Favourite Moments of 2021 | Lifestyle Photography that covers family sessions, to love sessions, birth photography, portraits and more
It’s a brand new year, but I can’t quite settle in without doing an official goodbye to last year (it’s so weird to say that already!).
To start, I have to say that it’s such an honour with as many brilliant photographers as there are in this industry—even just in our little city—to have so many people invest in working with me, and for many to come back time and time again for me to capture as their families grow (with people and/or with just love). It never goes unnoticed to me how incredible these families are. It means more than I can say having people work with me and I think that’s part of why I put so much of my heart into my work.
2021 was quite the year, and it was nothing like I had expected or could have even predicted. It was a busy one, like on a whole other level I could have ever guessed. Truly, if you’d told me how busy I’d be, I’d have said you were totally bananas.
The workload was on a whole other scale. I’m not a fan of glorifying a busy lifestyle at all, so being honest about the workload that filled my calendar last year is a little tough. It’s not with a boastful manner that I share this, but an honest little recap of the year I had.
I thought, going into the second year of the pandemic, it would continue to be a very challenging time especially with my musician husband not working (because musicians playing large gatherings hasn’t really been a thing since COVID reared its ugly, contagious head way back in march 2020). We were pretty scared of what his career would look like as the lockdowns commenced and everything that was lined up for him was canceled.
It started to look like only one of us would be working—although thankfully there was lots of pivoting for him (hello virtual shows and restrictions letting up long enough for a big concert summer!). As things got better (and then worse and then better again), things did shift for him (thankfully!). But, I have to admit I did love him being home 24/7 for months on end. For most of our relationship, he’s been gone away more than home.
Because of these new shifts in the world, I really felt the need to pick up more work to ensure we were gonna be okay. This meant that mama had to hustle. And, hustle I did.
But the thing is that it didn’t feel like that at all. I honestly and truly didn’t feel like I was too busy or hustling. And the reason for that is that I’m incredibly fortunate to attract the sorts of people whose hearts are truly made of the most sparkly magical love and deep respect for photography too. These people opened their magnificent hearts, brought me into their world, and allowed me to capture it in its absolute essence.
To be able to do that is not just an honor but something that feels really special. Being surrounded by such heartfelt moments, having such gorgeous conversations, laughing from the heart, and witnessing such compassion only leaves someone feeling inspired and full of life.
Moments like that don’t feel draining and you definitely don’t want to ever rush through these sorts of experiences. If anything, you long for them to last even longer.
They are juicy, delicious experiences that you can’t help but love and say, “ yes please, more please .” And that’s how I ended up shooting more this past year than any other year in my career.
It wasn’t until the beginning of December—when I started to slow down and spend more time at the computer, than shooting, to make sure everyone got their collection of images before the end of the year—that I realized how busy I had been.
Although the physical driving portion of 2021 definitely felt a little much at times, that was truly the only one giveaway (and the amount of harddrive storage I was going through lol). I spent a lot of time in my car. On average, I was in the car up to four hours a day, and on some days, like the day I drove from Toronto to the Kawartha’s and then Prince Edward County all in one day, was about 6.5hrs. Let’s just say my car became like a second home. I’ve napped in there more times than I can count. I’ve had so many meals in there, listened to endless podcasts, audiobooks, the radio, playlists, and even driven in complete silence with just the wind from the windows down to entertain me. I’ve used it as my dressing room, and I’ve learned I can very discreetly change in there. I’ve even used it as my office between shoots where laptop in tow tethering to my phone, I’ve caught up on emails on days where being at my desk was nearly impossible.
It really was a go-go year. But part of it was that when I was done working, I had family life to be present for. It wasn’t like when work was done, it was relaxation time (although I do hope 2022 brings some actual relaxing moments!) I didn’t want to let go of the things that needed my attention at home. I made sure to set some good boundaries about home time to ensure I was also present there. Being able to do bedtime a few times a week with my son was important. Being home for a few dinners was also important. That work-life juggle isn’t always easy, but after the fall season of 2020 where the entire year was jammed into 2-3 months and I was a zombie just trying to figure out the pandemic work life, I made sure in 2021 it was different.
Missing bedtime for 32 nights in a row was not something I would let happen. Prioritizing my family was important and, by doing that, I knew that I wouldn’t come to resent the work. I think I’ve learned how important it is to truly love what you do but to always remember why you are doing it. I work because I love it, but I love my family more. I work hard for my family, but without my family, I wouldn’t be the person I am. So it’s all kind of this big circle of things that all push each other and work to make some love & magic.
I saw a few colleagues’ posts about numbers, including how many files they delivered or shot or how many sessions they were a part of. I love holding a little record (mostly for myself really!), so I looked into it and this is what I realized I had accomplished for the year.
Are you ready?!
I photographed 1 birth.
I photographed 1 commercial shoot (Mill Street X Lemon (hello Drag race!)
I photographed 5 boudoir sessions.
I photographed 7 brand sessions.
I photographed 20 love sessions.
I photographed 39 weddings (but you’ll see those over on the wedding round-up so be sure to check that out too!)
I photographed 181 family sessions.
I cannot even begin to share the clicks on my cameras, but I can say that three out of the 5 cameras I own and use (hello backups!) all ended up being serviced in December, as well as three lenses needed some serious love over at the repair shop. I started to tally up the images delivered and, honestly, I ended up sitting down with a coffee and taking some moments for myself. And, I’m ok with that. The final image count will just be a mystery, and I can tell you, I actually finished my coffee while it was hot (something that almost never happens!).
It was a good year.
A beautiful year.
Looking back on these images I smiled the whole time. I laughed. I even cried a little.
One thing that really stuck out with me this year is the people I work with. Each so different in their ways, different in their journeys, their family dynamic, their tastes, and each one so deeply wonderful in their own way. And that was a big beautiful thing that I hope I can forever continue to document.
To every single person I’ve met this year, I’ve spent time with, I’ve shared a conversation with and I’ve had the honour of seeing into your world; thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was an absolute privilege and delight!
All my love.