Happy New Year! I can’t believe 2011 is over. It was a big year for me: it’s the first year I worked exclusively as a photographer, and I can’t tell you how amazing that has been. I mostly talk about the good things here on the blog, but the year has been both terrifying and exhilarating: there have been days I’ve doubted if I’m really cut out for this, and (more) days where I’ve been overjoyed at where photography is taking me.
In 2011 I photographed 16 portrait sessions, 6 weddings, and was featured 10 times in blogs ranging from the Maritime Wedding Directory to Offbeat Bride. I became part of a kick-ass community called A Practical Wedding; stood in front of a group of two dozen little girls to tell them about being a photographer; and was profiled in the paper. I got to see my photographs promoting the likes of Matt Andersen, participate in something as cool as #bringitdowntown, become a mentor, and meet and be photographed by Jamie Delaine.
I invested a lot of time and money into purchasing equipment and creating systems that work really well for me, and have allowed me to dramatically increase my turn-around time, helping me give my clients the best experience possible. I ordered sample albums; revamped my website, blog, and logo; and ordered a variety of new promotional materials. I participated in several workshops, improved my business and technique constantly, and exhibited in my first wedding show. My style and approach to photography has changed rapidly, and I’m finally feeling like my work is uniquely and distinctively mine. I’ve also been making an effort to blog more. It has taken two and a half years, but I’m finally at the point where I feel confident enough to truly be myself, both in my work and in my words.
2011 was also great in my personal life. I moved at the beginning of the year, to a fabulous new home full of light… and with a patio that I spent the majority of the summer working on with my laptop. I racked up 12,000 kilometres in the globe-trotter sweepstakes, visiting NYC, South Carolina, Montréal, and Halifax… not to mention 8 trips to Moncton, and sojourns in Saint John, Sussex, and Woodstock. I ran 660 km, saw 18 shows (most of them during the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival), and of course the cookbook we self-published was a huge, fun project!
I want to thank all of my awesome clients from 2011, each of whom made a huge impression on me. Thank you for your trust; for choosing me to capture your memories; and for being your wonderful, funny, thoughtful selves. Thank you to the photographers who’ve reached out to me this year: I’m lucky to have your advice and friendship. And finally, big, huge thanks to AG, who is everything I need him to be, at exactly the right time. I couldn’t do this without his support.
In 2012 I’m looking forward to more client sessions and weddings; attending in the WPPI conference in Las Vegas (and meeting so many of my fellow APW photogs!); continuing to grow my business; finishing up writing that business plan… and then rocking it; and the Canon 5D Mk III (because a girl can dream!).
My biggest goal for the year is, in the words of Malcolm Gladwell (I’m reading The Tipping Point right now), to make hibou photo tip. Getting married? I want to be there. New baby? I want to meet her. Is your home overflowing with the joy and exuberance of young children? Show me. And then tell a friend. Tell a dozen friends. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Keep in touch. I’ll be your photographer for love and for life. Bring it on!
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[...] been plotting, planning, and… writing a formal, three-page, share-holder style report about my business in 2011. Exciting! It’s an important exercise, but not one that lends itself well to interesting [...]