Personal | 2022 in Review; a year of rediscovery, progress and personal growth

This year, as many of you already know, my grandmother passed away. I was there when it happened. Witnessing my grandmother’s death affected me in ways I didn’t expect. It was a shock to the system, and seemed to solidify the year with a monumental end that significantly shifted my perspective of life. Ninety-six. My grandmother was ninety-six at the time of her death. Nearly, a century of moments leading to the last, and still not enough time. It is the realization that all I have left is photographs that underscores the importance of what I do. Sorting through hundreds of snapshots in preparation for her memorial my love of photography was reignited. I saw her life in a way I’ve never seen it before. I saw faces of those she knew, places she’d been; images proving her existence, providing a small glance into the chapters within her life’s story. It is truly an honor to capture and preserve memories. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling role for myself than to photograph love and legacy.

In so many ways 2022 taught me how to live again. I quit a project I’d been working on for three years and only shot twenty-three weddings in total. This significantly cut back on my work load. I suddenly had time on my hands to learn about myself and try new things. I learned to ice skate, began getting my nails done monthly, and most notably rediscovered my love of painting. I broke out my sketchbook mid July and painted nonstop until busy season started in September, creating several small paintings and about half a sketchbook’s worth of work. I’m excited to begin again once my editing is done for the year. This year I also traveled to fifteen states (eighteen if you count airports), shot at seven destination locations including my first international job in Tulum, Mexico. I visited five national parks and countless state parks along the way. I was published internationally for the first time in Boho Weddings, UK and was nominated for two awards by my industry peers.

Having only taken on twenty three weddings, I really got to know all of my clients and developed more personal relationships and new friendships than I ever have before. I really loved this year’s couples and am a little sad to see all their weddings dates having come and gone. I also begin promoting myself as a lifestyle photographer again, and was floored to see how many new clients as well as previous families returned to have me capture them and their new additions. This year was not without it’s struggles but overall it gave me a new appreciation for my life, my career, and all of the experiences I’ve had along the way.