In between travel and the holidays, I have spent the last couple of weeks planning for next year - updating paperwork, setting personal and business goals, and evaluating the past year. At the end of each year, I always enjoy using the Top Nine app to see my most liked images from Instagram. This year, though, I decided to create my own Top Nine, selecting images that have meant something to me and to my business. For those of you who don't know, this was my first year in business. I officially kicked off Kylee Doyle Photography in July, and every session since then has been a win, as well as an opportunity for growth and learning. Selecting only nine images from the past six months was definitely a challenge, but I hope you enjoy each and every portrait here.
#1. This was my favorite image from this session. Although I had been shooting pets (mostly my own and my family's) for a few years, this session was actually my first paid session. It was part of a model call I did, and helped me to really kick off my business.
#2. This was a challenging shoot for me. Although I grew up with horses and showed horses all throughout high school, it was my first equine photoshoot. My gorgeous equine model was less than cooperative, but I was incredibly proud of the images that we were able to capture, and his owner was thrilled.
#3. This was part of the same photoshoot as above. This was my favorite image from the session, partly because of the adorable factor, and partly because I am incredibly proud I was able to capture this completely in camera. That's right, this is not two images stitched together, but one heart-wrenchingly cute moment.
#4. Many of you probably recognize this image from the calendar I did for the Sierra Nevada German Shepherd Rescue. That whole endeavor was a HUGE learning curve for me, and this was one of my favorite portraits from the whole project. I also loved that this family gave me the bonus challenge of shooting kids and a puppy together for my first time.
#5. You may also recognize this one from the SNGSR calendar. Having the opportunity to photograph so many dogs in such a short period of time gave me the opportunity to not only work in some locations I was less familiar with, but also the opportunity to really start to get a feel for my photography style. I feel like this image really encapsulates that style.
#6. This was my first equine photoshoot. In addition, up to this point, most of my clients had preferred not to be in the photos with their pets, so I had the added challenge of posing and photographing this beautiful young woman with her horse. These first couple of equine shoots were part of a model call, which allowed me to try out this black background technique, something I had never done in post-processing before.
#7. Does this one really need an explanation? Kittens are cute. End of story. Actually, this is one of those shots that reminds me why I got into pet photography - to help animals. I am a member of HeARTs Speak, and I spend lots of time photographing for local rescues, hopefully in order to give these animals a better chance at finding their forever homes.
#8. This is my second favorite image from the entire year. It was taken during location scouting, and I wasn't entirely sure that the weather was going to cooperate. But lo and behold, the storm cleared, leaving behind this gorgeous backdrop.
#9. This is my absolute favorite image from the entire year. Not only did I get the opportunity to photograph my adorable nephew and his dog, but I also got to spend some time working on my Photoshop skills in order to enhance the autumn colors.
2019 has been an incredible year, and I can't wait to see what 2020 has in stock for me and Kylee Doyle Photography!
Follow the rest of the Project 52 group blog circle to "wrap" up this year's photography blog. Next up is Angela Schneider of Noses & Toes Pet Photography, unabashedly celebrating your love for your dog in Spokane and North Idaho. Keep following the links at the end of each blog post until you make it back here to see all of this week's photos!
