I realize it's a tad late for this sort of post, being the 2nd of February and all, but it has been on my agenda and I'm finally getting around to revisiting the old blog.  Writing in the blog has long been one of those things for that I long to do but it's the first thing on the list to go when I have something more important to do; or something more fun to do -- like snowboarding.  Guilty.

But here I am again.  For the past three years I've been working hard to build my photography portfolio and streamlining my workflow while working more than 60 weddings each year.  There might be photographers out there shooting more than that, and thats good for them (maybe, maybe not) but it's what I've figured is about my max load.  I've also figured out that my max work load is probably not my optimum work load.  There comes a tipping point for me when the work load stifles creativity and, most importantly, joy.  So after a long and "successful" 2015, I went into 2016 ready and willing to say "no" when deemed necessary and focused more attention to a better work-life balance; all in the name of maintaining my joy in life and in work.  And I did that for the most part.  Yay me :|.  

But with a new year comes new challenges and new hurdles to jump.  One of those hurdles is why I write today -- The Blog.  I have a lot of reasons to make this a weekly 'thing' and I need to remember that when I'm tempted to put it off.  For starters, it's good for business. Writing in the blog gives me a platform to share with you and/or possible clients about me, my work, my passion, and all the photos and projects I do for work and play.  

I take my camera with me everywhere and am therefore trying to capture something or tell a story about something pretty much always. So on top of sharing my 'work' I can and should also share the work I do for free -- for fun.  I once heard someone say not to trust a photographer (or not to hire a photographer) who doesn't photograph for fun.  In other words, what I photograph for fun should tell people more about me than the work I do for a paycheck, and it should also tell people that I truly love what I do.  Because I do.

So in the following months I will be posting something once a week.  If I can't think of something new to post then I will go back into the vault to show and write about something I've done for 'work' or for fun; I'll do this because I'm late to the game, so to speak, and I have a lot to share.  So in the meantime, and if your new or a first time visitor, check out the About page to learn more about me and browse my portfolios.  I am now accepting reservations for 2018 dates and still have few openings in 2017 to fill.  I would love your feedback on images in the galleries and here in the blog and if you're reading this and your a fellow pro in the industry, please reach out because I would love to get connected with you!  

Cheers for now, see ya next week!

-CJ