2 Year Blog Anniversary

The beginning of this month marked 2 whole years since I’ve been blogging for my business.  I have really been loving having this space to share my work and my heart.  I wanted to spend a little time today reflecting over the last year, and share some highlights with you!  So grab a drink and make yourself comfortable! 🙂

Whenever we come to a big milestone, it’s commonplace to look at the numbers to measure our successes.  However, numbers don’t always convey the emotion or the dedication that goes into each of our accomplishments.  It would be easy to say that I missed less posts than I did last year.  It would be easy to say that my blog analytics increased from last year or that I’ve more than doubled my Instagram account in this past year.  However, none of that really affects how I feel about it and how I’ve grown in the process.

About a month after I started this blog, I made a goal for myself to post every Saturday evening.  I wanted so badly to celebrate my first year being able to say, “I did it!  I blogged every week!”  However, in my 1 year anniversary post, I shared that that was a goal I failed to achieve but I decided to give myself some grace and try again for the next year.  And today, I again have to say that I didn’t achieve this goal either.  I took a week off at Christmas and for the 4th of July weekend.  I also took an extra week off in July because I need a break and to enjoy my family and friends a little more than I had been.  I also missed the first week this month because I was out of town for my church’s conference and wasn’t as prepared as I had hoped.  I decided to give myself grace in missing those days as well even though I was upset about missing them.  So I have decided to create a set schedule for myself with a few days blocked off because I think that having a planned break will help me to feel more inspired and less burnt out.  I want to be more intentional and more creative with my posts in the future.  So my goal for next year is 1 post a week on Saturdays except for 4 weeks including the same two holidays.

So going into this next year of blogging, here are my goals:

1. Blog 45-48 weeks out of the year
2. More personal and lifestyle posts
3. More helpful posts such as tutorials and recipes
4. Bring back my Fall Series
5. Continue my Holiday & Travel Series
6. Collaborate with other bloggers

I thought I would also take this time to announce some exciting changes in my business! Last winter, I started taking photos for some local fashion and lifestyle bloggers and I have really enjoyed shooting content for their blogs and Instagram accounts. If anyone knows of my affinity for glossy magazines, you might have guessed that I have a passion to incorporate an editorial appeal to my photography style. I try to create images from all my sessions that look like they could be from the pages of a magazine and since blogs and Instagram seems to be the modern day equivalent, it seems only fitting that I would love collaborating with these wonderful ladies.  All that to say, in addition to my main focus of wedding and couple photography, I will be adding blogger sessions to my lifestyle sessions.  As such, I will no longer be doing newborn photos and will only take a select number of family sessions aside from my holiday mini sessions.  So if you are wanting to have your family portraits done, be on the lookout for that announcement in the next couple of months. To clients who have already booked these sessions, don’t worry, this doesn’t apply to you 🙂

This past year, I have done more with my business than I have in a while.  I traveled to the Caribbean for my best friend’s destination wedding, I launched my travel series and print shop.  One of my goals last year was to start a couple new series which I was able to accomplish.  I launched my holiday series and my fall series; both of which I plan to continue on in the future.  In going over my posts from the past year, I didn’t post very many personal posts outside of those and that was something I had wanted to do more of.  I am really excited for this next year of blogging and am looking forward to all that next year has in store.

Here are some of my favorite posts from this past year.

I Left My Heart In Grand Cayman

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This was such a fun post for me because George Town, Grand Cayman was my favorite stop on our cruise last summer and the place that I would want to go back to the most.  I love that I have this post as a visual diary of that day and our trip.  It will forever hold a special place in my heart!

Happy Thanksgiving

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I was so excited to host my very first Thanksgiving for my in laws and I thought everything turned out so nice!  I am looking forward to hosting more holiday and family dinners for my loved ones and I realized that I need a bigger place for that so I have started praying for a home for hosting.

Brian & Becca’s Engagement Session

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I loved this Fall engagement session at McKinley Park in Sacramento, CA.  Brian and Becca are such sweethearts and I loved their color palate for the shoot.  I think it’s so important to take the time to document your engagement by having photos taken.

Jamie & Corey

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I had so much fun taking Jamie and Corey’s engagement photos at Griffith’s Quarry in Penryn, CA.  It was such a unique location.  They are one of the sweetest couples and they aren’t afraid to be themselves with each other and I think that really shows how much you love and trust someone.  I am so excited to shoot their wedding in Fort Bragg this fall. If their engagement session was any indicator, I know its going to be beautiful and romantic!

Lisa & Michael’s Haiti Bridal Session

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Lisa has been one of my best friends since we met in college.  She is such a gem and I love her dearly.  I was so honored to stand with her on her wedding day as she pledged her life to Michael who is her match in every way!  They said ‘I Do’ on a cruise ship to the Caribbean and invited their family and closest friends to join them on their first vacation as husband and wife.  It was such a pleasure to photograph them on their wedding day but I think my most favorite part of the trip was when we were some of the first to disembark at the first port in Labadee, Haiti, with them dressed back into their wedding attire and I photographed their wedding photos on the beach.  It was hotter than all get out, but I think the result was worth it!  I cannot believe it’s almost been a year since our trip.  I guess time really does fly when you are having fun!  Happy almost 1 year you guys!

Thank you for letting me share my favorites with you and for always being such a wonderful and supportive audience.  It has truly been a blessing to be able to pour out into this space and I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without you!  What has been your favorite post?

I really enjoyed reflecting over the past year and I am looking forward to what’s ahead!  I would love to hear from you to make sure that I am producing content that is relevant to my readers.  If you would be so kind, please click the button below to fill out a survey so I can get to know you!  Thank you so much!!  And thank you for following along on the this journey!!