2011 | THE YEAR THAT CHANGED ME

This was the year we decided to change.

I spent 2010 trying to make things work in my marketing career. I left a job I loved to take a position I thought would be greater. It wasn't.

I found myself in the worst place, professionally, I've ever been. What made it worse was that I knew it as soon as I came home from my first day. Pretty soon, it wasn't just my professional life that was suffering.

Sunday afternoons became my least favourite part of the week - I knew I'd be back there on Monday.

I quit my job. Mortgage, new marriage and all.

Kesh and me, we filled our blackboard wall with every single career option we could think of. Only one of them stuck out.

We packed up our new house, knowing we'd have to sell it. We boxed our lives and moved South. Far away from the City and far away from my career in marketing. I wasn't running though - I was starting something.

It took the first six months of this year to realise that all I had to do to make this happen was to do it. So, I did. I dropped out of the courses I'd enrolled in, took my camera everywhere and blogged it.

In six months I've shot with thirty of the most beautiful families ever. In six months, I've shot ten weddings. In six months we've shot in almost every state in Australia, as well as a family session in New Zealand.

For all I this, I am grateful. I am humbled, deeply. It blows my mind every time I head to a shoot, knowing that this is what I get to do now.

I think back to my cubicle days and I give thanks for them. If it hadn't been that dark, I wouldn't be here.

And I love being here.

Next year, my focus will shift. Families are the most beautiful social unit in the world and I will continue to photograph them, just not quite so much. We will be taking on less family bookings in 2012 to allow me to focus on wedding photography. If you've been considering booking me for your family, I would recommend expressing your interest early.

Much love and gratitude,
Tim