Looking back on this year, I can’t believe how far I’ve come! I knew since late 2015 the direction I wanted to take Brandon Carter Photography, but was unsure if I would ever get there. A lesson I have learned since is that doubt is one of the worst things you can do. Set your mind to it and you can achieve anything!
I have always been a goal setter, but bad on following through with them. It really does take writing them down and figuring out smaller, daily steps to achieve those goals in the long run. Now, I won’t say that I achieved every goal this year (some will take longer than others), but things are now in motion that will help me get there.
As I move forward into 2017 Year with Brandon Carter Photography, I am grateful to look back on a year that was marked with new opportunities and exciting changes.
It got off to an incredible start right on New Year’s Day morning when I got the call that I was given studio space! I had been dreaming of having a studio for many years, and though small, it was still enough room for larger lights, a backdrop, and office area along with product samples. Located inside Hang Ups Custom Framing in Moorefield and owned by my brother Brad Carter, I couldn’t think of a more fitting location than a picture frame shop!
Just six days after New Year’s, I then found myself on a plane bound for California. I had received a job offer from renowned vacation home rental photographer Tyann Marcink of Marcink Designs (http://www.tyannmarcink.com) to accompany her and writer Beth Carson of online magazine Vacation Rental Travels (http://www.vacationrentaltravels.com) to do a large marketing project for two vacation homes, Villa Sereno and Palm Palace (http://www.villa-sereno.com). I actually took a backseat to photography that time, leaving that job to Tyann, and instead went back to my roots of producing videos for the properties.
In our downtime, we enjoyed many attractions that the Palm Springs and Los Angeles area had to offer. One of my bucket list items has always been to go to the Oscars one day and watch the stars walk the red carpet. We happened to be there instead while the Golden Globes were taking place, which is a smaller version of the Oscars basically, so off to Beverly Hills we went! Getting to see Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Lady Gaga, Orlando Bloom, and Amber Heard was definitely an experience I will never forget! The rest of the evening was spent on Hollywood Boulevard taking in all the sites and getting to catch up with my old friend Rhoda, who is also a great environmental photographer.
Coming back to Arkansas was definitely an adjustment, especially getting used to the change in climate. I had experienced temperatures in California that was more like our late spring, so it wasn't long before I started missing the warm weather and sunshine. As luck would have it, I was asked to go back just a few weeks later to shoot more video that was needed, but this time on my own. I got to stay alone in Palm Palace that made me feel as if I was living the life of the rich and the famous, and downtime to enjoy more area attractions like trail riding, the Elvis Honeymoon Home, and seeing a movie at a state-of-the-art cinema. The hospitality of Villa Sereno and Palm Palace property owners Steve and Diana Lazzarini made me feel at home, and though I didn’t get to go to the Oscars while there because of increased security, they had me over for a great Oscar party that night!
That wasn't the only big trip of the year. In April, I headed to Toronto in Canada for a week and then spent an extra one in Buffalo, New York. Toronto is hands down one of my favorite cities in the world and so I was very happy to be going there on work-related purposes. I attended the Vacation Rental Success Summit conference held at the BMO Institute for Learning, hoping to learn more about the business so I could better market my services. Tyann was also speaking at the conference and teaching vacation home owners why good photographs were key to their success. The trip was a great time and I spent several days wandering around downtown, going to a Blue Jays game finally, and spending time with a friend who lives there. I also got to discuss a lot of new ideas for future projects to take place in Toronto itself, so stay tuned!
There were a lot of new business opportunities that took place this year locally. I teamed up with Maurices in Batesville (Store 1097) to help their Instagram marketing efforts. I had always wanted to partner with a clothing store (another goal I set for myself this year) and so it was a very exciting thing to do. Manager Cynthia Harris styled each store employee in their latest clothing trends throughout the year and we photographed them at different locations around town. It was a fun experience for everyone involved and I look forward to more work with them in the future!
I also decided to start two new businesses this year: Premier Custom Web Apps (http://www.premiercustomewebapps.com) and NEA Real Estate Photography (website coming soon). I am still just getting them off the ground at moment, but have laid a solid foundation for growth. Premier Custom Web Apps is all about helping small businesses grow their customer base by having a mobile-friendly website bundled with professional photography and video. NEA Real Estate Photography is to market not only homes for sale, but the realtors themselves and to help them gain more listings.
On the portrait side of things, Brandon Carter Photography really stepped up to the plate this year!
In March, I achieved my goal of getting published in a national magazine! Being featured in Shutter, sold at every Barnes & Noble in the country, has been one of the biggest honors of my career so far. The image was a fashion-inspired shot of my cousin Gracen from New Year’s Eve 2015, so it was very fitting that the last portrait shoot I did for the year would get featured in a magazine for their senior edition!
I also shot my first destination senior shoot on top of a tall parking garage in downtown St. Louis. If you are looking for unique senior pictures that none of your friends will have, then this is definitely the kind of shoot you need to book! Whether it is on a beach, atop a snow-capped mountain, or middle of the desert, it is your decision where we go!
I decided this year to change up my senior model program and do things different. I wanted to put together an event to give back to students by featuring a different senior model each day and having big giveaways from MorningSide Coffee, Unique Nosh Frozen Delights, Maurices, and American Eagle. Thus, Senior Week was born and it was a big success! Social media buzz was insane the entire week and everyone really got involved in the event.
This year has been an amazing year for portraits, especially of seniors. I am so blessed to be able to do what I love for a living, but it has only been through your continued support! I can’t wait to show you what is in store for 2017!
Happy New Year!
