Last year I was perched on a bar stool in our mountain getaway hotel room typing a new year’s note to you… this year I’m sitting cross legged on the floor of our home (when your kids want extra time HOME, well you make that happen 🥰). While the venue is different, the tableau vivant is the same: surrounded by family and pups & profoundly wishing all of us a beautiful year ahead.

I’ve always loved this week of the year… but - today - I’m feeling especially grateful for this period, between Christmas and the new year (as one person described it: “the week of Sundays”✅), as our eldest is home after completing his first semester away at uni. 🙏🏼

As I contemplate 2023, personally and professionally, I’m astounded at how it can at first seem that not much happened, but then you take stock and… 🤯.

The three biggest shifts of 2023 in studio were: the opportunity to photograph a lot more family sessions (including THREE family groups between Dec 23 & 29!), the addition of art cards to my shop, and my newest (season dependant 😉) offering: ‘The Garage Series.’ All of which were successful endeavours and which have brought me joy. Of course there were also many amazing women who, for myriad reasons, knew that a portrait was in order. ✨

This ‘leaning in’ to an expanded scope of work, together with the need to adapt to family changes, brings me to my chosen word for this new year: EXPANSION.

Bigger and deeper breaths, a broader perspective in my work, and an intentionally abundant mindset. In 2024, I plan to allow - nay, CREATE - the space + attention to further build on my existing offerings, develop new ones, and to be more fluid in saying ‘yes’…more colouring ‘outside the lines’ 😉! I’m also cognizant that recently, on a day mid-December, I became the exact age that my mom was when she was diagnosed with breast cancer… as my 50th nears, I’m reminded of how exceedingly lucky I am to be alive, to live in peace, to have two beautiful kids to love and be loved by, to have the ability to speak my own truth without any fear beyond disapproval, and to continue doing what I love while - I hope - empowering others with my work.

“Your hand opens and closes
And opens and closes.
If it were always a first
Or always stretched open,
You would be paralyzed.

Your deepest presence is in every small
Contracting and expanding—
The two as beautifully balanced and coordinated
As bird wings.”

— Rumi

To each person and family who entrusted their portraiture to me, thank you.

To each person who has invested in my fine art offerings, thank you.

And, to each person who has generously referred me, thank you!

This is not an easy business, please know that every single act of support buoys me AND my business… I’m deeply appreciative to all who have supported me, allowing me to continue pursuing a profession that is not only deeply meaningful to me but that - I believe - is equally meaningful to those who step in front of my lens. ⭕️

A small sampling from the year that was…