{thuy tran} photography

In the blink of an eye, 2011 was over before we knew it. What a year!  My only complaint is that everything happened too quickly, I wish there was a magic button on the remote that I could press to slow things down.

As you may know, I took a big break from photography during the first half of the year. I had a big project on my hands last year — I had a wedding to plan — my own! It was stressful despite the fact that I thought my project management background would make the process less overwhelming-I was wrong. In the end, everything fell together and it was an incredible day. Every little detail would not have been made a reality with the help of our family and friends-it truly was a labor of love. Thank to everyone who worked behind-the-scenes to make it happen. You guys ROCK.

Our wedding day was not perfect, I don’t think it’s possible to have a perfect wedding day, free of mishaps, but in the end, it’s not about the details, it’s about the moments, the memories, and the people who were there to celebrate our love for each other.  There will never be a time where you can collectively get all the people you love in one room – except on your wedding day- and it was so touching to know that they were all there just for us.

I was looking forward to some relaxation after our wedding but that never happened. Over the summer, my photography took off beyond my expectations. I was so lucky to work with many amazing wedding photographers who also ended up being sources of inspiration, mentors, and good friends. The greatest gift that I’ve received from pursuing photography is being able to meet so many wonderful people (clients and photographers) that I never would have crossed paths with otherwise.

2011 was fantastic but I know 2012 is going to be even better because I am going to set personal and professional goals for myself this year and achieve them. Instead of letting ideas float around in my head (where they end up being lost and forgotten), I’m going to make a list and an action plan to go along with it. 2011 was about testing myself but 2012 is about realizing my full potential.

My (growing) list of New Year’s Resolutions // Take better care of my health // Pursue personal projects // Travel whenever I can // Save more, spend less // Be more green // Get in the habit of making lists and checking them off // Allocate more ME time

If your dreams haven’t come true in 2011, make them a reality this year. Have a Happy New Year!