It’s so crazy that’s it’s 2017. Those numbers don’t even seem right. It feels like it was just 2012 and I was dreaming of becoming a photographer. I had NO idea when I first decided to try this whole “owning my own business” thing how much work and time would go into it and thank goodness I didn’t because my dream might have changed right then and there. Haha! But even after hardship within my business, I still look forward to work. So much so, in fact, that I often work until the wee hours of the night. That’s something people probably don’t realize about photographers. We might get to take off a couple weeks here and there for travel but when we’re in busy season or at our computers working, we work long, late hours to get everything done and a lot of times have to say no to hanging out with friends.

I’ve learned a lot about balance this year, though. I learned that my identity is not in my work, although I often treat it that way. I learned that there’s no need to stress about the upcoming years or how many weddings I have booked. I learned that numbers don’t matter on social media AT ALL. I learned that clients who really trust me are the ones who allow me to do my job best. I learned that although competition is inevitable and sometimes good, it’s a waste of time to compare yourself to others. And I’ll end on that one. If you can own who you are without feeling like you need to change or be like someone else, you will eventually find yourself in the lead because people are drawn to confidence. People are drawn to other people who go against the grain and aren’t afraid to be who they are. That is applicable within business and without and I think once you’ve mastered that, you’re golden.

So with that, here are a few favorites from 2016!