The Best Of 2018

As we approach the end of the year, I’m completely filled with gratitude. In my Fall newsletter, I had mentioned how busy this Fall was and how I wanted to do a ‘best of’ reflection of all the families I’d photographed during that busy season. I had also hoped to do a December Newsletter that wrapped up the year and presented it in a nice package in the form of an email. However, time is of the essence, both mine and yours- so I decided to wrap up the entire year with a few of my favorite pictures right here on my blog. Also, this would be a fine time to sign up for newsletters if you haven’t already so that you get it the next time I write one….I’m guessing this will be in January but I’m smart enough to not make such promises.

When I think back to January I was daring to wonder what it would be like to do family photography as a business. I had actually spent most of 2017 in this thought process as well - taking classes and refreshing my knowledge of the technical aspects of photography as well as learning about the business side. I’m a notorious over-thinker, so at some point it took some pushing from some of the people I had shared this dream with to convince me it was high time to stop thinking and start doing (I’m looking at you, Katie Bray). And here we are in December. I’m humbled each and every time a family trusts me enough to capture their season of life. It’s something I don’t take lightly and as I look back on the year, I’m in awe of how many families have weaved their way into my life and heart simply by saying yes to this dream of mine.

Above are some of my favorite pictures from the year. There are so many more….so. many. more. My dwindling hard drive space can confirm this reality, but here are some of my favorites. As a teacher who became a substitute teacher after I had kids, I realized that one of the things I missed the most about full time teaching was the continuing relationships that I built - not only with my students, but with their entire families. Family photography has gifted that back to me. I’ve had the privilege of photographing some families multiple times this year, seen their kids grow, see their families grow, and it makes my heart so full that I can’t believe that I actually get paid to do what I do. So, from the bottom of my heart - thank you. Thank you to each of you who have entrusted me to capture your family through photographs. Thank you to each of you who have followed me and supported me through this crazy adventure. Thank you to all my family and friends who have nudged me (or shoved me when necessary), encouraged me, challenged me, and allowed me to chase after this with everything in me. May these next few days leading up to the new year be filled to the brim with both rest and joy, and may you continue with me in 2019 to be a people who hunt for moments in each day that are worth savoring. Be looking for a newsletter in the new year that will talk about some exciting offerings and opportunities in 2019. In the meantime cheers to 2018, friends!

my summer in 10 pictures

Lately I've been reading a lot by Emily P. Freeman who is very big on creating space in the craziness of life to "let your soul breathe".  One of the things she encourages everyone to do is to pause at the close of each season and reflect - to note the things that you're learning, the things that have worked really well, that haven't worked great - and just about anything else that comes to mind.  It's been a really life giving practice, so I decided to reflect on our summer through pictures.  Spoiler alert - you'll probably be seeing a similar post with each passing season.  

Our summer was a pretty perfect blend of busy and relaxing, which almost never happens.  It was the first summer that actually felt like a summer.  With Everett finishing his first year of Preschool in June, I, for the first time, actually felt a switch in the rhythm of our days as we transitioned into summer.  The pictures above are not exhaustive, but they do summarize how we spent many of our days.  We ventured out of our comfort zone and tried camping with kids -  potty training and all.  We packed a lot of picnic lunches, ate ice cream, logged some hours at our water table, and Jeff and I even snuck in a few date nights.  

I know it's not the end of summer yet....but even though it's only the beginning of August, I already can feel my attention being pulled to Fall.  I love the rhythms of our seasons and I think that's why I like this practice of reflection so much.  And the added bonus is that it forces me to go through my own pictures - a task I enjoy but often one that gets overlooked and buried under client sessions.  As we walk towards Fall, may we all continue to hunt for those moments we don't want to forget and savor them for all they're worth.