As I nail my second plate of pierogi (traditional polish dumplings, come stuffed with meat, cheese or fruit, amazing stuff), on the 41st floor of Warsaw’s Intercontinental Hotel*, I ponder. The end of the year is upon us, but somehow it doesn’t feel like a new beginning. It doesn’t feel as though there should be some major changes happening from the first of January. I have given up on the miracle lifestyle changes and diet shifts. My occasional presence at a yoga class is always heavily facebooked, so that I actually believe I am exercising. This will have to suffice. Life is actually pretty ok.

This year I had the absolute pleasure of meeting over a hundred lovely families, and I genuinely mean it when I say you guys are fantastic. It’s always an emotional event to see your little ones again, coming for their sitter sessions, and their milestones. In January I will shoot 3 parents coming back with their second baby, after I shot their first born this and last year. I am not exaggerating, when I say it is a true honour to have your trust in my abilities.

In a sea of various local photographers, I am always grateful for choosing me to capture those memories for you.

I made tons of great friends over the last couple of years, but more so this year. Some of you are not just clients, but the kindest souls that always bring a smile to my face, whenever I see your name in the calendar.

It’s always dangerous to mention anyone specifically, as no doubt I will forget many great people, but it’s not intentional I promise.

Thank you Deborah Huggett Brophy for always having time to share a good word, for all your comments and for keeping in touch. You have a beautiful family and I cannot wait to see Ollie sporting some cute baby jacket in a Gap advert someday. He’s a handsome sausage. Also, You introduced me to another fab lady, Rebecca Calladine. She melted my heart, when she showed up to her Christmas mini session with flapjacks and brownies (gluten free, too!), because she knew I will be too busy to go grab food all day. She was right. Thank you girl! Thank you for recommending me to a few of your friends, who came to have their newborn session with me this year. You are a star <3

As always thank you to Klara Robson, who singlehandedly runs my PR without even knowing it. Most of my clients are either your friends or sent by you. I have no idea how come you know every pregnant lady in the area but keep them coming. You are one in a million Klara.

Rach and Daniel Stewart, you guys are my family. We clicked from the first time I met you, and although Venice made her best effort at the newborn shoot for me not to like her, she did not succeed and I love her with all my heart. I cannot wait to see her soon.

Gemma Kirton and your boys: you guys are my poster family. If I ever make it as far as designing a pdf to show people how to get dressed for their shoot and how to be prepared and how to make every photographer fall in love with you, I am having you guys on the cover. You guys are always on the ball, organised, with Noah always rested and ready to rock, even when it’s not his day, he always finds it in himself to perform and makes me laugh. Thank you guys for making my job easy 🙂

Lynzi Pond: thank you for making amazingly good looking babies and for being awesome. Whenever I see you guys in the calendar, I almost feel as though I’m spending a day out with friends, going to the beach or something. Every shoot we have is fun, and I will always love my Archie the Fox.

Kerri McLennan, you have the heart that would solve all the world’s worries. No matter what life brings, you always give everything to your baby, and one day I hope she sees how lucky she is having you as her mum.

Sonia Cheng, Chris and Harrison: you guys rock. I have no idea how to describe it, but you have an electric energy as a family. One cannot stay grumpy when you guys are around. Thank you for allowing me to photograph your son’s first year. He really rocked his Christmas mini session xx

Jodie Flynn, Jack, Lilly: If someone managed to box the love you guys have for each other, they would have enough to be selling it to others <3 There are many smart ass and cheesy quotes I could use here, but all I’m gonna say: you have it guys. You have love for each other. You have everything xx

Thank you to everyone who made my work the centrepiece in their house, who bought frames, prints, canvases, acrylics. You all support one girl’s dream of being a photographer and of making a living doing what she truly loves.

It’s thanks to you guys that I was able to move my business to Aston Springs Farm this year and set up a lovely, little studio, which was busy from day one.

I am getting all emotional writing all this, so I may have to stop right here, but this doesn’t mean I covered each end every one of you awesome people! Thank you for asking for crazy set ups and ambitious shoots. It takes me out of my comfort zone and feeds my creative side.

It’s 3am now, so I shall finish my glass of wine and go to sleep now. May 2017 be even more awesome and I hope to see you all back soon! If not for a session, pop in for a coffee. At some point soon I aim to learn how to use this fancy coffee machine I purchased, that’s still got the stickers on.

*In case you wonder, what on earth am I doing in Warsaw now.. Me and my husband, both full time parents and full time business owners, decided to have a rare break and escape for a weekend away. Since our daily life is pretty full on, as every parent’s on earth, we are still deciding whether to actually go out this New Years Eve, or ..stay in and order room service, whilst chilling with a bottle of wine. Now that I typed it, it occurred to me how pathetic this sounds, so we now have to go out and party just to prove to ourselves we still “got it”.