This is a post I meant to write…well, at the end of 2021. But life has gotten in the way, so here we are. With my recent cancer diagnosis, I have decided to take on a lighter workload this year, with the exception of blogging. I love to blog, but usually find it difficult to balance it with my regular sessions. So before I move into blogging into individual sessions, I wanted to write out my thoughts about 2021.
2021 Started Off Strong…Until It Didn’t
Like so many others, I started off 2021 full of optimism. It was one of the first years since I had moved to Anna that I was kicking the year off with sessions on the books–something that doesn’t always happen during the barren winter months. On a personal level, I had lots of creative ideas that I was eagerly churning out. And bolstered by several big successes that I had earned with photography competitions in 2020, I felt confident enough to apply for my very first photo gallery exhibit. I felt so optimistic that I would be accepted, so receiving a rejection letter was like a punch to the gut.
I wish I could say that I brushed it off and kept doing what I do, but I had a hard time shaking that rejection. I had had so many strings of successes in a row that I suddenly felt like I had hit an unexpected brick wall. And that was difficult to get over. I spent much of the first part of the year languishing, which I found out from the New York Times, was an emotion shared by many of my fellow Americans.
In June, after a year of mostly staying home, my family got to travel
One of the things that helped kickstart my creativity again was finally getting out to travel. While I am a natural homebody, I hadn’t realized just how much I had craved novel experiences again. We were able to get away for a week to visit family up in Arkansas–a week in the mountains and hills was like a balm for my soul. And later that month, my husband and I booked a solo couple trip to visit some friends back up in Virginia. Being near the ocean and around so much COLOR again was amazing. I will never stop saying it, Texas NEEDS to bring back color. Sometimes I feel like we are living in the Drab City from Care Bears. Photographing color helped light a creative spark that I had been missing from much of my work the first half of the year.
When I returned, I realized I wanted to create novel experiences with my sessions as well.
When you are doing multiple sessions each week, it is SO easy to fall into a comfortable routine. While that might be convenient, unfortunately, doing the same thing day in and day out is an easy way to grow bored with your own work and eventually burn out. I did not want this to happen with my sessions, so for the second half of the year, I challenged myself to change things up. While clients often hire me for a particular look which I strive to always deliver, I decided to make sure I attempted one new thing each session. Whether it was photographing an old place in a new way or challenging myself to try a new technique, just adding the challenge of achieving something new with each and every session helped make it feel fresh again. I also strove to get back to capturing more ‘in-between’ moments–those beautifully candid moments that happen in-between the set shots that tend to capture family’s personalities.
Overall, 2021 was a year of growth and pushing myself to think creatively.
I am so grateful for all of my amazing clients and the amount of love and support they poured into my business. 2021 was my busiest year yet, and I never stop being thankful for all of the wonderful people I get to meet and work with each and every year. I am excited to share more sessions from this year, but in the meantime, here is a quick 2021 year in review–one photo from all 81 sessions! Here’s to a new beginning and wonderful 2022!
Thinking about booking a session in 2022? I would love to work with you!
I currently have 5 session openings for spring 2022. The first opening is in March of 2022. Be sure to get in touch to get first dibs on dates!