal, keeps all my random bits and shits in one pouch which I can easily transfer from bag to bag
Epson Perfection V500 Film Scanner - I’m enjoying shooting film more than ever, and it made sense to invest in a scanner to save money
When I started writing this page, I swore I had more to talk about, but to be honest, having three updates in the middle of a pandemic is an accomplishment, so I’ll leave it here.
If you want to keep up with me this year, please head over to my connect page to sign up for my email list. I promise I won’t spam you, my goal is to send 2 emails per month with a newsletter update/ round-up of blog posts, vlogs, travel albums, and any other important things happening. Until then, thanks for reading, you’re a real one!