Oxfordshire Christening, Bridal shoot, Family portraits....reflections on 2011!

Bring on 2012!
Coming to the end of January and so many plans are beginning to form for the coming year.  First though a time to reflect on 2011.  Its been a great year after our move down to Oxfordshire and finally getting the business up and running.  I had some wonderful shoots - highlights include a gorgeous oxfordshire christening on a perfect summer's day and despite the tricky lighting with full sunshine captured some great images.  A golden wedding anniversary provided the chance to catch up with old friends and a summer picnic in Suffolk provided the perfect backdrop to the close of summer.  For me the year finished with a lovely extended family shoot on Boxing Day.

Its always great to network with local businesses whether you have a new or old business and so this year has seen me working with florist Holly Green at Thanks a Bunch in Faringdon, helping her with images for their new website.  We also worked together with Cariad bride on a bridal shoot at Kingston Bagpuize House near Abingdon - you can see the images in the new wedding brochure for Kingston Bagpuize House.

Its also been a year to keep up to date with my own personal development: workshops with Morag Macdonald and John Denton have been inspirational and allowed me to further my own creativity in my photography.  Next year will hopefully see more of this as I plan to undertake a personal mentoring course to take my photography to a higher level and really make my business deliver at the highest level.

Last but not least thanks to all those who were part of 2011 - my customers, suppliers, friends and family have all been a big part of my year and from whom I take my inspiration that pushes me forward.  As always a year comes with mixed blessings and like so many I have experienced highs and lows in the year, the joy of welcoming new life into the world as well as sadness of loved ones departed who will be greatly missed.  Photography is about capturing those moments in life that are meaningful to us and maintaining a record for years to come where we can look back and relive the memories and reflect on those times.  Life will never stand still but an image can capture a moment in life forever.

Some of my favourite images from 2011 are below, I hope you enjoy them and here's wishing you all a very happy, healthy and successful 2012!

Jx