2021: A Year in Review
Looking back on this year and all the amazing weddings and elopements I was so fortunate to photograph, there were plenty of moments that really brought me joy. It only seems fitting to share those moments big and small here with you.
Looking Back on 2021
Last year I started a new-er tradition of setting an intention for my year, and I have to say it has suited me really well. Instead of being focused just on achieving measurable goals (“I’m going to book this many weddings by March 27th!”), I instead allowed myself to make intentional decisions based on a single question - what can I do in this moment that will bring joy?
Looking back on this year and all the amazing weddings and elopements I was so fortunate to photograph, there were plenty of moments that really brought me joy. It only seems fitting to share those moments big and small here with you.
Moments That Brought Me Joy
Lake Willoughby Proposal
My love for the Northeast Kingdom is no secret, and when I was contacted by Jeff to capture his surprise proposal to Kim on Lake Willoughby I basically died. Combining my love for capturing real and emotional moments with the magic of the NEK was almost too much for me to handle, but somehow I pulled myself together. The pure joy on their faces after Kim said yes is one of my favorite shots from this year.
My Morning Routine
What? A routine? Me? What wild times we live in. What I love about my morning routine is that it’s less of a routine, and more of a ritual - I’ve given myself permission to be flexible with it. Sometimes I get up early, sometimes I sleep in. Sometimes I make myself a big breakfast, sometimes coffee is enough. Sometimes I meditate, sometimes I read - lately it’s been playing a lot of the New York Times’ Spelling Bee. The only rule I stick to is that I’m not allowed to start working right when I wake up, I’m required to ease into my day slowly. Honoring what I want to do in the moment instead of prescribing how each and every morning will go allows me to really be present, and start my day aware of myself and what I need.
Breaking the Bed
Ok so listen, I want to start by saying that Jess and Ben are some of the kindest people I’ve gotten to know this year. But these two know how to throw a raging party. It only made sense their wedding day would start off with a dog pile gone wrong. Jess and her wedding party were so enthusiastic to clamber on the bed for a group photo, their weight caused the bed to collapse from under them. The fact I managed to hold myself together to capture it is no small feat, and I laugh out loud every time I see it.
Reading
Reading a good book, especially as part of my ever-changing morning routine/ritual/thing, will always bring a calm sense of joy to my day. If it’s one that gets me to tap into a state of wonder or curiosity, even better. I was fortunate enough to read so many great books this year, this is only a small preview of my favorites:
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green - One of my favorite podcasts became a book this year! While I love listening to John give his 5-star scale reviews about our everyday lives, being able to go back and find the individual reviews I loved in his book is equally as satisfying. His reviews of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and ‘Sunsets’ are tied for my favorite.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin - Once I discovered this series existed, I couldn’t put it down. What starts out as a ‘standard’ fantasy/sci fi story becomes so much more - N.K.'s storytelling is beyond profound, sassy, and heartbreaking all at once.
My Inner Sky by Mari Andrew - This book taught me how to see the beauty in dark times, and have even greater appreciation for light. Mari’s writing style is just so soothing and reassuring, it’s like getting a warm hug as you read her words.
Professional Troublemaker by Luuvie Ajayi Jones - This is the book that pushed me to speak up for myself this year, and I recommend it to anyone who needs one of the best cheerleaders in your corner when faced with doing hard things.
Homebody by Rupi Kaur - This is, apparently, the year I embraced poetry. And one of my favorite poets I discovered was Rupi Kaur. While all her books are lovely, Homebody spoke to me in a way that felt peacefully, like I had been really seen.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green - Another sci fi book I just couldn’t stop listening to, it does a beautiful job of taking you through some wacky situations as a coming-of-age-in-your-early-twenties-while-trying-to-save-the-world story while still being grounded in some of the very real problems we face today. I also highly recommend the audiobook if that’s your style.
Killington Elopement
While I love a good old adventurous elopement, the one I documented for Lauren and Pat holds a special place in my heart. They reached out to me two weeks before their planned date, and we worked together not only to make sure I could capture their day, but also to help them scout a location and plan a sunrise hike the morning of to get stellar mountain views. I’m so happy with these results and being trusted with such a cool part of their day.
Winning the Best of Weddings Award
I was beyond honored to be featured in not one, not two, but THREE categories for Vermont Wedding’s Best of Series. Getting public recognition for the work I do brings up a lot of weird feelings for me (roughly 65% awkward, 35% ‘oh neat!’), but I do love that engagements, dogs, and elopements were the categories I won in. It just feels right.
Dogs
Dogs are joy incarnate. I will always and forever highlight them as the best.
Shelburne Engagement
Not only did my photographer heart sing with the lighting conditions and visibility we got on Lake Champlain this summer for Tori and Natalie’s engagement session, getting a chance to get two know these sweet souls truly reinforced why I love doing what I do.
Gratitude for My Clients
At the end of every year, I take on the labor of love by sending gift prints to my couples who got married that year as a little thank you. Seeing the lineup of the finished product from this year’s weddings literally brought tears to my eyes - I’m so grateful for each and every couple who has trusted me through the years to be part of their day, and having something physically to show for it is so satisfying.
Looking Forward to 2022
Being focused on joy not only has made me pay better attention to the good things around me, it’s helped me move on from those things that weren’t. I said goodbye to a career in IT that no longer served me and the values that matter to me, and embraced the terrifying unknown of being solely focused on my business. In a lot of ways I’ve already started practicing my core value for 2022: courage.
A few years back I stumbled upon Brené Brown and her talk on vulnerability as strength, which led me to dive more into her work by reading her book Daring Greatly. This quote from that book is what stuck with me most:
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness.”
When I first read this quote, and the book in general, I was so uncomfortable with the idea of being vulnerable that I basically put the whole idea out of my mind. But now I’ve had time to process it and come to terms with it, and this year even acted on it - when I’ve been truly vulnerable in my work, the results are breathtaking. When I’ve been vulnerable with my friends and family, my relationships with them have become so much more fulfilling. But all of it takes so much courage.
So my driving question for 2022, whenever I have a choice to make will be this - “Which option requires courage?” I hope you all will find your own source of courage in the year to come, and I can’t wait to share what comes of it with you all.
<3 Mo
