I cannot believe it has been a whole year since returning from London, my travels and my first year as a small business owner! As I put together this blog post I find myself going through a whirlwind of emotions. The thousands of photographs I have documented over the past few years brings me back to that particular time and place and it feels surreal. Did it even happen? It is such a strange, crazy feeling to look back on everything I have done and experienced. I am so truely grateful and happy I was able to travel and do all the cool things I got to do and see!

Working and living in London has been right up there with one of the most amazing experiences I have done. I worked full time at Net-a-Porter and photographed gorgeous models everyday with a bunch of super talented beautiful people. I still miss them a lot! Living in London meant it was really easy to travel as everything is super close and reasonably cheap when earning the pound. I pushed myself in ways I thought was not possible like completing the Paris Marathon in April 2014! Yup, mental I know, but something I can always look back on with pride! It also taught me about one's journey and reminds me everyday of what can be achieved. The small steps at the beginning impact hugely on the end goal.



I stumbled across this through the streets of Mykonos, Greece! How true is that!? This first year in business has been all about taking one step at a time. Although I wish I could leap and jump :P
Here are a few more photos during my OE, excuse the low res iphone quality:











Then my visa was up! Where did that time go?! On the way home we traveled Eastern Europe, Turkey and Thailand. I remember the best thing about landing in New Zealand was being able to drink water straight from a tap. It was those little things that I took for granted. Now, what to do? Stay in Taranaki? Move again? Find a job! OR start my own photography business... Yup, it was now finally the time to do what I've always wanted to do. Scary... but exciting! I put all my time and focus into getting started.. which is always the hardest part. First I had to start organsing my stuff! I had a lot of crap... My sisters think I'm a bit of a horder... "time to chuck those high school books out Aimee!" I had to start with my "room/sleepout." I'm actually quite embarrased to be showing you this because while I was away it became more like a storage room. Like honestly what a crowded mess! Anyway, with the help of my wonderful supportive Mum we moved everything out and gave the room a well deserved clean, paint job and new blinds. It has been transformed into my haven, my creative space, my STUDIO!   











A year has been since this transformation and in that time I have meet and photographed many beautiful families, new mothers, new fathers, newborns who have grown into gorgeous babies, and couples who have become man and wife. It has been a lot of work, but it has been worth it! I cannot thank my clients enough! Without your support I wouldn't be where I am today. Taranaki is a wonderful place fill of creative hardworking people and although I've explored many exotic places, there is no other place I would rather be!  

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."
Steve Jobs, Apple Inc. co-founder, chairman and CEO