As I write this, I realize it’s no longer Christmastime. And I missed New Years too. Oops! But for once, I’m accepting that I’ve fallen short of a deadline… and I’ll explain below.
If you’ve followed my business over the last year, first of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Also, you’ve probably seen that it’s been a tremendous year of growth and change. Here are some highlights of the year:
On January 8, 2014, I first publicly announced my dream of taking studio portraits of women to boost self-confidence and change the way women see themselves. It seemed like a far-away dream, but less than a year later, I launched what I call SPOTLIGHT Sessions! Please click on the link to read more about these amazing sessions for women and how they give back!
On September 5, I opened my first studio-storefront on Main Street in downtown Watkinsville, GA. Having my own storefront is a dream that I thought might come true years and years in the future. It’s still a little surreal how God provides more than you can ever imagine and exactly when you need it most. This dream studio that He placed in my lap is better than all of the pins on my “Dream Studio” Pinterest board from years back, and my SPOTLIGHT sessions are no longer being done in a 4×4 corner of my basement apartment! :)
On December 10, I launched my new website & blog (that you’re on now!) — a change that was long overdue. I am so happy to now have a website that I love and is such a great representation of who I am and my current work.
Last but not least, this was my absolute biggest year of weddings & engagements, and I could not be more thrilled about the sweet couples I was blessed to photograph. My brides and grooms bring me so much joy, and some days I still can’t believe that my job is to capture the love between two people. To every wedding couple who trusted me to be a small part of your special day, I cannot thank you enough!
Needless to say, this was an amazing year (maybe because 14 is my lucky number?! Just kidding… but it is). However, this year stretched me in a lot of ways and taught me a lot of valuable lessons. I learned this year that it’s very easy to get swept up chasing the wrong things. With the whirlwind of excitement & growth that my business continued to experience, combined with the rapidly changing & competitive photography industry and my entrepreneurial spirit, I found myself constantly chasing and focusing on “success.” What I didn’t realize is that my mind had warped what success truly is. While I was making huge strides in my business, my personal life, my time given to those I love, and even my time given to the Lord dwindled.
SO. My resolution for 2015 is simple. This year I want to glorify God through my business and personal life. I want to devote time to those around me and show people how much they mean to me. I want to be a servant to God and not a servant to materialistic gain and earthly achievements. I want to keep my eyes and heart set on my Savior and use my business to glorify Him. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23. I want to cross things off of my personal to-do list in addition to my business to-do list. I hit the ground running by fostering a dog in the New Year, something I had been putting off recently due to the “business is too busy” excuse. Finding a forever home for this sweet pup is one of the reasons why this year-end blog post is a week late. And I’m okay with that.
I’m excited about all that 2015 has in store, including all of the amazing couples I already know I get to work with!
Normally I share my favorite images from the past year in my “year-end” blog post, but with having a new website, you can just check out my gallery page to see where I’ve already compiled some of my 2014 favorites — boy, was it hard to choose! And instead, here are some photos of my studio all decorated for the holidays! :)
P.S. One change I’m making in 2015 is that I will now be sending out occasional emails with any big news, tips for brides & grooms, and any promotions I’m running. If you’d like to hear from me (no spam, I promise!), please sign up for my newsletter at the bottom!
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” — Earl Nightingale
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