2017 goals

My December Goals | Monday Musings

My December Goals | Monday Musings

This year is a strange one for me - I really don't have an 'off-season.' Generally, in the wedding world, events slow down in the winter months. Fewer people get married when it's cold outside, and not many families want to take pictures after the holidays. There is usually a break starting sometime in November-December and lasting until February-March, when my world goes to sleep a little bit.

No such thing is happening this year, however. In November, my first month without a full wedding, I ended up photographing 9 portrait sessions and one elopement, most of which were booked in just a few weeks. In December we will travel to Texas for a few days before photographing our last 2017 wedding (at Trump Winery, no less!). I already have quite a few sessions scheduling before the end of the year. The day after Christmas I will undergo surgery to remove my tonsils, and just a few weeks after that begins the 2018 wedding season, right at the end of January. The winter won't be much of a 'break' at all!

Welcome, Off-Season! | Monday Musings

Welcome, Off-Season! | Monday Musings

The off-season is finally here! My year went a little bit later than normal, wrapping up with an amazing wedding in Nashville that I can't believe I got to photograph! What a dream come true! While I do have another wedding in less than a month (back at the Washington, D.C., LDS Temple no less!) I think I can officially say that my off-season has begun.

I always feel a wild sense of accomplishment when I wrap up weddings for the year. There's a little bit of a break since almost nobody (except, you know, me!) get married during the winter. I'm completely ok with that, since I am not good friends with the cold anyways! Besides incredible amounts of rest that will happen between now and the kick-off to the 2017 season, I will finally be able to sit down and knock out my list of goals between now and then. During busy season I am in maintenance mode, but in off-season I am in improvement mode all the way...

My Big Dreams for 2017 | Personal

My Big Dreams for 2017 | Personal

Right now is one of those rare times when I'm ignoring my to-do list for something much more fun. Last year my big dream was to go full time with my business, and lo and behold it happened this February! Some days I honestly still look around and feel like I'm dreaming because I get to work from home with my puppy, have coffee with friends when I want, and visit family during the week when it's slow season. Everyone has bad days, but I wouldn't trade this for the world.

Did I ever think this would happen? Yes and no. It felt too big, but I know how ambitious I am so I knew there was a possibility. Speaking it out loud was terrifying and thrilling, so now I want to jump into the rest of 2016 with my big dreams for next year in mind. Without further ado, here's what I would LOVE to make happen for next year!