On January 1st hindsight will indeed be 2020… Let’s Review!
This year has presented challenges for individuals, families, couples and businesses. Nobody has gone unaffected, and yet as I review it, I can’t help but be thankful for the experiences it has left me with. I have realized just how resilient I am and how blessed I have been to work with some of the most amazing people in Colorado, Texas and Florida!
So, I thought I’d share the highlight reel of MAJECK’s 2020. I hope you look over these images and stories and smile. Maybe, they will help you count those blessings when you review 2020 through your lens!
January
Ah yes… I think of January 2020 much the same way I think of turning 14 – my life was fresh and beautiful and full of possibilities. My first session of the year just sealed this moment. I had the honor of working with a family who had won my end of year giveaway for a Free Photoshoot. I’m doing it a bit different this year, but I’m doing it again because it was LIFE GIVING for me.
Anyways, I met the D Family and their beautiful little girl Teagan. She is a warrior dealing with a rare disease – MLD. Watching the tenderness and love of her sisters warmed my heart – even with the snow on the ground. Her parents are all brave faces and love for their beautiful red headed baby girl. It was the perfect start to 2020.
February
Wedding season officially began for MAJECK in October and took us around Colorado and to Jamaica! I had always dreamed of traveling internationally with MAJECK and Jamaica made that dream come true! We headed to Montego Bay and the Royalton Blue Waters Resort for a beachside wedding of the coolest couple. It was non stop laughter until the moment they said I do!
This was also MAJECK’s first videography gig for 2020… We ended up doing 4 across the year.
March
We started March in Estes Park with a maternity session and an image from that session garnered me a spot in the top 10% of Shoot and Share’s annual photo contest… I placed 2442 out of 27748 spots. (All of my Maternity entries placed in the top 65%).
Then, I was surprised with a Father and Son duo who at the start of the session decided to RUN UP a mountain to get some awesome shots! They chose to have pictures done to celebrate the son’s birthday every year which I thought is a great tradition!
April
April came along with a slew of wedding cancellations and reschedules. A few couples also decided to reimagine their perfect day. Everyone was staying at home 
in Colorado and I’m not one to sit still. So, I signed up for classes to expand my craft. We also bought chickens. The results were magical.
Even better than the results of the classes was the time I spent with my family. Everything was put on hold during 2020’s Stay At Home and as a result I got mid morning snuggles, afternoon walks and so many baking sessions with my kids. Life was hard and filled with concerns, but so so good.
May
In May the country started opening back up, but with rules in Colorado. This led to some interesting options for wedding clients and family sessions. I started wearing a mask to every session. More importantly, family portraits had creative starts. For instance, this was a half dozen images put to one picture as no more than ten people could be together and photographed at the same time at Roxborough State Park.
June
Weddings and Family sessions started to ramp up starting in June of 2020. It felt so good to be really back at work again, capturing love stories. COVID created a larger group of couples who decided to elope and while May had begun the elopement onslaught – June cemented it.
Garden of the Gods is such a great spot for elopements – you can read more about one here! But, my favorite session of the month was feeding baby calves after a surprise proposal! It was epic and so much fun!
July
Nothing can be more 2020 for a photographer than having a wedding rescheduled three times and then happen during a Hurricane! That is exactly what we did in July in Texas. I got to follow an incredible couple from “Will you Marry Me” to “I Do” and it was so beautiful. I kept reminding the bride that the hurricane would pass and we would get the most beautiful sunset. That is exactly what happened!
It was only AFTER we got the sunset picture that I found out they were standing in a fire ant pile!
August
Another dream that came true in 2020 was the opening of MAJECK Photography’s studio! This gave me a dedicated space to go and work (away
from #momlife) and both studio lighting and lifestyle portrait space. Prior to August all of my studio work was done with me carrying props and outfits back and forth. Lifestyle portraits inside were tough because most studios aren’t set up for them. Creating this space that is welcoming to couples, families, professionals and kiddos (yes there is a toy bin) really encompasses all of the things I love about working with each of my clients.
September
I tell families starting in July – schedule those Christmas pictures! WHY? Because beginning in September I have a whirlwind of new and returning clients trying to capture the best weather and sunsets for their upcoming holiday cards. There are only 52 weekends in a year and the least likely time for 
it to snow or rain in Colorado is September. This family scheduled their session early in the summer and I have loved watching their little girl grow!
She’s the type that takes a bit of warming up and then you get the sweetest smiles!
October
Do you want to know the most popular month for a wedding or elopement in Colorado? October. I’m not making it up – October typically has the option of snow without too cold of temperatures and all of the beautiful fall leaves! In 25 days we did a total of SEVEN weddings and elopements with beautiful moments and details captured.
I, like Anne of Green Gables, am “so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
November
After months of things feeling almost normal (except for that mask I’ve been sporting since May) our state started to shut down again. I may not look like it 
but I’m actually a pretty anxious person. At the end of September there was so much going on with our family back in Florida that we decided we would go home for the Thanksgiving holidays. As we drove to the airport, I actually was having a panic attack trying to decide if it was the right thing to do. Is this safe? Should I visit my inlaws and parents (all senior citizens)? My father-in-law is in his late eighties. I don’t know how many more hugs we have waiting for us from him and so we got on the plane. I took my youngest and insisted on capturing pictures of them together. He’s too old to give her pony rides, like he did for my two older kids, but he still adores her. We will cherish these pictures for a long time.
December
My birthday month! If there is a month I like better than October – it is December! I’m like Elf’s slightly less neurotic sister – I’m already planning 2021 Christmas minis – and this is my time. For the first time since opening MAJECK I took a chunk of time off. Capturing other’s moments brings me so much joy but 2020 taught me that I need to step back and hold on to my moments as well. And so for my birthday and Christmas, I did just that. I went out and captured the beauty of Colorado without any expectations. The best part was bringing my family along for the ride.
As I review this year, considering all of the ups and downs I can’t feel anything but thankful. I’m thankful for each of the unique experiences, for being welcomed into so many joy filled moments and for waking up each day feeling fulfilled by this business and the people I serve. As I type this, I can’t help but think of my favorite Christmas movie – White Christmas – there is a song that Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney sing… Counting my blessings – that’s exactly what I’m doing tonight. Thank you for being one of them.
~ Mary Elizabeth and the MAJECK Team
Mary Elizabeth is a traveling photographer specializing in capturing the stories that make up your life with a vibrant, true-to-life color and emphasis on joy! To inquire about upcoming availability reach out via email!
