The Top 10 Images That Shaped 2023
It’s February, and I’m finally able to review 2023.
A whirlwind of a year…moving, moving my studio, diving deeper.
It seems now that I can take a breath, I can take a look back…specifically at some of my favorites of 2023.
Early in 2023, I attended my very first ShutterFest Conference in St. Louis and was like a kid in a candy store with a large, crisp bill. I soaked up this experience will all my being and had the opportunity to simply create. One evening, I met the incredible Justin Noel. Not only a man beautiful to gaze upon, but one with so many incredible talents and a heart as big as the St. Louis Arch. Our time together in Utopia Studios was absolutely electric and the results were beyond my dreams.
From there, I turned my attention to a pivotal birthday for my daughter, which transported me over to Sin City…full of lights and energy. It had been over a decade since my last trip there and seeing it now, through a different lens, brought a fresh perspective. It’s a photographer’s dream…I mean, even the bathrooms are gorgeous.
Over the course of 2023, my loving stepfather had been declining in health and passed away. My mother wanted nothing more than to spread some of his ashes in their favorite destination spot in Clearwater Florida. Little did we know, my mother had meningitis at that time, but luckily she is fine now after an extended hospitalization upon our return to Kentucky.
Next, I was contacted by a friend of mine from my nursing career. Her daughter was expecting a baby and she wanted to create some images for the big announcement on social media. I met her and the happy couple at a small park in Southern Indiana for this session. It’s definitely not my usual content, but this was so much fun for me. She looked absolutely enchanting and I was happy to help make these memories for them!
Last year, I really wanted to start honing in on my headshot and personal branding offerings as well. We ALL need a decent headshot, and those of us in business…well, we likely need a whole branding session. I met Ryan, a local attorney specializing in estate planning, at her office. From there, we went to the studio. The different locations ensured she had a variety of looks and images to use across her social media content. Later, we hired her to help my mother with estate planning. I love it when my clients turn into friends and trusted business contacts.
I had an inquiry from the sweetest lady, hoping to create the most unique gift for her partner. Like most of my clients, she had never done anything quite like this, and also like most of my clients, she didn’t really like any prior photos of herself. I love a challenge! She came and rocked her session so hard that my head was spinning. The album was carefully planned and it was such a hit!
In the late fall of 2023, we sold our Spencer County home to move in with my widowed mother. It was such a lifestyle change combining households, but it has been wonderful to have this time with her! Giving up my home studio was very, very hard. I had spent countless hours creating in that space, hours of catering to my clients, making them feel amazing. My very last session in my home studio was no less than amazing and she was the sweetest soul ever. She was a 40 over 40 participant and wanted to use the opportunity to bolster her self-confidence. She is not only stunning, but wicked smart!
Being without a studio for a bit, meant that I had an opportunity to rent some unique spaces whilst looking for my dream studio purchase. The first space I rented was a light-filled oasis of charm from yester-year, nestled in a historic building at Studio Kallos. My client, who was a 40 over 40 participant was so nervous, but as you can see, she had zero issues nailing gorgeous images!
My year ended with another 40 over 40 participant that absolutely tugged at my heart. My client, a widower, incorporated pieces of her late husband’s wardrobe into her session. It was definitely a session filled with tons of laughter and some tears, too. I’m a companion crier! You cry, I cry…that’s how it goes. I’m thrilled she did this for herself, she deserves all the good things life has to offer her. As I was still without a studio during her session, I rented the most adorable Air BnB, The Highlands Hideout, for her session, which was absolutely perfect and gave us room to roam about the house.
Now that it’s 2024, I am putting the finishing touches on my brand new studio, and cannot wait to welcome everyone! Women, Men, Couples, Beauty, Branding, and Boudoir….my little creative heaven! I hope you will join me, if not in person, at least in keeping up with the happenings of the studio and the business. Never a dull moment!
