Gratitude.

Each year at some point not too far in front of or behind January 1, I find some time to sift back through the preceding twelve months worth of photographs. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Brought to the front are quite a few feelings that otherwise have fallen through the cracks into the proverbial catch-all drawer in my head. You know the one – the same place where all the unmemorable day-to-day back-and-forth gets filed and ultimately disappears into.

Truth be told, oftentimes the busyness of life and work nudge me just far enough to consider my work just that, and only that. But then, January rolls around. And thank God for January.

January always leaves me struck with gratitude. And not just the kind of gratitude that makes me glad to have such an occupation, but the kind of gratitude that makes me happy to be alive, and to think long and hard about the meaning of that, even beyond the photographs in front of me and the idea of the preservation of important memories.

I’m ultimately reminded around this time of year that I’m a witness to and a participant in some paramountly good times. Times that are nothing if not worthy of being remembered and relived. Times that your kids’ kids will talk about. Times that, when compounded together and looked back upon, make us all – as humans who get some level of satisfaction out of a good story – well up and close our eyes and sit back and grin and feel.

So you, reader, whoever you are – thank you. You’ve unequivocally got my gratitude. I’m certain that you’re here because we've worked alongside each other in some capacity, and I for dang sure wouldn’t be afforded such gratitude if it weren’t for you.

Here are a select few frames from the past twelve months.

Brian, Lauren, one of my favorite regions of this country, and that ridiculous seasonal glow. It all came together on a hilltop adjacent to Lauren's childhood home, where her & Brian's closest friends and family gathered for an evening of merriment.

Brian & Lauren's full set of photographs can be seen right here, from whence prints can also be ordered.

Nearly too much cool for a set of photographs.

Due credit:

Coordination: Lisa Forbes, Simple Elegance
Film: Cork Creative
Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Matthew; White Carpet Bride
Floral: Branches & Twigs
Ceremony: Our Lady of Sorrows
Reception: The Gallery
Music & Entertainment: Lost Wax
Cake: McLain's Bakery

Every year we say that it surely can't get any better; that the past twelve months were as good as it gets. But yet, to this point, we're fortunate to have always been wrong.

For us, this past year was a particularly potent and evident equation of the most talented players and partners in the industry, the kindest and most hospitable clients, the most supportive friends and family, some hard work and, admittedly, a fair bit of good fortune.

This practice of reflecting back on the past year is one of our favorites, and it always resolves squarely onto gratitude — so, if you're reading this, we undoubtedly owe you a heartfelt "thank you."

Here was 2017, in as quick a glance as we could effectively reduce it to.

Wedding & Reception: The Guild

A handful of Andrew & Kara's engagement portraits can be seen right here.

Come this time each year, reflecting back on the last twelve months is one of my favorite practices. To regather memories; to retrace journeys; to rekindle emotions. To see the faces of friends and the remnants of stories that have so positively affected me. It's a good reminder that the work, the clients, the travels, and the resulting success we see are all gifts. Sure, we work hard; but at the end of the day, the last year – and life, at it's core – is one great big gift.

It's interesting how the effect of memories and images, after having been weathered by time and circumstances, can change so drastically. How a seemingly meaningless portrait of your spouse, over the course of a few years, comes to mean the world to you simply because of what those years have held. How a grainy black-and-white picture of a dance with your grandpa now is a most prized possession. How so many of the ordinary moments become, when we look at them from just a slightly different stance, hallowed.

Around eighteen months ago now, Stephen Shireman officially joined me as my counterpart under the Waldron name. This was our first full year together, and it's been great to be able to expand the goals and the reach that Waldron stands for: to use our talents and our time in a way that affects positivity and ultimately builds relationships. Because after all, the more of those aforementioned 'ordinary momoents' we can document, the luckier we feel to have played a small part and to have been gifted the time, experiences, and relationships in exchange.

Below are a few of the folks – and their respective stories and places – alongside whom we walked this past year. It was a greatly enjoyable one. Both Stephen & I are grateful for the past year and hopeful for the coming one. Happiest of New Years, friends! – Rusty

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We work alongside filmmakers often on wedding day. And Caleb Johansen of Cork Creative is hands down one of our absolute favorites. Here's the incredible work he put together of the day's events.

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Similarly, several folks aside from Will, Andrea and their families are due some credit for the way the day looked, sounded, and unfolded; they are:

Consultant: Lisa Forbes, Simple Elegance
Bridal Gown: The Gown Gallery
Bridesmaids' Attire: BHLDN by Anthropologie
Menswear: Generation Tux
Florist: Craig Sole
Ceremony: Village Presbyterian
Reception: The Guild
Dinner: Californos
Cake: Dolce Bakery
Rentals: Ultrapom and Celebrations
Music & Entertainment: Jukeboxx Media
Photo Booth: Banana Who
Getaway Car: Pech Limo

A handful of Will & Andrea's engagement portraits can be seen right here.

While being a bit off speed of our typical work – and our typical journal post – these photographs highlight a fantastic event put on by folks of whom we're just the fondest. Spectacle is the newest fundraiser for the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired. It's quite an event and quite an experience; an open fire grilling extraordinaire featuring the city's best chefs with Argentinian and Uruguayan vibes.

Sound cool? Learn more about this year's Spectacle right here.

(The pictures below are of the preparatory event CCVI put on this spring to show off a bit of what's to be expected of the main event, June 29.)

As has become somewhat of a tradition now, this year's autumn months presented to us a plethora of opportunity & travel, combined with what is certainly the world's best clients & friends. Work and vacation took us to both coasts as well as a few stops in between, and the folks with whom I was privileged to work were among some of the most generous and welcoming around, I'm sure of it.

Pictured below: Rocky Mountain National Park, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, New York City, the Grand Tetons, various spots throughout the Midwest, and all the folks who are to thank for all of it.