Happy New Year!

We’ve just returned home after our New Year celebrations, a wonderful night away in the countryside with good friends, good food and good wine. It doesn’t get much better than that for me (apart from maybe a touch more sunshine?!) It’s been a busy but lovely Christmas week, but I have finally found a few moments to reflect on the year that was 2011, look forward to 2012, and wish all my clients/followers/suppliers/fellow wedding industry types/family/friends etc a very Happy New Year; may 2012 bring you much joy, peace, love and happiness.

So, the reflective bit… 2011 was quite a year! I consider it my first year as a full-time wedding photographer (last year didn’t really count as I was somewhat distracted by having a baby!), and it has been truly amazing. It has been an enormous honour to be present at so many wonderful couples’ wedding days, tell their stories, document their memories, and get to know them and their families.

Alongside weddings I also had the honour of photographing the Love My Dress Blog Summer Soiree, shooting the new accessories collection for Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe and working on some gorgeous styled bridal inspiration shoots. I attended the Designer Wedding show, had my work featured in national wedding magazine You and Your Wedding and on many of the top UK wedding blogs, including Love My Dress.  I acheived a couple of Silver and Bronze awards from the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers, including the image above. I had the opportunity to train with photographers and business leaders at the top of their game, and was asked to join the training team for Aspire Contemporary Photography Training. Many things ticked off my ‘goals for 2011′ list, and a few nice surprises :)

Last year took me all over the country photographing beautiful and unique weddings… weddings in castles, tipis, country gardens and stately homes; veils from birdcage to cathedral, flowers of every shade, in heatwaves and hailstorms… All the pretty details and creative touches, some extremely cute children, not forgetting the gorgeous dresses – short, long, full-skirted, slinky, antique lace, silk, ivory, silver, pink… and the shoes (Oh the shoes!). But most of all? The couples themselves, their friends and families, and the love, the joy, the tears, the laughter… I come away from every wedding utterly exhausted but with the biggest grin on my face. I do very much love my job :)

Thank you to everyone who has stood in front of my camera this year, for allowing me to photograph you, for your willingness to play and pose and be yourselves, and your warmth and kindness. A special thank you to my wedding clients: you let me into your inner circle and allow me to witness such beautiful, personal moments. It is humbling, inspiring, wonderful and an immense honour.

Much love to you all, and I hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you,

Katy xxx