
I kick started 2020 by finishing up unpacking boxes after our move from Germany and gathering paperwork for my business license here in New Mexico. On January 22, I applied for my license in Rio Rancho!
Shortly thereafter, on February 3, I launched my new website!!! I had been working so hard to complete it for nearly a year and it was FINALLY finished. I love it and am still quite proud of it, and myself… specifically for not pitching my laptop off the face of a mountain because web design is NO JOKE.
On February 19, I was selected as a vendor for Spoken Bride and am currently the only vendor in New Mexico!
One week into March: COVID-19. Let me be honest…. starting a business back up in a new location (and country for that matter!!), in the midst of a pandemic, can certainly instill a sense of frustration in a human heart! But I tried to give myself a lot of grace and just maintained focus of the big picture!
Regardless of the new crazy, I added maternity pictures to our family agenda since I was 8 months pregnant! You can check out that blog post here!
One month later in April, on Easter Sunday, another little angle debuted his way into our world: Axel was born!





Finally, in June I got back behind the camera again for someone other than my poor kids!! It was so incredibly refreshing and my creative heart was bursting!!!
You can view both of those sessions here and here!
In July, I began to work as an associate photographer for Jackie Vega, with Jaqueline Vega Photography! I shot 8 of her sessions over the course of the summer and fall, and have an elopement coming up in January 2021!
Also in July, I was selected by the Albuquerque Catholic magazine, published by Decided Excellence Catholic Media, as the lead photographer for the Westside (Rio Rancho) footprint! Formal shooting for the ABQ Catholic began in September and it’s been a HUGE blessing to work with these families each month. I’m also so thrilled to work for & with such a wonderful organization and am looking forward to sticking with them for the next couple years!!! Some of my work with two of the 4 families, thus far, is also featured below!
In mid-September, I hosted mini sessions in which all money generated was donated to our parish’s, Saint John Vianney, Capital Campaign for the church building. A total of $660 was donated and I am anticipating doing a similar fundraising weekend sometime in 2021! Some of my favorites from that weekend are also below!
At the end of September, I was invited to drive down to a gorgeous farm in Los Lunas for extended family portraits for some of the sweetest folks I have met yet here in NM! I had so much fun with them all and you can see the full blog post I wrote for them here!
October is typically my busiest month. And once again, even in 2020, it was busy!!
I started October with a product shoot for Wall Garnish, owned by my neighbor, Shayna. A couple of those images are below!
I then spent another gorgeous evening in the Bosque with cuties: Klara and Conrad, who you may recognize from the Los Lunas pictures!!
A few days later, I photographed the BEAUTIFUL Catholic Convalidation ceremony for Katie & Dan in Old Town, ABQ, at the historic San Felip Church. It was an absolute honor and a total dream to be there with them, and I’m still so thankful to Katie for finding me through Spoken Bride!!
Just before Halloween, I shot my first session at the lovely little stone house in the Sandia foothills, which I’m still obsessed with – featuring leftover snow from the week before!
Moving into November, I was able to get my crew out the door for family pictures with the lovely Megan Wells! You can check those out on my blog eventually, later in January!
Soon thereafter, we celebrated Thanksgiving. However, just the night before we lost my beloved Grandfather. The distance from loved ones on the East coast all year finally got to me, and we basically threw the kids and a crap ton of food in the car (and some clothes) and started driving East. We made is to PA in 2.5 days…. which I’m still impressed with! My husband is amazing!! He drove the entire time, minus my two hour claim to fame in Indiana when I sat behind the wheel.
Being home with family after/during such a crazy year was renewing. Visitations with each other and with extended family, feasting on delicious food, checking out the Philadelphia Christmas market, and were sure to get our East coast Italian & pizza fix… but most importantly: said a loving farewell to one of our family heroes.
……..That brings me to December! Christmas came pretty quickly after two weeks spent between the car and with family, away from home in New Mexico. I had a good amount of decorating and baking waiting for me when we returned home. I always make my mother’s family’s Italian cookies at Christmas time, and we always attend mass on Christmas Eve and then enjoy an all-Italian meal afterwards. We’re still in the midst of the Christmas season right now, our tree is still up, and are looking forward to the Epiphany on January 6th!



Before I share some of my favorite images from 2020, I wanted to share a few last thoughts about what I have learned this year about myself IN business this year...
-Clients who share their happiness & satisfaction with my work directly to me, means the world to me.
-Clients who refer me to their family and friends constantly are actually, true & beautiful FRIENDS (Taryn – shout out to you girl!!)
-Folks who credit my work online, on social media and in their own small-business setting brings me to (happy) tears – THANK YOU!
-I continue to have the greatest clients in the world.
2020 has been unlike any other year for all of us, for obvious world reasons, but also for personal ones too. Please know that I am forever grateful for the support of those who love me and support my small business from New Mexico to Pennsylvania, and those still in Germany who always have kinds words to share, despite the distance (and time difference!).
I love, miss, and appreciate you all so very much, and I continue to carry you all in my prayers each day.
"Do something beautiful for God. Do it with your life. Do it every day. Do it in your own way. But do it!" - Saint Mother Teresa


Wishing you all blessings in the new year!
XOXO,
Kaitlyn
Best of 2020
Nick + Taryn & Family | Sandia Foothills

….featuring their sweet little man, Dom!!! Taryn has been THE GREATEST friend in support of my business this year. I appreciate her so much!! She’s expecting their second baby, who I can’t wait to meet in July! Keep their family in your prayers in 2021 as they wait for baby! Love ya lady!
You can see more of this session here!

…also a little shoutout to Risa, Taryn’s sister (they’re NOT twins LOL – inside joke)!! You were a rockstar assistant on this day and I’m so excited to shoot your engagement session in a few months!!! XOXOXO

Avery + Megan | Sandia Foothills


Meeting Meg – fellow military spouse, prior Germany living, Catholic momma this year has been a huge blessing in my life! We exchanged sessions this year – she shot our beautiful Christmas photos! You can view Meg + Avery’s whole session here!
Kevin + Viana & Family | ABQ Catholic


This beautiful family was the featured family in the November issue of the Albuquerque Catholic magazine!!!
You see view their whole session here!


Saint John Vianney Mini Sessions
Mr. & Mrs. G | Grandparents


Quick little caption: these are Taryn’s parents and Dom!!! Just another example of how much she supported me this year!
Dion + Nicole & Family


This sweet family welcomed their little boy in November!!! …And he’s adorable!
Tona + Maria & Family


Maria is one of my closest friends here in New Mexico!!! We love their family and are so excited for them to welcome a baby GIRL in March!
Daniel + Larissa & Family


This is the first time that this beautiful family has had professional pictures taken!!! They did AMAZING, and they have some of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met!
Baca Family | Los Lunas Farm
Wall Garnish | Product Photography

I had a fun time shooting these images for my neighbor, Shayna’s, small business!
Klara + Conrad Birthday Session | Bosque


Klara turned 3 and Conrad turned 1!!! Aren’t they adorable!? Their parents were also huge supporters of my business in 2020, and I appreciate them so very much!
Dan + Katie
Catholic Convalidation Ceremony | Old Town


This was one of the best days of 2020 for me!! You can see more of Katie & Dan’s beautiful day here!


Adam + Shayna & Family | Foothills Stone House


I had a great time photographing my neighbors on this particular evening!!
You can check out the entire session here!
Sandi + John & Family | ABQ Catholic


This beautiful family was the December issue of the ABQ Catholic magazine!! I had to bring all 4 of my kids to this session and I was so proud of the boys because they were doing everything they could think of to try and get them all to laugh!!


Leland + Jennifer & Family | Bosque


This is a fellow military family, and we have loved getting to know these kind people so well since we moved here! Jennifer was the first person I met, at the playground on Kirtland Air Force Base. They have been a blessing to us and our children and we truly appreciate their friendship!! Formal blog post to come in 2021!


Collin + Carly & Family | Foothills Stone House


This session was the day after Christmas and it was A GIFT FOR ME. This gorgeous family not only made my job ridiculously easy, but they’re another family that my good friend, Taryn, referred to me!!! Another awesome fact: Carly is a WVU graduate, originally from Pennsylvania, and she and her husband and daughter are a military family out of Georgia. It was such a wonderful evening and their blog post will be going live next week!!


Thank you for reading and your support!
xoxo,
Kaitlyn