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
ericairvinephotography 
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