Portrait of Crystal Ellison used in her book *Ellivate*

Every year I like to do a “year in review” blog post. As 2024 got closer I struggled to write 2023’s year in review. In 2022 my business’s income got back to what it was in 2019 pre-covid, and I had a personal record number of weddings shot. As 2022 was starting to wind down I was starting to get weddings booked earlier than usual for 2023 and even some for 2024. Usually each year most of my wedding bookings come in right after Christmas and Valentine’s Day. When Christmas 2022 and Valentine’s Day 2023 came around, I had very few people book weddings, unlike past years. I had several shoots get postponed or canceled in the beginning of the year making finances very tight. My taxes also went up substantially. I had to get on a payment plan to pay off 2022’s taxes, which I’m still paying towards monthly. Due to these financial hardships, I realized that 2023 would be the last year of me trying to make the starving artist lifestyle work. In September 2023 I took Meat Cutter Training Classes at Michigan State University and received my meat cutting certificate from MSU. I’m now searching for full time employment as a meat cutter locally in mid-Michigan. I still plan on running my photography business in 2024, but it will no longer be my main source of income.

Walter the Harris Halk photographed at the 2023 Michigan Hawking Club Winter Field Meet

Providers Healthcare Headshot featured on billboard in Gladwin, Michigan

Despite 2023 being difficult financially due to less wedding bookings and cancellations, there were still lots of high points. Early in the year I got to work with Michigan falconers, thanks to Lisa Clements, inviting me to a falconry meetup in January. This is something I’ve been trying to do for years and was incredibly thankful to be able to partake in. I also got to teach photography classes through 4H and the MSU extension program in the spring. It was incredibly rewarding seeing the kids I was teaching take photos that they were happy with. I also got to photograph the Mt Pleasant Craft Beer Festival for the Mt Pleasant Jaycees. I ran into tons of people I know from a wide variety of different places making the Mt Pleasant Craft Beer Festival one of my favorite things to photograph each year.

Outside of photography I volunteer with several organizations. This year was my third year of serving as a deacon and trustee at Christ Covenant Church OPC in Midland, Michigan. This was also my last year of teaching the middle school aged Christian Education class at Christ Covenant Church, due to them aging out and joining the high school aged class. This was my fifth year serving as a photographer for Royal Family Kids Camp. I was able to do photography for one of their summer camps as well as their monthly club meetings. 2023 was also my fifth year being a Jaycee. This year I served as Vice-President of the Clare Jaycees and I photographed several state level conferences. I plan on continuing to serve at Christ Covenant Church, Royal Family Kids Camp, and the Clare Jaycees in 2024.

On a personal level I got a gym membership back in December 2022 and have been working out consistently since then. This has greatly benefitted my mental health and has helped me manage my depression. I’m still bad with dieting so I was disappointed to have not lost more weight by the end of the year, but hopefully that will be something I can change in 2024. I learned the hard way you can’t out exercise a bad diet. I also got to read a ton this year. I’m a big fan of Audible and am usually listening to an audiobook while driving, retouching, or working out. I’ve been trying to give myself a self taught classical education, by reading the great books, and made significant progress this year.

2023 Year in Review

2024 Michigan Hawking Club Field Meet

Haddad Family Portrait