Whenever I’ve done these posts in the past, I’ll go through (nearly) every image I’ve taken over the last 365 days, narrow them down from what I consider my best work, re-edit them all to match my current editing style (my style has morphed continuously since I started, and I’m finally comfortable and excited with it).

This year, I’m picking out my favorite photos (not necessarily the “best”) and I’m not changing the edit on it at all.

I’m doing it this way for a few reasons-1) to see how my style has changed over the course of a year, and 2) to showcase photos specifically because I like them…not just because I think other people will like them.

So, maybe this title was a bit misleading, as these may not be my “best” photos from last year, but I still love them.

Some rather large things happened for this little business of mine, including a few HUGE dreams and goals I’m still pinching myself over:

1) My work was published in print and online with White Magazine.  What a dream.  I had an outstanding team (Forever Cole Events, The Plant Shoppe, Dewberry Cinema, Molly McGuire on H&MU, Brown Egg Bakery, and Borrowed Charm) who worked so hard to execute the shoot they featured (you’ll see some images below).  I had been dreaming of being published in a bridal magazine.  White is one I’ve loved since I first laid eyes on them, and it’s truly an honor to be included in their fantastic magazine.

2) TWO (this still blows my mind) of my images were selected in Junebug Weddings’ Best of the Best Wedding Photos of 2016.  They went through thousands of images from photographers all over the world, and narrowed it down to fifty images to showcase.  This is considered one of the highest honors in the wedding photography world and I am so thrilled and wildly amazed to be included among so many talented, truly amazing artists.  I remember receiving the email with the subject line “One of your images has been selected…” and my heart started beating rapidly.  Then I opened the email and they told me they selected two images.  What the heck.

3) From the Junebug award, followed a whole lot of amazing features on The Huffington Post, Brides, Cosmo UK, Elle Decor, and a handful of others.  The Huffington Post used an image of mine with the title of the article being “These 25 Wedding Photographs are in a League of Their Own.”  Pinch me.  

4) Green Wedding Shoes finally (I’ve been submitting to them for a million years, it feels like) accepted a wedding of mine (that will be published later this week).  It felt like a breath of fresh air to receive an email from them with a smiley face instead of “We’re sorry…”

I also laughed my butt off with my couples, shot 29 really amazing weddings, traveled all over the US, dreamt up a new business (that we launched this year!), and created work that fulfilled me on days where it was extra hard.  I adopted a new pup, Poppy, started dating the kindest man I’ve ever met (who has been my friend since I moved to OKC), made a bunch of new friends, started playing on a trivia team, lived with my brother for a few months, met my grandpa’s new 97 year old girlfriend who is the loveliest, played a lot of board games, listened to a lot of great music, and chose to finally do something about my depression and anxiety.

It’s been many months since I have felt refreshed and excited to jump back into my work, but I think the time is here.  I am so thrilled to create.  I have a lot of things churning in this ole mind.

Thanks for being here, friends.  Thanks for sticking it out with me.  I love you all.