Its 2022!!!!

Happy New year you beautiful bunch. Thank you so much for taking the time to click into to what has now become my annual blog lol. Goodness, I’m getting worse every year at blogging – I used to be so good, I’m not quite sure what has happened to me, social media has taken a huge nosedive on my priority list in 2021 – huge. But it’s a new year, a fresh start and without making a list of resolutions ( which I haven’t done for years ) I’m just going to take one day at a time and do as much as I can. As long as I can keep my family happy and healthy, make people smile, continue give them beautiful memories and get out for a run then that’s really all I need.

Its funny you know, If I had started to write this blog at the start of the week after several solid days of prepping, wrapping, cooking, eating ( so much eating), cleaning, late nights, sleep deprivation and a general flat feeling that comes after such a build up to the holidays then this might have been a very different post. But some fresh air, yoga, a run on the beach, a dip in the sea ( BRRRR) and quality time spent with my family and good friends and I’m back on track again and genuinely excited for the year ahead, I have lots of exciting projects lined up and I am already looking forward to sharing them with you.

2021 kicked my butt – it was such a busy, busy year with all the rescheduling and I kept people waiting on their photos far longer than I was happy with – so 2022 I will have to say no a little bit more often and stay on top of things. Shout out to all the other hardworking photographers who were in the same boat. WE MADE IT!!

So THANKYOU, THANKYOU as always, I am forever grateful for everyone who has supported my business over the years and trusted me to capture all your special moments, it really is a privilege which I never take for granted.

So Happy New year, practice love, kindness and gratitude in all you do .

Here is a wee three minute round up of my year. Enjoy!

https://erica-irvine-photography.smartslides.com/best-of-2021

Erica x

Its 2021!! 8.1.21

Well Happy New year to you all…..it’s been a long slog to get here hasn’t it? 2020 totally kicked our butts in so many ways, but here we go, 2021 – lets see what you bring us.

I usually write this blog on New Years Eve, when the kids are tucked up in bed, a big roaring fire, a wee glass of wine and I take such joy looking back through the year of work I have built up, choosing my favourites and putting them all together for you to view. This year I spent New Years eve in my old trackies, painting my bathroom and playing Cluedo at midnight with Rich and the boys. But finally – after several nights at my desk I’ve managed to get this blog finished at last!

I must admit, Covid coming on the scene has changed me. At the beginning of the year I got sucked into a world of researching, devouring every relevant article I could find on the matter and listening to a lot of podcasts. I think I read almost every conspiracy theory there was about this subject, and often found myself in the deepest and darkest of rabbit holes to do with our world. It wasn’t good. It kept me awake at night.

I had to wean myself off doing this because my head was so full of information, misinformation and darkness. I try now to only listen to the news once a day. I follow a very clever man online called Ivor Cummins ( The Fat Emperor) I make sure I get daily exercise and fresh air ( combined if possible) and I have stopped worrying that maybe Bill Gates is trying to inject us all with a microchip and that our governments are lying to us and rubbing their hands together each night at the thought of their evil plan. No, I’m done with that nonsense. That said, I do feel our world will change, and that those at the top will use the opportunities covid has given them to bring in a new system. But right now, I’m back homeschooling again, and honestly I barely have time for anything else other than that and keeping a constant flow of snacks to them.

I am taking pleasure in the simple things and the positives from last year. The main one was how much time, real quality time, I got to spend with my children. What a pleasure that has been ( bar homeschool lol). And also how much time I got to spend at the beach – my favourite, favourite place…..thank you to all who travelled up to have your sessions there…..I hope I will be doing more of those again this year.

One of my favourite films is called ‘ About Time’. If you haven’t seen it, you should. It’s a really beautiful film which teaches us to appreciate the smallest of things. And I do. I wake up full of gratitude every single morning. I have always been able to find beauty in the little things. Evie’s hair in a high ponytail, the laughter that echoes though my house when they all play together. Winter sunshine streaming through my home…

And in my line of work I see these moments echoed every time I meet a new family, photograph a wedding, watch someone busy and enjoying their work. I love it. I love capturing it. I feel so so lucky I get to be the one to give people those memories, things maybe I see that they possibly might miss.

To those many couples this year who had to postpone their special days, my heart really ached for you, but when it comes around again, its going to be even better than before, because you will have been so starved of connection in 2020 that to have your wedding the way you want it, with all your loved ones, it’ll be one big, emotional, amazing party and I cannot wait to get shooting these again.

That said, the weddings which did go ahead this year were incredible. The smaller, more intimate gatherings were such a joy. Less time pressure, pure love, married because they just really wanted to go ahead and get married. Sure there were a few restrictions on your days, but when I was there working, I hardly felt them and I know you didn’t either.

So, ok, i’m rambling, as I have tendency to do…….Here’s a snippet of what I shot in 2020. Lets pray by Summer 2021 we will be well on the way to normality again.

Thank you everyone. Your continual support to my wee business has meant so much, especially in 2020. I can’t wait to be allowed to get shooting again! x

https://erica-irvine-photography.smartslides.com/best-of-2020

The McCarolls Sept 2020

A few weeks ago my friend Samantha asked me to come along to their farm to take some family portraits. I have to say this was one of the loveliest and most fun sessions I have ever worked on. These lucky, lucky children living the most fabulous, healthy, outdoor life with this awesome mum as […]

Evie is two! 17.8.20

She’s two the little minx and it happened in the blink of an eye. I am a week late on her blog post, things are so busy right now – I have regressed back to the time I had to work late at night and wake up extra early just to try and stay on […]

Lockdown and parenthood 10.6.20

Im going round in circles today, mostly picking up crap from the boys bedrooms. I thought I would pause for 5 minutes and write down this jumble of thoughts bouncing around in my brain – just in case there might be someone else out there who might be feeling the same way…….it’s good to share. […]

Happy New Year 31.12.19

They say time flies when you’re having fun…if thats the case then I’ve been having a lot of fun in 2019 for honestly – I do not know how its New Years eve already??! Without a doubt this has felt like the fastest year of my life so far…most likely because my days are filled […]

Rogan is 6!

My dearest wee Rogan, your blog is now a week late because I just cannot seem to get at my computer at all lately – i’m so sorry……It’s been a week of non stop shoots, a wedding and two sick boys ( you and Brody).  High temps, sore throats, vomitting…the works 😦 But i’m MAKING […]

Brody is nine. 21.10.19

Nine whole years of knowing, loving and raising this amazing boy.  I cannot tell you how proud and blessed we feel. Every. Single. Day. You are just a lovely human being Brody and it is a pleasure to be your mum. So this year, you cry a lot less, you talk back a little more, […]

Evie is one! 10.8.19

So our beautiful little girl has turned one today.  I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone by – i’m a teensy bit emotional about it – the tiny little baby stage is over, but every day there’s something new so I do love watching her develop and grow too.  I’ve just enjoyed every […]

Tracy & Mark

This seems so long ago now, and yet only a blink.  This was a very special wedding and one I have been trying to blog for a long time.  This was the last of my ‘pre Evie’ weddings.  I was 38 weeks pregnant and lets face it – I was enormous! Thankfully Tracy is one […]