I'm going to get real here for a second. Dig a little deeper beyond the pretty images I get to create and share. I want to take a minute and reflect on the recipe of what made 2015 an awesome and absolutely overwhelming year.
How is it possible that a year can fly by and seem like it began decades ago? Is that what growth is like? Is that what burnout is like? Twenty-fifteen has been a whirlwind of beautiful sweet brides, hilarious grooms, lace, tulle, boutonnieres that just were impossible to stab a pin through, miles on the road, lunches missed, the occasional crappy vendor meals, I Do's and the Please Don'ts for those drunk guests that insist on messing with your gear... and that's really only 30% of my job. The other, less "glamorous" side of my job is spent sitting alone in my grandmother's antique chair (which is way too uncomfortable and should never serve as an office chair) in front of a screen that is likely going to make me go blind one day. Editing, e-mails, blogging, editing, uploading, pretend I'm going to update my finances, downloading, editing, posting, submitting, repeat. Hustle. Hustle. Hustle.
Life as a small business owner can be grueling and a bit lonely. I can honestly say I have never worked harder in my life, but I can also say with confidence that I have never been happier. I got to celebrate and capture some of the most intimate, important moments for 22 amazing couples this year. These 44 beautiful people decided to trust me with these once in a lifetime moments, to let me into their families and hearts, to give me the opportunity to do something I LOVE for a LIVING. Sometimes I don't fully appreciate the impact of my job until this down season when I have time to reflect on the past year and boy what a year it has been. 2015 was full of growth, new opportunities, deeper friendships and a lot of learning experiences, and I wouldn't change a single second... Except maybe not having my jumpsuit split up the seam at a wedding. That was unfortunate.
I owe a great deal to so many people for making 2015 a great success. This small business of mine has brought amazing people into my life and every prayer, word of encouragement, hug, sweet snail-mail note, and reality check was appreciated more than you could ever know. You know who you are and know you are loved. To my 2015 JD Brides and Grooms: thank you for making this hustle worth it.
2016, bring it.
Happy New Year, y'all! Cheers!
xo-Jill
Life as a small business owner can be grueling and a bit lonely. I can honestly say I have never worked harder in my life, but I can also say with confidence that I have never been happier. I got to celebrate and capture some of the most intimate, important moments for 22 amazing couples this year. These 44 beautiful people decided to trust me with these once in a lifetime moments, to let me into their families and hearts, to give me the opportunity to do something I LOVE for a LIVING. Sometimes I don't fully appreciate the impact of my job until this down season when I have time to reflect on the past year and boy what a year it has been. 2015 was full of growth, new opportunities, deeper friendships and a lot of learning experiences, and I wouldn't change a single second... Except maybe not having my jumpsuit split up the seam at a wedding. That was unfortunate.
I owe a great deal to so many people for making 2015 a great success. This small business of mine has brought amazing people into my life and every prayer, word of encouragement, hug, sweet snail-mail note, and reality check was appreciated more than you could ever know. You know who you are and know you are loved. To my 2015 JD Brides and Grooms: thank you for making this hustle worth it.
2016, bring it.
Happy New Year, y'all! Cheers!
xo-Jill
