2022… what a year!
2022… what can I say?!
2022… WOW!
Hello world. It has been a LONG time since I have typed a blog so what a way to be back. I’m not sure I can completely round up my 2022 but I will try my best.
To sum up 2022 in the shortest, and most poignant way, it was the year love won!
Whilst politics and let’s face it, the world has gone absolutely bonkers, love has seemed to be the distraction everyone needed. Weddings have been the escape we all wanted from thinking of cost of living; Dumb ass prime ministers; More dumb ass prime ministers; wars… eurgh I’m getting a headache, so let’s chat about the weddings!
I am so lucky to have a career that makes me feel like I’m escaping the shit that the real world throws at us. It’s mad isn’t it?! Most people want to escape their work, but for me, my work is my escape.
2022 has really made me appreciate my career and the people who invest their journey with me.
2022… The year I was overwhelmed with how fantastic my Butties are
Overall 2022 has been a positive year. Andrew and I have moved into our forever home; My family and friends were happy and healthy and my business did great.
Sometimes, that little sneaky dickhead called Anxiety creeps in from around the corner and likes to surprise you with a slap in the face. I have never been one to really suffer from anxiety, I’m usually the friend you’d call to get you out your funk. 2022 got me though. It was mainly due to the pressures I put on myself and I realised I needed to do something to get out of this.
I opened up on Instagram and said I was struggling and I was working my way through this. It meant that I was working slower than usual and I felt awful about this. The amount of messages I had from my couples sharing their stories, caring and generally being amazing!
I have always had strong bonds with my couples. It never feels like a working relationship, it’s always been more of a friendship and this is something I have always felt proud to bring to my couples. Having so much support from them at that time was overwhelming, I was lost for words. It made me realise just how important it is to be honest with your couples. To be open and to let them in as much as they let me in to their lives.
2022 has taught 2023 Steph the importance of the relationship I have with my couples.
2022… when I found my groove
Being a creative means you are forever evolving. The world around me is so inspiring, that my style of photography is always changing and developing along with my skills.
2022 is the year Steph arrived!
I have always described myself as fun, relaxed and creative when it comes to my photography. This is still very much me, but a more refined version. I put it down to this shoot.
I wanted to create a fun, micro wedding shoot in Shoreditch as I bloody love this place. Styled shoots are a great way to practise ideas and create content you want future couples to fall in love with and want to create with you. I wanted couples to see you can be cool, fun and edgy in the city with no fear of judgement.
I was so proud of this shoot and even more so when Rock My Wedding featured it on their social media. Seeing the likes, the comments and the enquiries come through, it was the validation I needed to realise I have found my style.
The more experience I have gained, the more my style has come to fruition. I couldn’t have got to this point without my couples and their trust in me.
Thank you Butties for allowing me to grow and become the 2023 Steph I’ve been waiting for!
2022… The year my work was being seen
Ok so this one might sound a little weird. To my Butties, of course I’m being seen. You found me online.
This is about being seen in the wedding industry.
There are a lot of wedding photographers in the industry, when I say a lot… I MEAN A LOT!
So sometimes being seen is hard, because there’s so many talented photographers out there!
2022 I had two features with Rock My Wedding and, if I do say so myself, they did really well.
I was even approached by another big blog who wanted to feature the wedding, I said no on a moral issue, that’s another story.
I know you shouldn’t see likes on social media as a validation, however, both shoots were not the usual style of Rock My Wedding. Both shoots were more alternative, bold and colourful. So to see them do so well was a real moment for me. They also brought me enquiries, meaning couples out there love my work.
2022 made me realise I am a good photographer. That I don’t need to keep comparing myself to others and to travel my own journey. To anyone reading this who also suffers from imposter syndrome or constantly comparing themselves to others, YOU ARE WORTHY! YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB! And don’t let any little dickhead voice in your head tell you otherwise!
2022 was my year of believing in myself!
2022… The year of fun to be had!
A wedding is all about joy and celebrating, so of course fun comes with that. This year though, myself and my couples really embraced the fun to be had together! I don’t think I have laughed so much with my Butties as I did this year!
The relationship I have with each of my 2022 Butties has been one to cherish. Whether it’s silly messages over instagram, or meeting for coffee to talk over wedding stress, this year has made me see how important I am to my couples. You forget this sometimes when you caught up with editing piles and admin.
2022 Butties have made me realise, I don’t want to be a photographer for everyone, I want to be a photographer for Butties out there. Working with couples who are more like friends make my work organic. There’s no awkwardness, no false moments, everything works and I get to capture real moments of pure love and joy.
2022 made me realise what I do isn’t about having loads of couples booked in, it’s about working with the right couples!
2022… I’m grateful for you!
2022, I didn’t appreciate you until now. Sorry bab!
For the world, 2022 has been pretty shit. It really has. Politics, humanity, socialism, yeah pretty depressing.
I have been so lucky to see the glimmer of light through it all and that’s been with my Butties.
Doing what I do doesn't feel like work, in fact, far from! My career has been my joy and passion throughout 2022.
So I bet your asking, what’s 2023 Steph got in store?
Well…
I’m going to carry on building the best relationships with my Butties
Keep learning and developing my skills so that I can provide my Butties with the best version of me!
I’m going to carry on believing in myself and what I can achieve
Finally… I’m going to smash 2023!
