2017 
“Wait on the Lord.” 

If you’ve followed my business for any lengthy amount of time, you have probably seen many posts about my faith. Most business professionals would encourage that you keep your faith + business seperate from each other, and while I understand WHY they say such things, I personally disagree. My business is an extension of who I am, and while I would never force my belifes on anyone, let alone clients, I firmly believe in authenticity. So much so, my business tag line is “gracefully capturing authenticity”. If I want to capture authenticity in business, I believe I must first live authentically in all areas of life — including my business. All that to say, I want to encourage you that if you’ve come across this blog review, I hope you hear my heart and feel the excitement in my words as I share a 2017 recap  of both business and personal life.

I know, you’ve already read a paragraph, and I’ll get to the GOODS in a moment, but I feel I need to set the stage to this year.  I journal as a way of expressing my emotions and to document my life (aka a diary, but adults call it journaling). At the beginning of every year, I set time aside to pray and ask the Lord for a word over the upcoming year. This year it felt like a struggle to find time to wait on the Lord (ha ha, my church folk already know where I’m going with this one), so it wasn’t until March that I felt I had my word for 2017. Here it is:

“wait on God. Resist the temptation to take matters into your own hands.
Inquire of the Lord, and if His answer seems to tarry, wait for it”

This is where I truly see the humour in the God I serve… my word was to wait, and while there were MANY challenging moments this year to wait on God’s guidance, His provision, His wisdom, and the list goes on, I found this to be one of the most fulfilling years of my life. Magna, where are you going with this and how in the world is this relevant? I’m soooo glad you asked. I’ve seen more dreams, desires, and prayers answered this ONE year then I think I ever have, and even as I’m typing this, I’m quite overwhelmed by the faithfulness of Jesus. Whatever your thoughts are on religion, can I encourage you that good things come to those who wait, and 2017 for me was a testimony to that.

Okay, so here’s some cool things that happened in 2017.

1. I got engaged — Just kidding, I’ve been pulling engagement pranks this year, and some have proven to be pretty believeable. However, I did have the privilege of capturing my friend Daniel propose to his lady, Melody, which was a super sweet moment.
2. In July, I celebrated 5 years of being in business ! It’s been my best year yet, and I cannot thank you guys enough for supporting a young teenager with a camera who had a dream. Here we are 5 years later, and I’m still so honoured that people choose me to capture their greatest moments.
3. Growing the Team. I’m thrilled that my handsome man, Terry, is joining the team as a second photographer, and as a videographer (YEP, you read that right, we’re expanding into video territory in 2018 — stay tuned for details). He’s been training this spring / summer, and it’s been blast training him and showing him the ins and outs of what I do.
   
4. Hired as a Youth Pastor at my church. This is a lengthy story, I’d love to share with all ya’ll on all the years and little moments that led to this happening.. but to keep a long story short, I am so glad I didn’t allow fear to run my life. I love my kiddos, and I am so excited to see what this next generation of students does for the Kingdom of God. Millennials get an awful rep, but I’d love to sit down and share stories with you that would change your entire perspective on them.
5. Babies. It’s been an exciting journey to watch friends (approximately 30 couples that I know of ) become parents, especially dear friends that have been struggling with infertility and to see that desire to have a child come to fruition — oh my heart, it’s such a joyous season.
6. Working for Michael Steingard. In keeping with babies, he and his beautiful wife Kailyn, welcomed their sweet baby girl this Spring, which meant they needed someone to help cover as a second shooter while mom and baby took time to rest. Michael may not know this, but all through high school he was one of the photographers I admired and took AWE to his work. He was NEXT level – he symbolized what I felt was PRO- level photography. So when he asked if I’d be willing to lend him a hand, I was firstly, honoured, secondly, very excited, and thirdly, felt like it was a unique moment of stepping into a new season where things have come full circle. 5 years ago, teenage Magna wouldn’t have believed she’d be working with someone in the PRO category in the photography industry.
7. New York City … a recent vacation that had many firsts for me. A road trip where I was driving, only friends, and in a city that I’ve never been.
8. I co-officaited my first wedding this summer, which was a very different perspective from photographing it.

There are so many more stories I’d love to share, but those eight seem to summarize the big ones  of 2017. It hasn’t been an easy year, but it’s definietly been one of the most worthwhile ones. As I’m preparing for 2018 — weddings, family, engagements, newborns, and some new territories in business and personal life, I’m really excited to see what this new year holds.
So from Magna Arnott Photography, I’d love to wish you a Happy New Year !
May 2018 be filled with more joy and peace then you’ve ever expereinced before.

Lots of love, Magna