Years ago, when we first began to talk about the idea of starting our own business, I really wanted to keep it a secret. I’m the kind of person who really doesn’t like to fail. (Sad, but true.) So, until I really thought we would succeed, I didn’t want to tell anybody about it. Ryan on the other hand, is completely the opposite. He loves to try new things and saw the whole thing as a great opportunity for adventure! So of course, the very next time we were sitting at a table full of family members, he boldly announced, “Guess what everybody! We’re going to start a wedding photography business!” At the time, I was scared to death that he said that, but he actually had an ulterior motive that I am thankful for to this day. Ryan knew that if our family knew about our plan, they’d be asking about it all the time and it would force us to get past the fears and actually make the dream a reality. And the rest, is history. What can I say? The man knows what he’s doing :-)

We’ve been talking a lot lately about goals; goals for our business and our personal lives. And of course, the best way to actually accomplish a goal is to write it down and then tell people about it so there’s someone to hold you accountable. So that’s what we’ve decided to do starting today. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the concept of the 101 in 1001 list, it’s basically a list of goals (101 of them) that you want to complete over the course of 1001 days (about 2.78 years). Since the timeframe is longer than a year, you can think a little bigger than just your typical shorter term “New Years Resolution” type stuff.

We started out by each writing a separate list, but as a couple who also have a business together, we found out pretty fast that a lot of the goals we each came up with as individuals overlapped and applied to both of us. So we decided that rather than bore all of you with two lists, we’d make it a combined effort. As we accomplish our goals, we’ll be writing about them here on the blog so you can all see how we’re doing. I’m going to warn you now that you’ll probably see some iPhone photos along the way to commemorate our milestones since we don’t ALWAYS have our big fancy cameras with us. And of course, if you see any goals on this list that you can help us accomplish, please let us know!  (Oh and by the way, these are in no particular order.  They’re organized alphabetically within each category.)

BUSINESS GOALS:

1. Attend a photography workshop

2. Attend WPPI (COMPLETED 2/2012)

3. Be the studio spotlight at a PUG meeting (COMPLETED 4/2012)

4. Blog everyday for one month

5. Choose a cause and donate a portion of our proceeds to it for 6 months (COMPLETED 6/8/12)

6. Create a new product for other photographers

7. Create custom packaging that reflects our brand

8. Do a portrait session giveaway in another state

9. Do a wedding coverage giveaway (COMPLETED 8/18/10)

10. Donate a photo session to a charitable cause (COMPLETED 1/29/12)

11. Get a full set of new sample albums (full wedding, parent album, guest book (COMPLETED 8/30/2011)

12. Get canvas prints made (COMPLETED 4/12/11)

13. Get new business cards (COMPLETED 9/8/10)

14. Get new custom folders for consultations

15. Have a wedding featured in the Arizona Wedding Chronicle

16. Have a wedding published in a bridal magazine (COMPLETED 7/2011)

17. Have a wedding published on a wedding blog (COMPLETED 7/20/10)

18. Have another pro photographer take photos of us (COMPLETED 1/16/12)

19. Have dinner with different past clients once a month for four months (COMPLETE 11/17/12)

20. Have lunch/dinner with another wedding vendor once a month for 3 months

21. Launch our new website (COMPLETED 4/13/11)

22. Make a promo video (5/21/2012)

23. Make the switch to Mac

24. Order custom pens

25. Reach 500 fans on our Facebook Page (COMPLETED 1/20/2011)

26. Revise our branding to be more “Us” focused (COMPLETED 4/13/11)

27. Set up a studio space for clients consultations (COMPLETED 4/16/11)

28. Shoot a wedding in another state (COMPLETED 4/2/2010)

29. Switch to thumb drives for image delivery to our wedding clients (COMPLETED 11/19/12)

GOALS FOR RYAN & DENISE:

30. Babysit Makena (COMPLETED 2011)

31. Be in the audience for the taping of a late night show

32. Buy a house (COMPLETED 5/24/2010)

33. Decorate our house for Christmas (COMPLETED 12/28/2010)

34. Get plugged into a small group bible study

35. Get travel luggage for our photo equiptment (COMPLETED 9/1/2010)

36. Go back to New York

37. Go on a cruise

38. Go on a vacation (WITHOUT working) (COMPLETED 7/8/2011)

39. Go to a concert or comedy show (COMPLETED 5/2/2010)

40. Have “date night” once a week for two months

41. Host a family holiday at our house (COMPLETED 12/25/2011)

42. Make an album for Makena (COMPLETED 12/25/2010)

43. Paint our house

44. Read 3 books that benefit our business over the course of 6 months (COMPLETED 2011)

45. See 10 new movies on the AFI list

46. Take a day trip up north to play in the snow

47. Take a trip with another couple (COMPLETED 10/8/2010)

48. Take Molly for a walk once a week for 2 months

49. Use our Passports one more time before they expire (COMPLETED 7/7/2011)

50. Visit friends in San Francisco (COMPLETED 9/27/2010)

51. Visit the Guggenheim

52. Watch the sun rise and set on the beach on the same day

RYAN’S PERSONAL GOALS:

53. BBQ at least once a week for a month

54. Buy a Hugo Boss suit

55. Buy an original piece of art

56. Comment on at least one blog per day for one year

57. Do a major home improvement project

58. Do P90X or equivalent

59. Do something on Denise’s list that I don’t want to do

60. Dress up for Halloween

61. Read the bible once a day for 30 days in a row

62. Eat Sushi once a week for four weeks in a row with Mom

63. Fix driver’s side window in the Lexus

64. Get a tattoo

65. Get my wisdom teeth pulled

66. Get some kind of cardio equipment for the house (bike, treadmill, or elliptical machine)

67. Go hiking with friends

68. Go Kayaking

69. Go rock climbing

70. Go skiing

71. Go to a Cardinals game with my Dad

72. Go to a vineyard

73. Go to Sea World with Christy

74. Go to the gym 4 days a week for one month

75. Hang out with Greg once a week for one month

76. Invent something

77. Learn how to dance

78. Learn how to make home made ice cream from Grandma Rita

79. Learn how to play a new instrument

80. Lick a dolphin, the Space Needle, and part of the titanic (not at the same time)

81. Make 12 free throws in a row

82. Make a different dinner for Denise every night for 5 days (in a row)

83. Make home made popcorn (COMPLETED 4/26/2012)

84. Make Limoncello from scratch

85. No fast food for one month (COMPLETED 5/19/2011)

86. Participate in a charity photoshoot

87. Play an outdoor game with Denise at least once a week for one month

88. Read a marriage book with Denise

89. Ride in a hot air balloon (COMPLETED 4/24/2011)

90. Run a half marathon

91. Run at least one mile with Dan

92. Run or walk for a charity or cause

93. Smoke a great cigar that I haven’t had before

94. Stay at a nice hotel in Arizona

95. Take a class at the gym

96. Take Denise on a one mile run

97. Take Denise on a surprise vacation

98. Take Molly to a dog park

99. Teach Molly a new trick besides sit and lay down

100. Turn 30 (and be happy about it) (COMPLETED 7/7/10)

101. Wash car once a month for six months

DENISE’S PERSONAL GOALS:

53. Be involved in some kind of stage production (acting or singing)

54. Buy a pair of Manolo Blaniks

55. Call my Mom or Dad once a week for 6 months (COMPLETED 5/15/10)

56. Comment on someone else’s blog post once a day for a two months

57. Complete my associates degree

58. Do volunteer work using photography

59. Donate blood

60. Eat an entire meal with Chopsticks (COMPLETED 3/19/2010)

61. Expand my “fabulous” (not practical) shoe collection so I can wear a different pair for 7 days in a row

62. Find a mentor

63. Find a type of seafood I like to eat

64. Get a makeover with a pro makeup artist & invest in new makeup to recreate it (COMPLETED 4/3/2011)

65. Get laser eye surgery

66. Give Ryan a surprise gift once a month for 6 months

67. Go horseback riding on the beach

68. Go horseback riding with my mom & sister

69. Go on a road trip (with multiple locations)

70. Go skydiving

71. Go to a drive in movie

72. Go to a film festival

73. Go to a Suns Game (and have lower level tickets) (COMPLETED 10/29/10)

74. Go two weeks without Caffeine (COMPLETED 8/15/10)

75. Host a fabulous New Year’s Eve party with all our friends

76. Learn the basics of Dreamweaver

77. Learn the basics of Illustrator

78. Learn to play guitar

79. Mail birthday cards to all of our family members for one year

80. Make a new friend (a for real one, not just an acquaintance)

81. Mentor someone

82. Organize “girls night” once a month for four months (COMPLETED 10/2012)

83. Participate in an Arizona shootout

84. Plan an amazing day for Ryan’s 30th birthday (COMPLETED 7/7/10)

85. Post something “personal” on the blog every other week for 6 months

86. Make photography my full time job

87. Read 5 novels in the course of a year (COMPLETED July 2011)

88. Read the bible once a day for 30 days in a row

89. See a musical at Gammage (COMPLETED 4/2011)

90. See every movie nominated for Best Picture before the Oscars (COMPLETED 2/20/11)

91. Send a handwritten thank you note once a week for 2 months

92. Send out Christmas cards (COMPLETED 12/24/12)

93. Start serving in a ministry

94. Take a cooking class

95. Take a sign language class

96. Take one of my old 6th grade girls out to lunch/dinner and reconnect (COMPLETED 12/16/2011)

97. Treat Julie to a surprise special day out

98. Try one new restaurant a month for 6 months

99. Try Yoga

100. Visit the Walk of Fame in LA

101. Write a thank you letter to 5 people who have made a difference in my life