wow<\/b><\/p>\r\n
it\u2019s been quite the year\u2026<\/p>\r\ngrowing up in chicago, new years day has always been gray and freezing cold in the middle of winter. it didn't really consist of anything since my parents (coming from a chinese background) celebrated new years according to the lunar calendar which so happens to begin the year sometime in february.\r\n\r\nfor the past few years, i\u2019ve made it tradition to reflect on the expiring year before looking forward. and as i scroll through this blog, i began to notice how there aren\u2019t any personal thoughts. i guess it\u2019s safe to say that i haven\u2019t shared much of myself here in an attempt to keep the business apart from the personal.\r\n\r\ni have another year of filming coming soon and many destinations scheduled but before that, i have taken some time to meditate on some things.\r\n\r\ni\u2019m so very thankful for you, the couples that entrusted me with your day. i\u2019m blessed to be able to call this my full-time vocation, and it\u2019s all because of you that i can do this. it\u2019s been a year of firsts. we drove through the hills of southern california en route a beautiful winery in temecula, and later on to the breath-taking cliffs of malibu for an intimate vow renewal. we ventured and filmed all over this season: an industrial giant of a tower - the trump, a rustic barn north of chicago, a small backyard in santa monica, a vineyard all the way in virginia, the heart of downtown indianapolis, an urban building turned wedding venue - room 1520, the historic cultural center of chicago, the magnificient cafe brauer, an outdoor celebration with trees towering over us out in west illinois, a home to many aquatic lifeforms - the shedd, and everywhere in between.\r\n\r\nto be fully honest - the locations pale in comparison to the people who filled them. thank you for sharing life with me and for your continued support.\r\n\r\nbefore i go, i have some new years resolutions.\r\n\r\ni want to connect with people more, to establish deeper relationships. that's why we're here, right? it'd be such a wasted opportunity if we just lived among one another without truly getting to know each other on a deeper level.\r\n\r\nonce the wedding edits are complete and delivered, i plan on taking some time off to travel and create some personal pieces. if you want to stay updated with what's going on in my world, follow me on instagram<\/a>.\r\n\r\nmost of all, i want to shoot weddings. in chicago, california, phuket, cape town, wherever. because it really doesn't matter where you get married, or what you're doing. you're getting married. and that's pretty much the coolest thing ever.\r\n\r\nwow, you're getting married.\r\n\r\ni\u2019m so looking forward to telling more stories in the coming year. partnering with you in charity<\/a> is going to be amazing.\r\n\r\ni can\u2019t wait.<\/b>\r\n\r\noh, and - i woke up this morning and decided to make a recap film. and so i did. i was originally going to create a new post about it but figured attaching the film to this reflection post would be most ideal being that i've already given my thanks to all the lovely couples who entrusted me with their day this past year. i hope you enjoy it!\r\n\r\ngod bless.\r\n\r\n