Onward and Upward!

Another year past. I can't be the only one who felt like they were strapped into a racecar and sent through a year at full speed, right? It's gone so fast, it's halfway through January when I'm writing my "end of year" blog post! Oopsies. This year, I want to be a better caretaker to my blog, and not write the boring 'ol fluff, but something real and that can be related to... so here we go!

Photography included, its been a year of learning and trusting. My husband and I began school full time last January, which was an adventure of its own. I shot my second and third wedding, shot for Miss Fallbrook 2011, and even got a chance to dabble in birth photography. I've gotten to taste so many forms of photography and it's helping me to figure out what it really is I want to pursue as a photographer. This year will be even more focused on that.

As if our hands weren't quite full before, we decided to get a new puppy! His name's Russell, and he's a big lug, a St. Bernard/ Lab Mix, and much, much larger now.

What's a funnel doing in a wagon, you ask? You'll have to ask my son!

Also, I suppose it's time to mention that the last few months have been a bit slowed down on the blog because my work time (aka 10pm - 1am) was temporarily reserved for.... the growing little girl that's taken up residence in mah belleh, due at the end of May. Yep! I realized a bit ago that I never made it known on my fan page! I'm coming to the point in the pregnancy where it's, well, unavoidably noticeable that I'm indeed pregnant and not just letting myself go, so I figured I'd warn you out there! Thank you to my last few shoots, including my latest wedding, which were done with almonds in my pocket, and surprisingly few bathroom trips.

For the those of you who have a hard time with these, this is not an inkblot, it's a baby.

I've hit that nesting stage, so the well welcomed, clean-frenzied woman has come out of me. I arranged about twenty photos on my wall, pinterest style, mopped in places I haven't looked at since my last two pregnancies, and have scrubbed my hands raw. Yesterday. There are some changes and clean-ups due to happen very soon on my site and the way things are run around here, too. No stone left unturned!

Most of all, I wanted to really, truly thank all of my clients and fellow photographers who have encouraged, supported, taught, and had so much grace with me in my first year of business. It's a bit cut-throat out there in the photography world. I've been taught things from those a few years ahead of me, who have saved me so much strife, and also talked some sense into me when those tough questions like pricing, and the digital file versus prints decision had me questioning everything I was doing.You know those dreams where you're walking around school, naked? These are the moments I'm referring to, and I'm sure anyone in this business can relate to.

Does she not have ANY self-respect??

When I was 15, I didn't make the field hockey team. Awkward little Melissa just didn't realize that the high school team had it's bars set a tad bit higher than the ultra- encouraging, and perhaps coddling, team from my middle school. So, what's a girl in a new district to do? Water polo! I joined the waterpolo team during preseason, and was told to suit up and stop by preseason practice at the local college. The pool was much better than the elementary school pools I later practiced in (a little foreshadowing...See, I made the team! ), but I'd never swam a legitimate pool "lap" in my life! My gracious new coach suggested try putting my head down in the water, instead of swaying it side to side with each desperate stroke. So THAT is why they wear goggles!!

Nope. After two kids, the self respect is pretty much gone.

Next up, a scrimmage. Whaaaaat? Little freshman Melissa was thrown into a full on scrimmage with senior varsity players. Yes, I swallowed a lot of water. Yes, I threw the ball to the wrong team. Yes, felt like my brand spankin' new swimsuit from Big 5 was torn off of my body, but I survived it. I didn't only survive, I ended up on the varsity team the next year, remembering to be a bit more gentle with the freshman newbies.



Today, I'm happy to say, I've graduated the stage in photography where I felt like I was thrown into water and had to figure out how to swim. Hooray!

I've got much more to learn, but I'm loving every.single.moment. Happy 2012, World! 

Love, Melissa Taylor

(PS. I put together a little collage of some highlights of last year. I'll be posting it tomorrow!!)