I first filtered to my top 50 but then realized that would be a ridiculously long blog post, so I filtered even more.  These are my own personal favorites for reasons not necessarily related to picture quality. It was interesting to see what ended up in the Top 25 as many of them I never before realized were a “favorite.”  It was also helpful to go back through a year of photos because I have a clear idea of the way I want my yet-to-be-found style to evolve and am excited to track the changes. I love getting in close to my subjects, which is a good thing many times and I don’t plan to eliminate those shots, but I really admire portraits where the subjects are small figures in a much larger, interesting image.  Creating those shots is one of the big things I want to focus on in 2010. I would also like to try incorporating more props.

Now, for my 25 Favorites taken in 2009 (I had a desire to order them, and perhaps I will go back through and do so another day, but for now they are in no particular order):

1.  My sweet-looking, but very feisty : ) friend JG graduated from CSULB in May and we did a short, somewhat rushed for time graduation photo shoot.  I love how demure she appears in this and it was one of the first photos I edited in this somewhat desaturated color style I’ve come to really, really love.

2.  Another in that style (I need to coin a term for when I edit photos like these, any suggestions?), this was taken in Spain at Gaudi’s Park Guell.  I love the colors, photos of nature, and the A hearts E.  I’m waiting to give it to someone I know who becomes an A + E.

3. The day of my friend KK’s wedding in Charleston, SC.  KK is an insanely organized and creative planner, but was very relaxed on her wedding day.  Even when one of her bridesmaids started to go into anaphylactic shock and the parademics came and broke up our wedding prep party…..  All turned out well, though, so hopefully now it’s just a funny story to go along with a great day.

4. From KK’s “Day After” session, during which we were racing the clock to get shots before the sun went away completely.  These were taken in the backyard of her new in-laws, an amazing setting.  I love everything about this shot.

5. Just a candid moment during the session and probably my very favorite from the session:

6. The S’s are one of my favorite families and are into “fun” photos rather than conservative posed ones.  Last year’s holiday card respectfully mocked the recession, this year they wanted some hippie love.  I love the colors, pose, and intensity in their eyes.

7. Taken on a very hot day on Hollywood Blvd, this newscaster was making himself beautiful to cover Michael Jackson’s death near his Walk of Fame star by Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.  I love to catch moments like this.

8.  Washers!  A very fun game with a gorgeous backdrop. I love the mid-air action, even though it was obviously staged.

More to come tomorrow…I have people patiently waiting for me.