2013 goals/behind-the-scenes/highlights : personal

In a perfect world, this post would already have been up several weeks ago,

but life happens, and it isn't February yet soooo recap posts are still okay, right?! :)

Honestly, 2013 felt long and hard in many ways.

Don't get me wrong -- there were many, many blessings God gave, and I smile looking back on those.

However there were multiple hardships and trials that made it challenging,

and by the end of December I was really looking forward to moving into a new--fresh--exciting 2014. :)

Awhile back I was reading a photographer's blog and she commented how her photography business has gotten harder each year.

I used to think that it should get easier each year, as you grow as a photographer everything should get under your belt more and become more of a breeze..which is true in some areas.

But last year it definitely hit me how true her statement was -- over time your client base grows bigger, you have more to stay on top of with editing/e-mails/shoots/travels/paperwork and it just overall becomes more challenging to keep it all organized.

I debated whether or not I should even do this post, but it is good for me to remember 

how God was good, and the many, many, things I have to be grateful for.

Which are most importantly: having Jesus in my life, and then my family and friends.

The real things to treasure in life aren't things at all.

All that said, here are some highlights from 2013!

I had such a ball visiting my Illinois girls Lauren & Summer last winter!

   Both the South Dakota and Minnesota road trips, were immense highlights. More like highlights of my life! So hilarious and memorable.  Jeepers, I have fun friends. 

Doing 20 things for others on my 20th birthday, was hands down, one of my best birthdays.     Getting to meet and be mentored by two of my favorite photographers,  Ariel Renae, and Cheyenne Schultz, was insanely amazing.     I flew and saw my NC chicas/kindred sprits/fwends/cronies/adopted sisters, Elisabeth and Ana. Man do I love them, and we had such a good time!   With having 7 brothers, its always so fun when Mom and I can get away and do girl stuff! We went up to Mason City for a weekend last April and it was wonderful-- shopping and visiting with old friends..super fun! Dad, Gunther and I visited my brother Erich down in Tennessee in June! Our whole crew at family camp..so nice to be all together! IRBC is a truly amazing camp and I'm thankful for their ministry and friendships formed there.   Our 5 littles...Reinba, Burg, Jimi, Berend, Ocho. Get excited for their school pictures that I will be blogging soon! To my delight, I got to fly several times..I don't think that will ever grow old. At least I hope it never does.   I traveled the most I ever have with the Bright Lights team, which was such a joy!! Whenever you work with people in ministry, it makes the friendship that much deeper. I was on the trips to Arkansas, Texas, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota.   Our 'off' day at NASA and Galveston in Texas will always be a favorite memory. It was so fun having my friend Kelsey and a few of her sisters visit in the fall! I met her several years ago through a piano course, and am super grateful for her friendship.   I still can't believe I did Boho Blogtober with Chels...which totally pushed me and was also very fun! Maybe someday we shall do it again..?   I am incredibly blessed by the friends God has placed in my life... and it stokes me to think about all the neat people I have yet to meet this year! The future is exciting, people.    2013 was my second full year of business with Hannah Elise Photography! For the past few years I've listed out my personal photography goals  (see past years here and here) , and then shared them on the blog. So last January, here was what I wanted to shoot in 2013: 30 families 7 seniors 7 maternity 2-3 weddings
What I shot: 26 families (some in this number were part of extended family sessions) 7 seniors 0 maternity, (which is honestly totally okay) :) 2 couple sessions 1 wedding and 1 'after' session I also second-shot 1 wedding with Caitlyn of Pink Flower and 4 with Abbi Triphan, and the experience was totally invaluable! Plus photographing multiple other kids/portrait sessions.
I was thrilled thrilled to make the switch from prints to flash drives early last year!! and also invest in better packaging that fit my brand! I added a new lens to the family, 50 mm 1.4. I should probably do a blog post about it at some point,  as it did take me awhile getting used to the difference in focusing from the 1.8. However, having the creamier bokeh and low aperture have been killer! Since I don't have a second shooter at portrait sessions, I rarely get any images of myself shooting, but at Patrick & Avery's wedding, Amanda took some of me! Seriously could never have done that day without her--she was such a huge help. Well don't I look like I know what I'm doing..ha! God worked out so many details for this wedding--I am humbled and grateful that my first wedding being the main photographer was such an awesome experience! I don't feel weddings are my forte or where I want to focus my business on right now, but capturing the biggest day in a couples' life is truly an honor. Right before the ceremony...no pressure, right?!

I am super-de-duper excited for this year and the people that will come in front of my lens!!

Photographing families is definitely my passion right now, and I can't wait for spring to get here and start shooting again.

One of my next posts will be my favorite images I took in 2013, 

so keep checking back as that will be up soon!

And a huge thank you, dear blog readers, for all the sweet comments and e-mails--

you guys are always such an encouragement, and it means a lot to me!

love,

H. Elise

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