2023 Year in Review | Weddings, Portraits, Life - Samia's Studios

Now that I just delivered my last wedding of 2023, I can reflect on this year. 2023 was definitely one for the books! It was my busiest and most full calendar yet as a wedding photographer and videographer. My business grew in so many ways, and I myself grew personally in so many ways, too. As the numbers shake out, I had the honor and privilege of documenting 23 weddings: 20 as a lead photo shooter and 3 as a second shooter for my photography friends. Myself and the team filmed video for 5 weddings, and I planned and photographed 1 really special styled shoot. I also photographed 21 engagements, and 11 portrait sessions. On the photography education side of my business, I posted 30 Youtube videos teaching wedding photography and how to run a photography business in 2023. I grew the Youtube channel to 680 photographer subscribers, grew my educational email list to 850 photographers, and just hit 80,000 views on Youtube. I attended 23 networking events in 2023 and connected with so many others with my same dream and passions for life. I learned that I love networking. On a personal note, Omar and I bought a house in December of 2023 (we move in next month). I completed 12 weeks of physical therapy for my right shoulder (fun fact cameras will tear your shoulders up if you’re not strong enough and/or not using proper form every time). Along with that, I learned how physical this job is, and attended 52 hot yoga classes and made conditioning my body for my career a priority (pay for good shoes, strength train, and learn what to eat for a 10 hour wedding day lol). These might sound like silly things but they are things I wasn’t really aware of before 2023. I also learned a lot about friendships in your 20s and made new friends this year, I journaled every morning, learned to knit, and I learned to create business hours. I also feel like this year I stepped away from “hustle culture” and learned to work from a place of rest, calm, intention and inspiration. There is no rush to get to where we are going, I believe everything really does come at the right time. If I photographed you, chatted with you over DMs, or met you in passing this year, I am grateful for you. I’m grateful that you and I are on this journey of life together, and that our paths crossed this year, even just for a moment. Because my biggest lesson in 2023 is that the value of our lives comes down to the value of our connections, and I am grateful for each and every connection.

Cheers to you, 2023! Here is a recap:

Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast in Middleburg, Virginia | March 18th, 2023 | Laura and Daniel