What an incredible, exciting, challenging, life-changing year! A year of change and of chasing my dreams. I love thinking back to the beginning of 2009, as I had no idea what was in store for me! Here are a few highlights from the year:
1. I finished up my 2nd year of EDGE Corps with the Navigators in Albuquerque. It’s hard to believe I spent a year of my life in New Mexico! To even begin recounting the highlights from this experience is a daunting task, but here are a few: developing life-long relationships with students at the University of NM & my staff team, seeing students catch the vision of impacting UNM for Jesus, hosting monthly dinners for 50+ students, leading the worship team, never-ending encounters with cockroaches, countless runs & walks in the mountains, learning how to deeply love people…and SO much more! Here are a few of my favorite photos from Albuquerque:
This was my favorite street, especially at night, as the Sandia Mountain turns pink at sunset! It was breathtaking each time I saw it!
This photo cracks me up each time I see it, so I just have to include it for you! It was taken at one of our Friday Night Bites (monthly dinners). Talk about random!
2. In January, I decided to begin my very own wedding photography business! During my year on EDGE Corps, I discovered I could not NOT pursue my dream of photography! I second shot for a handful of weddings, and did as much research about weddings and running a photography business as I possibly could! I first chose the name “Allure Photography” for my business (you can even check out the old Allure blog here!), but I didn’t feel like it represented me very well. I wanted to establish my business upon the value of building relationships with my clients so that they don’t merely feel like clients, but rather close friends of mine. Thus, I decided using my name for my business would be a much better representation of my personality!
3. In May, I attended the Melissa Jill 2-day workshop in Phoenix. I’ve written about this workshop a few times, so if you’d like to read more about it, you can do so here and here.
4. I shot my first real wedding on May 24th in the Jemez Mountains and the next day, I moved back to Iowa!
5. I spent a month of the summer overseas. I mainly stayed in Amsterdam but also spent a week in Norway and Belgium. An unbelievable trip that has left me with a huge hunger to go overseas again! By far, Norway is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Here are a few of my favorites photos from Norway, and you can click here and here to read more about my experiences in the Netherlands.
6. I purchased my very own condo. It has been so fun to decorate it and make it feel like home! God brought me the best roommate ever, and we have loved hosting parties here this fall!
7. My dad and I hiked the Grand Canyon…an unbelievable experience!! You can go to my post here to read all about this wild adventure!
8. I developed an even deeper love for my family and friends, as many things that happened in 2009 wouldn’t have been possible without their support and encouragement!
So there you have it, the main highlights of 2009 in a nutshell! I have spent hours dreaming up possibilities of what may take place in 2010…although I have no idea what may be headed my way! I am not one to set New Year’s Resolutions for myself, but I love dreaming up “impossibles” – lofty goals that I can only dream of achieving!
2010, may you be filled with adventures and laughter, deep friendships and engaging conversations, learning new things and becoming more and more who it is that I have been created to be!
Posted by Allison Marie, Des Moines Iowa wedding and portrait photographer
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