At this time last year, I was optimistic yet reticent. Unbeknownst to me, the Winds of Change were blowing. Not in photographic style, business model, or brand, but in life. For the first time, my goals going in to the new year are tied to what matters, and centered around doing what fires me up. Tracking my progress and setting goals for 2014 has me brimming with optimism, but before I move forward, this retrospective post is a reminder of a great year that has flown by all too fast.
Redwood National Park
There is something so wonderful and primal about being amongst the tallest trees in the world. Old growth forests with many trees exceeding 1000 – 2000 years old. A place where ferns are easily taller than you, and where you get the chilling feeling that either an Ewok or a dinosaur are watching you. If you’ve never had the impulse to literally hug a tree, you might among the Redwoods. I will find any excuse to visit this primeval forest again. For another favorite from this trip, click here.
Columbia River Gorge
Since Seattle is my favorite city and I love everything about the Pacific Northwest, visiting Portland and the Columbia River Gorge seemed like a no brainer. When I was 12 and I first saw images of the foggy, wet, and waterfall filled region, I have dreamt of the day I would visit. Starting in March, I felt totally and completely compelled to just go... Having now seen the first three seasons of Portlandia since my trip in June, I feel I must revisit the weirdness that is Portland. For more from this amazing shoot at Elowah Falls, please click here.
Bok Tower Gardens Inspiration and Cover Image on Weddings Illustrated
What started as an low-key earthy and organic shoot, blossomed in to a wonderfully complete green and white editorial. I knew from the beginning that there was no better location in Florida than Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, which we timed perfectly with the peak of the Azalea blooms. Not only was this a bucket list type shoot on so many stylistic levels, but it also became a feature on Ruffled Blog and the cover image to one of the most recent print issues of Weddings Illustrated.
Teaching at The Experience
At the beginning of March, I had the honor and privilege of speaking at an amazing workshop in Las Vegas called The Experience 2013. A panel of wedding bloggers and photographers came together to educate a small group of photographers on the benefits of being published, how to shoot wedding details, and ultimately how to get published. Let me just say, I expected everything to be amazing, but from start to finish, I’m not sure there could be a better workshop. I even felt like I learned a few things, and we had the best group of panel members of attendees possible. Here is just one from the last part of the Experience, from the Nelson Nevada Ghost Town.
The Oxford Exchange
Ok, this sounds like a shameless plug, but the OE is simply my favorite place in Tampa. The Oxford Exchange is a restaurant, shop, commerce club, and book store among other things, and home to Tebella Tea and Buddy Brew coffee. Most of all, it is a company that is real, authentic, exudes craftsmanship, and is all around incredible. It is a place I feel inspired, and the place where many new ideas have been generated. It is where I have had meetings with wedding vendors and friends alike (many times they're one in the same), and it is where I had my New Years Day Brunch with my closest friends. While they sit unchallenged at the top in my opinion, they are constantly improving and continually inspiring me.
Baptism
This blog post in it's entirety is merely highlighting a few of the many blessings I've had this year, but starting at the beginning of this year, the blessings of my entire life became abundantly clear, and so did the path before me. This was the biggest transformation of the year, and one of the biggest of my life. While I rarely post anything personal, I would no doubt be remiss if I didn't mention this major milestone. When I look back on what worked this last year, almost all of them are tied to my new faith and to church. This year I learned to set boundaries, and learned to finally take at least one full day off a week. Away from social media and email, and filled with worship and praise, and followed by lunch with close friends and often yoga in the park. I can't wait to become a bigger part of Gulf Coast Community Church and to continue to grow as a Christian.
Wolf Pack
If we're friends on Facebook, then you might recognize these faces. On our epic cabin trip this past August, we became known as "The Wolf Pack". One of the biggest influences in my walk are the new friendships I've made this year. I'm so fortunate to have remained best friends with the same guys I've been close with since elementary, middle school, and high school, but I love the influence of this group and so many of my new friends at church.
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." - Proverbs 13:20
Zion National Park
Ultimately, this trip was far from my first adventure with my oldest friends, but it was our first in the great American Southwest. It was an escape from the heat and humidity of Florida, to a desert landscape of the most epic proportions. It was a place where we felt whimsy, freedom, and above all comaraderie.
Renee
Right at the beginning of 2013, I set goals to have an extremely fast turn around for clients and vendors. I worked my hardest at the beginning of the year, but it wasn't until I brought Renee along that I was able to really make this happen. She has been instrumental in the office, and with her help, I can set even bigger goals and continue to improve turn around time for images and album designs for 2014.
Business
As Steve Jobs once said, "The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do". Thankfully, I can honestly say running my business this year has been almost as fun as the photography... Almost... That may sound crazy, but for the first time, in almost 5 years of being a full-time wedding photographer, I am finally starting to see the long work hours paying off. I've been humbled this year by the most amazing clients I could ask for, and I've had the opportunity to work at so many bucket list venues, and with so many incredibly talented vendors. Engagement season has only just begun, but I can already say that the weddings I have booked for this year will be my best ever. I can't wait to see who I'll meet and get to work with in 2014 and beyond.
When we fearlessly fight for what we believe in and remain hopelessly optimistic about life, love, and the future, we create an authentic connection with all in our path. Most importantly with ourself. - Gary Friedman
This letterpress print sits just above my desk and is a constant inspiration. This beauty from the Lara Casey shop, along with my Powersheets, and a journal from Twine Bindery, I am prepared to make big things happen in 2014.
I would be totally remiss if I didn't thank the amazing people I worked with. Without Eileen Pandolfo, there would not have been a cohesive theme, environmental message, or anything hand made.Stephanie with 
