Process 081 ☼ Plans, Goals, and a Look Back

Last Process of 2022!

Dear friends,

This is the last Process of 2022! I’ll share some of your favorite moments, my Process gratitude list for 2022, plus 2023 Process plans and photography goals.

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Process in 2022

I published 39 issues of Process in 2022. That’s about 100,000 words, hundreds of images, dozens of lessons learned, nine video pieces, three interviews, and more.

Here are the five most popular issues of the year, in case you missed them:

Process 078 ☼ Making Change Happen

In this issue I got a bit more personal than usual. I shared my thoughts on the way that photography can bring positive life changes to both myself and others. How it can make people feel seen and how it gives me purpose. As a bonus, this issue also included images from a test shoot with the Leica Q2 monochrome.

Process 062 ☼ Flash Indoors on Film with Jason Sudeikis of Ted Lasso

This issue chronicles the first time I used flash for 35mm film indoors. I documented a comedy night at Boom Chicago featuring top secret guests from the Ted Lasso cast, including the two leads Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt. It was a blast.

Process 075 ☼ How I Built My New Portfolio Website

A behind-the-scenes look at how I created a new online portfolio and worked with a great designer to create a fresh new website. This issue was a companion to Process 002 in which I broke down the basic steps on how to build a portfolio.

Process 077 ☼ My Pre-Shoot Checklist

Another practical guide, this one about the things I keep in mind before a shoot so that I arrive on set confidently, knowing everything has been prepped and checked.

Process 080 ☼ Documenting Barbershops Around The World

A breakdown of how I got one of my longest-running client jobs and how it allowed me to shoot editorial work for a commercial client. Three continents, ten cities, thousands of images and a dozen interviews. Below one of the images from Oakland.

Things I Am Grateful for in 2022

• Mentor Sessions — After mentoring various photographers over the years I took the step to design a formal mentoring program. I made available a number of slots over the past few months and they all sold out. It’s been an incredibly satisfying experience to encourage, support, and embolden photographers in their process of finding their voice, making a book, and understanding their business.

A Zoom mentor session with Tokyo-based Alvin.

• My Collaborators — I am so lucky to have so many talented, kind, and creative collaborators who have been part of Process this year. First of all, everyone at Carmencita Film Lab without whose support and craftsmanship none of this would be possible. Luc filmed and edited most of the Process videos, Vangelis keeps me on track and moving forward, Taylor assists and helps behind the scenes, Samuli rocked my new website design, Minnow coaches me, Tycjan helped with video, Liske runs my favorite Studio 13, Wim is a darkroom legend at Silver-Hands Lab, Paul is my go-to brainstorm friend, Dan is my design sounding board, Nastya who has proof-read recent issues, Maarten at Fotohandel Delfshaven has been so supportive with camera lending and more, all the companies who supported the Process Giveaways with a special shout out to the team over at Moment, and others I may be forgetting. THANK YOU.

• Discovering the Half-Frame Camera — At the start of 2022 my friend Guy lent me his Olympus Pen-F camera and changed my photographic life. Since then I explored gender on half-frame, created a new project which will continue into 2023, and created my first darkroom art prints.

• You, the readers — All 7,000+ of you! I’m especially grateful for those who let me know a particular issue positively impacted you and made you a better and more curious photographer. It keeps me going.

  
  Process is basically me saying three things: this is what I made, this is how and why I made it, and you can do it too. If you know others who can use some of this same knowledge-sharing and encouragement I’d love for you to let them know.

Process Plans for 2023

• Publish 45 issues of Process.

• Launch Creatives In/AMS, my project about Amsterdam-based creatives and their spaces. I’ve been working on it for over a year and first introduced it to you in Process 039 before it had a name. All the behind-the-scenes will be chronicled right here in Process as it happens. Here’s a preview from a recent shoot:

Sella Molenaar in her studio, for Creatives In/AMS

• Launch PROJECT X, a major development for Process I can’t yet comment about.

• Publish a new piece of printed matter. I have not yet decided whether it will be a zine or a book, but either way it’ll be the highest standard of printing.

• Create more Process videos, in a more calmly cinematic way than you’re used to.

• Interview more industry insiders and share the findings.

• The return of the Process Giveaway.

Photography Goals for 2023

• Exhibit my fine art work in a gallery setting.

• Offer new in-person and online workshops.

• Lean into the art side of my work more.

• Professionalize my operation on an administrative level.

• Show more vulnerability in my writing.

• Create and share more collage work.

• Launch my online shop for limited edition prints and books.

• Be better about documenting my personal life in photos, especially when friends are visiting me. Here’s a recent picture of when my friend Steve visited from Rochester, and a snap from my home office right before I moved last month.

As always, I will bring you along for the ride and share all my lessons learned, good and bad. I’d love to hear about your goals and ideas too, see below.

Question: What is one of your photography goals for 2023? They can be small and specific like learning how to use a flash, or big and ambitious like producing your first zine. Please share your thoughts in the comments so it’s a community conversation. <3

All film was developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. Use code “PROCESS” at check out to get a free size upgrade for your scans.

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That’s it for this week, and this year! Have a wonderful holiday season and don’t forget to take lots of pictures of your family and friends. Process will be back on January 8th.

Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others.

Wesley

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