As 2019 comes to a close, I've begun to review my year. So much has happened in 365 days.
I grew so much.
In 2019 I picked up my camera the most since high school. Guys, that's 7 years (oh lord, my high school reunion is just a couple years away). In 2019 I made it a point to use my camera more. I'm not sure if I ever formally made that a New Year's Resolution, but I think it kind of turned out that way. And it was actually a successful resolution. I wanted so badly to bring photography back into my life, that I made sure I actually did in this last year. On top of that, it was work I was proud of. I am so excited about some of the things I captured in 2019, I still can't believe I pulled it off.
I also realized that I'm still learning - as every creative is. Am I at the top of my game? Probably not. I will always have growing to do. Like learning how to give directions for posing - I've never been good at that. Or my ability to come up with creative and new artistic ideas right on the spot still needs a little work. But because I am still learning, I have grown to be less hard on myself. Art comes with mistakes and courage to either scrap it or figure out how to make it work. Sometimes things you want so badly to work, don't make the final cut, and you begin to realize it's okay. You're human, and you can learn how to make it work the next time.
But I've created a style.
I love color. I love sharp details. I love emotion and laughter and candid shots. I love capturing moments between couples. I love creating artistic portraits. I love using light to create depth and character. I found a love for product photography, even if those products are just books right now.
In 2019 I found a specific editing style. Every photographer has one. In 2018 I think I struggled to find mine. I remember spending hours editing photos trying to make them what I pictured in my head. In 2019 I was able to hone down on my style and understand how to use Photoshop to create the images I wanted. And if that isn't a large feat in of itself, then I don't know what is. A style to a photographer, whether it's the editing or the posing, is the same as what make a painter's work recognizable to the public.
The funny thing is that my style hasn't really changed since high school. Those aspects that I wanted to capture and the vibrant colors and warm tones that I try to evoke in my current style? I definitely used that when I first started out in photography in high school. I put down my camera for quite some time, and when I picked it back up, I had to relearn how to take photos that I loved. And surprisingly, my style didn't really change between the beginning and now. Which I think is pretty cool. It shows me that it's authentic - that I'm not trying to fit into a new niche, because I wasn't trying to back then.
2020
As for 2020, I'm not sure what to expect. I know that I want to make more time for photography. I would love to do more shoots, rather than mostly self portraits. Don't get me wrong, self portraits have been so fun and a great opportunity to play with poses and camera settings. I just feel like I'm ready to expand. I have a desire to expand my audience, but I think that goes hand in hand with shooting more. The more I shoot, the more content I can put out, the more people are interested, and then we circle again.
Everyone is about creating New Year's Resolutions, but what we all miss out on is creating one that is attainable. That's one of the many reasons many of the Resolutions made are not actually achieved. So in creating goals for my photography in 2020, it needs to be something that I can actually do. Something firm.
So, you'll hear it here first! my goal for 2020 is to visit more places for the sake of photography. I had so much fun traveling to Cannon Beach for our honeymoon, to Stevens Pass to take photos with Tiana, to Roozengaarde for the Tulip Festival, to Swan's Trail for their fall festivities, and to Mt. Baker in search of snow. I would love to spend my free weekends exploring more and snapping shots along the way. How attainable is that? We'll see!
2019 Photo Review
