This year, I thought to myself, "Self, it would be super fantastic if you could finish your "Best Of" post before like…April." So here it is, January 6th, and I have ALL MY 2015 SESSIONS ORGANIZED AND ARCHIVED! Basically, I'm super on the ball so far this year (on the other hand, it IS only January 6th so….I'll give it a little time. I'm sure I'll fall apart by the 9th…10th at the latest!)
Big, BIG thank you to all my amazing 2015 clients: a huge percentage of you were return clients, and in my mind there is no greater compliment to my craft than clients who come back again and again. I'm SO happy knowing people are over-the-moon with their products! So…here they are…my very favourite shots from 2015.
#42 Sometimes, my favourite newborn shots are the natural poses :) Adorable Mr. Parker!
#41 PEI sunsets, clover fields, and this family.
#40 This ring. No words. Sigh.
#39 PEI has the most stunning locations. And people!
#38 Because how often does one get to photograph a "kilted" wedding party?!
#37 Kisses for not-quite-here-yet Baby Sis!
#36 Fingers and toes and belly button….swoon!
#35 Waiting patiently for my nephew!
#34 Those BACK WRINKLES!!! Gah.
#33 This family.
#32 Maybe my favourite bridal portrait ever?
#31 Sweet smiles from Baby Jeremiah!
#30 Dog…PEI beach….gorgeous couple who's wedding I get to photograph in 2016...OBVIOUSLY this picture in making it into my Favourite Images blog post ;)
#29 My Biggest-Little brother and his Tiny Human!
#28 This gorgeous Momma-to-be and her perfectly round belly!
#27 Sometimes, you just need to stand next to the ocean and have a good long stare :)
#26 One of my favourite newborn-parent shots of all time! Seth and Leanne and gorgeous Baby Eden!
#25 Beautiful sisters!
#24 My first ever set of GIRL newborn twins…and they're my….fourth cousins? Third cousins? Third cousins once removed? Something along those lines :) I think the point here is that they got my good looks ;)
#23 Being able to photograph gorgeous families in barley fields and not having to ask permission, because they're owned by my family: PEI for the win!!!!
#22 That's not a baby…that's a bear!
#21 My gorgeous cousin-in-law and stunning Baby Ben!
#20 Is it weird that I want this print on my wall, and this isn't even my family?! ;)
#19 So. much. adorable.
#18 As I post this shot…I realize that it may be the first time sharing this image on my blog?! I'm not sure how that happened. Regardless. I'm in love!
#17 Taken on my parent's property in Western PEI. Everything about this Momma-Daughter shot just slays me!
#16 …..Annnnnnd this one, from later in the same session. Because A) Well I mean look at these two! So much love! and also B) This is one of my grandparent's field's, where I always have thought maybe someday I could build a house (despite the fact that, you know…I live in Moncton…)
#15 This image is so special…we were able to go back to the same field where I photographed J + M a little over a year before, when Baby J was still growing in her Momma's belly!
#14 Oh my land. I don't think I need to explain my love for this shot ;)
#13 …parts A and B. Because it's my blog…and I can do what I want!
#12 Oh Baby Weston….you fold your hands like a little gentleman, and steal my heart!
#11 You know what else I can do when it's MY blog? Include pictures of my own kiddos. Because I'm the boss.
#10 Oh hi….you are adorable.
#9 Snuggly engagement shots are the best!
#8 Since I was due with Baby #3 at the first of October, I sadly missed a lot of this year's "colourful" season :( But what I DID get to photograph…I'm in love with!
#7 "Hmmm…..should I wake up my Momma 3 times, or 4 times tonight?" Baby Asher has some big life decisions to make!
#6 Getting to to watch families grow, through the maternity-newborn-baby stage. I ADORE that part of my job!
#5 That moment, when it starts to snow for approximately 45 seconds during a maternity session!
#4 I love all the love!
#3 A forever-favourite shot!
#2 I sometimes get asked why I take some pictures "with the heads cut off". Or partially cut off. Welllll this is why: I LOVE how, in the image on the left, the eye is initially drawn to the hand placement, his ring, and the soft smile on her lips. It's the same reason I include "detail shots" with my newborn sessions!
(Yes yes, I KNOW there's no #1…we'll get to that in a moment.)
Now. Those are in-no-particular-order Favourite Shots of 2015. But the FOLLOWING shots…they are the winners of the first annual Kate Hawkins Photography "Images of the Year" contest, in which I compete against myself. Kind of like the awards "Live With Kelly + Michael" give out every year. To themselves.
Let me explain.
I think it's fantastic when photographers enter, and win, photography contests. I think that for some people, it ups their game and helps them push their craft forward and aspire to DO better and BE better and create images that will be remembered. For me, I find that inspiration in other ways, and I'm learning that I don't want to compete against other photographers. I see other photographers' images that I ADORE, but are so completely different in style and composition from my own, that when I compare my own work to them, I start to second guess MY shooting and editing style. So I think it best (you know…for my own sanity), that I only compete with myself…in an effort to make each year of work better than the last. SO. Here are my "Winners". My very favourite images from 2015, in each category, that I feel were my Very Best Work.
Honestly, I could've chosen any image from this session. The light, location, and MacKayla's props and outfits were all absolute perfection (and I usually HATE when people use the word "perfection", but it's required here!)
Wedding
This first image is one of my favourite shots I've ever EVER taken, of any genre. I love the simplicity, and the rustic details. And the PEI red dirt, obviously ;)
And this shot. I mean honestly, could these bridesmaids BE any more gorgeous?! And the dresses. Kudos to Amy for picking the most stunning colours and styles!
Family
Hands down my favourite family shot of the year. I think it's a mixture between the matte B+W edit, Mr. Leo's adorable face, and the matching leather jackets ;) Taken in Moncton, NB.
Maternity
OH this shot. I don't think it's any secret that if I were to specialize, it would be into maternity + newborn. They are my ABSOLUTE favourite sessions. I adore this shot of beautiful Jensen and her growing baby belly! Taken in Fredericton, NB.
Kids
Three very different shots taken under very different lighting conditions. Completely in love with these three! I think the common theme here is that wildflower fields make me drool :)
Alberton, PEI
Stella
Moncton, NB
Bronwyn
Moncton, NB
Newborn
I booked more newborn sessions in 2015 than in any previous year. Obviously I was completely thrilled about this fact…but it also made it difficult to narrow down my absolute favourites. Here are a couple that really stood out to me this year!
Ok……THIS image stood out to me because this baby is clearly one of the three most beautiful children ever created (three-way-tie with my other two kids!) ;) Baby Zoe, 6 days new!
So that's it. My most-loved images of 2015. And now I leave you with my ABSOLUTE favourites, head-over-heels-in-love images from this past year….#1 part a) and b). Full disclosure: The first image was a self-portrait using a timer, and I obviously didn't take the second picture, but my sister did…and we look a lot alike, so….I think it sorta counts ;)
30-something weeks preggo with Zoe…..
…..and Zoe again…only seconds old!