2022 Year in Review

2022 felt like a year beyond my wildest imagination in many ways. Every session felt like a session I dreamed up, and I had to pinch myself more than once to make sure reality was truly this beautiful.

I kicked off the year with a badass branding session that reaffirmed my desire to capture more brands throughout the year. And from there, the year brought me such a near-perfect balance of periods of creation and play, with time to rest and nourish myself. 

I had the absolute honor of capturing several retreats this year all over the country: New Mexico, Maine, and California, to name a few. Anytime I find myself packing for a retreat, my brain flashes back to teenage Monica sitting in her room, wishing and hoping that one day I would be able to take pictures and travel the world. 

I felt the presence of my inner child and teenager so strongly this year. I could feel myself walking with her, healing her deeply through so much of the work we created together in 2022. 

2022 was also the year I soft-launched videography offerings, and let me tell you: I was nervous as hell! Having been a photographer since 2006, I carried a lot of self-doubt and feelings of imposter syndrome around taking the leap into offering video. It's something that I've practiced in my personal time for nearly a decade, but until this year, I was hiding behind those insecurities. It took me until the year was almost over to realize I had actually created my first video piece for-hire way back in 2016. 

The first feeling that comes to me when I think about my video offerings and creations this year is the deepest, most profound gratitude to each client who trusted me to bring our vision to life with video. For some reason, it felt so much more significant than I can put into words. I am beyond proud of every video piece we created together this year, and I am even more excited to officially launch videography services and continue bringing your brand or retreat to life through the magick of video. 

This year was also a big year for community, both personally and professionally. I prioritized and dove deeper into cultivating authentic, meaningful relationships and found tremendous fulfillment in sharing space with others. I felt more connected and rooted to like-minded souls than I have in a long time. 

Professionally, I felt more inspired and creatively ignited than ever. I also had the most repeat clients I've ever had in a single year. Forging relationships and bonds that bring us together, again and again, allows us to go deeper and create the kind of magick that almost always leaves us both in tears. It reminds me of exactly why I'm here.

On a personal level, it was a tough year in many ways, and I spent a lot of the year feeling unrooted and out-of-sorts. I learned to hold myself even better through the muck and the darkness and strengthened my ability to ask for help and support. I relied even more on the most simple tools and practices I've cultivated for healing and nurturing myself and learned to be even more present through the hard shit. 

I celebrated my personal New Year toward the end of the year, and it felt like a turning point in the best way. I celebrated 35 in a treehouse in the woods in the middle of nowhere Maine and found myself feeling renewed and ready on a mind, body, and soul level. 

2022 showed me what is possible when we support each other, create together, let ourselves be seen, and when we show up. Below are a few of my favorite moments and memories we created together this year. 

To anyone and everyone I crossed paths with in 2022, from the bottom of my heart - thank you, thank you, thank you. 

I look to 2023 filled with wonder, excitement, and curiosity, and I can't wait to see what we magick create together.