Hello and welcome to my new blogsite (website + blog = blogsite)!!  This is now my one stop shop on the web and I’m SOOO excited!  What better way to start off but with a highlight from 2011… so here goes:

2011 was such a whirlwind for Alvin (my hubby) and me.  My photography business was just starting off at the beginning of the year and then I landed a 1 year contracting job at Google!  Crazy right?!  I worked 40-50 hours a week at Google and took photo shoots on the weekends.  I grew in my photography skills and knowledge oh so much in 2011… I can’t even believe it when I compare pictures I took at the beginning of the year to those from the end.  I have been extremely blessed with how much knowledge I’ve picked up in such a short amount of time and the overwhelming support of my family, friends and clients.  For those of you who don’t know, Alvin is a Mixed Martial Artist (MMA Fighter) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructor (black belt under Royce Gracie).  He had 2 professional matches this year, one 145lb title fight victory for Aggression MMA in Canada.  As if all of this wasn’t enough, about half way through the year Alvin & I were presented with the opportunity to become the Youth Leaders at our church, Bethel Biblical (not something we took lightly).  We realized this would be a huge and long term commitment but ultimately took it on and it’s been such an amazing gift!!

With working for Google full time, managing 3 rental properties, managing my quickly growing business and taking on the youth group (did I mention I was in charge of the decorations for our church too), I realized I was quickly becoming overwhelmed, stressed and plain tired.  I got so excited and flattered by all the inquiries for my photography that I said ‘yes’ too much and ‘no’… um, pretty much never.  One of the hardest things to do was to have to start telling people no.  I have gotten a lot better at pacing myself and putting limits on the number of shoots I take each month.   Since I’m not taking as many clients, I can really put time and planning into the ones I have and put a lot of love into editing (which is half the fun!). I give them my all and learn valuable skills and lessons from each and every one… not to mention I get to make new friends and rekindle old friendships along the way.  2011 is now complete and 2012 is already in full swing… I know there are good things to come!  Here are some of my favorite images from 2011 (there’s a lot of them!)….