Usually this post is my last blog post of the year.  However, I had a baby on December 3 and this post kept getting put off for obvious reasons.  So instead, my behind the scenes blog is the first post of the new year!

As always, I got to work with many talented photographers this year!  It’s so fun to have pictures of us doing our creative work and to take pictures of other people who enjoy the same thing you do.

I even had some clients and my sweet husband, Weston, get shots of me doing what I love!

***Side note: Cookie cakes are my favorite!  Aly has gotten me a huge cookie cake each time I did newborn photos for her.

My number one goal is to love and serve my clients well.  I’m thankful for all the second shooters who not only help me accomplish that goal, but also accomplish it on my behalf when they shoot with me.

At the beginning of the year, I impulsively registered to attend a conference for Christian businesswomen.  I reconnected with a fellow photographer and friend, Leigh Ann, and we came up with the idea to create an online education course for moms.  We named it Moms that Shoot, recorded the course in July, and launched in October!  (More info here.) You’ll be hearing more about it this year, so stay tuned!

In June, I celebrated 10 years in business and resigned from my ministry assistant position at our church and committed to full-time photography.  I loved it, but felt that it would be too much to handle when our baby boy arrived.  Little did I know that life was about to throw us tons of curve balls.  There’s no way I could have juggled two jobs, a toddler, and all the chaos.  God knew the perfect time for me to leave and I’m thankful He always knows what is ahead!

I also launched my Senior Spokesmodel team this year!  We have had a lot of fun already and I am excited for more sessions with them this year.

I’m getting a little better at taking selfies with everyone.  I’m not quite sure I made it to 100 percent, but I  know I got pretty close!

***The sweetest couple that gave ME a gift on their wedding day!  The best surprise!

Not only did I have the busiest fall photography season of my career, but we also had some huge things going on in our personal lives this year.  My father-in-law unexpectedly passed away in September.  We ended up selling our house in 6 weeks and moving to our new house about 8 months before we planned.  Weston pulled a double work load for the fall tax deadlines since his dad was in the hospital and subsequently passed away.  Oh, and I was VERY pregnant for the entire fall season (Collin was born December 3, remember?).

We did get to experience the other side of the camera quite a few times since I was pregnant for most of the year.  Our dear friend Aly took our pregnancy announcement photos and maternity photos – again!

***I’m still cracking up at Camryn not wanting her feet to touch the sand!  Thankfully, she has since overcome this phobia and now we can’t get her away from the sand when we go to the beach.

Another dear friend Debby took our gender reveal party photos – again!

We are also doing two newborn sessions again (we like consistency!).  Ashley Mercer Photography took our studio newborn photos the week after Collin was born.  And Aly will be taking our lifestyle newborn photos next week!

I also took Collin’s hospital photos and photos of Camryn meeting Collin for the first time.  Probably not recommended right after a c-section, but I couldn’t help it!

Then I took our family photos with a tripod the day after we got home from the hospital.  Normally I would have waited, but I desperately wanted a full family photo for our Christmas cards.  That meant I needed to take a photo and order as soon as possible so everyone would get them before Christmas!

Thank you to everyone who has supported my business for the last 10 years!  I would not be where I am today without each of you.  Last year was a great year and a challenging year.  Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022!  I can’t wait to see all of your smiling faces again!