ZERO TO ONE HUNDRED | A whirlwind of a year, but here's the best of 2021
Updated: Jan 13, 2022
Ask any photographer what their year was like in 2021 and they’ll all say the same thing, "It went from zero to one hundred, overnight!"
It was absolutely true; as 2021 began, our trade lay dormant, nothing happened.
Once again, we were unable to work and the process of rescheduling dates began, with some weddings having to postpone not for the first or the second time, some their third and maybe even their fourth, since setting their original date. It was devastating for the couples affected and by now, some of them were so fed up by the dreaded process of changing dates, that they were opting to push their dates back to 2022 and beyond in the hope they’d be able to have their dream wedding.
So I began the year, with a diary full of red marks, scribbles and countless names moved from A to B. It was pretty nerve racking if I'm honest, there had been so many moves as I've previously mentioned, that I was just hoping a praying to God that I hadn't made a mistake somewhere along the line.
There were a lot of emails going about with dates, double checking, they were right.
Now let's rewind 8 months, to where we went from 0-100...Things were so different to how they look now, I know we aren’t out the other side of this just yet, but we are a lot further on than we were. So eight months ago, I shot my first 2021 wedding, yes in May and no it isn’t normal for the first wedding in a photographers diary to be in May. What did it look like? Well the bride looked like a princess and the groom scrubbed up well too, but when it came to their day, things were still far from normal.
Amber and Rob had booked their day just after the Pandemic began back in 2020, thinking that they’d be absolutely fine by the time their date came around 14 months later, they were; however, to be wrong. Looking back some might say people using the first ever 2020 lockdown to book and plan weddings were crazy; but believe me, so many people did this. It goes without saying, back then anyone in the wedding industry was pleased to still be receiving bookings-the deposits really helps us keep ticking over! Venue's even went as far as offering virtual viewing, it was this stage of initiative thinking that saved people in our industry for sure.
Nevertheless, Amber and Rob later told me they wouldn’t have changed a thing, they had loved every minute and had enjoyed quality time with their guests that were still able to come. I had another five weddings with the same limitations as the first following their wedding, where the guests had to wear face coverings, no singing was permitted and they were limited to 30 guests. It seems slightly surreal now: just like that, on 19th July, it changed and things returned to the most normal they had been in a long time.
Just in time for the summer holidays my diary was mental with at least one wedding a weekend and countless family shoots being squeezed in mid-week, along with a bit of commercial work too.
Blimey! It was like riding a hurricane at the time, stuff everywhere and so much to remember, after all I'm capturing weddings and people put so much in to them! I didn't want to miss anything or get it wrong. I also felt like I was so busy I couldn't spare any head space to see my own loved ones. I was terrified if I did social things myself, I may risk getting covid and then would have to let couples down and deal with the rearranging another photographer when everyone was already so busy...it was a tad mind boggling when I look back. I muddled through though, I did it and I’m pretty sure everyone was pleased with their end product too.
Did I enjoy it? I loved being with everyone at their weddings and while I was out shooting, that bit's the best, but the editing, oh my goodness and the unrealistic idea of blogging every wedding myself 🙄 what was I thinking!? So what did I learn?
Expectations-I keep them very high, if I want to keep them there, I'm going to have to learn to delegate 🤔.
My couples are 100% fabulous.
That I love capturing happiness, it's my fav thing to do.
Weddings, they're so much fun, you'll never get two the same.
People are unbelievably kind, wonderful and more patient than I realised when I needed them to be.
I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved during the 2021 madness.
I really, really want a cleaner! 😂
This year, I have decided we do need a family holiday and that ideally I’d like 1 free weekend a month so I can see my friends and family too. I haven't forgotten you all!
Although, even with the crazy year we've had, I was really pleased to get April backed properly after breaking my wrist in the spring. 🙄 It turns out, I don't bounce like I used to and it really was a long time since I had ridden a newly backed horse and couldn’t really remember anything about the process, so I invested in some lessons and I learnt so much! This was such a great focus for me during the busy period, we all have to stop and rest at some point so we don’t burn out, this was my relaxation time and I loved every minute! (Even if Steve found it boring 😂).
So what's next for 2022?
I have a really-really busy diary yet again, with my first wedding of the year is this coming weekend, which is super exciting. I'm looking forward to meeting my couples in the near future and hearing about all of their fabulous wedding plans. I'm also getting to grips with off camera flash this year! 📸😱
I've dabbled, I know it looks great, but still there's so much riding on the shot that you draw so much attention too-I apologise in advance, to any of my couples who may have to bear with me for a minute of two longer. I promise, it won't be for long and I hope it'll be worth your wait 😘 by the end of the year I hope to be a dab hand at it! 😂
If you're still looking for a wedding photographer or family photos then get in touch and book as soon a possible so not to be disappointed.