Blogging is Back! (And So Is My Appetite!)

Sitting down at my computer to write this felt a little foreign. It has literally been months since I have taken the time to blog and it’s amazing how quickly I adjusted to its absence! That being said, I have missed it. Blogging gives me a reason to slow down and remember all the little details from a session that can be forgotten in the rush to edit and deliver galleries. It reminds me that my clients are seriously some of the most incredible people I could meet. And the personal blogs (like this one!) help me stay connected to all of you. So for all of those reasons - I sure am happy to be back! Although you’ll have to bear with me as I get back into the swing of things!

This fall was the craziest and busiest time I can recall in my recent memory. The big news: In early October, Alex and I found out I was pregnant with our first baby! Excitement! Confetti! All of the happy things! I admittedly took the test pretty casually and had no expectations that it would turn out positive. Alex wasn’t even home at the time and I had to wait several long hours to tell him.

Those lovely early pregnancy symptoms hit about a week later. And so did my busy season.

In the northeast, we get to experience all four seasons. It’s pretty awesome, although I will always contend that winter is the longest of them. Hence why I am currently hiding out in Florida for a few days. This girl needs a little Vitamin D! Winter is the slow season for Maryland photography. Things pick up a bit in the spring and summer, but fall is where this part of the country really shines. Those beautiful colors you’ve seen in paintings and movies? They are very real. Add leftover balmy breezes from the summer and that stunning, golden, autumn light, and you literally have a picture perfect setting.

So It is no surprise that the fall is when most people want to get married, schedule engagement sessions, and grab those family photos. When it comes to big moments and annual family photos, September-November is the time to do it in Maryland.

It just happened to be a bit complicated this year since I was fluctuating between being starving and wanting nothing to do with food, dealing with some pretty crippling headaches, and of course battling the neverending (and losing!) fight with the fatigue of the first trimester. Have I convinced you to have a baby yet??

Here’s the thing though - I survived! I have several people and things to thank for this survival. Firstly, I had to do that impossible thing that we all seem to bad at - prioritizing myself. I used to think naps were necessary, but once I got pregnant they were necessary. I had to let myself sleep sometimes, even if it meant “wasting” hours that could be spent editing. It also meant taking a step back Snapdragon’s social media. Keeping up a presence on Facebook and Instagram is so very important in this day and age, but I simply couldn’t juggle posting fresh and worthy content, giving my clients the best experience possible, and taking care of myself. One of them had to go - temporarily! For this season, I chose to put myself and my clients first.

Speaking of clients, this season would not have been possible without them. The majority of them didn’t even know I was pregnant, and yet they were unfailingly patient and kind and understanding whenever there was a delay in delivery or a session reschedule. Time and again I am reminded that it is the people that makes this industry so fulfilling. So to any of my Fall 2017 clients reading this - THANK YOU. From the very bottom of my heart!

And lastly, I could not have done this without a support system. Between my family, my friends, and my husband, I was able to run a busy photography season, teach, and look after my health. Shout out to all of them for dealing with my crazy emotions and hectic schedule, and for finding a way to convince me that I did, in fact, need to slow it down a bit here and there. That kind of love is invaluable, and I am so grateful.

I am feeling so much better these days - my energy is back and I’m able to eat dessert again. (Yes, you read that right. I had a sugar aversion during my first trimester and it was just torture. I couldn’t even eat Thanksgiving pie!) It’s hard to believe in just a few short months, we’ll be meeting this little nugget. 2018 is going to be a fantastic year and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!