2012 was such a big year for Front Porch Photography!  What was once just a gleam in my eye was birthed after much labor and love.  And, now that 2013 is here, I would hate to miss something, by not looking back on the milestones of 2012. 

14 years of playing with SLR cameras, taking photography courses, pouring over blogs and tutorials and viewing every moment of my life from an 18-55mm perspective finally gave me the confidence to step up and introduce "Front Porch Photography."  For all intents and purposes this business is my baby and I want to do the very best I can for her (and for you!).  That's not to say I have finished learning, or that she is finished growing.  No way!  We are just getting started!  Each and every time I pick up my camera I make myself learn something new, something to make me grow as a photographer, which will result in business growth and better portraits for you! 

So, here are some of mine (and my baby's) milestones in 2012:

1. Though the camera does not take the picture, and even the worst camera in the hands of a skilled photographer can produce beautiful portraits, I earned my "big girl" camera at the end of 2011, and the 1st portrait I took with it in 2012 is still a favorite (a large canvas greets you as you walk in my front door!)

I went back to edit it and found that not only has my editing style grown up, but so have the photo files I take (see #2).  This is the original edit from Jan. 2012.

And, I went back today to see how I would edit it now.  Not a whole lot changed, but I find that the new edit is a little more true to how Andrea actually looks, and that it is bright and clean - exactly how I would describe my style, as it has matured over this year.

2. I cut my teeth shooting .jpg, but have progressed to RAW. (A .jpg is equivalent to reading the dust cover of a book - just the information you need to get the large picture is included.  A RAW file is the cover-to-cover read that gives you every last detail!)  Unfortunately, the above image was shot in .jpg.  There's nothing wrong with it, but I could have done so much more with it had I been shooting in RAW at that time.  Frankly, I was afraid of that format and now I have no idea why!  It's kind of like my son's irrational fear of the ocean when he was 3.  He wouldn't even look at it, let alone get in it.  Then, one day he saw how much fun the rest of us were having and he jumped in with both feet!  He can't tell you why he was afraid, he just was.  I am no longer afraid - I am committed to capturing portraits in RAW!  This, in my opinion, is the biggest single step I took to grow from an amateur to a professional.

3. After starting the Front Porch Photography FB page and website, I faced my own fears and professionally, financially and legally created a business!  Wow, I knew I was growing up when I started paying quarterly sales tax to PA!  

4. My little business touched over 30 families this year and really gave me the opportunity to shoot what and how I love.  Along the way I found that some types of sessions are my favorite, and are where I have seen the most growth in my photography.  This leads me to . . .

5. I have a new direction and focus for my business!  I know, just as a baby's personality emerges as she grows, so is the personality of Front Porch Photography growing.    It will be so exciting to share this with you through 2013!

From my first portrait of 2012 to my last . . .

Growing, and watching your families grow, has been such a joy!

Thank you all for your love and support in 2012!  Come and grow with me in 2013!

Nicole