What a strange year 2020 was. Usually our year is filled with travel, port stops and excitement but obviously that wasn’t the case this year. We started the year with a trip to Taiwan, which I am now so grateful for but at the time we had no idea it would be our last time visiting another country together. I went back to California in February for a few weeks and intended to return again in May after Josh deployed. That didn’t happen as covid was really kicking off at that time so I decided to stay in Japan for the entire deployment. Right after Josh left we found out where we would be moving next and it came as a complete surprise to us as it was our 10th choice. The military rarely gives you what you want and we have learned that lesson multiple times over Josh’s career but it was a tough year to learn it again. Josh did a long deployment with no port stops so I did a lot of solo travel and day trips with girlfriends. At the end of the year Josh returned, we did our pack out and then found out we were extending in Japan longer. We took one last trip in Japan for Christmas and then I left for California. I’m so excited to share that I will now be located in San Francisco. Josh is still in Japan but will hopefully be able to join me in the states soon – he will be living in Fallon, Nevada and visiting me every chance he gets. It wasn’t hard leaving Japan after all the drama we went through in the last few months but I know that once the dust settles there will be many things I miss. Maybe someday I will write more about our time there but for now I am just grateful we got to go and grateful that it is over.

As hard as this year was collectively and personally, I know that we learned so much and are going into 2021 with a new perspective and mindset. The big lesson I learned this year was that where you are now is both temporary and exactly where you are supposed to be. Patience and gratitude is key to happiness and joy comes even during hard times.

Here are some of my favorite moments and film images from 2020. This was the year I introduced film and I ended the year shooting 100% film. Learning film has been equal parts frustrating and inspiring. My goal with this next year is to keep improving, learn new techniques and never stop bringing my absolute best for my clients. Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement over the years. Japan was where I started my business and I’ll never forget what it has done for me.

2020 – The Year in Images 

We started out 2020 with a trip to Taiwan in January. I had no idea this would be the last time we would get to fly somewhere together or visit another country in 2020. This image is special because of that and also because it was from my very first roll of film I ever shot.

At the end of February I took a trip back to the states to visit family and attend a film workshop. Here are some of my favorite images from my time in San Diego:

While Josh was on deployment I did a lot of Motherhood shoots, here are a few of my favorites images:

I spent a lot of time exploring Iwakuni and took a few photos.

I shot one of my favorite sessions ever on Miyajima with these two, you can read more about it here:

In the fall my schedule was filled with family sessions, here are a few of my favorites:

Despite the hardships of 2020, it was such a beautiful year and I got to capture so many special moments. Thank you to all my clients for your support and encouragement over the past year. I can’t wait to see what 2021 brings in my new location – San Francisco!