It’s the end of the year again, and this always seems to be the time when we look back and take stock of everything we’ve walked through. This year brought its share of excitement, but also its fair amount of disappointment. Change is inevitable, and I’m learning—sometimes slowly—to stay flexible and adapt when life throws curveballs. Hang on tight, because this year was a wild ride.
At the beginning of the year, I was excited about a couple of opportunities. In February, I registered for a retreat with a new community, Cowgirls with Cameras, scheduled during the fall color season in the Flat Tops Wilderness of Colorado. One of the leaders graciously guided me through the retreat process, and I put down a deposit so I could attend.
In late April, I attended one of my favorite educational conferences, Texas School of Photography, held in my home metro area of Dallas. This time, I dove deeper into pet photography—off-camera flash, posing, reading animal behavior, and all kinds of new techniques. I came home with new friends, new knowledge, and a lot of excitement for the sessions I’d be offering this year.
Life changed drastically once I returned home.
The Monday after Texas School, I found out that my full-time job would be ending in the fall due to a client acquisition. Suddenly, my routine, my stability, and my plans changed overnight. I updated my resume, relied on my friends, and started navigating the emotional roller coaster that comes with a major career change.
Well Now What?
As I applied for new positions in my full-time career, I questioned how to continue the photography side of my life. With less advertising, I had to get creative, but I stayed committed to offering pet and horse portrait sessions.
Thankfully, I’ve been able to be more present with those of you who reached out; it has meant so much to help capture memories of your older equine and pet family members.
The truth is our animal companions never stay with us long enough.
Summer eventually shifted into fall, and before I knew it, the retreat I had signed up for earlier in the year arrived. I had no idea how much I needed that time with other photographers—time to breathe, create, and reconnect.
Standing in the height of Colorado’s golden aspen season, capturing western lifestyle and landscapes, felt like a reset button for my soul. And unexpectedly, it opened a new door in my photography journey. My western lifestyle and landscape work reaches a broader audience than I ever anticipated. You can explore that gallery here: joylynne-harris.pixels.com
Plans for 2026
Capturing your special moments with your furry and equine family members will always remain my priority.
I’m excited to continue both the portrait side of my work and this growing western lifestyle portfolio, all while navigating whatever comes next in my full-time career path.
If you’d like to make sure your beloved pets or horses are part of the memories displayed in your home, I’m currently booking sessions for early 2026. I would love to help you celebrate every member of your family—four-legged ones included. Just click the button below to get started!
One thing is for sure, change is hard. But if we look at it as a way to grow and have new adventures, it can be a change for good. I heard on a podcast this week that confidence is gained because we do the hard things. Let's go out into the world, support each other, and do the hard things together.