WHAT. A. YEAR.
I’ve literally been sitting here staring at my computer screen for about 10 minutes, trying to figure out what I want to say about the year 2015. I feel like every year it gets harder and harder, trying to find the perfect words to sum up 365 days. How does one do that? If I had to try, I would sum it up in one word.
The word would be GROWTH.
Not necessarily in my work (although I hope there was growth there as well), but probably just in myself. At the beginning of 2015 I made the crazy, somewhat out-of-nowhere, decision to load up two suitcases and move across the country to New York City. Even though my family and friends thought I was crazy, I received so much excitement and support for my big move. I’ve got to thank Craig over on Craigslist for making my move WAY too easy for a 1st time New-Yorker…I completely lucked out with the worlds best roommates and an amazing apartment. Everything just felt natural and was overall a pretty easy transition. As strange as it sounds, there was an immediate feeling of *belonging* here in this crazy city. The goals I set at the beginning of 2015 was to really do work I’m excited about and to also challenge myself to work outside of only weddings…and I did just that. I sat down and really thought about what I was passionate about and how could I do that within my work and still make a living (because…hello, NYC). That is how La Femme Forte was born. My little baby of an idea is still going strong and I can’t wait for all the different cities I’ll visit this year.
I can’t say that La Femme Forte will be my only focus this year, but I can say that it has just confirmed my passion for empowering women and creating a space where we can truly LIFT each other up in a world that wants to knock us down. I know this project has been powerful for a lot of the women who have participated…but I think this project has actually been life-changing for me. It’s taught me to live what I preach. That I can’t tell these women to love themselves fully, if I can’t even do the same. So THANK YOU to all my La Femme Forte ladies for teaching me the bigger lesson here. I love you all.
So what is in the works for me this year you ask? As scary as this is to type out, the truth is that this year a big ol’ question mark for me. I do have some big dreams…some scary dreams…that I’m trying to make happen this year and that alone is exciting for me. I’ll still be photographing love, life, my La Femme ladies, and hopefully really push myself to pursue my personal/fashion portraiture work some more. Because, why not? I’ll also be speaking (hello, scary-town) at Way Up North in ROME and another awesome workshop later this year (ssshhh!). The blog was a little neglected in 2015, but for those of you who have supported me, sent me kind words, and followed me on other forms of social media….THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I don’t say it enough, but your love is what keeps this thing going. And to everyone I worked with in 2015, words can’t express how grateful I am to you. Thank you for trusting me, being vulnerable in front of my camera, and for overall being the badass babes you are.
You are really good. REALLY GOOD! What an incredible year you had 🙂
Your sense of light and movement is fantastic. You’re encouraging, empowering and so talented! Happy to call you a friend and so proud of you for putting together this post- I know it wasn’t easy to go through a whole year of images! I enjoyed taking my time scrolling through. Lovely work.
These are unreal Tonhya
wow. blown away–that’s all i got. totally and completely blown away.
These are incredible! These photos ooze confidence and badassery. Super excited to continue seeing you continue to come into your own.