I never know how to feel or what to think on New Years’ Eve as the clock strikes midnight. Do you ever have moments in your life when you have so many feelings and thoughts that they all seem to cancel each other out and leave you thinking absolutely nothing at all? Maybe not… but that’s really the only way I can explain what I felt this year when the clock struck midnight. 2009 was a huge year for me…. both in quantity, and in quality. There was so much to remember and learn. So many new experiences. So many trials, defeats… and many triumphs. So many new people I’ve met. So many new goals I have for this next year. How to even sum up what 2009 has been for me? Here’s just a few I pin-pointed.

*2009 was the first full year since my YWAM adventure that I’ve been home in Orange County with an income.

*I started off 2009 working at It’s a Grind, but 3 weeks into the year, it closed due to economic reasons and I was catapulted into full time self-employment… and it’s been a crazy journey.

*I never thought I would have shot so many weddings and portraits in my first full calendar year in business. God is GOOD.

*I had the opportunity to travel to four places I’d never been to before… Brentwood, Portland, North Carolina and Wyoming.

* I almost quit pursuing my dream of being a wedding photographer at least 3 times this year because I was so discouraged. But I didn’t. It’s because of His grace and strength I don’t possess.

*This is the first full calendar year Christopher and I have been dating… and I never want it to end. <3

*I’ve developed so much in my own style of photography, art, and personality… I’m not who I was last year… at all.

*This is what I blogged last year… click here.

This year will be exciting…. I just know it. I have no idea what adventures it will entail, but with all that happened in 2009, I can’t help but be anxiously waiting to see how God is going to move in mighty ways in 2010. I proceed with confidence because just as He provided all I needed last year to do great things, He will continue to be my source of security this year as well. Jesus, thanks for being God and thank you for teaching me (continuously) to see with your measure of beauty.

Without Further Adieu, My Favorite 9 (technically 13 because I couldn’t narrow it down to 9) of 2009….

Saturday was one of the most perfect evenings I’ve experienced in a long time. It happened to be ridiculously hot for an October weekend, but when the sun started going down… it was perfect weather and the light was TO DIE FOR! You may remember Josh and Katie from their wedding that took place in late May of this year. Their wedding was gorgeous and totally a dream wedding. Well… when I approached them about possibly doing a “We Did” /not-so-trash-the-dress shoot… they were ALL OVER THAT! We chose to do it at Peter’s Canyon Regional Park in Irvine/Orange….. and it was SO AWESOME!  Katie and Josh are total outdoors people and they love nothing better than a good camping trip or a day hike through Yosemite… we thought it was fitting for them to capture some post-wedding awesomeness in their element.

Also, the thing I love about Katie… is she’s a dreamer and an artist herself… so when planning the shoot, we both agreed to go for an Anthropologie style with antique lighting, possible antique furniture, and balloons. Aaaand… it turned out amazing! She even brought the vintage Ford Bronco do do some shots with as well! My clients spoil me….

Here’s some of my favorites…. it was hard to narrow the choices down because they were all SO GOOD! Enjoy…

Twas an awesome evening… and I just want to give a big shout out to Christopher for being an awesome assistant and support to me…. and to my buddy Jack Ratana of Jack Ratana Photographers for coming out and helping me out that day!

Preface: I arrived a little before schedule at what I thought was the Wyper residence. Got my stuff, grabbed my coffee, put on a big smile and rang the doorbell with anticipation of what Katie looked like thus far in her “getting ready.” A dog barked and a disheveled and rather sleepy looking woman I didn’t recognize answered the door. A bit alarmed…. I asked “…is Katie here?…” Silence and stares. “Nope… I think you have the wrong house.” Pause. “Sorry… ” Door shuts. “Yup,” I thought, “I’m an idiot.” And that was the beginning of a rather clumsy day on my part…. good thing the wedding and people were AWESOME.