2012 year in review

I still can't believe I got the chance to shoot a wedding in Africa this year!! Crazy! The whole experience was completely surreal. I've been shooting weddings for nearly 10 years now and this was my first opportunity to photograph a wedding outside the country. I never would have guessed that my first international wedding would be on the great continent of Africa. I feel so blessed.

Click here to read the story of how I came upon this fabulous opportunity.
Click here to see photos from Christian & Berta's wedding!
Click here to see photos of Luanda, Africa and a safari!
Click here to see photos from our stop-over in Madrid, Spain.


#2 -- Launching a New Business

In March I launched a new business called Align Album Design. We are an outsourcing solution for professional photographers who want album designs that are clean, affordable, and done quickly. Align has been a thrilling endeavor and is definitely one of the highlights of my year. In many ways it has reminded me of my early years building my photography business, but in other ways it is a completely different beast. Regardless, I have loved getting thrust back into the challenges of running and systematizing a fledgling business. Watching Align grow over the past 9 months has been exciting and I can't wait to see what the years ahead have in store!


#3 -- Checking Goals off the List

This year I wrapped up my 2nd attempt at completing 101 goals in 1001 days. I only checked 20 goals off my list this year but they were some fun ones! Click below to read about each goal completed.

Replace old picnic table - completed 1.19.12
Bring my personality out even more on my website/blog -- blog something personal once/weekish - completed 1.20.12
Develop a better system for submitting to wedding publications - completed 2.8.12
Finish circle in a granny square afghan - completed 2.15.12
Update MJ2DAY workshop video - completed 3.13.12
Launch & promote new business idea - completed 3.21.12
Attend an autism conference with Natalie - completed 3.31.12
Release more Photojunction Templates - completed 5.2.12
Start an affiliate program for my PJ templates - completed 6.21.12
Have a neighbor over for dinner - completed 7.9.12
Donate blood at least twice a year - completed 7.16.12
Offer my workflow forms & resources for sale to other photographers - completed 7.25.12
Read at least 75 books - completed 8.28.12
Shoot a wedding on another continent - completed 9.19.12
Raise money & walk for Autism each year - completed 10.8.12
Create a photo book of my nephews for my sis - completed 11.8.12
Update the bio page of my website with new photos of me yearly - completed 11.26.12
Find a church home and get involved - completed 11.26.12
Incorporate more detail shots that highlight the location into my wedding photography - work on sense of place - completed 11.26.12
Figure out a way to breathe new life into my blog -- get inspired - completed 11.26.12


#4 -- Deeper Leaning on the Lord

In the Bible, Mary and Martha are sisters who were also friends with Christ. They both loved him greatly, but Martha ran around frantically waiting on him hand and foot, while Mary sat at his feet and hung on every word he said. In the end, Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better thing. I'm sure he loved that Martha wanted to show her love by serving him, but he valued Mary's desire to be with him more.

I am notorious for being a Martha. I'm a doer. And not even in a noble, serving others kind of way. But more in a I-feel-best-about-myself-when-I'm-being-productive kind of way.

Last year, in my 2011 year in review, I celebrated gaining some ground in prioritizing the important and bringing a bit of balance to my life. This year, God took me a step further. In the summer I was doing my usual throwing-myself-into-the-next-big-thing bit when God asked me to stop and wait on him. I was running ahead of him, like I often do, and likely missing the better thing he longed to bless me with.

As a result, one of my highlights of the year has been a deeper leaning into Christ. By no means am I fully transformed into a Mary yet, but I'm practicing waiting, dependence and gratitude. The peace, contentment and closeness with him that God has blessed me with, are some of my greatest treasures of 2012.


#5 -- Business Growth

This year was a year of tremendous business growth for Melissa Jill Photography. We brought on a new 4th associate photographer, doubled the number of associate weddings we shot from 2011, relaunched a new album design template website with new templates and an affiliate program, developed new resources for photographers and more! I'm SO thrilled, looking back at 2012, at how far we've come! Click below to read more about each area of growth!

MJ2Day -- New Promo Video & New Crazy-Amazing Sponsor
New Associate Photographer -- Meet Mary!
Album Design Template Website Re-designed
Earn Extra Cash -- Become an Affiliate
Updated & easier to use Blog Collage Templates
For Sale: Workflow Forms & Resources
For Photographers: Gear Reviews & Info
Updated Promo Video

What a great year! So much to celebrate! I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!