2015: That’s A Wrap!

December 28, 2015

Long Beach, California (Mitchell Wick c/o Next LA)

2015 is quickly coming to an end! What a whirlwind of a journey. It feels just like yesterday I was writing my end of the year blog for 2014 and prepping for 2015. Here I am prepping for 2016! Can you believe it? I hardly can.

I was going to start it off by referencing my goals & resolutions for this year, but it will come in due time. Let’s begin with something new I am doing this year: 16 before 2016.

SO here we go…

1. Get Frenchies confirmed – My recent editorial featuring Nicolas Simoes and Kev Drelon and styled by my dear friend Alexis Barbera. I am really pushing for it, but so many people aren’t working currently, so it’s a bit harder than expected.

✓ 2. Plan at least one editorial for 2016 – You’ll just have to wait to see!

✓ 3. Clean out my gmail – Very much needed. I was able to cut 34% of my mailbox.

✓ 4. Finish my weddings site – It is finished & set to go live on New Year’s Eve! Get ready.

5. Buy new business cards – I technically don’t need them yet, so I may hold off on this one.

6. Submit editorials from New York – This is where I honestly SUCK. Submissions may or may not be the death of me, so in turn this is a goal for the new year to become better at editorial submissions.

✓ 7. Back up everything. – I left for New York for the second time without backing up my New York photos, so it really needed to be done once I returned.

✓ 8. Clean up my desktop(s). – I’m very well known for a mess of a desktop and I mean both physical desktop and computer desktop, but aren’t all creatives a little messy?

9. Filing system for clients + client checklist – Still working on this, but I’ve got a good idea of what this will look like for 2016.

✓ 10. Get in shape for Miami – A goal that I will always keep working on. Are you ready to sweat?

✓ 11. Schedule + perform end of the year review – A little of this will be done in this blog post, as there are many things I did well this year and I’ve already told you at least one thing I need to work on.

✓ 12. End of the year blog – Well technically I can’t check this off until this is published, but…

13. Come up with a pitch for one brand – I’d love to work with some new brands next year and I’m really loving Fohr Card, so it’s time to pitch to a bigger brand.

✓ 14. Reach out to CA bloggers – I’m always looking to make connections and since I’ve been working with bloggers more, I might as well work with some new bloggers from California in the new year.

✓ 15. Give back – Lending a helping hand here and there; for example: Loading cases of water into an older gentleman’s car for him at Costco (in the rain).

✓ 16. Finish 2015 strong!! – The most important goal, which I have 2 more days to keep pushing for, especially since I still have a few goals to hit before the end of the year.

AND NOW… The part you’ve been waiting for… The goodies! Let’s talk 2015 goals & resolutions while we do this and if I hit them or if I’m re-setting them for 2016.

-New York Trip: That’s all I wrote for 2015 and man it was much more than just a trip. I spent nearly 6 months in New York this year.

I worked with models ranging in age from 14 to 57 (no one in this photo is 57).

I met and photographed Mr. Rutherford & now I’m blessed to call him a dear friend.

I met and worked with new models and also with models who I worked with when I first started.

I started working with bloggers both in New York and California.

-Expand my team of hair/makeup/wardrobe. I definitely did this year, especially being in New York forced to connect with new creatives.

I was spontaneous and used the locations I had on hand.

I shot more fitness.

I shot all around Brooklyn and Manhattan.

While working with bloggers, I shot specifically for Steve Madden, Carolinna Espinosa, Express and more. I also shot with an artist based in Williamsburg who I met in November 2014.

I kept it real and raw.

I shot at all times of the day, even in direct sunlight.

I shot with people I met on Instagram and Bumble.

I traded photo services for housing and spent hours in Top Man getting clothes for a shoot.

I kept it simple at times.

I worked with old locations and found new ones.

I shot for Uno de 50 with Rachel Lynch and for The Arrivals with Darius Garvin.

I worked with some new brands including Style Moi and Spirit Goddess.

I had some awesome New York moments and met my two best friends on the same shoot (you know who you are Alexis & Jay).

I photographed a lot more girls this year!

I worked with some awesome families and couples.

I shot a lot of natural light.

I shot for lululemon.

I worked with models from California in New York.

I had a blast doing more group shoots this year.

I wanted to shoot with Boom from the time I started photography and this year we were able to shoot together in New York.

I shot some boudoir/lingerie.

I shot at Venice Beach a bunch of times.

I finally worked with Tommy Clune & started photographing girls for Next.

I met and worked with the awesome Victor Ross who has been modeling for 15 years!

I started working regularly with LA Models and had the opportunity to shoot with Zac Taylor who has been at it for 10 years.

I shot in downtown LA near Daily Dose more than once.

I tried out some new locations in Malibu and Playa Del Rey.

I shot some fitness stuff with Ricky in hopes of getting him some sports-fitness gigs and then this happened for him! So cool to be a part of someone’s journey to success.

I worked with Wilhelmina and Vision a lot this year.

The only time I ever went to the beach was to shoot.

I went on adventures + explored with awesome people.

I shot in studio at least once, specifically at Studio Blkgld.

I lived in the moment.

I styled a majority of my shoots.

I worked with yet another model I followed from the time I started photography.

I played with light.

I allowed my models to break into peoples’ backyards.

I collaborated with other photographers.

I laughed and loved with friends.

I made something cool out of nothing.

I spent nearly every day while I was in Miami with Gabe Witmer.

I stayed at multiple airbnbs this year.

Mood boards I spent months creating came to life.

I finally worked with Aaron who was the reason I started working with PYD back in the day.

I went to Miami.

I finally shot on a tennis court.

I shot with many new faces and worked with new agencies.

Nelson + his sister covered “Hello” and I was able to photograph the cover art for it.

I shot more editorials and one of my biggest accomplishments was working with Diego Barrueco.

I had the pleasure of having models drive and fly to California to shoot with me – Still astounded.

I connected with other photographers.

I photographed a proposal in New York City of a couple originally from Tustin, California.

I worked with Haute Rogue to create content for Instagram.

I shot at the same location with Sonny Henty and all his new tattoos exactly a year later.

-Assist on a campaign: I shot a feature for Urban Outfitters Men.

I shot everything with a 50 1.4!

I photographed 6+ models in one day.

I made Mike Spadino stand shirtless in 40 degree weather after this shot.

While in New York, I read 5 books and the New Testament (except for Luke and Acts - ran out of time) while on the train.

I made one of my models ride his motorcycle to Joshua Tree from Riverside when it was really cold & he was still a trooper!I

I worked with Ezekiel Clothing.

The photos with Mr. Rutherford were extremely popular.

I worked with hundreds of models from 45 agencies.

One my last accomplishments of the year: Photographed my dear friends’ wedding. I didn’t hit my goal of 15 weddings, but I did assist and second shoot.

In 2016 I hope to keep styling shoots.

In 2016, I vow to meet & work with new models.

In 2016, I vow to shoot more editorials.

In 2016, I vow to keep connecting with other creatives because this is the final product & it’s awesome.

In 2016, I also vow to wing it because this is the final product & it’s also awesome.

In 2016, I hope to shoot more video of my shoots.

In 2016, I vow to continually be spontaneous.

In 2016, I vow to drink more coffee & pour into others.

In 2016, I vow to make more memories.

In 2016, I vow to actually go to the beach & not just shoot at the beach.

In 2016, I vow to add some new locations to my map.

In 2016, I vow to try new things.

In 2016, I vow to work with some new brands & create campaign worthy images.

In 2016, I vow to capture more emotion.

In 2016, I vow to backup everything constantly since this year I lost nearly everything I shot for the past 8 years, so I apologize if your photo isn’t included in this blog. I grabbed what I could from my blog and what I still had on my computer.

In 2016, I vow to location scout more.

In 2016, I vow to work with new bloggers.

In 2016, I vow to make a trip to Miami.

In 2016, I vow to adventure + explore.

In 2016, I vow to live in the moment.

In 2016, I vow to continue to focus on Jesus: God first since 1991. (This is suiting for this photo as Chris and I connected on APU and Bible studies).

In 2016, I vow to get on the fitness level of my models.

In 2016, I vow to keep shooting black and white images.

In 2016, I vow to laugh more.

In 2016, I vow to continue to capture real, raw moments.

In 2016, I vow to go on a road trip.

In 2016, I vow to be in more photos.

Thank you for creating with me in 2015. I look forward to creating with you in 2016.

2016 end-of-the-year Kara-Nixon new-york miami california