2020: A Banner Year

Did that headline get your attention?  I’m guessing not many people would say that about 2020.  I certainly have some mixed feelings about it and there were plenty of moments of sadness, isolation, frustration, even loss. BUT, when it comes to photography, it most certainly was a banner year for me.  

Click Pro Master and Just the Beginning

It began in March, when I received an email from the director of Click Pro, saying , “Congratulations, we LOVE your work!” I had just been accepted into the professional women’s photography association that I had aspired to be in from the very start of my photography journey.  After shooting for several years and molding and shaping a set 150 images to submit as part of my application, I was now in the same company as photographers I had looked up to and admired for quite some time.  And while it was a huge sense of accomplishment to be able to say I had reached such a goal, I can also now see that it was not so much reaching the end of a goal, but the start of many things to come.  Looking back, becoming a Click Pro Master was the catalyst for more growth and initiative last year than I think I could have ever imagined, not to mention also the beginning of building more community with inspiring, kind artists from around the world.  All while navigating a pandemic.

After I was accepted into the Click Pro Master network, I had my set of 150 images made into an 8x8 book with a linen cover as a keepsake for my hard work!

Grief & Loss

Shortly after receiving that email, COVID hit, and a beloved family member lost her battle with metastic breast cancer.  I had gone from feelings of complete elation becoming a Click Pro Master to feelings of grief and loss in such a short time period, but turned to my camera for comfort.  And in those months, I found myself expressing feelings I couldn’t quite put into words through my images, and hoping I could inspire others to do the same.  And so, my very first blog post for Click Magazine was published at the end of April.  

My aunt passed away of metastatic breast cancer in April, 2020. Prior to that in March, she was transferred from the hospital to hospice and her ambulance was escorted by the Nebraska State Patrol, whom she had worked with for decades.

Traveling Dress Collective

A few months later, another opportunity presented itself to collaborate with a very talented group of Click Pro’s, in the form of the Traveling Dress Collective. Because of the pandemic and lockdowns across the world, we decided to create a collection of work using sheer curtains we had on hand at home. It was incredible to see how each artist approached this challenge. 

Top 2%

In the fall, I was met with more good news! I was pleased to learn that three images submitted to the 2020 Voice Image Collection competition were in the top 2% and had earned an honorable mention. Each year, nearly 40,000 images are submitted to the contest, so to have 3 receive an honorable mention was thrilling!

Magazine Dreams Come True

And finally, in the fall, I received the news that another dream of mine had come true that my work had been published in a magazine; first, an image I had taken of my daughter appeared in the July/August issue of Click Magazine.  Truthfully, I would have published this blog post closer to that time but I wanted to wait until I had the page custom framed and photographed to share with you :-) This had been a dream of mine since starting my photography journey and seeing my work there in print was a phenomenal feeling. And if that wasn’t enough, I also learned that another image taken of my daughter was accepted and published in an international magazine, This Detailed Life as part of their “Celebration” issue.

My daughter and I celebrated the occasion as it is her that is pictured in the Click Magazine publication. The image on the right with the sparkler was published in This Detailed Life.

Like so many, I had no idea what 2020 would have in store for me.  All of the curve balls it would throw, the disappointment, the isolation and loss. But photography was certainly a bright light in the midst of some of the darkness that all of us experienced. And knowing that despite the challenges that 2020 presented, I was able to accomplish some major goals that had been on my list for a long time. Photography truly is such a passion and I’m constantly practicing my craft to not only achieve my personal goals, but to serve my family and senior clients better. It is, indeed, a journey and I’m grateful for those that have been a part of it, whether as clients or friends and family members cheering me on. Thank you.