Goals | 2012

I know January is almost over, but it's been a busy month - especially these last 10 days of traveling - and I'm just NOW finding the time to sit down and share some of my goals with you.

To be honest, I find writing "2012 Goals" to be rather daunting. I started the monthly goal system last year, and I find that's much more how my brain thinks. I like to set smaller, more attainable goals as I go, instead of large, longer-term ones that are harder to see immediately accomplished. But! I know both kinds are good. So, while I didn't kill myself to make an exhaustive year-long list, I did set a few in particular that I will share with you, as well as a few of January's.

So, what am I looking to accomplish in 2012? On a personal level, here are a few things that I and/or Aaron and I together are aiming for:

• Save Money (I know, this is "cliche", but it's where we're at. We'd like to theoretically have enough for a downpayment on a house at the end of this year!)
• Get plugged into a community group at our church
• Continue to set monthly goals (this is really how I feel like I accomplish things, best)
• Read at least 10 books (I'm aware of how lame that sounds to most of you, but I'm not an avid reader, so I have to start somewhere!)
• Become a better woman, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. (I know that's broad, but it's a perpetual, life-long goal....)

As for my business, here are some things I'm targeting in 2012:

• Launch custom website (Yay! This one got accomplished already!)
• Design & launch custom blog
• Make a video for my site
• Develop and work within a specified budget
• Establish a more specific weekly work schedule
• Establish a more consistent blogging routine
• Purchase more lighting gear, a macro lens, and a wide-angle lens.
• Develop consistent packaging/gifting for my brand
• Open a business savings account
• Attend WPPI for the first time!

There will inevtiably be more things I add to both my personal and business goals for the year, especially as I make my monthly lists. But, this is my starting point, so I wanted to share!

Also, no post is complete without photos! So, here are some shots of the lovely waterfall that wasn't far from the amazing lodge Aaron & I were at (for a TeenPact event) last week in Oklahoma.

What are some of the things YOU'RE aiming at this year?

Portraits | Daniel & Sally

First of all, I just want to thank everyone who has checked out my NEW SITE and given such positive feedback in these past few days. It's SO exciting to know that others are loving it and excited about it, and mostly, that they feel it reflects ME perfectly. That's exactly what I was going for, so, thank you for the encouragement and affirmation and celebrating along with me! :)

Secondly, I've been meaning to show off this mini shoot that I did with my amazing brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Sally, at Christmastime in Florida. We were hanging out at my in-law's house (which is beautiful, and the backyard is a lake!) so I couldn't help but snap a few shots of them. Especially since they have NEVER had any kind of official or professional shoot done, except their wedding. No engagement photos, even. And that's just not acceptable! So, I hope you enjoy these few shots of two amazing people who I'm blessed to call family AND friends.

Isn't Sally SO gorgeous?!

Featured | NEW WEBSITE!

My friends, today has been a long time coming. For the past several years, since starting my business in 2008, I've had the dream of one day being able to afford a custom website, designed entirely for Marvelous Things Photography, alone. No generic aspects that you can just change the color of to match your brand. (Now, don't get me wrong, that's what I had for the first few years, because it's what I could afford, and what worked. It was a good place to start!) But today is the day where my dream has become a reality, thanks to the incredible BRILLIANCE of my amazing friend Jen, from Deleted Space Creative. She's the one who designed my logo a couple years ago, and I knew she was the only person I could fully trust with the continuation of my branding and design. And ladies and gentleman, I was not wrong in that trust. The site is TRULY all that I hoped it would be, and so, SO much more.

This photo, and this Pinterest board were my starting inspiration for the site. I didn't know how it was going to translate to become a site, but I showed it to Jen, and asked her to somehow make it happen. And what resulted is the PERFECT interpretation of all the elements I loved so much. It's been so fun collaborating with her throughout this process, and realizing at every turn how we had the SAME vision for things. So, so exciting.

I also want to shout out a HUGE thank-you to my amazing clients who wrote up testimonials for the site, and most importantly, to ALL of you who have let me into your lives throughout the years. I wouldn't have a collection of work I'm so happy about and proud of, if it weren't for you. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart for being friends and supporters and for allowing your BEAUTIFUL selves to make my new site so lovely. :)

And now....without further ado....click on over and look at all the new gorgeousness of marvelousthingsphotography.com, for yourselves!

I hope you all love it as much as I do! :D

P.S. An entirely new blog and design is up next, and will be coming within the next week or 2....so stay tuned!

Engaged | Danny & Janelle

In case you didn't see the link via Facebook, Danny & Janelle's engagement session was featured on United With Love on Friday!

I'm so happy to have it shown off, and I thought this would be a great time to blog the rest of my favorites that didn't end up on the feature!

Danny & Janelle are two of the most joyful, genuine, adorable and completely IN-LOVE people I've ever met! They're amazing to hang out with, and a breeze to photograph because they just glow with love ALL the time. Of course, it doesn't hurt that they're just ridiculously good-looking, either. :)

Janelle is just STUNNING.

And I love how much spunk these two have. :)

Seriously, these are two of the coolest people in the world. Hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into their amazingness!