Looking Back at 2021
Happy New Year! Here we are taking the first steps of 2022 and we already feel like I have so much to be grateful for. We wanted to take a quick look back at 2021 to share a little highlight from each month as well as some of the moments we just wanted to relive again.
Enjoy!
-Dev
January + February
I love the time after the holidays. General stress is reduced and I get to photograph families simply enjoying time with each other. Last year I had a blast shooting photos with Des, Kelly, and their two kids, enjoying a day skiing on Dollar Mountain (check out more of their images here) as well as bunch of family photo shoots up and down the Valley! We also wrote this blog post about tips for getting your best winter photos, it’s a good one to check out if you’re thinking about booking a winter session.
I also got the chance to shoot photos with J.W. Barger around Sun Valley. J.W. is a brand consultant/influencer who was visiting the valley for the first time. Getting to show him around to all the favorite Sun Valley spots was such a fun experience, it was like seeing my town with new eyes.
March
In March I got to shoot Whitney and Neil’s winter wedding! COVID kept throwing wrench after wrench into their wedding, but after planning two different versions of their wedding in California last year, and another at Sun Valley, the fourth plan finally came together, and it was perfect! You can read more about their wedding (and see all of the gorgeous pictures) here.
March also brought family vacation time both in the valley and out. I wrote a post about the adventure the girls and I took to Redfish, it was the first time I had experienced it in the winter!
April
In April I had the best time taking photos with the Stephan and Lily. Lily used to work with me in the studio a few years ago, and it’s been wonderful getting to take photos as her family grows. From engagement shots now to 6 month old photos of their baby boy—this is one of my favorite part of being a local photographer. Besides, look how cute Bruin is in his fox suit!
May + June
I love the month of May. Temperatures start to swoop upward, trees are beginning to bud, the busy wedding season is gearing up—it’s a wonderful time to be in the Valley. Nothing reminds me of that more than getting to work with families during newborn shoots. They are always so sweet and special—and it feels like welcoming a new community member to our special town!
We also kicked off the 2021 wedding season with Hailey and JT’s ceremony up at the Sawtooth Meditation Chapel. This one was extra special since I had actually shot Hailey’s high school graduation photos years ago—how times flies!
July
Weddings! After shooting small weddings and elopements last year, it was extra special to come back into the hustle and bustle that is the Sun Valley wedding season. July kept the wedding train going with three absolutely gorgeous weddings — one in Hailey, one up at Galena, and one out Silver Creek. I love the way the Sun Valley wedding community comes together to create and shape our most beloved places into something even more magical for the couple - it’s something that makes my breath catch every time.
July wasn’t just weddings though! Sun Valley is a busy place to be in the summer—galas, celebrations, weeknight activities, never is there a dull moment. Shooting the Sun Valley Museum of Arts Wine Auction is something I look forward to every year, plus I also enjoyed capturing the special moments at Ella’s Bat Mitzvah!
August
August brought three more magnificent weddings— two in Sun Valley and one up at Redfish Lake (one of my favorite summer spots!). Abbi and Charles’ Sun Valley wedding was even picked up by Martha Stewart and featured in a handful of wedding articles (you can check all of those out here).
September
September was busy, busy, busy! Senior portraits, family portraits, newborn shots, and eeking out the last bit of summer with my family. The month represented so many different smiling faces, new beginnings, and spirit of the Wood River Valley—I couldn’t possibly pick favorites, so below you’ll find a smattering of images from all across the month!
October
October brings one of my favorite specials of the year - The Fall Portrait Special! It’s a chance for folks to book their annual photo sessions and get 50% off their digital images. It’s a fan favorite every year. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that all of the shoots tend to take place as the leaves are holding onto their golden hues!
I also got to shoot Caroline and Phoebe who had the sweetest wedding in the world at Phoebe’s family’s ranch near Craters of the Moon. In all my years photographing weddings, I don’t think I have seen two people who were so thoughtful and intentional in the planning of their ceremony and the writing of their vows— it was so wonderful to witness. You can see more photos from their ceremony here.
November + December
November brought more family photo sessions plus time spent with the women at Redux Decor helping with some marketing images! A big part of the end of November and December for me though is trying to pump the breaks a little bit. I try to make space for catching up on all of the studio stuff that can get shuffled to the side during the busy summer and fall and most importantly I take some time off to spend with my family!
Thank you all for an incredible 2021, I can’t wait to see what 2022 brings! If you’re interested in setting up your own photo session, check out some of the session options at the button below, or you can always give me a call at 208-788-2849. Happy New Year!