As I look back on 2012 I am overwhelmed with gratitude.  I started the year still on crutches from my accident in August of 2011.  The first few sessions of the year I did from a rolling office chair because I wasn’t quite confident on my feet around the little ones – and still couldn’t crouch or kneel.  I laughed out loud in the middle of one of my last sessions of the year – I was sitting on the ground, laying on the ground, rolling around, getting up and down – throwing leaves and mud on my head to make a sweet little eighteen month old giggle – and loving every minute of it.  I look back on this year and the end doesn’t match the beginning.  It has been a year of growth for me for sure.  But also one of love, of joy, of passion and of awakening.  I have poured myself into this little studio this year, and it has poured exceedingly more than I could have asked in return.  I am blessed, blessed beyond measure…

I wanted to do a “quick year in review” blog post, but it has been so hard to choose my favorite photos and narrow it all down.  As I look back over the year I photographed over thirty sessions for twenty three different families.  I had the incredible privilege of photographing tiny little newborns, sweet milestone sessions, wild and crazy cake smashes, an airport adoption homecoming, birthday parties, beautiful expecting mamas and two sets of twins.  I love that I was able to photograph several families two and three times in one year – there is just nothing like watching “my babies” grow!

I also stretched my wings a bit and photographed three gorgeous senior girls at the Savvy Photographer Workshop this fall and a very fun couple for their engagement session around the Washington, DC Monuments – and while I am not planning to begin offering either type of session, I loved the chance to try out new things!

I try to do a little session for my own boys three or four times a year.  And since they are often my most challenging “clients” – as any photographer mama understands – I threw a couple favorites from those sessions in here as well  🙂  But in all honesty, the three of us are getting pretty good at.  My five year old has even started helping me ‘scope out’ session locations!  You know you are a photographer’s child when…

And speaking of those two monkeys…I feel so blessed to have found a job that I love and can do while staying at home with my two amazing little boys.  This time will pass so quickly – and sometimes the balance is challenging – but I am thankful and blessed.  To all of you who have been a part of Renee Stengel Photography in 2012 – I thank you, not only for being a part of my photography studio, but for being a part of my life.  I look forward to working with you again and again in the coming years!!

PS I would love to hear your feedback!  Do one of these sweet cuties belong to you?  If any family has 15 comments on this blog post and sends 15 new fans to the studio FACEBOOK PAGE I will gift Mom and Dad with an 8×10 print at their next session as a thank you gift.  The same person can do both if they would like – but you need to tell me who should get the “credit” in your comment here, or leave a comment on the FB page that you are a new fan!  All comments and fans will be counted on February 1st.

Thanks for visiting my blog…