We made it.

Oh, y'all.

There are no words I could put on a screen to succinctly wrap 2020 up in a short and easy way.

What I will say is that creative work is a heart and soul effort.

It's like taking pieces of yourself, using them and some fancy paper to form a gift box, which you then give to someone.

As the pandemic really hit this year, virtually everyone I know in the business-owning world wondered whether we would make it.

Would we still be making gift boxes come December?

Watching many a bakery, photographer, or restaurant shutter their doors has been heartbreaking.

Hear me well.

We absolutely should lean in to the darkness of this year, at least a little.

It's my firm belief that the darkness makes the light that much brighter, and it's sweet in its own way.

We learn much about ourselves, about Love, and the quiet was a bit therapeutic.

However, I know you have each experienced loss this year.

So I mean it when I say 2021 begins for me with so much gratitude.

Thank you for sharing your families, for working with the weather and the restrictions.

Thank you for keeping my doors open, food on my table, and letting me continue to live this dream.

Somehow, there were more of you than any year before!

(I'm straight giggling as I type that.)

All of your sessions purchased in advance, your cards in the mail,

your checking in, your kindness - it was all so touching.

These are a few of my favorite images from the year.

And I tried to feature every single one of you, because I felt compelled to honor your efforts.

THANK YOU.

You have each been such a gift.

I can't wait until we can properly hug each other!