This is one of the first rooms I’ve ever designed without any specific inspiration, so I’m pretty ecstatic that the vision in my head actually matches how it turned out. Between the sheet metal wall, painting the walls, staining the wood, refinishing the coffee table, hanging the photos, and buying the bulbs and cages we still pulled it all off at a cost of a couple hundred dollars. The only high price paid was labor, and without Justin and Aaron I’d probably be still in the planning stages. A huge thanks to both of them. Aaron particularly helped by shooting down all my terrible ideas, and not strangling me.

We’re planning to do more to the rest of the room as well, so more pictures will follow in the future.

So, who’s ready for a consultation?

P.S.  If anyone thinks they know the prefect rug for this space, please leave me a comment and let me know! I’ve been scouring West Elm, Pinterest, Urban Outfitters, Ikea and I really haven’t found the perfect one yet.

Here are some my favorites from the last three months.

I think I even wore a jacket while editing these.

Oh, Mark and Katie happen to be my 100th wedding clients, which I happen to think is pretty darn cool. *high five*

Here are a few of my favorite images of our (expanding) Rowie Doughie taken over the past two months. He’s already made key decisions in becoming a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, book lover, and camera enthusiast. What a cool kid.

Of course, a huge thank you to all the clients who made this year so great for me and my family.

2011, like every year before it, was above all else interesting to me. The ebbs and flows of creativity, vision, and life are so intangible that it often seems like a retrospective is the only way to really see what was going on. Looking back across the year I’m very proud of the work I’ve done. I see a vision solidifying and a voice starting to speak an intelligible language. After six years of doing this as a job, the fact that I still have passion for it is, to me, astounding. My temperament for impermanence usually has me vacillating from one passion to another multiple times a year, but it would seem that the ‘photographer’ label might have been put on with some permanent adhesive.

To complete the nostalgic experience, how about listening to Vitamin C’s ‘Graduation Song’ in a new tab while viewing the images.

On a related note, don’t do that.

Andrew and Jenn’s wedding brought me out to Colorado for a week, which was an amazing trip. I got to reconnect with old friends, make some new ones and experience the entire thing in one of the most beautiful states in the nation. The whole trip seemed like an adventure; the airport losing my bag, chopping down wood in the mountains, hanging out in gorgeous little snowy towns, driving through blizzards, getting quite sick, and the busy wedding experience could certainly classify it as a rollercoaster. I think that’s a fitting end to a photographic year that was similar in it’s highs and lows. This is a very intense, emotional job and sometimes we as photographers can miss the forest for the trees. Dealing with bills, managing clients, taxes, failing gear, constant processing, muddy vision, and the rest can sometimes overshadow the fact that this is one of the best jobs in the world.

A huge thank you to all my clients this year – I think it has been my best.

Andrew and Jenn, I wish you guys the best. Hope your honeymoon to warmer temperatures was fantastic. Your candlelit ceremony was one to remember, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a bride and groom rock the stage like the two of you did! Thanks for letting me crash in your awesome house for a night, and for getting me back out West for a bit!

Clare is a swimmer, and had just recently competed at the state level! She probably has 200% more muscle on her body than I do, and both her and her sister could easily take me in a fight.

And get this, Wendy and Jake met each other at a wedding I shot early this year! How cool is that?