The first month of a new year ends with a beautiful album design by Rachel Peek!

As the wedding & holiday card season were at their peaks, the carrot that dangled in front of me was JANUARY... Ahhhh... A slower month when I could invest some time refining my business. A new plan, new website, new logo, new business cards, new collateral, new sample albums... the list goes on. And on and on. Not to mention the other typical January resolutions that need not be mentioned.

So it's the 31st of January, and what has been accomplished? Well, I'm happy to report that I've actually been super busy with client shoots. A rather unexpected (given the time of year) but always welcome circumstance. But even with the additional work, I have actually started working on every single goal. BUT... until today, not a one had reached conclusion.

Today, Rachel Peek of Custom Album Designs sent me the final revisions for an album she designed from one of last summer's super fun weddings (Hollie & Gavin). The order is in process and one item has officially been crossed off my list! YAY!

I am so excited about the design and so impressed with Rachel's vision and command of story. As a photographer, I think it's natural to want to visually tell the story yourself, after spending such an incredible amount of time getting to know a couple, witnessing and documenting their wedding day, then painstakingly editing the images so that they look their best. But I also feel strongly that I can't reasonably be an expert at everything. I would so much rather hire someone to design an album who does it every day, who is trained and experienced in graphic design, and who is committed to graphic design as their artistic medium. I think the couples that hire me deserve that. So, the trick is finding someone whose work you love, who you feel is a good match for your own visual style and who is great to work with. And Rachel surpassed any hopes I could have had. Her design work is all about story, and she has great eye for art and balance. Her album design truly captured what it felt like to be a part of Hollie & Gavin's day. Beyond that, she was a pleasure to work with: responsive, insightful and very patient! I can't wait to have the opportunity to work with Rachel again!

More info on Rachel's services can be found here. Thanks Rachel!