Writing a “Best of 2024, Year in Review” post about my business as a Topeka, Lawrence, Kansas City Wedding Photographer, can be a lot more personal than most blog posts, so beware! But these are so fun to write, and forcing myself to do a review is so monumental for me as a person and as a business.  And as we all know, challenges lead to growth and I am all about learning.  In fact, here is where I fell on the Spotify Wrapped leaderboard… I listened to 8,386 minutes of podcasts and was in the top 3% of business and technology podcasts. (As a side note, my Top Artist was Taylor Swift and I was in the top .5% of her listeners… but I digress.)

Saying Goodbye to Dance

The biggest challenge of 2024 was saying goodbye to my dance schools.  It was a hard call to make and these things are never decided easily. Every one of those kids is the absolute best.  Photographing their lifts, their leaps, and their love of dance has been my shiny pleasure. Check out some of that work here.  So it was a tough call when I decided to leave them in the hands of another photographer in order to give more attention spend more time on my wedding couples and my job as a Topeka Wedding Photographer.  But I firmly believe that God has a plan for me.  This way, I can serve my clients and couples with my full heart and soul. 

Continuing Education for a Wedding Photographer

Some of you may already know this, but I am a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) through the Professional Photographers of America (PPA).  I love learning so this year, I took two photography classes to sharpen and hone my skills.  One of those classes, sharpening some flash skills, is complete. The other class is ongoing and will be a big part of my 2025 and includes more detailed work on being a Topeka Wedding Photographer.  There is still so much ahead of me! And for those of you looking for photography course work, check out Click Photo School.

Wedding Season as a Wedding Photographer

I absolutely adored starting off the year with a winter wonderland wedding.  Couples who plan a winter wedding hope for snow, but it doesn’t always happen. But this year, Faith and Travis got their wish! Faith was so happy and it was incredibly beautiful.  After that wedding, I began doing engagements on beautiful rooftops, in fields, overlooking a beautiful lake, and the infamous Topeka Capitol Building.  By the end of 2024, and as a wedding photographer, I had shot weddings and wedding parties at Lake Quivira Country Club, Sand Springs Venue, The Chrisman, The Longview Mansion, The Loew’s Hotel, The Ambassador Hotel, The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, The Nelson, The Bardot, The Austin, and so much more.  I have truly been having the time of my life.  I have met the sweetest, kindest and most wonderful souls along this journey.

Seniors

During 2024, I photographed a wonderful group of seniors (How did I get so lucky!).  These kiddos were top notch, super kind and up for all the things.  Between football, basketball, baseball, wakeboards, jetski’s, horses, backroads, winding waterfalls and grad caps, it has been a year of firsts and a year of fun. From Kansas City to Manhattan, we have been everywhere and done all the things.  Here are some of my favorites for the year.

My High School Senior

On a personal note, I have a senior in high school this year, too!  In fact, he is the baby of the family.  So I have spent a lot of time photographing his sports (football and baseball), being a senior mom, and trying to love on him as much as I can before he graduates.  Here is a quick peek at his senior pictures.

The Era’s Tour

I ended my year in the most incredible way… Taking a trip with my daughter to Vancouver, Canada to see Taylor Swift perform the Eras Tour live.  It was a random ticket purchase long ago that turned into tickets to the very last show of the entire tour. We were so surprised! We had the trip of a lifetime and I can’t imagine a better trip to end out 2024, besides a trip to Branson with my husband’s family and some of my favorite people!

Wishing you all a truly balanced, guided and peaceful 2025!  And as my family likes to tease me for saying, “And that’s a wrap.”