As I started writing this entry, I was thinking that 2009 was a “meh” year for me photographically. But as I wrote it, I realized that 2009 was a pretty good year for me. I did not accomplish the goals I set for myself this time last year, but it was a good year all the same.

The bulk of the year was spent finishing the basement which included my beautiful wife’s art studio, our still in disarray tiki/beach bar, and my photography studio. All of the destruction, construction, and cleaning meant not much of a chance to do as much photography as I would have liked. I did get some good shoots in, however, and I really shouldn’t complain to much. After all, I now have my own mostly finished studio space (I say “mostly finished” because no studio is ever truly finished) with plenty of room for shooting everything from family portraits to artistic figure work to product photography.

I did some travel (which I love), and went to San Diego, Albuquerque, vacation in Florida where I worked with two swimsuit models on the beach (you can’t do much of that in North Georgia), a paid trip to Myrtle Beach to photograph a hotel for the day job, and a weekend nature photography trip to the Smoky Mountains with good friends.

On very short notice, I organized the very successful model shoot out for the annual Rock and Roll Monster Bash at the Starlight Drive In in Atlanta – a feat that also put me in touch with a number of people I only knew from the internet as well as helped to get my name out to the alt model world (I loves me some tattooed models!). I also continued and strengthened my relationship with the Atlanta Roller Girls and became their official official photographer for the latter part of the 2009 season and the upcoming 2010 season. My relationship with the Atlanta Roller Girls directly led to me doing a piece on the Austin, TX band And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead for Prick Magazine – on line and in print – in 2009, too.

I ended 2009 working with the first Help Portrait project, a few shoots for my personal projects, a big group and individual portrait shoot for an international company, and some great shots of my family at Christmas. All in all, 2009 was a pretty good year for my camera and me.

As I look into 2010, I already have five shoots booked for January, including a repeat shoot with the beautiful Amy Frena before she heads off to sunny southern California to pursue her modeling career, two personal project shoots, a client product shoot, and the first shoot as the official official photographer for the Atlanta Roller Girls.

2009 did not suck, and 2010 will only get better!

***The pretty girl at the top is Amy Frena. She was one of my last pretty girl shoots of 2009, and will be my first pretty girl shoot of 2010.

This is my uncle Ronnie. He loathes having his picture taken, but he barely humored me at the annual maternal-grandmother’s Christmas gathering. He’s 6’5″ of surly VietNam vet, and I am certain he could put the beat down on Chuck Norris. He taught me how to fight (a very much needed skill for boys in the latter part of the 20th century), taught me how to shoot a gun, and basic gun safety, and scooped me up to take me to the ER when I ripped open my knee on the backyard swing set. This year was the first time I’d seen him in maybe 5 years. In addition to being a loved family member, he is also the kind of “character” I like to take pictures of.

This is my 91 year old grandmother with my 40+ year old baby brother. Gram (pronounced “grahm”) is still spry, witty, and sharp. She tolerates her home being overrun each year by her children (all well over 45), their spouses, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren. She still cooks a few dishes, though the amount of food brought by the rest of the family eliminates her need to do so. Christmas is, again, the only time I spend any time with her. I know, I’m a loser, but that’s the way the family dynamics work sometime.

There are more family Christmas photos posted on my Flickr page, including some studio shots of my brother, sister, father, nieces, etc. I suppose I am fortunate to have a bit of talent with my the camera to be able to capture these family moments when they occur, but don’t let your lack of a heavy Nikon D300 prevent you from getting these potentially once in a long while (or maybe even “last chance ever”) family photos.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Taking special photos is just one part of the equation. Get them out of your camera, off of your computer, and share them with the people – especially the people who are important to you. Family photos are prized possessions. Use your talent to give that gift to others.

Merry Christmas.