Well, 2021, was another odd one right! 😬
We really thought 2021 would be better, back to normal. I’ll never forget that night when Boris announced the kids wouldn’t be going back in January and my heart sank. We then knew that it was not to be!
Don’t get me wrong, in practical terms for my work and my family, 2021 was much improved on it’s predecessor, no more photoshoots through windows and we actually got to socialise, but as we draw the year to a close and we’re looking at a third year of relative unknowns, I have this slight aching feeling in my tummy that we’re still not going to feel the freedom and exhilaration of years before. The family and I long to go on restriction free travels and adventures and I can’t help but feel friends and family are still all so nervous about planning events and get togethers.
But hell – I’m not going to dwell on that. 2021 also saw some gorgeous moments. I enjoyed more quality time with the family during the lockdowns, shot some awesome sessions and the most epic of weddings.
I don’t always get around to putting together a “best of” blog post, they take so long to put together and I’m crazy busy, but I was determined to this year as it’s been such a topsy-turvy time, and I really wanted to see for myself what my year looked like. And I’m so glad I did. It’s totally reignited something inside of me …. my why … Looking through all these photos, perhaps the pandemic as led to this, I feel that intense connection and joy shines through stronger than ever. At weddings especially the parties were bigger, the hugs stronger, the tears longer.
Sometimes it’s easy to lose your why. You get caught up in all the instagram traffic as a photographer – constantly comparing yourself to others, but as I looked through my photos and picked out the ones I loved, I could see why I do this. And I didn’t even get to touch my personal photos from the year – that would be another project in itself as I never had the time to edit them!
So what did I see in my photos? I saw the people. I saw them loving life. I saw them living life. I saw them loving each other. I saw how deep the connections and moments were. Despite the restrictions. Despite the strangeness of the years. Despite the bleakest moments. It was all there. It was all beautiful. And all so loving. And it was all unscripted.
Thank you so much to all the wonderful families who invited me into their homes. Thank you to all the awesome couples that shared their epic celebrations with me. The creatives and businesses who trusted me to tell their story. The schools that welcomed me in and showed me how special you all are. I have cried. I have laughed until my sides hurt. I have been inspired and in awe.
You have all been amazing and I’m so, so, so grateful that I get to put food on the table of my loved ones by doing something that I love. It has been totally worth every 1am finish and 5am wake up for the editing monster the pandemic created!!! Although I could do without that again next year ;o)
So enough of this rambling here are some of my favourites (apologies to my December folk – I still need to edit you – I’ll add you retrospectively shortly). xxx
What bit would you like to see:
BigDay – It has been a cracker of a year for weddings. After a season of on-off weddings, to micro weddings, Big weddings were back on. And they were crazy. And I loved every bloody second. My couples – you have been so much fun, awesome folk. I honestly can say – I love you all! Thank you so much for trusting me to be part of your days. I love what we have created together. Please check out the videos – they have been labours of love this year…. Check out what 2021 had instore here.
WorkDay – from Northumbrian Water to Maggie Supernova, food photography at the Sill to Sarah Hickey Jewellery, lifestyle shoots for GB News and Northumbrian Leisure – it’s be a great year for my commercial photography services and 2022 is going to be even more exciting. Check out what 2021 had instore here.
EveryDay – it wasn’t such a busy year for family photography this year as I just couldn’t take so much on, but from the small amount of shoots I did, it reignited my passion for WHY I started Unscripted and I’m going to be sure to get to visit more families this year as I love it so much and think documenting your normal daily life is soooooo important. Check out what 2021 had instore here.
SchoolDay – For the last few years I have thoroughly enjoyed documenting school life to help produce marketing content for schools all over the Northeast. I can’t wait to announce some more exciting services for schools in the coming weeks. Eeeek! Check out what 2021 had instore here.
WorkDay
EveryDay
BigDay
SchoolDay
