BEST OF 2022

2022 was a huge year for our family. We became a family of four. We finished building our custom home (after two years!), which required moving three times in the span of four months…with two kids and a dog. It was also one of the busiest wedding seasons that I’ve ever had with 21 weddings on the books (+ several elopements).

I had many weddings in Asheville, but I was also on a plane almost every month during peak season. I had the pleasure of photographing all over North Carolina, South Carolina, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Maryland, and D.C.

2022 was a great year, but it was also an exhausting year. I remember thinking in January 2022 that my goal was just to survive the year. I was very pregnant and wondering how we were going to adjust to being a family of four in a small rental house. Would my heart break sending Kitt to kindergarten (yes)? Was our house ever going to be finished (yes)? Would we ever stop being sick (TBD)? Would I ever catch up on my editing (yes)? Would we survive the stress of it all?

Yes.

This year stretched us to the limits, but one phrase came back to me often: “Everything is a season.” While I hope to never have a newborn and build a house again in the same year, I also know that those are two very sweet things that happen rarely (if ever) in a lifetime. In fact, most of the challenging moments we experienced this year were also some of the most beautiful moments.

During many sleepless nights, I would hold Lake, close my eyes, and savor the feeling of holding my baby in my arms. The baby season feels like an eternity, but I know from experience that it passes by faster than the blink of an eye.

The ups and downs of building our house deserve a novel (and it probably took 10 years off of my life), but it was a wonderfully fun creative project. We could not have done it without our amazing team (thank you Greg + Lisa!). Seeing our dreams come to fruition after many heartbreaks along the way is truly sweet.

This was my 15th wedding season. Most photographers burn out of this profession after 5-10 years. I can happily say that is not the case for me. I still cry during the father-daughter dance. My heart is full witnessing and documenting all of the many, many moments that cross in front of my camera. My eyes sparkle at the creative magic that my vendor friends pull together to create works of art for our couples. I never tire of chasing the light–at sunrise, sunset, and every time in between. I feel truly grateful that this career still fills my cup with joy.

Thank you, thank you to all of my couples that have let me into your lives this year. I will never be jaded of the gift it is to be witness to your moments. Here are my favorites…