The BEST 15 of ’14

2015 is HERE and with it, the BRAND NEW BLOG + WEBSITE of Anna Filly Photography! I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I am to welcome you to this little piece of my world.  For the last few months I have been working side by side with my incredible designer, Hannah Rose Beasley.  Countless emails, sketches, color samples and Pinterest boards later Hannah transformed my ideas and dreams into reality!   I wanted my brand to be elegant and timeless, but also whimsical and bold.  I didn’t think it would be possible, those four words are SO different from each other!  Hannah made the impossible, possible and I absolutely ADORE it!  Because of Hannah the new website, blog + brand of Anna Filly Photography are all cohesive and fully reflect my vision for this business!

To celebrate all of the *NEW* I wanted to share 15 of my favorite things from 2014 !  What better way to welcome in 2015, than thanking 2014 for all of the incredible memories?!  So, here we go!

1. My Clients – I adore what I do.  It is an absolute gift!  And none of it would be possible without my clients.  They. Are. Fabulous.  Watching my clients trust me to capture them authentically, allow joy to twinkle in their eye, and build confidence in their continence is why I do what I do.  I don’t just take photographs of incredible people- I encourage incredible people to be exactly who they were created to be while capturing them in their most beautiful state!
2. My Couples – Yes, my couples fall into the “Clients” category.  But My couples don’t just receive one photoshoot – nope.  We spend months getting to know each other, planning wedding details, and sharing conversation.  My couples are so special to me and I have to say that my love for Wedding Photography has increased 1,000% since I first started BECAUSE of the length of time I get to spend with each couple individually as they prepare for one of the most incredible days of their lives.  I adore them!

3. Taking Myself Seriously – 2014 was the year I took myself seriously as a business woman and RAN with my dreams.  I failed countless times until failure was no longer my biggest fear- not trying was.  I am in AWE of what Christ has allowed me to do, and the type of woman he has challenged me to become.

4. Disney –  One random weekend in April, my family made a trip to Orlando for my sisters first visit to Disney World.  I told her I couldn’t go- finances and finals were my excuse.  But, I DID go, and she was so surprised and it was by far one of my most favorite weekends of 2014!

5. Graduating College – I did it. SO CRAZY!

6. Flying an Airplane –  It was one of those things that was at the bottom of my bucket list.  I mean who ever REALLY gets to fly a plane without HOURS of training and hundreds of dollars in lessons?  THIS GIRL!  For 7 minutes of my life I controlled which way a plane flew and it was INCREDIBLE!

7. Eleuthera – Each time I’m blessed enough to go back to this place my heart melts all over again.  On this beautiful Bahamian island is where I told the Lord that if he made my life “far from normal” and an “adventure”  then I’d give my life to him fully.  It’s been a wonderful journey ever since, and never once have I regretted that desperate prayer in paradise.

8. Student Teaching – I fell in love with the art of teaching and inspiring others to grow.  There are so many wonderful memories from my time teaching World History 130 8th grade students.  (I love you guys.  I know you’re reading this– cause lets be honest– you always tell me you do.  I’m so thankful for each of you!)

9. Moving in with my Best FRIEND –  This woman goes unrecognized on so many accounts.  But she’s fabulous.  This is the woman that encourages me endlessly to chase my dreams.  She’s the girl that tells me to go wear the red lipstick and change the world.  Moving in with her this year has been SUCH a blessing– and she’ll never fully know how much she has influenced, blessed & changed my life!

10. Pursuit 31 – The Pursuit 31 conference was one of those things that I knew would hold a grand significance in the scheme of my business, but I had no idea that it would hold such a grand significance in the scheme of my life. The Pursuit conference was where I first learned about Delight. The Pursuit conference was where I learned the value of authenticity on the creative industry. The pursuit conference was where the Lord double dog dared me to trust Him. And I had the audacity to accept His challenge. It was a huge turning point for all things Anna Filly. Whether is was in photography, in writing, or in self, the Lord radically challenged me to look past my circumstances. The people I met were incredible and the things the Lord revealed, so profound.

11. Delight – The ministry of Delight was a gift given to me wrapped in the fanciest paper and tied with the most magnificent ribbon. I have yet to fully unwrap or understand what my place in Delight fully is, but I know one thing: God only gives good and perfect gifts and Delight is definitely a gift from Him… More on that adventure later this month.

12. Community– Sometime during the year of 2014 over a series of events, locations and times, the Lord revealed to me the beauty and importance of community. I like to pride myself on being an independent and passionate woman, but sometimes it’s good to meet people. Actually, all times it’s good to meet people.

13.  Writing– ohhhh my secret love affair with paper and pen- for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to write. Writing breeds hope. It connects us to people, places, and ideas, that we alone might never have had the luxury of knowing had we not read about them. I love that. And this year, I finally found the courage to not let my love affair be a secret anymore and I’m thrilled to see what comes of it!

14. Having Confidence to Wear the Red Lipstick – There’s a story behind that. And one day I’ll tell it 🙂

15.Letting Myself be…. ME – letting go of people’s opinion and diving directly into my dreams with something that the Lord challenged me to do this year. And in doing that, I trusted God in what I didn’t see or understand. I let go of a lot of falsehood, and just let myself be…me. I can’t wait to see what God does in 2015!

Happy New Year!

xo

AnnaFilly