2019 was a year of growth, discipline and creation for me.
I did a lot of introspecting while collecting the images for this journal entry, and I got so much out the ‘process’.
The year had so many wins as you’ll see below, but let’s make one thing clear, this year was not easy. I created great relationships, achieved goals and traveled a great deal. I also had big professional losses, similar failures, and let’s not get started on comparing myself to other professionals who have been doing what I do for twice as long.
I think it’s really good to review a year. I realized all of the ways that I can do better in 2020, and that I shouldn’t give myself such a hard time or overthink the bad stuff that does happen.
The only way that I’m going to achieve my goals is by pushing the negative aside, and running fast and straight towards my dreams. (Also, if you just pictured one of the Weasley’s running towards the wall between platform’s 9 & 10, then yes, we can be and already are friends.)
So without further ado, my year in photographs (and yes, I’m only sharing the good stuff):
We started our year at our Dad’s house in Mexico. Think Mezcal, Al Pastor Tacos and the most amazingly routy bunch of aunts and cousins.
Soon after, with a few work shoots in between, I was transported to my favorite place on earth, SCOTLAND. (You should have heard angels singing, and the clouds opening up after reading that.) I spent nearly a month celebrating my 30th birthday there, Taking in every drop of culture I could, and photographing some beautiful restaurants in between.
The first half of the trip was spent in Edinburgh. I explored it like a tourist, and lived like a local (more on this in the City Guide I’ll be writing soon). The second half, The Highlands, eating cullen skink almost daily, meeting highland coo’s and blasting scottish folk almost too loud while driving around the isle of skye.
After returning home, we took the plunge and adopted Pickle, a two month old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. When I was younger, I wrote a list of all the things I wanted in life, it included: a foreign husband (✓), a house in the south (✓), bunny rabbits (✓) and a corgi (2019 ✓). There are other things on the list, but it’s interesting to me that still after all of these years, a young girls dreams are still so similar and that I’m completely capable of reaching my goals no matter what they are.
During the Spring, I was gone a lot for work. I traveled to Nashville, DC, Boston, LA, NY and many more stateside places before eventually, and long awaited, I flew to Switzerland to photograph a hotel just outside of St. Moritz. The client was so amazing and accommodating, and even booked an extra ‘free’ day so that I could ski the swiss alps which has been on my bucket list since as long as I can remember.
My flight home took me via Venice for a 24 hour layover, and it was the absolute perfect amount of time to explore this interesting, incredible city. I ate pizza, drank all the aperol spritz’s I could, and flew home just a few short hours later. No matter how much I travel, I’m always taken aback by the fact that I can wake up half way around the world, and fall asleep in my own comfy bed the same day.
Once again, I was home for a few short weeks before another trip, and I hit the beach with my puppy in tow. We celebrated Gabe’s birthday with one of our favorite activities: driving. We drive without any real destination, just to explore. On his birthday, we drove down the coast of florida, Gabe in the drivers seat, I was the passenger and Pickle on the center console. We stop when we want, where we want, for as long as we want and then we pile back in and go again.
Fast forward through a few more inspiring work trips, and tons of how to: gardening books and I was back home, spending every moment I could in my backyard, growing vegetables, and learning that not every plant that I want to grow, wants to grow in Florida.
I spent a great deal of my Autumn in New York, which is definitely one of the highlights of my year. I was able to establish myself professionally on the East Coast, and add to my expanding list of passionate clients.
Tip when traveling to a cold NYC: Listen to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. There’s nothing more cinematically romantic then walking down blocks with city giants cascading their shadows than it is with old school jazz playing loudly in your headphones. Also, just listen to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald anytime, they really could be the best duet of all time.
Cozy and at home with family is how we wrapped up the holiday season. I’ve worked so hard on creating this house into a home, and being able to have my loved ones here was such a validation of that.
We rang in 2020 the best way that I knew how; with a 1920’s themed get-together. We served Caviar, Champagne in Coupe Glasses, and ended the year with Sparklers in my newly updated backyard.
To end my notes on 2019, I’m leaving you a quote. One thing that I really want to work towards this year is really stepping out of my comfort zone. I’m so comfortable in what I do at the moment, I love my job, and my family, and life, but the following is what I’m applying for the entire year of 2020:
“If you’re too comfortable, it’s time to move on. Terrified of what’s next? You’re on the right track.”
While I won’t be “moving on” from Jordan Wise Photography, I do have 500 other things I will be doing professionally and creatively this year along with it, which means that if you see me and I’m extra aggressive about my dreams, or you notice that I’m being a non-stop hermit, then that’s why.
Happy New Year, my friends. I hope you achieve all of your resolutions and more!
xx Jordan
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