My Top Ten of 2019

As a family and event photographer in Southeast Wyoming, I’m blessed to share many moments and document memories with my clients, my friends and my own family.  But what were my favorites?  Here are my top ten best photographs taken this year, and my favorite from this decade as well.

#1.  Karl B., Cheyenne East Senior Pictures

What can I say about this young man right here, except that I’m not sure they make many like him anymore.  When I arrived to take senior pictures for him, he was dressed in the most dapper suit, he lifted his hat as he shook my hand and he called me ma’am.

Talk about feeling respected and appreciated.

And then there were the photos themselves.  It’s honestly not hard to take pictures of a handsome cowboy and his horses.  It was basically just my job to just not screw it up.  I loved talking to Karl about his work as a pickup man, his plans to become a welder and his love of his border collie.

This kid is everything that is still good and right about our youth.  He was courteous, patient, he loves his momma and is one of the hardest-working, most down to earth young men I’ve had the chance to photograph.

#2.  Kadra C., Southeast High School Senior Photos

After shooting Kadra’s senior pictures on her family’s ranch in Albany County, she shared a few on social media.  Kime Ranch Jeans loved these images so much, they asked if they could use them on THEIR social media feed.

Um, okay!

It’s hard not to love Kadra.  She’s funny, level-headed, down-to-earth and gorgeous inside and out.  I love that this young woman can go from glamourous senior girl to kick-butt cowgirl in about ten seconds flat.  And she has such an amazing heart.  She willingly endures hugs from my seven-year-old and always has a kind word to say to her fellow 4-H members, rodeo competitors and teammates.

#3.  Carlson Family

“Come over here and let’s take a picture.  Oh, take my picture over here.  Now let’s go over here and I’ll pose like this and you can tell me how handsome I am.”

I absolutely loved my time with the Carlson family at their Henry home.  But Mr. C here was an absolute crackup.  I love me a willing subject and he was definitely willing to have his picture taken.  At the end, he even invited me inside for some hot chocolate and a snack and some extra time with him and his sweet sisters and momma.  I seriously have the best job ever.

#4.  Blizzard Warning

Holy snowstorms, Batman.  Two huge storms rocked Southeastern Wyoming last spring, including this first blizzard.  The amount of snow that drifted around our place was mind-blowing.  There were moments when I couldn’t see the tree in our front yard, it was blowing so hard.  But big blizzards make for big drifts and big drifts make for happy kids.

#5.  Big dreams

I came home from some errands one afternoon to get my kiddo off the bus.  The clouds were piling up just right and I thought it might make for a really great sunset.

“Hey kiddo.  Want to watch a pretty sunset?”

She agreed, so we grabbed shoes and sweatshirts and headed down the road with the dogs following.  I was kneeling trying to capture some cool leaves on the ground when I looked over and saw my daughter and our dog standing together, admiring the sky.

I love this image because it shows the connection she has with her dog and her world.  She’s always telling me to look at how cool the clouds look or to come look at the sunrise or the weird shapes in the dirt.

#6.  Pretty Pots All in a Row

Technically, this photo isn’t anything spectacular.  But the only reason I was able to take this picture was because I tried something new and took a pottery class through our local community education program.  I stepped out of my comfort zone, risked looking foolish and love every minute of it.  I took the class simply because I wanted to.  The art room quickly became one of my favorite places to spend a dark winter night.  Read more about my adventures with pot here.

#7.  Soccer Champs

This is another photo I took just for me.  My daughter and her classmates were the GoWyo U8 soccer champs this spring, going undefeated on the season.  It was a fun season to watch not because they won but because I watched my daughter finally “get it” when it comes to soccer.  I also watched her competitive streak come to life but in a way that she didn’t lose who she was.  She pushed herself to get better and work harder but was also the first to congratulate a teammate on a goal or help a friend out of the grass.

#8.  Southeast Lady Cyclones Basketball

Oh what fun it was watching these ladies play basketball.  This is the 2019 seniors sitting together, enjoying closing out their careers at home with a big win and lots of personal bests.  These ladies would go on to regionals and state.  I have to admit, I cried a little listening to the radio as they lost the state championship at the buzzer.  And I shed a tear or two seeing their post-game picture, faces blotchy from crying and eyes still full of tears.

But what a team!  These girls went through the wringer together in ways most of us probably won’t ever really understand.  And they came out on the other side as leaders on and off the court.  If my daughter ever grows up to play basketball, it will be because this is the team that caught her imagination and made her believe it was possible.  We all need those kinds of heroes in our lives!

This is one of those pictures that isn’t really all that spectacular.  But I have a feeling that in twenty years, this is one these girls will pull out, look at and be taken back to their days on the court, the ball in their hand and their friends at their side.

#9.  Livestock photog in training

One of the skills I wanted to work on this summer was capturing livestock and horse shows.  Why?  Because I want to be able to offer these services to my clients.  Looking back, I wish I had more and better pictures of my days showing hogs and horses all over Wyoming.  Besides, county fair is my favorite place on earth.  I love seeing the connection kids have made with their animals.  I love seeing their hard work come to fruition.  I love watching the smile break out on their face when the judge slaps their animal or gives them the nod.  And what’s better than taking pictures of one of the coolest kids in our county that happens to be the son of two of the coolest people on the planet?  Nothing is better.  Except doing it with a fresh squeezed lemonade close at hand.

#10. Bareback Jack

I have no idea if his name really is Jack.  Steve.  Joe.  Stetson…I’d love this picture whatever the cowboy’s name!  I had a chance to shoot at the Wyoming State Fair PRCA rodeo this year and it was a treat!  I worked at capturing the perfect event photo but also capturing those really cool moments in between perfect bucks where the spirit of rodeo comes to life.  That’s what this picture is for me…I can feel the energy and determination of this cowboy come to life as he tries to make the whistle.

So there you have it…my favorite images from 2019.  Are they perfect?  No.  But they represent how I’ve grown as a photographer, a blogger, a wife, a mom and a friend.  They represent the best (and worst) of my moments as a Goshen County family and event photographer.  Thanks for sharing part of 2019 with me.  Here’s to another year of beautiful images and moments we hold in our hearts forever!

Teresa