The best of 2020 - A year in review

2020. What a year.

I remember thinking at the start of January, this is it – i'm going to do what I promised myself i'd do back in the summer of 2019. Last July I had been made redundant from a job I loved, I hadn't long returned from a year on maternity leave and I quickly realised that I had (quite rightly) put my professional life on hold while I began the wonderful process of raising a family. The shock of realising I had no job forced me to scrutinise what it was that I actually wanted out of life; what my goals and aspirations were. The 'me' before my wonderful Samuel – I wanted her back.

It wasn't difficult to figure out that I wanted to focus on photography. I worked hard on my branding, I built my portfolio up and learnt as much as I possibly could about business, about my camera and about establishing bonds and connections with people i've never met before and making them comfortable in my presence. In May this year, I launched my business officially, right in the middle of a pandemic. I know – a bit crazy, right? … But when I make promises to myself, I keep them. Perhaps it was realising how much I wanted it that made me carry on, no matter what. This has been a year of hardship, difficulties and so much sadness. But for every tear there has also been hope, excitement, happiness, joy. Families coming back together after weeks apart, celebrating the birth of a child in the year of the 'lockdown and rainbow babies', or simply just being grateful for what we have and living in the moment. It's not the material objects in life that keep us grounded and happy, it's embracing the connections we have with other people, the heart, our relationships.

I want to say a BIG thank you, to all those clients who i've had the pleasure of working with. It brings me so much happiness to help create memories for people to look back upon, to be able to provide them with images that will hopefully later adorn the walls of their family home. It has been amazing and special to be present for those first special days with babies who have not long been born – especially when their own family members may have been restricted from meeting them due to COVID. I have loved being able to photograph beautiful family dynamics during family photo sessions and to photograph portraits of the many fun, cheeky, gorgeous personalities of children that i've met this year. It takes trust, care and mindful collaboration when choosing your photographer, whether you're one of the wonderful independent businesses i've had the pleasure of working with or the family who wants to capture their life in print. It means the world to me that you chose me. Looking towards 2021, the future is still so uncertain, but I know without doubt that i'll be here – learning, striving to be better, wanting to make meaningful connections with my clients, providing photos that they'll treasure always, and of course - meeting any obstacles that might come into focus along the way, boldly and with determination. Here’s a collection of my absolute favourite photos of 2020…