I didn’t do much, well any blog post this last year, but it was quite the year for me personally and professionally so I wanted to do a year end review to feature all the wonderful shoots I had. Thank you so very much to all of my wonderful clients, new and old! I truly feel so fortunate to get to do it all!!! I have my dream job and I get to be a full time mother. I don’t sleep as much as I should, but my heart is happy and my life feels full and incredibly blessed. Thank you so much to each of you that invited me to capture special moments in your lives. It means more than you know to me!
2016 was quite the year! The highlight of my year was, of course, the birth of our second son Ryland, on June 30th. He is such a little bundle of joy in our lives and has perfectly completed and balanced out our family. I had a very rough pregnancy with horrible morning sickness well past the first trimester and horrible swelling. I was also filled with so much anxiety about becoming a mother of two and how Hayden, my first born, and I would handle it all. However, as soon as I met Ryland all my fears were put to rest and I was, and am so incredibly thankful for the gift that he is to us. Our little world, and the whole world, is better now that he is here.
Due to the timing of his birth I was on maternity leave during my typical busiest time as a photographer and I had to turn down the majority of wedding requests that came my way, along with many portraits too. And while it was a bit stressful financially, it was a beautiful summer with more time off with my boys than I have ever had.
This past year also included more time with my Dad, which has been an unexpected gift, but included plenty of challenging moments to endure and witness as he continues his incredibly difficult battle with ALS. He continues to surprise us with his ability to fight on. I knew seeing another grandchild come into this world would provide some good motivation for him but I definitely did not expect him to still be here 6 months after Ry was born. As he states often, the will to live is very strong. This is apparent. One of the biggest lessons I have learned through my experience with this awful disease is the importance of making the most the time we are giving, and specifically the gift of today. While it is a bit cliche, it is also absolutely true. Each day is a gift and we have to appreciate it. And I am thankful for that lesson. It has made me a more present mother, wife and friend. And it has also made many choices much easier for me to make now. I used to dwell a lot, and worry a lot too, and while I am not free of those things completely, they consume much less of my time and energy now. I know our time is limited and I want to spend mine living, not worrying. Which leads me to my next point.
Over the summer I had a lot of time to think about my business and I have decided to take some time off from shooting weddings while my boys are young. I love telling a couple’s love story through images and being a part of those incredible days. That is where it all began for me as a photographer. I wanted to be a photojournalist and through weddings, I got to be that. So, it truly has meant so much to me for the past 11 years (whoa…time flies). But I have found since becoming a mother, specifically while my boys are so young, I found myself worried about them getting sick, or something else coming up and me not being able to be there for them. I also was missing summer weekend family time and that is time I know I can’t get back. I also care so much about my clients and their irreplaceable day that I know they deserve a photographer whose focus is entirely on them. Basically I was stressing about not being able to be my best self for my kids or my clients. This is why I have decided to just focus on portrait work for the time being. In the future I may take on weddings again but for now I know this is the right choice for my family and my business. my boys will only be little once and I don’t want to look back and wish for anything different. I love love love doing portrait work and it fulfills me completely as a photographer and gives me the perfect balance in life right now. I apologize to anyone who is disappointed by this choice, but I know it is for the best.
Thanks so much everyone!! Thank you to my friends and family for your support and to all my clients who I hope to see in 2017 as well! I do have a couple weddings that were already booked before I made this choice and I am excited to put my heart and soul into those, as well as all my portraits this year. I can’t wait to create beautiful images together!
Love to you all!!!
Laura
