Goodness, this newsletter has been long overdue. Oops!
2024 was a jam-packed year! It gave us many memories to cherish.
Without a doubt, the ultimate highlight of 2024 was seeing my little sister marry the love of her life. It was a beautiful wedding!
Family Memories
Florida Visit
Mom and I got to visit my Grandma for Memorial Day weekend! We had a blast visiting Epcot.
We were lucky with the weather; it wasn’t too hot and barely rained. The three of us theorized that Grandpa had done something from Heaven to give us a blessed day.
Hilton Head
In late July, we visited Hilton Head Island, our favorite family vacation spot. It was a beautiful time, as always!
One of my favorite highlights was spending an afternoon with my cousin, Tris, who also spent time at Hilton Head that week!
Visit From Overseas Family
Our U.K. family spent two wonderful weeks with us in August! We made many memories together.
We went to Highbanks Metro Park together on a beautiful afternoon!
The two and a half weeks we spent with them were blissful, and quite frankly, it still wasn’t enough time. Those summer days blew by, and when they had to leave, many tears were shed.
While saying goodbye was rough, it just means there’ll be much more joy when we reunite next time!
Wedding Season
September ’24 was jam-packed with many, many happy memories for our family.
Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner at The Boat House was a blast! It was so good to see family from all over the country (and Amanda’s beloved Italian family from her time studying abroad) join us in celebration!
That night, I had the chance to experiment with portrait photography. The flower backdrop in the restaurant was perfect!
Wedding
My sister Amanda married Eric on 9/21/2024, a radiant autumn day perfect for their celebration. Her photographer, Amy Ann, did an absolutely fantastic job with the photos she took that day!
I had the honor of reading E.E. Cummings’s poem “i carry your heart with me (i carry it in)” during the service. It’s a beautiful romance poem!
It was a beautiful day full of joy. Eric has long been a brother to us, and it was wonderful getting to know his family throughout September.
Favorite Song in 2024
The ’80s are definitely my favorite music decade! I’ve fallen in love with the song “Take Me Home Tonight/Be My Baby” by Eddie Money and Ronnie Spector.
Their duet sounds so triumphant, especially at the end. I love listening to this song on repeat!
Hopes for 2025
I recently reviewed my previous end-of-year blog posts to see what I wrote as my then-goals for the following year.
- 2023: More nature photography (natch!)
- 2024: Prioritizing which photos to focus on, especially when dedicating time to editing
Looking at my previous goals, I’ve decided that my top goal for 2025 is to be flexible to new photography opportunities and techniques. As a photographer, it’s important to let ourselves think outside of our usual mindsets to create even better work than before!
I’m currently learning how to use the “masking” function in Adobe Lightroom, which lets you specifically edit either the subject or the background. It’s great for photos where the subject needs to stand out, such as against excessive foliage.
I can’t wait to see what photos I can take in 2025!
Excluding the two pictures by Amy Ann Photography, all pictures in this post are by Connor Brennan
Quis ut Deus? 