So here’s my 2013. Here’s my round up of best wedding photography from 2013.
Before my mulled wine hangover sets in, and I consume my body weight in Mince Pies and Quality Street, here is what I got up to in 2013; what I have learnt, and, more than anything, why I am thankful for every minute.
Honoured and humbled
First of all, a massive thank you to the couples I have photographed this year. Getting to know each and every one of you has been wonderful and rewarding. You’ve been amazing. Your family and friends have been so kind and generous. I have truly loved being part of your very special days, and so very honoured and humbled. This year has seen my business grow in new directions. I’ve started photographing food, and although it’s completely different from weddings, it’s been so much fun, I’ve learnt so much and haven’t laughed so much while at work in a long time!
This year is also the year my dad died. It became a year of two halves. The two parts – the before it happened and the after. He died of a heart attack at the end of August and, for some unknown reason, I went ahead and photographed a wedding the next day. I still don’t know why or how I managed it. Where the strength came from I will never know, but I knew my dad would understand. If he gave me anything, he gave me a fighting spirit and and an incredible work ethic to just get on with it!
It has also been the year that I found my WHY. Based on Start with Why, by Simon Sinek, both awesome photographers Joanna Brown and Emma Case believe that if you find out why you are doing something, you can build it into your work.
I’d been searching for mine for a long time; just loving photography and taking photographs wasn’t enough. But while putting together my dad’s Order of Service for his funeral, I found it. Looking through all our old photographs, there it was was. Life. A visual memorial.
Real emotions
Every picture had meaning and depth, happiness, laughter – emotion right there. My Why. Real emotions. And they had the power of time transportation. Those photos are so completely precious and have the most amazing healing powers. If you believe in making New Year’s Resolutions, then make sure you make ones that include taking more photos and keeping them safe (both printed and digital); they are pure gold dust. Life is short. Make every moment count. Every dream and every breath.
This year I have learnt that taking photos is an awesome power and such an incredible honour that I never want to give up. I wish each and every one of you a wonderful time this Christmas and here’s to a happy, healthy and beautiful 2014 xxx
You can view more of my work in my wedding gallery
My most precious photo. My why. My mum and dad on Southwold Beach with Will, 5 years ago.
