It is really hard to believe that this year marks the 10th anniversary of my very first photoshoot for a “real” customer. I photographed a little boy, he was just learning to walk…and I was really nervous to capture “good” pictures for his mom. Digital cameras weren’t on the market yet – so I used a Nikon N80 and one roll of Ilford Delta film. Its incredible how much the photography industry has changed in 10 years.

You may be interested to know that when I first opened my business I called it “Images by Missy” and I was located in Alabama. I had absolutely zero intentions of starting a business when I bought my first camera off ebay to photograph my, then, newborn daughter. I found I couldn’t take enough pictures of her and people started asking me if I would take pictures of their kids. That’s how it all started. Here are some of my first pictures of my daughter:

Terrible, right?! It makes me laugh to look back on them – I remember sitting up late in my kitchen sewing that flower head dress for her!! But no matter how cliche the pictures are, I’m thankful to have them because I may not be where I am today without them.

Anyway – I continued photographing babies and families until 2006 when I was asked to do my first wedding. I had never been more nervous – ever. I made Bryan come with me to carry my bag, but really I asked him along for emotional support He was the biggest help and the wedding was the most fun I had ever had on a photoshoot – ever. It was then we knew we wanted to enter the wedding industry as a serious vendor and in 2007 we changed our business name to Moments by Missy to reflect our decision. We continued to grow and perfect our craft until 2009 when we completely changed our business focus and the product we wanted to deliver. I changed my business name, again, to Melissa Hume Photography, LLC and really felt, starting in 2009 with a sole focus on weddings, that I was the photographer I wanted to be. I loved my job. I loved working with my husband. Business was great.

Fast forward to today – and I’m writing all this because 2012 will be our last year to photograph weddings. Its a bitter sweet ending, but one that makes sense for our family. My business partner, husband, best friend, has been offered a promotion in his own career and it no longer makes sense for him to continue working my job as well. Since he built my wedding business with me, I do not want to work without him – it just wouldn’t be the same. So with three young kids, we’re looking forward to spending summer weekends enjoying life as a family – a change of pace from the past 6 years.

We are incredibly humbled to have been allowed to be a part of the wedding industry for so long. I have met amazing people that I am honored to call friends. I don’t ever plan to stop shooting – I think photography will forever be a part of me. I’m not sure how it will fit into my life after this year, but I do plan to keep this blog open as a creative outlet to share the pictures I do take. It has been heavy on my heart for years to document mission work through pictures and it is my prayer that as the past decade of my photography career begins to change, God will open the doors and allow me to show His light through my work.

If you are reading this and have been a part of my business in any way – you have my biggest heartfelt THANK YOU. I look forward to sharing our weddings of 2012 with you on this blog, and then continued adventures from there on out.

And just incase you’re wondering – here is that sweet flower child who endured hours of smiling for mommy as baby:

With only hours left in 2011, I again find myself short on time to compile all my favorite images of the past year. So its probably safe to say now that that was just a one time thing But even if I did find the time, I honestly don’t know how I could narrow it down – this year has hands down been my favorite, both personally and professionally. Every wedding we celebrated this year was so completely different and each one worthy of publication. More importantly, I treasure the clients I can now call friends. So instead of a gallery of images from 2011, I propose a toast to the best year yet – I’m filled with humility and gratitude that I get to do this all over again in 2012. Best wishes to you all for a New Year filled with health and happiness!