Twenty twenty has been one heck of a storm that we have all been riding. Some of us have boats and some of us have barely struggled to get through on a pool float. What ever it’s been for you remember there is always a rainbow after every storm..
Kindness has been the positive this year and I’ve seen it everywhere.. neighbours who barely spoke before looking out for each other, strangers doing other people’s shopping, a smile and a wave across the street and anything possible just to show others that we are still here and we still care… and we really do!
Spending most of the year unable to work has been a massive struggle on many levels but it’s enabled me to spend much precious time with my little one, throw myself into home schooling (which I secretly enjoyed), slow down in ways that I would never have thought possible and I got creative documenting our lives during lockdown. I’m so thankful to all of you that didn’t demand refunds and felt able to wait for your shoots, to all the bride and grooms that had to cancel this year but worked with me to change their date, to everyone that booked a Xmas mini, recommended me to a friend, pressed like on insta / facebook or shared a post. Because of YOU I still have my business and for that I am truly grateful.
I’m also thankful to all the people have worked relentlessly to keep us going: our nurses, doctors, admin staff, care workers, teachers, paramedics, fire service, police, shop assistants, delivery drivers and the third sector including millions of volunteers that have stepped up to make sure those most vulnerable have some support. I hope that the new year gives you the break you do desperately need and deserve.
Despite being closed, geographically restricted or rained off for most of the year I managed to shoot some babies, capture some families, shoot one wedding, run numerous successful Xmas minis with the wonderful Pinewood Christmas Trees, started doing some corporate work though Kelly Brightman Photography, carried out some personal projects like the anti racism campaign for Caerphilly Black Lives Matter, did complimentary doorstep portraits in my area and have ironically met and engaged with so many more people than ever (socially distanced of course!). I haven’t made much money this year and have done a lot of this work for free to keep me sane and help other people out but I have gained a much broader outlook, which has made me feel richer for having met, talked and worked with you.
THANK-YOU to everyone, but especially to my husband Mark for being my rock and holding me up when things have gotten too much, to Dan for enabling me to see life positively through the eyes of a 5 year old and to Charlotte for being the bestest friend a girl could wish for despite the miles between us.
Here’s to a stronger, more cohesive, kinder and most importantly healthier 2021
with a lot of love…
