Friends! Libbs is here with another long, sentimental, reflective year in review blog post. Are you in it for the long haul? Trying to read all of my thoughts, accomplishments, and reflections from this past year? If not, it’s totally fine….I understand. How many reflective 2019 posts can one really read on social media? (for the record I can read an infinite number of them, I love these kinds of things. Keep ’em comin!) If you are like me, then I hope you enjoy this year in review post today! If not, at least scroll through here for some adorable pictures of babies, puppies, and fams! <3

Professionally, Elizabeth Alice Photography had a GREAT year! I met so many new families & got to photograph so many people I love. Many of my friends and family members had babies this year, and I had the privilege of capturing those first moments of the girls’ (yes, all 4 were girls) lives! I love that this job has also given me the opportunity to reconnect with people. One of my last shoots of the year was for the family I nannied for before I started teaching. My sweet baby Addy is 8 now, and I loved seeing them. <3  I actually started and ended my year with the same family, and I loved that poetic beginning + end. Sweet Caroline and her newborn photos –> her one year portraits! I have to say, Fall 2019 may have been my best fall ever. Only ONE of my mini-session days got rained out! I was so pumped not to have to deal with bad weather (looking at you fall hurricanes of 2018…) 😉 I shot 76 photo sessions in 2019 & I was able to achieve a few of my professional/personal goals pertaining to photography. I also and so happy that I was able to (forced myself to…) make more time for me. I told myself at the beginning of the year that I would not shoot on Sundays, and I don’t believe I shot on one! (Maybe 1?? Maybe?) It made a total difference to know that I at least had one day to relax each week. Working as a full time teacher during the week and photographer on the weekends took it’s toll on me in the past. I was super thankful for my sweet husband for coming out to many sessions and helping me this fall!

2019 was quite the year for my husband and I personally. We went through a lot, and we learned a lot a long the way. I debated posting this on here, but I truly do go back and read these posts like a journal & this was the majority of my day in/day out this past year. I am not going to go too deep into the details on here, but I found out in February that I had some pretty intense health issues that were wreaking havoc on my body in a LOT of ways. At the beginning of the year, I always make a list of goals. One of my goals was to put God at the center of everything in my life, even my health issues. With a lot of push back (from me…), I had a few very close friends and family members pushing me towards the Lord through all of my trials this past year. I can honestly say that if it weren’t for the constant effort to remain focused on the Lord & His guidance for me, I would be lost! Do you ever look back at a journey and think HOW DID I GET HERE? That is what happened to me in 2019. I started the year with a broken rib because of lack of vitamin D…yes, I coughed too hard. My bad… :/ The Lord used friends & family to lead me to where I am today in January 2020- the right amount of vitamins, whole ribs…lol…and all! A crazy path led me to finding two amazing doctors who have both changed my life for the better (I went the holistic route & I am happy to share my story to anyone who is curious about this!). Seriously, when I think of how I found them it still makes me cry. It is a path constructed by the Lord, and not by me. In early 2019, I had to change my entire lifestyle which was extremely difficult, but now I can’t picture living any other way. While all of the troubles we are facing aren’t over, I am proud of how far my husband and I have come this year & of how much we have overcome. Although many days I struggled/ still struggle, in 2019 I definitely learned that I am stronger than I think. 🙂

A few personal goals of mine this year were to read 20 books (I read 16 by September and then like 1 between Sept-Dec! I need to get the final number…it was not 20 lol), learn calligraphy, & as I said before, to put God at the center of everything in my life. I wanted to get better at yoga- check! I said BETTER at yoga…I did not say GOOD at yoga (lol…my friend recently told me I looked like a saggy cactus at a yoga class!) My husband and I made a goal to learn a new language together, but we did not do it….there’s always 2020! Honestly I am a little disappointed in myself right now because I wrote down many more goals and I can’t find them right now! Grrrr…I guess I did not accomplish them then, or else I would know 😉

My husband and I had our own portraits done by the talented Kelsey Fike Photography in the fall! It was really fun (and nerve wracking!) to be the one in front of the camera! How do you guys choose outfits so well?!

This is my favorite part of the year. I love reflecting on the year past, and I also love seeing a collections from all of my photo shoots this year. It really is cool to step back and see how many wonderful, important moments I get to witness as a photographer. I get to meet the BEST people. Seriously, how are you guys so amazing?! (Great now I am crying…) Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives this year! <3

We took some amazing trips in 2019! Dan and I traveled across the country to the beautiful Yosemite National Park, spent time sipping wine in Napa Valley, and hiked our way through a few Utah National Parks. We went to Charlottesville, VA, hit a few NC beaches, and traveled Boston with family and friends! We are so thankful for this quality time we got to spend together this year, and for all of the beautiful sites we got to see! We are truly blessed to have each other and opportunities like this!

A personal goal of mine for the year was to learn calligraphy! I kind of just practiced every day during my bible/devotional time in the mornings & I found that it was VERY therapeutic for me. I loved it so much that I decided to buy an iPad to practice my calligraphy on there! This honestly was probably the only goal I actually achieved this year (lol…), and I am so happy to have another fun hobby that brings me joy. I love writing out bible verses on top of photos that I have taken, and I have found this not only to be a hobby, but also something that brings me closer to the Lord (another goal of mine… soooo 2!).  😉  <3

Thank you so much for making this far into my blog post (lol), for supporting my small business this year, and for believing in me, friends! I have had one of my best years business wise, and that is mostly thanks to all of my wonderful clients! I am truly blessed with the BEST people in my life, and I am so thankful. Until next year… 🙂

-Libby