I meant to get this post up a lot sooner in January. But alas, you can only control some things in life and timing/circumstances at the end of 2012 weren't among them. : ) I wish I could, but I can't say that all of 2012 has been rosy. Personally, it has ~~probably~~ definitely been the hardest, most trying year of my life. Due to things out of our control, the hubby and I have been on a roller coaster of emotions, but no matter what, we're stronger and hopeful for what the future brings. My newest mantra: you can't always control the situation you've been dealt, but you can control how you react to it. So, back to 2012. : ) Here are some fun things that stand out in my mind...

Impromptu trip to Sunset Beach, North Carolina (my favorite beach!) with the hubs and his brother:

The hubs and I took a vegan cooking class in Athens, Georgia at Gymnopedie with the talented Sarah Dunning:

We traveled to Florida to visit my husband's sister at Jacksonville University and also my brother, sis-in-law and nephew, who was almost one-year-old at the time (now almost two!):

My good friends, Mary & Nick, got married (and I was IN the wedding for a change!):

The hubs and I tripped it over to Australia to photograph a wedding (and we snuck in a few days of sight-seeing in one of my favorite cities, Sydney):

Ryan argued a case for his appellate litigation clinic in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (kind of a HUGE deal, y'all):

I photographed another wedding in the Bahamas!

Ryan's youngest brother, Alden, graduated from NYU film school, and we helped celebrate:

Ryan graduated with top honors from UGA law school! So proud (and a little relieved that it's over). ; )

We moved to Rome, Georgia, where Ryan is now working for a federal judge (postcard designed by linkedesign):

I photographed a wedding in California for friends, and the hubs and I made a mini-trip to LA out of it:

Another impromptu beach trip to Jacksonville Beach to visit with Ryan's family:

Bella turned four, Sadie turned two, and we got a new pup and named him RILEY! : )

I had the privilege of photographing my music idols The Avett Brothers for CNN:

Business-wise, I found myself shooting 28 weddings, 14 engagement sessions, three bridal sessions and 17 family/newborn sessions. That's a whole lot of clicks of my shutter! I am so grateful to all of my clients for continuing to make my dream a reality -- you guys are my inspiration, and I'm so happy to have shared in your moments this year, however grand or quiet.

Whitney + Reed at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta, Georgia