As we come to the end of another trip around the sun, it's time to take a look back and appreciate all the good things that have happened in the past year.
2021 has brought so much for me to be thankful for, not only in my personal life, but in my business as well. It has truly been an incredible year and it wouldn't have been nearly as great without all of you!
This past year saw an amazing amount of growth in my business! I have had the absolute joy and privilege of serving so many amazing people this year. I say it all the time (because it's true!) I get to work with some of the best people on the planet! I am always so thankful to each and every one of my clients, followers and supporters who make the choice to entrust me with capturing some of the most prized moments in their lives, as well as showing me all the love and support through their kind words and recommendations. You are all seriously the best and I couldn't do all this without you!!!
In 2021 I was able to witness happy couples vow to love one another for the rest of their days, see the radiant joy on expectant mothers' faces as they prepared to meet their little ones, rocked newborn babes to sleep with their parents filled with love for them, watched children grow up and seen their personalities bloom. I've seen the excitement for the future gleam in the eyes of seniors, captured the tender moments shared between young couples in love, and met extended families to bear witness to all that can come from a lifetime of two people loving one another. More often than not, I have been able to do all of this while basking in the warmth of the setting sun, or listening to the birds greet a new day as the sun rises, taking in in the glorious beauty of the world around us.
Being able to be a part of so many wonderful relationships, milestones, and moments in the lives of the people I serve is one of my favorite parts of what I do. This business is so much more than just taking photos for me, it's telling the stories of those I meet and being able to witness all the raw, genuine, emotions. I love being able to see those around me experiencing all the joy and love the world has to offer, and seeing their lives blessed as they walk through life. Being a photographer is truly a job like no other!
This year has seen some wonderful things within my own life as well. My husband and I made it through our first full year of marriage and learned to navigate new challenges together. We became proud (and slightly obsessive) chicken owners, added another cat and another dog to our fur family to create a very chaotic household. We also decided it was time to start a new journey and have a child of our own. Pregnancy has been a wild ride and as we get very close to the time to meet our own little bundle of joy, we are filled with excitement and anticipation! I find myself wondering more everyday what our little one will look like, if they will have hair, whose nose they will have, and probably most often in my thoughts, how big will they be?! I pray daily that God will give me the strength to bring this child into the world without too much difficulty, no matter what size they are, and that they will arrive safely and healthy.
Parenthood will surely bring changes to our lives in 2022. One of the big changes that I am planning to make happen is to cut back at my current full time job as an x-ray technologist. While my full time job has helped me to not only pay the bills and build the life I now enjoy, and taught me a great deal of compassion and understanding for those around me with different journeys, I know all too well that time is a thief. I want to be as present as I possibly can be in our little one's life as they grow up, especially in these next few years. I cherish so much the times I enjoyed babysitting my nieces when they were little prior to going to school, and I look back now and miss those extra special moments together. There is just something extra special about the first fe w years of a child's life and all the rapid changes they go through, and I don't want to miss a thing. As we prepare to welcome our little one, I am also preparing to take a step back from my full time job, not quitting completely just yet, but cutting back significantly to allow me to be home more. This move will also allow me to pursue my passion of photography more with a more open and flexible schedule than before. It is going to be a big change, but I believe it will be the right move for both my family and my business so that both can grow and prosper.
Looking back on the past year I am filled with thanks for all the wonderful people I have met, places I have been, and things I have done. I am also filled with excitement for the coming year and all the new faces I will get to meet, and the returning faces that I will see again. I look forward to serving my clients in 2022, and capturing all the wonderful memories for each and every single one of you! It's sure to be a year like no other!!!
