Looking back on 2022

 

It’s time for my annual recap post. A tradition that I’ve been keeping up with since 2014(!). It’s a tradition that I’ve started to keep you updated on all that has happened, but that turned out to be just as important for myself, as making a recap of my year ensures that I take some time to stand still, to appreciate and to be proud of everything that I’ve done. Normally, I struggle with writing the post, this time I struggled even more with choosing my favorite pictures. I got to photography so many amazing stories, that picking some to share with you turned out to be the most difficult task. I tried my best though, and in this blog you’ll find the results.

PS: if you don’t want to read but would rather look only at the photographic highlights, just scroll a bit to the photo series with some of my absolute favorites that I’ve shot this year.

It’s been another adventure filled year with trips to Portugal, the US, Italy, Schotland, Latvia, France, Indonesia and Morocco. I’ve worked with new clients, met recurring clients that I’ve been working with for years, created personal work close to my heart and am proud of all the beauty I got to make. 2022 also had a few personal highlights and surprises in store:

Celebrating (almost) 3 years of location independency

It happened in 2020. Erik (my partner) quit his job. I’d been an entrepreneur for seven years already, he worked a 9-5 job, but we had been dreaming of a more free and location independent life. And so: we built it. Soon we’ll be celebrating the three year mark of this dream that came true, and we’ve called many places our temporary home and office since then. With our wonderful home in the Netherland as a base for the summer, and winters around the world: I feel free, inspired and so so grateful, and I hope we’ll be doing this for many years to come.

 

 

Buying property in Costa Rica

Another dream that until recently I didn’t even know I had came true this year: we bought a piece of land in Costa Rica. I’ve shared my love for this country with you many times through my blogs and social media posts, and there’s just something there that keeps me coming back. Many things, places and people actually. And so: at the end of 2021, Erik and I talked about maybe some day building a home there. ‘Some day’ came quicker than I thought, or at least: us taking the first step of getting there happened fast. Since august ‘22, we are proud land owners of a piece of jungle in Santa Teresa Costa Rica, waiting there for us to make plans and build a home. And I will sure be updating you along the way!

 

Photographing my parents

It was something I had put off for what to long: photographing my parents and their love for each other. It took a little convincing, but they quickly were on board as well, and I got to photograph them in a place where we as a family feel very much at home: my parent’s beach house in IJmuiden, the Netherlands. It’s probably the series I am most proud of this year.

 

 

Personal lessons

As every year, I definitely feel like I’ve grown, both within my business as in my personal life. A big personal lesson I learned, or actually am still learning is about asking for help. As someone who appreciates her independence, and a natural autodidact, I struggle sometimes with identifying when I should ask for help or input. This year, when I finally decided to book a training with a specialist to help me with my fear of flying that had been building up for a few years now, I not only got to let go of (a big part of) this fear, I also learned that I can’t do everything by myself.

Same goes for my surfing journey, in which I reached a plateau and level of frustration that took the all the fun out of this passion of mine, until I got over myself and hired people to help. These may seem like small things to you, but to me: accepting that I don’t have to it alone and let someone help me is a big thing. And I plan to get so much better at it in the years to come.

A big thank you

The realization that’s on top of mind these days is the fact that I would not be here without you. You reading my blog, following me on social media, working with me on shoots or hiring me as your mentor in photography and business: I can not lead my business without you.

 

I am so so thankful for you.

 

 

PS: Some of these pictures are / will be available in my Print on Demand shops on Artheroes (EU) Society6 (Worldwide), Artfully walls, Werk aan de Muur (Netherlands) and Fy.

And: all photos are edited with the Raisa Zwart Presets.