Photography Year in Review: 2025 Results & 2026 Plans

Photography Year in Review: 2025 Results & 2026 Plans

Last year around this time, I wrote about how things went for me in 2024 - a sort of year-end summary of my photography - and what I hoped to accomplish in 2025. I recently reread that post, and while some of it happened as planned, some did not - and that’s perfectly fine. In a creative field, it’s hard to predict outcomes with any certainty, but it’s still fun to try!

If you’d like to read last year’s summary, you can find it here: 2024 Year in Review.

In that post, I broke my photography business into a few key categories, and they still feel relevant, so I’ve used the same buckets this year - plus a couple of additional ones that seem important to cover both for 2025 and looking ahead to 2026.

And just like last year, this is not a “here’s my best photos” sort of year-end summary, but rather a state of the business with a look at future plans. Consider it a “peek behind the curtain” sort of thing. In short, it feels like a good year overall for my photography, my photo business, and my creativity and growth as an artist.

I did take quite a few photos this year that I really love, so it was a good year in that respect too. 

Editing Style / Approach

Refining My Photography Editing
Diving deeper into masking, light, and color to craft images that resonate

This is something that will always change and evolve - or at least I hope it does. If my editing isn’t changing, it feels like stagnation, and stagnation feels a lot like falling behind. It usually means I’m not learning or experimenting, so I try to keep pushing forward.

I continue to dive deeper into editing, learning everything I can to craft images that resonate with me (and hopefully with others). I’ve especially leaned into masking, using it to target my edits and apply them more selectively. I’m also refining my use of light and color - again, largely through masks - to shape the final image in a more intentional way.

To me, editing is an essential part of the art of photography. It’s the process of taking the raw ingredients of a shot and turning them into a finished image that really shines. I love seeing how much an image can transform during the editing process, and this is an area I’ll continue to push forward.

I don’t set specific goals for editing, because it’s not something easily measured. The only real goal is to keep experimenting and improving, which requires intentionally setting aside time each week to edit. I did that consistently in 2025, and I plan to continue in 2026.

YouTube

YouTube 2025 Recap and 2026 Goals
Publishing one video per week, focusing on Luminar Neo and other editing tools

What I wrote last year still largely reflects how I feel today. My goal remains to publish one new video per week, with more time and care spent making sure each one delivers real value. I don’t see myself returning to multiple videos per week - except in rare cases, like a new product launch - because it’s simply too much work to sustain.

(You can read my full thoughts on YouTube here.)

Each video takes a lot of time and effort. While I enjoy the process, it’s significant - especially since YouTube isn’t my full-time job. Between my full-time work and all aspects of my photography, every video requires careful planning.

Most of my content focuses on Luminar Neo, because it’s my favorite editor and I enjoy using it. That said, I also work with other tools, and over the past several months I haven’t stayed up to date on them - so I haven’t made videos about them either. In 2026, I plan to reintroduce content covering other products while continuing Luminar Neo tutorials.

I’m not a single-product photographer or editor, and I want my channel to reflect the diversity of my experience. Using multiple tools makes me a better editor and educator, which ultimately helps me serve a broader audience.

In terms of output, I published 62 videos in 2025, slightly more than one per week. New Luminar releases often cluster multiple videos in a short period, which pushes the total higher (and they usually have two big releases per year). As an example, I published 5 videos over a 2 week period, following the release of the Luminar Neo Fall Upgrade. I expect a similar cadence in 2026, assuming all else is equal.

A highlight for me on YouTube this year was reaching 50,000 subscribers back in October - a symbolic milestone I’m proud of. Going forward, I don’t have a specific subscriber goal. I plan to keep making videos I enjoy, trust they’ll help people, and let go of expectations. Showing up consistently is hard enough without adding the pressure of quotas.

Newsletter

Growing My Newsletter in 2025 and Plans for 2026
Building relationships with subscribers outside social media

My newsletter grew by over 60% in 2025, from roughly 10,000 to ~16,400 subscribers, which I’m incredibly grateful for. I hope to continue growing at a similar pace in 2026, though growth is never guaranteed and isn’t even remotely predictable.

My goal for 2026 is to exceed 20,000 subscribers to my newsletter, and ideally go well beyond that. I also came reasonably close to my 2025 target of 1 newsletter every week, sending 38 issues (just over 70% of the goal). In 2026, I plan to send about three newsletters per month, a sustainable pace that allows me to share regularly without overwhelming anyone - including myself. So that would be a similar level of output as in 2025.

I see my newsletter (and blog) as a way to build relationships outside of social media. While I post on social media semi-frequently, I don’t post constantly, and I can’t predict how content will be received. In short, I don’t control the algorithm, and thus anything I share is usually only shown to a small fraction of anyone following me.

I admire photographers who post daily across multiple platforms, but that level of output would burn me out. Many of them do this as part of their full-time work, and perhaps it would feel different for me if I did the same (and had the time, I guess).

Blogging

Photo Blogging: Why I Started Again and What’s Ahead in 2026
Sharing weekly insights and creative perspectives on photography

Earlier this year, I wrote about why I started blogging again after a long break. In short, it’s a creative outlet that lets me explore photography in different ways. I simply enjoy writing and sharing my insights.

In 2026, I plan to continue blogging much as I did in 2025. Roughly once a week, I’ll publish articles on various photography topics. Some may be short, others longer - I’m not setting strict rules. I just enjoy writing and hope it’s helpful to others.

Some of these articles will be product-related (such as tips and tricks for better edits) and some will be what I call “Musings” - just my take on some aspect of photography.

I tend to write in batches, so I usually have several posts nearly finished and a growing list of ideas waiting to be explored. Time is always a constraint, but I plan to continue making space for writing because I truly enjoy it.

Social Media

My Social Media Approach in 2025 and 2026
Posting selectively while avoiding burnout and chasing algorithms

Social media often feels like something I should be doing rather than something I genuinely want to do. Mindless scrolling aside, I’m referring to the consistent, intentional posting that’s meant to drive awareness and engagement. I know I could be more strategic, but in reality, my approach has been fairly haphazard.

When it comes to promoting my own work or digital products, I rarely do much of that. Most of the time, I’ll post a photo here and there and leave it at that. I seldom share links to new videos, products, or blog posts. I’m not entirely sure why, other than feeling rushed and not giving it enough attention. Plus, I have a bit of imposter syndrome that I deal with. 

In 2026, I’ll continue posting on a few platforms, but I don’t expect a major shift from 2025. I also don’t track follower counts or set goals - thinking about that constantly would take the fun out of creating, it’s outside my control, and it’s impossible to predict.

Digital Products

Expanding My Digital Products in 2026
Creating bundles and resources to help photographers with editing

I added a few new digital products this year, including my Cityscape Power Pack, and I’m grateful for the positive response. I had planned to create one or two new editing courses in 2025, but I didn’t get to them. Between my full-time job and other photography work, time was limited. I still have ideas for courses that I would like to explore, but with limited time I am not sure I will get to it.

I have several ideas for new products in 2026, as I hope to expand upon what I already offer on my site. I also want to create more bundles like the Cityscape Power Pack, combining multiple assets to help people with their editing. We’ll see what I can accomplish in the new year, but I have a lot of ideas that I am considering.

Workshops

Getting Out in the Field - Can I finally get this off the ground in 2026?

I’ve been fortunate to serve as an instructor on several Luminar Adventures over the years, but I haven’t yet hosted my own in-field workshops. I have a few destinations in mind, along with fellow photographers who could co-host with me, but I simply haven’t spent the time needed to plan them out in detail.

I’m hopeful that changes in 2026. Quite a few of you have expressed interest, and leading workshops in the field is something I genuinely enjoy. It’s a lot of work to put together, but it’s also a lot of fun - and I’d really love to see this come together in the year ahead.

Webinars

Webinars: Should I Do These Again?
Live teaching can complement my tutorials

I didn’t host any webinars in 2025. Between my full-time job and other priorities, it simply wasn’t a focus. You can check out my previous webinars here.

I have several ideas for future webinars that I think would be fun, but hosting them requires a lot of pre-work and planning. For now, it’s not a top priority - but I’m open to it if there’s interest. Going live is actually enjoyable and offers a change of pace from recording and editing videos for YouTube.

Alternatively, these same topics could be mini-courses instead of a webinar. I just need to think about these things and see what I have the time and desire for.

Closing Summary

Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026
A year of growth, creativity, and enjoying the process

That’s the plan for my photography in 2026. Honestly, it’s not much different from 2025 - and I like it that way. This year was busy, but I feel like I accomplished a lot - and most importantly, I enjoyed it. If I’m not having fun, what’s the point?

Thank you for following along, wherever you do. I truly appreciate it!