A New Year for this Photographer

Wow. That's really all I have to say right now. In case you didn't notice, it's 2011 already! And we're already more than a week into it! Remember my New Year's post from last year? I have the same exact sentiments about 2010 as I did about 2009 a year ago.

I once read that, as we get older, the years seem to go by quicker because each year takes up an increasingly smaller percentage of our total lifetime. I have no idea if that's true or not, but I do know that 2009 whizzed by before I knew it, and now 2010 seems to have been even shorter. Like, crazy shorter.

But it was a really good year! I know most photographers do their year-in-review in photo form, but I'm going with what I did last year and I'm going to sum up 2010 in words instead. (I like being different, ok?) Here's how I saw 2010:

I was away from my hubby on our anniversary, so I spent it watching a Chargers game at a friend's house instead. :)

We enjoyed the top layer of our wedding cake on our 13-month anniversary, and it was WAY more delicious than I ever imagined it would be! Seriously, couples, don't fear the year-old cake! :)

I met up with some awesome photographers and formally shot my first wedding!

I booked my first wedding!

I got personal and successfully blogged every day for a week as part of Diabetes Blog Week.

I took a trip to Miami Beach to attend the AIA convention, then hubby and I escaped for a road trip up to San Francisco (with stops on the way up and back). Both were awesome!!

I assisted two award-winning photographers at a wedding that was featured on TLC!

My family came out to visit us here in California--so fun!

I was booked solid for a month shooting weddings here in SoCal!
I put a collection of images up at the ZTA Gallery; opening night was amazing!

I met up with my family in Durango, CO to celebrate the holidays.

I have LOTS in store for 2011! Check back soon for more updates, including my new role as organizer of the San Diego Shooting Group! Also, I'm in the process of re-doing my website and blog, so that will be coming up in the next few months.

I already know that 2011 is going to present one of the most challenging experiences I'll ever have to go through. I'm not looking forward to it, but I know that I can and will handle it--especially with all my friends by my side. And, before you ask.... No, I'm NOT talking about a mini-me! :-P

So, how about some images, huh? :) Here are some shots from my recent holiday trip to Durango, CO. My hubby, my in-laws, and I drove there and met up with my immediate family as well as my aunt, uncle, and cousins. We did this trip for Christmas in 2007, and we had all been itching to go back!

One morning, hubby and I rented snowshoes and took a trek up the mountain near where we stayed. I had never snowshoe'd before, and we had a blast!

One day, my parents, hubby, and I went on a sleigh ride around Haviland Lake. Here we are before we took off. (My photographer dad took the picture of us.)

Here's the stable at Rapp Corral.

The next day, we took a trip on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. During the winter months, the train doesn't go all the way to Silverton, but the trip was awesome and we had some incredible views of the mountains and the Animas River below. Gorgeous! This first set of two images was taken using the Diana lens I got for Christmas! It was my first time to use it, and I definitely need to play with it more. :)

A big snowstorm hit the night before we left! Here are a few views from my parents' room the morning we headed out.

Back home, I snapped a few images of our decorations before we took them down for the year. First, the holiday cards we got!

And here's a small image of one of my favorite Christmas ornaments and the gingerbread tree we made this year. The ornament is one we picked up when we were in Hawaii on our honeymoon. :)

Here's to 2011!