New Years Eve, a day to reflect on all that goodness, all those struggles, all those things you want to change and all those things that motivated you this year. When people ask about my business, I always explain this year as THE year, the one where things got serious. The one where my schedule filled quicker than I ever could have imagined, the one where I was able to save for equipment and stock a few dream lenses into my bag. It is the one where I learned to pose couples, where I learned to take control of big groups at weddings, where I could sense a special moment was about happen, and I knew how to be ready for it. This year I dove in, I took on 34 weddings, I fluffed 34 bridal gowns, laughed and cried with 34 couples, hung out with their families and learned about their lives over delicious dinners. I ate cake, a lot of cake. I hugged endless sets of grandparents, cupid shuffled with bridal parties, helped bustle dresses and form timelines and fix veils. Once, I even walked around Milwaukee barefoot so the bride could wear my shoes. This year, I fell in love with 34 love stories, 68 people, and their endless number of family and friends.

This year was the year where I grew the most, in my career choice and in life. I grew to learn the importance of time off, to designate some Saturday’s for up north and to just be. I learned that my travel itch really will never go away, even if I just got home from a trip the day before. I learned that change is good, that moving isn’t so bad. In fact, it’s pretty darn good. I learned that I love having conversations with new people. I learned that practicing other passions is wildly important (and fun!), and that taking pictures really does give me a front row seat to some of the most amazing moments. With the loss of a grandma, I fell in love with my family more. I learned that we really do grow up too fast and that’s not just something that our parents say.

The years are flying, really, but boy, am I grateful for the chance to live in them. To bask in 365 days. With a year this gol darn good, I can’t even imagine what 2015 has in store. Feeling extra motivated and extra lucky. Cheers to next 365!