2023 photography reflection
Reflecting on my 2023 business year as a full time photographer.
As we are coming to the end of the 2023 year, I thought now was the best time to sit back and reflect on all of the amazing things that occured this year at AKP. Lets start in January, shall we?
January
This January was a busy one here as I was preparing for my own wedding. I still still teaching Pre-k4, so juggling that, planning a wedding, taking photos, owning a boutique, and running rent houses was “a lot going on at the moment” as T-Swift would say. January consisted of 1 family session, 1 senior session, 3 boudoir sessions, and a Mardi Gras Krewe.
February
WEDDING MONTH!! Dillon and I got married on February 4th and honeymooned in Grenada. Would a wonderful month! February consisted of 1 one year old session and 1 maternity session.
March
March was a huge month for me. This is when I decided to go full time with photography. I quit my teaching job and dove head first into full time. I started a photography education program that changed my life! I haven’t looked back since and I thank God everyday that I was able to go full time. To have a husband, family, and friends that all supported my decision was the biggest blessing. March consisted of 1 little bride session, 6 senior sessions, 2 Confirmations, 1 First Communion, 2 newborn session, and 1 one year session.
April
April is where I was getting in the grove of being full time. It was a huge adjustment and I was adjusting well. I was able to take off out of town without checking with anyone (except for Dillon LOL) and putting in days to take off. Which leads us to taking off to Houston for the Taylor Swift Era’s Tour. A girls weekend was just what I was needing! April consisted of 5 Mother’s Day Mini Session, 1 headshot sessions, 4 senior session, 1 dance studio session, 17 baseball teams. 1 First Communion, 1 high school track team, 1 high school tennis team, 3 newborn session, and 1 one year session. Full time was really kicking in! I was able to take on so many more sessions!
May
My youngest brother graduated from high school and his baseball team won the state championship! In May, Sweet Tangerines (my boutique I own with my bestie Reid) opening on Tuesdays and Thursdays! May consisted of 7 Kindergarten graduation sessions, 1 headshot session, 2 senior sessions, 1 swim team session. 7 baseball teams, and 1 child portrait session.
June
My most busy summer I have ever had since I started taking photos! We did make some time for a couples trip to Austin to see our favorite comedian, Theo Von. Sweet Tangerines had our 2nd fashion show. Dillon celebrated his 29th birthday. Here I think I was finally getting into a routine. It was a little rough without one because I thrive on a routine and having something to do everyday. I also completely redid my website on a whim here. June consisted of 2 family session, 1 softball queen session, 1 headshot session, 1 boudoir session, and 4 baseball teams. AKP launched 2023 Christmas Dream sessions for the session!
July
July kicked off with our best friends engagement party and planning a trip to the beach! This was a new kind of beach trip, it was a work beach trip. I had a few families reach out to me to see if I would travel for photos and would I say no? HELL NO! We, Dillon, me and mom, booked an Air BNB and took off to 30A! \July consisted of 2 beach family photos, 1 new home family session, and 2 newborn sessions.
August
August was a slower month for photos, but AKP had a ton of meetings with potential new clients, meetings with my mentor, and family time! I’m telling you August was unevent full. August consisted of no sessions!
September
September was the month of Heirloom sessions! I couldn’t and still can’t get enough of heirloom sessions. I discovered in September that preserving a child’s age through a photo is my passion. The quality over quanity of images hit hard here. I decided I wanted to give my clients the highest quality heirloom products for their families to enjoy for a lifetime. If you’re reading this and didn’t do heirloom portraits and you’re regretting it, I will be offering limited session in 2024! September consisted of 5 heirloom sessions and 2 branding sessions. We also bought a house in September, let the moving chaos begin!
October
October is where busy season really picks up! On top of moving a whole house, I had to rent out our house we were living in, work the boutique, and take photos. I really start appreciating that I had to time to do all of this. So many things happened in October: we through my FIL a surprise party, my best friends little girl turned 2, my niece played her last junior high volleyball game (with the winning hit, proud aunt brag) and my first wedding of the last 6 weddings I’m shooting happened! October consisted of 2 weddings, 1 branding session, 1 one year session, 1 newborn session, and 6 soccer team sessions.
November
November=Christmas mini sessions are in full swing! I turned 27 in November and shot a newborn session on my birthday, which was the best birthday gift! Of course we had a lot of family time for Thanksgiving, we traveled to New Orleans and Mississippi to hang out with family. I had a Christmas craft day with my friends, we DIYed gingerbread houses out of pre-made house from Michaels, spray paint, and paint pens. 10/10 recommend doing this with some girlfriends! November consisted of 2 family session, 6 mini session, 2 branding session, 1 soccer session, 1 newborn session, and 1 one year session.
December
December I tried to relax, keyword tried! December was kicked off with Santa minis, what a raining day that was. But Santa was their to brighten the mood! I also did another round of Santa photos at The Teddy Bear Tea that my mom puts on at her venue, The Old Building. We had a ton of Christmas parties and get togethers that we attened, Dillons work party, our families parties, and having our friends together at our house. December was a month for reflection and gratitude and consisted of 13 Santa minis, 4 family sessions, 2 senior session, 15 Santa photos at The Teddy Bear Tea, and 1 wedding!
2023
I am truly blown away by this year and all of the support I have recieved this year. A quick recap of all the sessions that were made possible by you! 4 weddings, 8 families, 41 mini sessions, 1 maternity, 9 branding/headshots, 16 seniors, 4 boudoir session, 45 baseball/softball/soccer/first communion/confirmation/theater sessions, 12 newborns, and 5 1 year sessions. I’m forever grateful that I get to do this as my full time job. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Now who wants to be apart of breaking these numbers in 2024?!