As this year comes to a close, I made it a goal during the down season this winter to make a plan for what I want to accomplish photography wise in 2018. And then I realized that I tend to always be looking forward and not really reflect and appreciate what has been accomplished so far. My word for this year was “progress” and I realized that when I thought about it at any certain point throughout the year, it didn’t really FEEL like I was making progress only because I had about 50 other things to do on my list! It’s so easy to keep striving for the next best thing and get caught up in this rut of not realizing what we have actually managed to cross off our list so far. So I took a bit of time and listed out everything that I DID manage to do this year and was astounded! There were so many things that I had forgotten about as time had passed and I had become immersed in the latest “big” project. I realized that, yes, although I do have a million things to improve upon, this year was a major learning curve for me that I am now hoping to continue into 2018!
And if you’re reading this, I encourage you to take some time and reflect on your year so far and your progress towards whatever it is you’re striving towards! Never lose sight of what you’re aiming for, but also never lose sight of how far you’ve come either!! So this brings me to today’s best of 2017 post which has helped me reflect on all the occasions I’ve been able to help capture this year!
Including this!!!
But first, I can’t let you go on to scroll through all these beautiful images without thanking so many people. First, to my couples and my seniors, who allowed me to capture their memories, I wouldn’t be here rambling about progress and reflection without you. You make it all possible. You make my heart full and serving you and becoming friends through photography makes me so incredibly happy, I can’t even describe it in words 🙂 You trust me and allow me to do what I love which is a true blessing!! To every photographer that has trusted me enough to have me along to second shoot, thank you, thank you thank you!! Vanessa Smith, Chelsea Schaefer, Jontell Parham, Hannah Smith, and Emily Sacra, I’m talking to you!!! I would be nowhere without your trust, your wisdom, and answering my endless questions about your craft. It is invaluable to learn from first hand experience watching you serve your couples on wedding days! People often ask me if I’ve ever had to deal with difficult people on wedding days and I can truthfully say I never have because everyone I second shoot with happens to have literally the best clients wedding photographers could ask for! And not only are their clients amazing, but the bridal parties and families have also been so welcoming. It really feels like you aren’t just a vendor there, but a real integral part of someone’s wedding day, a part of the family so to speak wishing the couple the very best as they start a new married life. I’d also like to thank the incredible team that helped put together the fall styled shoot in Charlottesville! For my very first styled shoot, it was a dream and it absolutely would not have happened without everyone’s help. And lastly, thank you to every single person who has read a blog post, liked a picture, or shared encouragement with me in person, I really can’t say how much I appreciate it!!! It makes everything feel more real and is the best source of inspiration to keep working towards getting better! It makes the hours behind a screen all worth it 🙂
Enjoy my round up of favorite couples’ & wedding pictures from 2017!!!!
The last seven above were taken while second shooting for Emily Sacra!
