I have been very absent from blogging this year… Well very absent is stretching it. I think I have maybe published something once so pretty much non existent blogging. Some of you may have missed my pretty images and my ramblings some of you were probably happy that the extremely bad grammar often found here wasn’t hurting your eyes over the past months. And to all my couples whose weddings I have not shared on here yet I say sorry.

I truly am.

Truth is this year has been tough, wonderful, crazy, a lot of change, a lot of tears, a lot of doctors visits and a lot of work. Its been a roller coaster and the optimist I am has chosen to take the positives from it but its been a lot and I had to let something slip and this was it.

Professionally my number one priority this year has been for me to be present and fully focused on my couples wedding days or when I get to spent time with your families. To give all of myself to capture the beautifully special images I get the honour of capturing. I don’t take what I do lightly. Its a gift… A True gift.

My second priority was  crafting and editing these images and getting them to you to enjoy. But if I am being honest that’s taken a mighty effort just to do that and a lot of other things like blogging have not been prioritized or able to fit into the 70 hour plus work weeks I was doing.

Aside from work I have had a hectic year, I build a house and have moved in and am now making that a home, I had the privilage of spending time with and caring for my grandpa in his last months, I have grieved for the sweetest man I ever knew, I have traveled to Europe for work and gazed at some of the most beautiful works of arts, I have made new friends and tried my hardest to connect with old ones. At times I have felt pulled in a gazillion directions and at times felt directionless, I have experienced big change good and not so good, I have dealt with neurological issues that have meant a shift in how I run my business and my life and am trying to find balance and a new normal in it all. In the past few weeks have had enough energy, strength and room in my mind to start dreaming again about the future of me, my camera and this crazy thing we call life. It has been a (insert adjective that means change oriented, refining, hard, adventurous, love filled and eventful) year but I would not change it.

This year I have loved, I have come to a new level of appreciation for my loved ones (and there are lots of you), for loving others and for living every moment with kindness and joy. I have been refined and I am better for it.

So as well as my apology I say thank you. Thank you for your patience with me when I told you I couldn’t edit for two months, thank you for giving me space to grieve, thank you to all my clients and friends who knew I was juggling a lot and took one less ball out of my hands or came alongside me and helped me through chatting, second shooting, unpacking my home, going for walks, watching the Bachelorette, praying for me, drinking tea, making my travels a dream come true and helping me keep the balls in the air. Whether you knew it or not you were refreshment to my soul.

Thank you to all my clients for bringing me good times and letting me share your most special and sacred moments and letting me dance it out on the dance floor. I appreciate them more than ever!!!!

I cant emphasize enough how brilliant you all are….. Truly my clients are some of the best people you will ever meet… The Best!!!  In sharing your special days I have had the time of my life just like this guy did when when he had his Patrick Swayze moment at a recent wedding…  (You are all welcome 🙂

To my second shooters Jess H & Lochie you have been over the top fantastic and supportive and have helped me at every turn as well as Amelia and Jess K who have always been available and willing to help. I can’t thank you all enough. Like seriously can’t thank you all enough!!!!!

The changes I have made in recent months have been so I can focus on my love of shooting and capturing your images. This has meant I teamed up with the talented people to help me edit these images get them to you faster and looking ah-mazing!!!

So keep posted as hopefully it wont be as long between drinks and you will see some beautiful wedding lighting up your screens in the near future.

Carly xoxo