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If I said that this year went by fast and that I can’t believe that it’s already 2013…I would be lying. This year has been a long one! Not at all in a negative way…it just feels like it has been 2012 for 5 years! I am so so excited to start this new year.
2012 started with jumping into my business full-time with not a clue what to do or expect. I had an extremely open mind and heart for what was to come. I said yes to everything that came my way. I tried to figure out my style, my post-processing, and how to run a business. I played with new lenses, bought new equipment, learned a little about flash. I have experimented, changed, searched, played a little, worked alot, got little sleep and literally had the time of my life. AND I am still learning and searching. But in the meantime, I have met incredible people and documented really beautiful milestones in their lives. I had the honor of shoot friends and family through important seasons including my brother graduating from high school and my friends have babies. I cannot be more thankful for this life the Lord has chosen for me. I lead a very beautiful life right now, yall.
2012 allowed me to grow. Honestly, it made me grow. Personally, we have been through so many changes in this year. I didn’t even know it was possible for that much to change in one year. But it did, and we grew. We moved too many times, added Little Leo to our family, switched churches, bought a car (?!?!? that one still freaks me out!), developed a very bad baby fever (tehe!) and too many things for me to remember.
And honestly, I worked…way too much. I said yes…way too much. I never really understood how to say no until the end of this year…and I still wasn’t good at it. For those of you who work a lot and thrive from it. Kudos to you! I cannot work, work, work all the stinking time. I forget how to take care of myself. I forgot how to feed my soul. I forgot how to be the best wife I could be to my love. I didn’t do the things I love like I used to. I would work from 9am-2am almost every day. And I promise to you this is not an fib. BUT I did this because I LOVE what I do! I accepted so much opportunity that laundry piled up, homemade meals were never cooked, missed out on important moments and things outside of my business didn’t get done. It resulted in too many emotional meltdowns and obsessing over pleasing my clients only.
I am not telling you this to make you feel sympathy for me. This to let you know things will be changing around here y’all!
Pricing has changed for 2013. I am in the process of switching it all over on my website but have had trouble getting logged in! So SOON that will all be correct! Please contact me through email to get updated pricing or if you have any questions!
My goals for this year consist of alot. But I will share a few with you…
SAY NO! : Self explainatory, I think. I am reading a book right now called The Resolution of Women by Priscilla Shirer (which I highly recommend for all ladies!) Here is an excerpt the Lord made bold and bright in my face the other night.
“Give yourself permission to say no to certain things that are not really yours to carry right now. And force yourself to delay certain things that arent your primary mission for this moment. In doing so, you’ll find that every yes come with a lot more freedom and fulfullment.”
BOOM. I will be intentional with rest. Working only until 5 so I can cook for my husband, going to bed at a decent hour, allowing time to BREATHE.
BLOG : I am going to be realistic and say update it at least once a week whether its personal or photography related! Hopefully it will be more than that! Also keep my website updated also! Which needs a major update! (Coming soon!)
Get published : Submit work to a blog or magazine to be printed! I want to show off the awesome people I work with!
Serve : My husband. My church. My family and friends.
Read books : I would love to be able to read a book a month. 12 books; 12 months. So I will try to fulfill this goal!
Get healthy! : Start working out again, not for a goal in what I want my body to look like but to feel healthier and to have a way to let my body release stress!
Lastly and more importantly, I want to be so intentional with my relationship with my Father that there is nothing ever more important than spending time with Him. This is something I didn’t do enough of in 2012, and that resulted in stress and unhappiness in my daily life. I am so ready for a more intimate relationship with Him. This is my biggest and most important goal.
With all that being said, I wanted to share my year with you! First starting with my couples, then families and kids and last but not least seniors! Looking back I cant believe how much my photography has evolved. I am so looking forward to a year from now to see the same thing. I AM SO EXCITED. I feel so blessed that all these people trusted me to do this for them. AGH! What a beautiful thing. So thankful. Enjoy this post and look forward to seeing a blog post with my 2012 weddings in the next few days!
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Have a great weekend friends!
Jade - You are so right darlin girl. Love of your job is a wonderful and beautiful thing to have! And you are so lucky to have it.
And it is WAY important for you to make sure you set goals so that next year you STILL love your job. And also that your husband still loves your job. And so your future children see you as passionate about and not consumed with your job.
And the way to do that is seek Him with all that you have. Every bit of you.
I am so proud of you my tbree! Not only because you are a wonderful photographer, a wonderful person, or a person with a heart for leading others to your Father: you are all those things. But because you are and always have been passionate about seeking Him and His heart first. And you are never really fulfilled until you feel as though you are walking intimately with Him. You are a true worshipper.
i love you, darlin girl. praying that this year is full of all these things and so many other wonderful beautiful things that you could only dream of.