Hello readers!
It's been a while since I last wrote. Life really had me this year as I dealt with burnout and career change. But I can say things have been turning out for the better. I just want to take the time to thank all of you, my friends, family and supporters who continue to follow my photography journey.
The last time I wrote was in May and so much has changed since then. So let's time travel earlier to this year!
In May, I published my long-time photo book project, My Mother's Earth! I am so proud of this accomplishment. It's been four years in the making and I managed to complete the gathering, editing and proofreading process within 2-3 months. I hope to make a blog post specifically for it next month. So please look forward to it!
In the summer, I did not have many photography gigs but it was filled with travel and work. Summer was all about riding the wave and enjoying my life as best as I could. As I looked back, I did many fun things like assisting a friend in her family photoshoot and going to Chicago and seeing Joe Hisaishi live! I went to Arizona. I adopted my cat, Braavos! Summer was filled with a lot of reflections. I was fully burnt out with work and desperate to escape. I knew I wanted better than this and knew that better was somewhere out there. So I took many chances.
In August, my prayers were answered. I am now a Communications Coordinator at the Hmong American Women's Association. I am overjoyed that I could combine two of the things I am so passionate about: Community & Photography. If you have been following my work, you have seen the care and love in the work that I have produced related to the Hmong community. It has been 3.5 months since I have been employed and I cannot see myself doing anything else other than this. To support, contribute and empower my community. I know I have only scratched the surface and there is much for me to learn and do. I am very excited and motivated for the coming months to come.
August also marked another era of my life. I call it, my peaceful era. Although there were a few troubling moments of transition, life feels different for me. I am more emotionally and mentally mature where I have learned to prioritize different things in life. I prioritize my peace now. I am happy where I am at and proud of how far I have come. Transitioning to a new job allowed me to have more time to focus on my family, my social life and most importantly, my photography business. Hence, why you probably started to see me more active on it continuing into autumn.
In September,
October, and
November, I had so many photography gigs, which is usually the trend for me. I am so happy that many have reached out to me now that I have more time. They just kept coming in and I am just happy that I can return and focus more on what made me happily busy. With my new job, it also opened up opportunities for me to connect with so many people who also needed my photography services. I launched my new photography service: FAMILY PORTRAITS! I know it has been a long time coming and so glad that it received great responses. I have not perfected the craft yet but I am learning and growing. Surprisingly, I have so much fun working with families and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for trusting me.
With all that said, I am happy and proud that I ended this year strong and met my photography goals. So much can happen in one year and somehow, things worked out in the end. Just have faith and trust that it will. Believe in yourself. Stay clear and focused on your goals. When you hold yourself to be consistent and true to your craft, good results will show itself in the work.
Thank you
For believing in me. For supporting the work that I do. For following my journey. This year marks my 8th year in doing photography and I am just so happy that I can continue to do this. It has been many years of exploring and experimenting, figuring out what worked best and aligned with me. It is only the beginning of the best years to come. Thank you for reading!
With so much love, May See.
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