When I think back to the swing that hung from a large oak tree in my father’s backyard, I remember the endless hours my sister and I spent swinging away during the summer nights in Del Rio, Texas.  The swing was large enough to fit both of us, and we loved not having to take turns.  That handmade swing was where my sister and I spent our time dreaming and imagining… as all children do.  It was a place where we could find both solitude and joy.  The swing represents those little moments that we can never get back but are so worth remembering.

This past year was a time of growth for me.  Along the way I met so many wonderful, inspiring photographers who were willing to share their knowledge with me about the technical and business aspects of photography.  Each one taught me something completely different, and with each experience, I have arrived at a place I want to be.  I have had wonderful support from family and friends, whether it was by “liking” a photo on facebook, keeping up with my blog, helping me build and find props (you know who you are), watching my son during one of my photo sessions, or by  hiring me as their photographer. Thank you for your endless words of encouragement (especially when I felt defeated).  Thank you to my first client for believing in me, and thank you to the clients who have continuously referred friends and family to me.  Your actions will never be forgotten.

As 2013 begins, i have thought a lot about where I want my photography journey to take me.  I have spent the last year in business trying to figure out what it is that I love.  I have made mistakes and learned from them.  I have taken risks that I never thought I would take.  And through it all, I have realized that I want to use what I know about photography to capture life’s little moments for myself and my clients.  My goal this year is to do what I love and that is to photograph children in their world.  I want to capture the sparkle in their eye, their laughter, their reality, and their creativity first hand.  I am ready to jump into this “new me.”  I am ready to SWING away!