I think in the grand scheme of things, 2011 will be the year that things really got started for me.  It really was the last 12 months when I took portrait photography from something that was mostly scary to something that was joyful and awesome, and the pictures I’ve been creating went from snapshots to great shots (to steal a phrase).

Here’s a quick look back at the last year.

• January started with taking some headshots for my buddy James for his social media sites. It was a great experience and I got a few of the ins and outs of “location” photography (in this case, his apartment).
• February was my first introduction to the Metro Vancouver Photography Workshops and my now good buddy Chris Pike.  We shoot a “James Dean” shoot and I got a bunch of images that still adorn my Model Mayhem profile page.  A fun experience and I also met a bunch of other folks (Anna, Wilson, Adrian) whom I still shoot with often.
• In march the most epic thing was The Flash Bus, a day long seminar with photography lighting legends Joe McNally and David Hobby.  This was spent with my friend Jim, and Chris Anna and Wilson spending all day absorbing a ton of lighting information.  Brain overload.
• April the strobist group met up at a farm we had access to and we shot with a set of awesome models among farm animals and green fields.  A great time all born out of the thought of “would that ugly blue bathtub be good to stick a model in and shoot her?”.
• In May I volunteered for the Run for Water, shooting in and around the crowds with my wife.
• June brought what I feel is really the start of portraits. I went to Seattle and shot with my friend Jim again who had brought in a model for a shoot of his own.  In some down time I set up my own gear, and with some great collaboration with the model Justine Mariiie, we made some awesome shots.  There was also a bunch of other shooting that went on this month with other models and other groups and people.  I think my wife forgot what I looked like that month.
• For July more shooting with local models ensued, shooting most memorably Dylaina, who shot with me in the Matsqui park where we fought off mosquitoes the size of VWs.
• August and September I shot with Bry Jensen twice.  Once was a Gym and fitness oriented shoot, the other was “Autumn”.  One of the shots from the former went on to be published in Natural Muscle magazine, something I’m very proud of.
• October, of course, was Halloween, and I collaborated with a local makeup artist and made a bunch of images of local goblins and ghouls all dressed up and with full makeup done.  Lots of fun
• In November one of the local groups I hang with put together a boudoir meet and greet, where a bunch of photographers and a bunch of models got together in an awesome log house and did just that boudoir shots.  Great fun and I had a great time meeting up with Peter, Victor, Randy and a bunch of other folks that I’d only known online.
• December finally rolls along and the best shoot was with the amazing Terra Jean, who spent a few hours with me making some just incredible images.  Some of my best work yet I think.

So that’s it, the year in review.  A lot happened and looking forward I’m incredibly excited about what the next year will bring!

Happy New Years from Bailward Photography!