Personally and professionally, I had a very successful 2010. Despite the fact that my husband deployed in January, I was able to continue with my business and see it grow in the direction I envision. Besides doing some regular portrait work, I was hired by the USO headquarters in Arlington, VA, to shoot the grand opening of the USO center here at Fort Riley. It was a great networking opportunity! I was also fortunate enough to be hired to do some work on the summer, fall, and winter issues of Manhattan Magazine. It's all about building my portfolio.
I also found time to volunteer my photographic services to the USO, the Riley County Humane Society, Operation Love, and Homes for Our Troops. I feel that it's important to give back to the community and support those organizations that share my passions.
This new year is going to be full of changes. I will still be doing some portrait work, buy my main focus is going to be on event photography and photojournalism. I know that these are not the areas where one typically sees the most income, but I find they are more exciting and fun for me. I have to follow my heart, not my (empty) bank account!
The biggest change will be the relocating of my office! Yes, in June I will be leaving the beautiful Flint Hills region of Kansas and making the long trek across the country to head back East. I will be moving back to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. (That's near Virginia Beach and Norfolk, for all you geographically-challenged folks.) This move is full of excitement, as my family and I will be finding our "forever home" and living where we have already established some roots and friendships. It is also a time of apprehension, as I will have to make new business connections and begin my networking all over again.
