Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014!

Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone!

There’s something about this time of year that makes me excited for the future. Of what is to come. But I would be remiss if I didn’t reflect on this past year and all that has happened. It’s been a great year overall, a huge year of change and growth for Catie Ronquillo Photography, and I managed to accomplish several business and personal goals this year as well.

Right around the beginning of 2013, I decided to transition my business from shooting weddings to photographing high school senior portraits – for girls specifically. It was a huge change simply because everything I knew about my photography business was turned on its head. I had to learn some new things and change some things up, but I think big changes lead to big successes.

At the end of 2012, I had photographed one senior portrait client. Thanks to my fabulous senior model team and getting out there and photographing up a storm. Today, at the end of 2013, I have photographed thirteen senior clients, along with a handful of juniors (who I hope will become my senior models and clients!). My goal at the beginning of the year was ten seniors. Exceeded my goal by three! I hope to multiply that goal by three for 2014 and go full-time with photography.

In June, I photographed my final wedding, in a dream location: France. Photographing a wedding in France was definitely high on my bucket list so I was thrilled when my friends Laura and Guillaume asked if I would document their wedding.

Additionally, it knocked another goal of going to Europe with my husband and sharing those memories with him. While we were in Paris, we had our photos taken which was so fun and a dream come true! With almost three weeks of traveling together, I learned that we make a pretty good travel team. We’ve now expanded our list of places we want to explore in 2014 and beyond.

On a personal level, I hit my goal of losing 20lbs! A mix of going 80/20 Paleo, Pure Barre, TurboFire, and finishing the year off with the Advocare 24 Day Challenge helped me get there. In 2014, I’m working on building some muscle. In high school PE, I loved the weight training section of the semester. I even bench pressed 100lbs and got to have my name added to the “100 club”. I want to get back to that place.

And because I love a good mashup and roundup of the year, here are two favorites rounding out 2013.

Pop Danthology 2013:

DJ Earworm: United States of Pop 2013

What have you accomplished in 2013? What do you want to do in 2014?

I hope you have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can’t wait for 2014!