10 Photography Resolutions (That Aren’t Just for January)

Now, I’ve never been much of a New Year’s Resolution guy. That’s not because I’m against goals—I love goals. In fact, I make more lists than most people write checks (which, let’s be honest, is probably not many). But setting goals once a year? That feels like “amateur night” to me—sort of like how frequent drinkers view New Year’s Eve. I’m more of a monthly goals kind of guy, with each new month offering its own challenge and checklist.

That said, as the calendar turned and January made its dramatic entrance, I found myself sitting down to sketch out something exciting: a set of photography goals for the year ahead. Not vague dreams or wishy-washy ambitions—real, practical, actionable steps to make me a better photographer. Not necessarily richer. Not necessarily thinner. But definitely better with a camera.

So, if you’re the type who wants to up your game this year behind the lens (or if you’re just curious how neurotic bird photographers think), here are my 10 photographic resolutions for the year:

1. Get Intimate with My Camera

No, not that kind of intimate.

I mean really know my gear. Every dial. Every shortcut. Every back-button focus nuance. I want to be able to change exposure compensation in my sleep—or at least without pulling my eye away from the viewfinder like I’m decoding an ancient puzzle. I want my fingers to move automatically, whether I’m in broad daylight or trying to catch a Kingfisher at dusk.

And not just the usual suspects (ISO, aperture, shutter speed). I’m talking about those obscure menu settings I usually ignore like the salad at a BBQ joint.

2. Take Photos Every Day

Every. Single. Day.

Fortunately, living on Lone Star Lake makes this goal easier. I can barely walk out the door without something asking to be photographed—whether it’s a dramatic cloud formation, a cheeky squirrel, or that one chickadee who thinks he’s photogenic (he is). Even if it’s only one shot a day, I want to keep that shutter clicking.

3. Test My Equipment Like a Scientist

You know that gear you bought with great intentions but rarely use? Yeah, me too.

This year I’ll be setting up real tests. ISO tests. Aperture tests. Lens sharpness tests. No more “trial and error in the wild” for me. I want to know what my gear can do—not guess and hope for the best while a rare warbler stares me down from a perfect perch.

4. Try One New Photography Technique Every Month

Macro? Infrared? Long exposures? Flash photography? Photographing frogs leaping in slow motion?

Yes.

Every month, I’ll shake things up. I want to learn new things, make mistakes, and maybe even discover a hidden passion (who knew shooting mushrooms in the rain could be this fun?). The goal? Add more tools to the toolbox—and more laughter to the learning curve.

5. Make Monthly Subject Goals—and Add Numbers

I’ve already been setting monthly subject goals—like reptiles in April or fall foliage in November. But this year, I’ll level it up. Not just “Photograph turtles in April” but “Photograph at least five species of reptiles, including two snakes and a turtle with personality.”

More photos = more practice. More practice = better images. It’s like birding meets Pokémon. Gotta shoot ’em all.

6. Take More Photos (but Not 300 of the Same Bird)

Yes, quantity matters. But let’s not go full paparazzi on a sleepy sparrow.

I’m committing to taking enough photos to catch the magic moment—the perfect light, the glint in the eye, the head tilt that turns “meh” into “magnificent.” But I’ll aim to keep it between 20–40 per subject. No more 300-image photo dumps of a still egret (unless it’s really working the camera).

7. Use My Tripod (Almost) Always

Tripods matter. The end.

Okay, not really the end. I use one often, but I need to use it even more. A side-by-side test with and without a tripod on a cloudy day will show you everything you need to know about sharpness and clarity. Yes, tripods can be a pain on long hikes or when chasing birds in flight, but otherwise… USE. THE. TRIPOD.

8. Seek the Unusual

This year, I want to find the oddball subjects. The overlooked. The weird angle. The one-legged pigeon doing ballet. I want to see differently.

There’s magic in the mundane if you know how to look at it. I want to develop that eye—the one that sees beauty in fence posts, dragonfly wings, or the cracked bark of an old oak.

9. Learn Something Every Month

At least once a month, I’ll watch a training course—whether it’s on Lightroom, Photoshop, off-camera lighting, or field technique. Because if there’s one thing better than watching someone else’s photography improve, it’s watching yours improve.

And honestly, YouTube and online courses have saved me more times than I can count.

10. Make the Ordinary Extraordinary

This one’s my favorite.

Each week, I’ll pick a completely ordinary object—a garden hose, a tree trunk, a pair of old boots—and photograph it in a way that makes people pause and look twice. It’s easy to take a pretty photo of a Painted Bunting. It’s a lot harder to make someone stop and admire the light hitting the side of your neighbor’s garage.

That’s the challenge. That’s what grows creativity.

Final Thoughts (and No, These Don’t Expire in February)

So that’s the plan. A list of 10 intentions designed not just to make me a better photographer, but to make this whole process more fun, more challenging, and more satisfying.

Sound like fun? It does to me.

And if you’re a fellow photographer reading this, I hope it inspires you to make your own list. You don’t need a calendar to tell you when to start.

All you need is a camera, some curiosity, and a whole lot of “what if?”

Let’s make this a beautiful year—one photo at a time.