There are 30 days left in 2020 š± Whoa. Thatās mind blowing to me being that this is the year that everyone ācanāt wait to be overā. Also in a way it still kind of feels like spring and that this year was just some kind of weird dream. āFor reasons only 2020 can explainā has been a normal thing to say and is understood by all. Everyone seems to have at least one story of complicated circumstances and setbacks. I know a lot of us were hopeful for this year and brutally disappointed. And some of you have probably gone through hardships I could never fully understand. But, when realizing how close we are to 2020 coming to a close, Iāve been challenged to think about what that even means to me. Am I excited? How do I want to reflect? How do I want to spend it? Am I hopefully now for 2021? Why? How do I want to prepare myself for entering into a new year? What kind of mindset do I want to have moving forward? These are all things Iāll be pondering this month š¤ HOW ARE YOU DOING? How will you spend the last days of 2020? How are you feeling about the end of the year? 
As a photographer, the most random things get me excited š For example, this pink bathtub tile. I know, pretty nerdy. I showed up at the getting ready location for this wedding and was like āOH HECK YES IāM USING THATā hahaha! Like freakinā tiles š But something I love about photographers is that we see the world with such unique perspective. We might see a painting or a wall or a texture in a fabric, or a certain bush or certain rock, a particular patch of light and get all inspired to work with it in a special way. We could see something totally random to anyone else and envision the perfect shot ever in our minds! There is always a bit of beauty and mystery going into a wedding day and seeing a new venue for the time. Itās a time to scout and envision all the possibilities with different corners and colors and textures that a space has to offer. When I scout a venue before a wedding, I literally walk all around and envision my couple in different weird spots I find and note them for later. Itās like a scavenger hunt for the future money shot hahahaš°š¤©šš½šø Photographers, Iām always blown away with how you see things and how creative you can get with the spaces you are given to work with. You are superstars. You are magicians! Give me a š¤© if you could hang in a bathroom with a pink tiled bathtub? š What is the coolest space or venue you've ever worked with? 
Being a BIG BOSS BUSINESS BABE doesnāt mean you have to do it alone āØ Please donāt fall into thinking you need to be a lone wolf. That somehow youāll be better off keeping to yourself or that it looks better that you accomplished āALL THISā solo. Letting others in will not take away from all that you're working towards, they may actually do the exact opposite. We need each other šŖš½ Give yourself the chance to not view every one of your industry peers as competition and take a minute to get to know them. Hang out with them, find someone on Insta you think youād connect with and reach out to them! The friendships Iāve cultivated in the photography world HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING! We motivate each other We educate each other We lift each other up We encourage one another We help each other out We support each otherās dreams We keep each other accountable We offer advice and critique We join forces We celebrate each other victories We pick each other up in our losses I cannot tell you the difference this makes! Whether it's a work date to get things done or just doing life together, you donāt know how much richer your life will be once youāve surrounded yourself with the right people! Especially when they are hustlinā hard just like you! I encourage you! Find your people! I promise someone else is out there too wishing they had a bud in the industry to hang with, and maybe they feel like an outsider. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! Join a group, send a message, embrace some people! You might think youāll do better keeping all your business to yourself and being a lone wolf, but I promise you, WE ARE MADE FOR COMMUNITY! I challenge you to be a little more open and see what magic happens in your circles! WHO HERE šš½āāļø is craving a little more community? What kind of connection or buddies are you wishing you had in your life? A coffee date buddy? A study buddy? An adventure buddy? A travel buddy? Maybe you could find one in this comment thread! OR TAG your bud here and show them some love! 
Dear small business owner, Iām so proud of you. You are so incredible, so strong. You inspire me. Youāve persevered, youāve been through some trials, youāve kept going, youāve kept dreaming, youāve kept trying new things. I see you and all the hard work youāve put into your passions, goals, and big ideas. I see the long nights and endless hours. I see your willingness to learn, in order to improve. I see that you continually invest time, money, and energy to make what you do the best it can be for your life and others. I see that you juggle tasks and wear many hats to make things work. I see you, and that sometimes you try things, and fail, and try again. I see that not everything youāve tried has paid off, but I also see how you didnāt let that stop you. WE NEED YOU! KEEP GOING! I know there is so much more to what you do than what people see. I know you probably have many things that drive you, a family, a goal, a community, and a much bigger story behind the scenes. Thank you for putting so much love into your work. Thank you for being passionate and not giving up. Thank you for caring for each customer and client that you get to serve in such a unique and beautiful way! Thank you for getting to know them and making their experience so fun! Thank you for giving them that special small business touch. You add a special beauty to the world, and to business, and to shopping that we all love! You are capable of so much and you inspire me with your willingness to start small. Iām cheering you on for every step you take and every bit of growth you see. I believe in you! Iām here for you, Iām with you, I celebrate you! Letās keep going! Your friend, Sunny GoldenāØ TAG A SMALL BUSINESS that you want us all the check out and support! Letās spread the love in these commentsāØšš½ Iāll start! 
This photo was supposed to be on a farm in Hawaii š Rachel and Mikeās wedding was originally set for this past April at @sunshowerfarms on the Big Island. As you may have guessed that didnāt happen. But when they asked me to join them in Malibu for the postponed date, you can best believe I was down for the trip. If you know me, you know you donāt have to ask me twice if Iām down for some traveling šš½āāļøš§³ So, I pieced my travel plans together made it work so I could still join them for their wedding day like we had originally intended. I feel like Iāve said the same thing over so many times these past few months. āItās not the day we originally planned it to be, but that does not mean it has to be any less JOY-FILED and MAGICALā Just because something doesnāt go as planned doesnāt mean it has to be a bummer. If we are able to let go of our plans well and not dwell on what couldāve been, our new plans can be just as amazing! Especially with weddings! Please donāt let your dream of a āBIG WEDDINGā being lost take away from the fact that you still get to marry to one you love! Even if it has to be in your backyard now, allow it to still be whimsical! Enjoy ever moment of it! Rachel and Mike's day was so wholesome in all its simplicity! Getting married on the beach, having their first dance and jamminā with all their friend out on the sand, having dinner picnic style with those closest to them and just enjoying each other as the sun went down. It was magic even though it was different. And I just appreciate them so much in the sense that they accepted the new way of enjoying their wedding day with open arms āØ Whatās one plan that changed for you this year but didnāt turn out half bad? Something that you are content with the change or maybe was even for the better? 
Today marks one whole month of traveling š±āļø And I realize that Iāve actually never been away from Hawaii for this long. For as many times as Iāve traveled I think the longest Iāve been away is two weeks. This trip has held quite a few firsts. Iāve never experienced a work trip quite like this one. Iāve usually only traveled for one shoot or wedding. But, this time around, Iāve worked with couples sometimes everyday or every other day. I had no idea what this would be like, but, I just went for it. This is honestly something Iāve dreamed of. Being able to travel and work with couples all along the way. Working in new, exciting locations and capturing peopleās dream photos there. But, let me tell you there has been a learning curve thatās come along with this dream. I mean, IāVE NEVER DONE THIS, so even as prepared as I try to be, there were some new things I had to face. I would stress to make sure all the locations I was picking for my clients fit their dream since I had never been to them before, I had to make sure fires and COVID restrictions didn't hinder our plans, I wanted to make sure I gave myself enough time to get from place to place when my couples needed me, giving myself some time to rest so my couples didnāt get a burnout version of me, I quite honestly got really behind in my inbox because I was trying to focus on each couple I was actively working with and have just have felt a little all over the place š¬ but Iām learning and growing. I want to only get better at this traveling photographer thing, so I can give all my clients the BEST treatment possible. So thank you to all those who have chosen to trust me this past month. Youāve played a HUGE part in me doing what I dream to do šš½ Iāve had a blast with all of you guys! Thank you for flying me out to your dream destinations and letting me capture one of the biggest days in your life š Whatās one thing youāve recently learned or tried out in your field? For me, this trip has made me realize (EVEN MORE) my great need to outsource some tasks. Homegirl canāt be doing this all on her own anymore and still giving everyone a good experience š 
Megan was one of the first inquiries I got at the beginning of this year (feels like lightyears ago). When I read her email and realized she wanted to have me along for her wedding out in the woods of Mount freakinā Hood Oregon...I lost it. You can always count me in for a magical forest wedding, just in case you were wondering š But every detail she mentioned since that day has been so amazing. This wedding was a labor of love. Everyone in Megan and Bobbyās community seemed to come together to contribute to some aspect of the day and little details. It was a full DIY kind of thing done with the help of all the people they love! A friend made all their amazing dessert (I can personally tell you that they were DELICIOUS haha), handmade florals, a friend made alteration on her dress, someone made her earrings, Megan and her dad build yard games and benches for the ceremony, they made their own burrito bowl and smores bar,Ā Ā they thrifted every vintage candlestick on the table and foraged mountain ferns to decorate the space. It was full of LOVE and that was one of my favorite parts of this day. Everyone played a part in making it special for them. People came together in more ways than not and they KILLED IT! Everything had some meaning attached to it. From candlesticks to the location. Megan and Bobby got engaged on Mount hood and are also just major hikers and explores so they got to say their vows on their favorite mountain. I mean for real, I feel like every photo I have seen her post since her first email to me has been a hike or her and Bobby exploring some new AMAZING outdoor space! They love their outdoors! Makes sense for the girl who chose to wear hiking boots under her dress haha! Literally, the cutest thing Iāve ever seen! It happened! We did it! Megan and Bobby, Iām so thankful that your wedding day stood the trials of COVID and fires and every other crazy thing that has been thrown at you this year! Iām so thankful, out of so many talented people you would choose me to spend this day with you! It was such an honor! Any of yāall here DIY people like Megan? If you are here for the thrifting and crafting say heyyyy šš½āāļø