Looking back at where I was a year ago is such a paradox because it was the year in which my life changed the most. At this time last year I still didn’t quite understand the precious value of time : the reward of an uninterrupted hot shower or the pleasure in holding a hand as it balances to take steps. Becoming a mom has been challenging and rewarding and I love it. I committed to less so that I would have time to adjust and found that at times it was still to much and at other time that it was just what I needed to stay balanced. My total count of weddings photographed was brought up to 124.

I traveled less distance, but often to cities and always with an entourage (or at least my daughter + husband). Pittsburgh was the place that welcomed me most outside of the usual New York suspects (Rochester, Buffalo, and the like). I managed to drop my 135mm 2.0 on a marble floor to start a shoot and purchased a contax 645 to start shooting medium format film. I found lots of new coffee to like and we bought an espresso machine after finding out the one we traded for was not worth the repairs it required.

Finally for the fifth year in a row I made, packaged + mailed out marshmallows to all my lovely clients as a holiday gift. When I say “I” of course I mean with the help of some wonderful friends : Matt, Hayley, Jake, Lindsay, and Megan. Hayley did the letterpress printing of my coasters – and an amazing job at that – and Margaret printed the cards + business cards to the delight of paper lovers everywhere (the business cards are 230# = sooo thick and luxurious).

I’m so grateful to have had this year and to the clients who have made it great. Thanks for joining me in it and see you in 2014!

here’s a peek at what I mailed out: