Ok. So I will be the first to admit that I am horrible about blogging. I always WANT to. Does that count?
Well I know it doesn't. I won't make excuses other than I don't take the time. I keep myself too busy keeping up with my clients and my business and when I do have a few moments to spare... the computer is the last place I want to be. I want to be with my family, or outdoors, or reading a good book... you get the point. Not that I don't love you... but hopefully you are busy doing those things too!
But once in a while... I DO want to catch you up on what's happening in my world... so here goes!
You would think this year would seem like it has gone on forever... but I feel like it has flown by! This pandemic has certainly thrown the world for a loop. Stepping into such a scary unknown was a challenge. People either went down a path of fear and concentrating on what they were missing while others decided to be positive and thinking what we were gaining and being proactive in getting through it. Me? I am an optimist and chose to have a positive outlook on it all and look for the good things. Obviously keeping safe was number one. Covid aside... I actually had one of the best years with my business. I cannot complain. Here are some of the highlights:
In March, I rolled out my FAB50 Campaign (link here) to photograph 50 women over the age of 50. I realized that our demographic often gets overlooked and pigeon holed in society for being irrelevant. Well I am here to tell you that we are NOT. We are strong, sexy and fabulous! I wanted to celebrate us by photographing these women who all deserve it and in the end, celebrate with a fun gallery display to share with everyone who loves and supports us. I had an overwhelming response and had over 40 women sign up from the start. I had over 20 sessions already booked complete with hair & make up when BOOM... shut down. So I had to postpone everyone till after my summer senior season in the fall. By the time I was going to start rebooking everyone... the numbers started going up again and I decided that we will wait until next year to resume. Everyones safety is my number one priority... and we are only getting better with age... so it's all good!
I had a very busy summer with some of the most amazing high school seniors! My calendar filled up and I enjoyed every session. We didn't let Covid stop us! Luckily most of these sessions are outdoors so the distancing thing wasn't really an issue. But these kids are going through so much this year losing most of the best part of their senior year... so I wanted these sessions to be fun and to create some amazing images for them. I am honored to be a part of their senior year!
2020 awards & competition season has come to a close and I have to tell you... I am SO honored to have won several great titles and awards. I have worked very hard the past few years to start creating more artful images (link here) and to really grow as an artist. I feel I have so far to go... but I have a great start. Thank you to all of my clients and models who helped me gain these accomplishments by letting me photograph you and try out my crazy ideas.
Here is my 2020 awards & accomplishments
JANUARY 2020
The Portrait Masters (international awards and accreditation)
Received 3 silver awards
Earned my Masters
FEBRUARY 2020
SYNC (Senior & Youth National Conference)
Photographer of the Year
1st Place Senior Girl/Studio Image
1st Place Senior Guy/Location Image
JULY 2020
THE PORTRAIT MASTERS (international awards & accreditation)
10 Silvers
OCTOBER 2020
THE RISE PHOTO AWARDS (international)
Peoples Choice Award
7 Silvers
DECEMBER 2020
TCPPA (Twin Cities Professional Photographers Association)
Photographer of the Year (non master)
Senior Photographer of the Year
Beauty/Boudoir Photographer of the Year
Pet Photographer of the Year
2 Judges Choice Awards
MN Top 10 Photographer
As if that all wasn't exciting enough, I had several images appear in national and international magazines:
SHUTTER MAGAZINE - January, April, September, October, December
SENIOR YEAR MAGAZINE - Best of the year
SENIOR STYLE GUIDE - Hot 100
SENIOR INSPIRE MAGAZINE
MODERN TEEN STYLE - 25 Most Influential Teen Photographers
TEEN YEARS MAGAZINE
SENIOR SZN MAGAZINE
Oh... and I have a new grandson! Being a grandma to these two cuties is the best ever!
I don't think it can get any better than that!
I wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday season! I hope you enjoy whomever you get to spend the holidays with. I wish you many blessings for the new year and lets rock 2021!
xo
annie
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