GRATITUDES + BREAKTHROUGHS // JANUARY 1, 2019

Hey 2019, it’s good to see you! I have so much to be grateful for this past year! Here are are a few of my highlights!

I photographed my Grandma Jean + Grandpa Ron’s 60th anniversary at Great Marsh Estate.

I joined the Dave Ramsey baby-steppers in March of 2018 and paid off $26,415 of debt which included my car 2.5 years early and one small travel credit card.

Early in 2018 I started working with Kristen Kalp, she’s been insanely important in the transformation of my business, my commitment and my goals. She’s helped me redefine and refine my business in a way that works for me and my clients!

I officially became a Godmother to my niece Evelyn.

I took my first true solo travel trip to Ireland to visit Galway and Dublin! I’ll be sharing the film on that soon!

I worked on 4 styled shoots this year.

I went back to Italy with Ayla and we had quite an adventure. We rented a Jeep Wrangler and went off roading in Gran Sasso National Park in Abruzzo. We also had a minor international car accident. We traveled up to Tuscany for views of vines, sunflowers and the vast mountains! I also ate the most delicious pizza of my life in a small medieval town called San Gimignano. I got to witness Ayla and Francesco’s engagement in Rome!

My sister Katlyn + Russell made me an aunt again with the birth of Tenny Jean in September.

I joined the Yax Brothers 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in the fall and I’m looking forward to teaching in the spring of 2019.

I joined the Smile Direct Club to help straighten out my smile in September. I’ve been on a 5 month invisible aligner program and I’m set to finish at the end of January!

I worked on 4 styled shoots this year.

I went back to Italy with Ayla and we had quite an adventure. We rented a Jeep Wrangler and went off roading in Gran Sasso National Park in Abruzzo. We also had a minor international car accident. We traveled up to Tuscany for views of vines, sunflowers and the vast mountains! I also ate the most delicious pizza of my life in a small medieval town called San Gimignano. I also got to witness Ayla and Francesco’s engagement in Rome!

I was featured in two dream wedding + inspiration blogs/magazines the Perfect Palette and Southern Bride!

My sister Katlyn + Russell made me an aunt again with the birth of Tenny Jean in September.

I joined the Yax Brothers 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in the fall and I’m looking forward to teaching in the spring of 2019.

I joined in on Rachel Rice’s Supper Club and have enjoyed the connections, laughs and meals we’ve all shared together.

I joined the Smile Direct Club to help straighten out my smile in September. I’ve been on a 5 month invisible aligner program and I’m set to finish at the end of January!
B

______________________________________________________________________________

I have always done a word of the year and for 2018 it was rebuild. I used that word as often as I could. When I stepped on my yoga mat to set my intention my mantra would be ” I am here to rebuild. Rebuild my business, my finances, my relationships and myself .” And I did.

I started my work with Kristen at the beginning of 2018 and I believed she was the key to help me rebuild my business. I had slowed it down for most of 2017 for a personal crisis which meant my bookings, marketing and revenue would be down for 2018. She came in – cleaned house so to speak – and set me up with a solid plan to restructure and set a solid foundation in 2018 in order to grow in 2019.

I mentioned above I joined the David Ramsey movement and worked my ass off and sacrificed to pay off my car 2.5 years early and my only small travel credit card. The only pending debt I have left to tackle in 2019 is my final student loan from grad school at George Mason University. I’ll be free and clear to move on toward purchasing a home without the added stress of a car payment and that pesky student loan, which is freeing!

I prioritize relationships and friendships that filled my soul. I intentionally make the choice to spend less time and less energy with people who didn’t. You know the people who sort of hover on the perimeter of your life to pop-in and out when they need or want something, without ever asking you “Hey, how are you?” I dodged them. I felt bad at first, like I was letting them down by not giving them more of myself, but when I really thought about it I was always feeling let down, a little used and disregarded. That all stopped when I took control. I strengthened past friendships, build new ones and spend so much time in coffeeshops, wineries, restaurants and on the couch laughing, crying and being with those that wanted to be with me.

Finally, I worked on myself. A big part of 2018 was wading through all of my guilt in the choices and mistakes I made in 2017 – there were a lot. I did a lot of soul searching living in my parents basement as a single 33 year old Dog Mom, but that’s where the forgiveness came. Somewhere between making family dinners, babysitting my neice, binging Law + Order SVU near the woodstove, walks along the property line, pool floating sessions with a can of Bud Light to bedtime snuggles with Ava + Mosby, a lot of healing happened here. I also rededicated myself to yoga and while that didn’t turn out to be practicing 6 days a week with mean inversions, I’m getting there and my body – especially my back and neck – are feeling better and grateful.

2018 was a rebuilding and now I’m ready for a new word with new meaning. Before we get to that I wanted to touch base on the goals I had laid out for 2018 and my progress:

2018 Personal Goals //
Create a solid weekday routine
Initiate a regular yoga practice
Practice calligraphy
Listen + practice Italian
Explore more Virginia Hiking Trails
2 international trips (Italy for sure!)
Attend a Rocket Yoga class
Read at night

I learned that I do better with a routine, so I’ve worked on waking up at 7am to start my day with dog care, a cup of coffee and emails. That’s really as far as I got, I would like to combine that with my yoga practice which fluctuated on how I felt that day versus a solid schedule.

I did practice calligraphy up until my move in March, and I even bought a new hand-lettering book over the summer, but I forgot to unpack my nib.

I listened to Coffee Break Italian in the car sporadically until I found Dave Ramsey’s podcast. And I did try to practice my Italian while I was in Italy with a little push from a bottle of two of Abruzzo wine. That should count, actually that definitely counts.

I didn’t explore any trails past Bear’s Den which is an area I shoot at a lot. I got a sweet pair of hiking boots from L.L. Bean that I will put to use this year. I’ve decided I’m going to make a list of 12 hikes (one a month for 2019) to knock some off the list!

I did go on two international trips! I went to Ireland on my own for a few days and was apprehensive at first but really enjoyed my time solo. I also met up with Ayla in Italy!

I never did attend a Rocket Yoga class, whoops!

I can’t say I always read at night, but I did start reading regularly and put away about 10 books in 2018. I did enjoy the calmness around reading at night versus watching tv. I also felt like I slept better after reading.

2018 Business Goals //
Create a more intimate client experience
Release Balanced Bones + Shoot 10 yogis
Incorporate unposed intimate family sessions
Finish FIND in a BOX
Shoot more travel film
Share more of myself  + daily life on social media (scary one for me)
10,000 Followers on Instagram
2 international business trips

I worked this year to create a more intimate client experience by being more supportive and providing additional information to my couples. I built a preferred vendors list, outfit suggestions for engagement sessions, personal timelines and answered as many industry questions as I could for them.

I didn’t technically release Balanced Bones, but with the help of Kristen I opened up a branch of my business for yoga teachers and studios. I didn’t make it to 10 yogis but I did shoot 3 and also do one fully branded studio session! Even a little progress is progress!

I did incorporate more unposed + natural shots with family and newborns. With all of the mini sessions I was able to really work on that!

I never even opened up FIND in a Box, so that will definitely go back on the list!

I did however shoot solely film on both international trips this year, I didn’t shoot any personal work that was digital!

I did share more of myself and my story on social media, and while it was super scary I found that I connected better with people when I share more intimate details of my life. I absolutely tip-toed into that and I’ll be working on vulnerability more in 2019.

10,000 Followers on Instagram, well I made it to 1,500 twice this year. Instagram is a hard game to play, and I thought that followers automatically meant more zeros at the end of my annual earnings. That actually isn’t the case, so while I did work to up the numbers I’m also happy with the authentic audience I’ve built without “paying to play” or buying followers over the weekend.

I never did make two international business trips, but I did travel internationally twice as you know. I do think the travel film work has made me a more intentional photographer and my work has definitely changed in the last year.

______________________________________________________________________________

I was going to reveal my word for 2019 and my goals, but instead I’m going to wait until next week, for now I’m content in reviewing and celebrating my big and small victories in 2018!

Happy New Year!