Last year around this time, I headed to the beach and did a fun shoot with a model. It was my favorite shoot of the year. I vowed I would do more of these type of shoots this year. Enter Arlyn Crabtree, she is just so stunning and equally sweet. A special thanks to Memory Lane Classics for the use of the Mustang.  This was so much fun for me, I must do more of it soon!

I can’t believe how fast 2011 went by! I also can’t believe how hard this post was to put together, I have so many favorites! I will be posting more on my Facebook page soon, I still have to blog some of these sessions.

Thank you SO much to those that have supported me along the way,  my clients, fans, family, and friends. This dream would be nothing without all of you. I grew so much as a photographer and a business owner in 2011, I can’t wait to see what 2012 holds!

This beautiful couple was celebrating two years of marriage, and they wanted to have a photo shoot on their anniversary. Which I think was a really fun idea. I was honored they wanted to hang out with me on their anniversary!

They met in a coffee shop so we wanted to somehow incorporate that into their photos. We started at a coffee shop, then headed to Micanopy to finish the session.

This session was so much fun! Ms. M was on her best behavior, and was so willing to sit among the flowers. Mom and Dad are so fun to photograph. They come with some of their own poses and ideas, and are great at getting their little one look into the camera.

If you want your own wildflower session, you can find the info here.

Meet Venessa and Paul. Many moons ago, I waited tables at a local steak house, it was there that I met Paul’s younger sister KK.  Somehow it came up in conversation with her where we both lived. We soon realized we were neighbors, less than a block away from each other. Shortly after I met KK , Venessa also got a job at the same restaurant.

Before we knew it we were all spending time together, whether it be bbqing, late night card playing, watching American Idol together, or just going for a walk around the block.

They became a second family to me, the younger siblings I never had. They are the kind of people you can always count on to have your back. The kind that you can not see for years, but pick up right where you left off when you do see them. The kind that love my kids like they are their own. I love them dearly.

Sadly, they moved away a few years ago to New York City. Luckily Paul’s sister KK still lives right around the block from me so sometimes around the holidays we get a visit from them. When I caught wind of their engagement I told Venessa right away that I wanted to take engagement pictures for them.

And that is just what we did over the holiday break. Congrats you two, I can’t wait for the wedding!

What a year 2010 was! Not only did I deliver a healthy, happy, baby boy, but it was also a year in which I feel I really grew as a photographer. Not to mention my business grew as well!

When I decided to open a photography business a little over a year ago, I knew nothing of what I was getting myself into. I will be the first to admit that. Taxes, forms, contracts, record keeping and more are not what I bargained for. I just wanted to take beautiful pictures. I was so passionate about wanting to take those pictures, that I put my number and legal jargon fear aside and tackled it head on.  I can honestly say, there are few things I am more proud of than my business. I created it from the ground up and poured my heart and soul into it.

In the process of creating my business, something unexpected happen. I made new friends and I fell in love with my clients and their families. I don’t claim to know what it is about the bond that you create with someone when you put yourself behind a camera and capture their memories, but it is very real. And so many of you have touched my life in so many different ways.  A client of mine said this to me in a recent email :

You have been amazing about everything and I don’t think I could have found a photographer to fit my family if I had looked for years!  S and I both agree, that you feel like part of the family already and we wouldn’t have our photos taken by anyone else!

And I have heard similar things from others, and it makes everything that I do so very worth it.

Through the beauty that is social networking, I have watched your children grow, learned of engagements, pregnancies, and more. I so do love being able to keep up with each and every one of you via Facebook. If you are not a personal friend of mine on there please friend me I would love to be able to keep up with you too.

Thank you so much to all of you for letting me into your lives and allowing me to capture your memories.

I have chosen a favorite photo from all of my photo shoots, they are in sequential order starting with January of last year.

Without further adieu, I give you my favorites of 2010.

And if you made it this far, thanks again! I can’t wait to see what 2011 has in store!