Everyday Life | January

There is something about January that makes me want to declutter and organize EVERYTHING…Lightroom library included! I was so focused on client work last year that I fell way behind on personal photos….minimal editing/organizing and very little sharing took place as I stopped updating my personal blog. So, I have spent every inch of free time this past month editing, tagging, and deleting personal photos from 2013 and it feels so good to start off fresh for 2014!

My 2014 challenge for myself is to share more of my own family photos here (which will hopefully encourage me to stay on top of editing/organizing!). I am thinking just one post each month dedicated to our Everyday Life…just 12 blogs, that should be easy, right?! No rules, just a handful of favorites from each month. I will post a few to instagram too – follow along @leavingamarkphoto and #oureverydaylife2014

And so, let’s start with January!

*warning: can you guess who my little sidekick is? Note to self to take more photos of my older girls! I promise that I love them all the same! 

One Year | Leaving A Mark Photography

Leaving A Mark Photography is officially ONE YEAR old! This first year has been a crazy and wild ride filled with challenges, encouragement, surprises, mistakes, and milestones. I have learned so much about myself, about photography, and about running my own business, but mostly I have learned that I still have SO much more to learn. There are times where I catch myself trying to speed up the process, but growth takes time and I am learning to be patient with myself. I’ve had days when I started questioning everything and uncertainty creeps in. In those moments my husband is quick to remind me that, “if it was easy then everyone would do it”. Thankfully, I’ve experienced many positive moments that continually remind me that I am exactly where I should be. Building your own business is a process and if I had waited until I was truly “ready” to start a business then I would probably still be waiting. I’m so thankful for this first year…for progress, growth, and grace. My business and photography is evolving and my passion is stronger than ever. I’m excited for year #2. New goals are set and I am ready for the challenge. Thank you to everyone who has supported me this first year, from liking and commenting on my images through Facebook + Instagram, to reading my blog, to booking a session, and to those that offered advice and shared ideas – all of you are a huge blessing and I can’t thank you enough for being an integral part of this first year!

A little something to illustrate growth + progress...little Miss Mia photographed 2 months before I started my business and then again almost a year later.

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Pend Oreille River Vacation

Our family spent a week on the Pend Oreille River earlier this month. A week of grandparent time, a visit with friends, boating, reading, hiking, walking, relaxing, swimming, napping, kayaking, tubing, discovering, playing, and of course lots of opportunities for photographs! It. was. heaven.