but I did have a sh’tton of fun.
You win some. You lose some.
Goals and metrics aside, I met wonderful people. I strengthened kickass friendships. I ate mind-blowing delicious meals. I saw a lot of the world.
I fought some internal demons writing this post because I didn’t necessarily want to recap 2014. I had some unusually lofty goals for 2014. I break them down in quarters and then sub-goals so at least part of each goal is attainable. I’m satisfied with how 2014 turned out, not completely elated. I’m putting this all out on the interwebs (and in my Evernote) in hopes that I’ll get fueled up to accomplish them in 2015. I think I can. I think I can. 2015 is going to be my year!
2014 was good.
2014 was wicked good.
and here’s what I remember from it.
I went on many adventures
- Around the world: I scored a $280 pricing error flight deal that took me on flights literally around-the-world. We hit up 5 amazing countries in three weeks. Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Japan
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- Switzerland: I went on a chocolate tour in Switzerland and tasted heaven – Sweet Zurich. I also rode the most beautiful train ride through the Swiss alps
- Czech Republic: Much beer, KFC, and dumplings were consumed in Prague.
- Japan: We visited snow monkeys that traveled throughout the mountains each day to soak in hot springs. We stayed in a traditional ryokan, capsule hotel, and hostels. I photographed a traditional buckwheat soba maker. A local news station followed me around all day.
- Acadia National Park: We hiked Beehive. I ate way too many of Erin’s snacks. I went on the most glorious foliage-filled bike ride of my life.
- Lake Winni: I fished. I s’mored. I kayaked. I canoed. I got EATEN by mosquitoes.
- Mount Washington: I saw sunrise.
- I skied and I learned how to stop. as in.. REALLY learned how to stop. I’m ready for the Olympics now! 🙂 We skied all over New England – Killington, Sugarloaf, Waterville, etc. Someday, I’ll head out west again. I also tried snowboarding for the first time.
- New Orleans: I ate over 2,000 calories in beignets and probably double that in oysters
Karen’s adventures are pretty amazing too
- Karen asked me for 10 days off, starting THE DAY AFTERWARDS, so that she can explore Israel with Benjamin Von Wong. See Von Wong’s behind the scenes video of Extreme Sports on the walls of Holy Jerusalem. Read more about the rest of her Israel trip with Simon Pollock, Rebecca Litchfield, Michael Kelley, Fro Knows Photo, and Adam Lerner.
- Karen traveled with London fine art photographer Rebecca Litchfield and Shannon Morrissey through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia to create a behind the scenes video of urban exploring and dark tourism.
We try to learn as much as we can. The Fearless family blew our minds and hearts wide open!
- I attended Foundation Workshops 12a. (Read about how the Foundation experience changed my perspective). I also decided that Karen needed to experience this, too… so
- Karen left 9 days after I came back and attended Foundation Workshops 12b (Read about her Foundation reflection here)
- Karen goes to Mystic Seminars in CT
- We both hang out at Foundation conference in Arizona (now rebranded to Fearless conference!)
Honors
- I won two awards in International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers competitions
- Karen won her first Fearless award!
- One of my fashion images was chosen to be featured in Canon’s gallery in Costa Mesa, CA
- Top 20 Best Wedding Photographers in Boston – Bridebox
- Top 10 Best Wedding Photographers in Boston – Weddingful
- + over 30 publications in wedding blogs and magazines including Boston Weddings, Boston Globe, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, The Knot, Buzzed, Martha Stewart and Grace Ormonde
We made time to work on personal projects
- Almost everyone I know understands my soft spot for individuals with Autism and their loving families. I met Brian during my talk about my career at the Citizens School. I connected with Brian, with his mother, purchased his calendars that he produced and spent a day with him at the Zoo – photographing the animals and his relationship with his mother. Read on the blog: A day at Franklin Park Zoo with Brian
- Love Runs Through Boston was founded by the brilliant Gracie Lou Events team. Adrienne and Liz gathered a handful of Boston’s generous and talented wedding vendors and gifted a stunning wedding for a couple affected by the Boston Marathon tragedy. Jen and Marc had a Boston Fenway Park wedding at the EMC club. They were shuttled by Boston’s Duck Boats to their reception at the Hotel Commonwealth. I’ve blogged my favorite Love Runs images here. Also, check out Promessa Films’ video!
- Karen and I photographed six families whose lives have been made better by Room to Grow, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of babies born into poverty. The images were used for Room to Grow’s marketing campaigns. I’ve blogged my favorite images here!
- Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep provides bereavement photography to parents surfing the loss of a baby with a free gift of professional portraiture. This is my first year and I donated five sessions to five families through this nonprofit. Come visit Ada May.
- I spent a day documenting Bill Richey, who was teaching a mounted police de-spooking horse clinic. The bulk of the weekend was spent on the course, drilling through a series of obstacles that would make anyone cringe – sirens from a police car, a German Shepard named “PD” that barked and bared his teeth on command, orange smoke bombs, barricades and bridges, lines of gasoline fires, and a series of other obstacles.
- [Several personal projects have not been completed, and maybe/hopefully will be published in 2015]
Back to the art – I wanted to inspire myself through theatre, music and performance
- Scullers Jazz Club – 5 shows 🙂
- Alvin Ailey
- Pentatonix
- Lion king
- Book of Mormon
- Phantom of opera
- Amaluna – Cirque de Soleil
- Cirque of the dead
- Improv asylum
- Slutcracker
- Boston babydolls – Burlesque
- Thursday museum and lunch day with my girls – We went to almost a dozen museums in Boston, and then when we needed a break from them, we picnicked on Spectacle Island
I’m slowly conquering my fear of public speaking
- “Be less boring – Strategies to stand out” Professional Photographers of America
- “Strategize, Streamline and Stand out” Massachusetts Cape Cod Professional Photographers of America
- “What I wish I knew my first year” at New England School of Photography to wedding/portrait seniors
- “Communication and consultations” workshop at New England School of Photography
- “De-mything publishing” talk, sponsored by Two Bright Lights
- I speak about wedding photography at “Career roulette” at Citizens School in Dorchester, MA sponsored by Eastern Bank
Even though all of my goals and subgoals weren’t met. I do feel like I did my absolute best for the lovely couples that I photographed this year. I laughed, cried, grunted because I was contorting my body in funny positions, and squealed for joy when pretty albums came in. Life is good, because I get to do this. Thanks, all. Cheers to 2015. Now… for some of my favorite boston (and family) moments of 2014:
