I am so glad to be selecting my favorite images of the year again after taking a two-year break. During my pregnancy and my baby’s first year, I simply didn’t have the mental bandwidth for this project.
Choosing my top five images of the year is a way to celebrate my growth as a photographer. It also gives me valuable insight into the types of images I’m drawn to and helps shape my vision for the year ahead. By reflecting on these images, I’ll consider the words and feelings they evoke. From there, I’ll select a central theme that connects them, guiding me to notice and capture similar moments in my life and the lives of my clients.
Take a look below to see the images I’ve chosen and what makes each one special to me.
My 5 favourite photos of 2024
Frog
I love getting close to what’s happening. What I adore most about this image is the pure joy on the little girl’s face as she looks at the frog they’re releasing into their garden pond. It’s a moment of wonder and connection, not just with nature but also with the small, meaningful experiences that make childhood so magical.
Sibling Love
This photo captures so much about their relationship. The older sibling, yearning for the closeness her breastfeeding younger sibling shares with their mother, expresses not rivalry but tender affection. She snuggles next to him, holding his tiny hand in hers. Each hand in this image tells a story of love: the mother’s hands embrace both children protectively, the little girl kisses her mother’s hand while holding onto her brother. The layers of quiet connection and love make this image deeply moving to me.
Mine
The more people you have in a photo, the more difficult it becomes to take a really good documentary image that tells a strong story. I love how the hands form a circle and the pointing fingers. It helps guide your eye along the image. The little boy cried for wanting the stick from his friend, while the two moms of the crying child are trying to resolve the situation. It’s a situation we know so well as parents, and I love capturing these everyday situations.
Helping hand
This little girl was climbing a tree and as her mom helped her do this. I love how you can see the force of the hold between them. This photo is part of a set of images of the little girl climbing the tree, and I always like taking images with different perspectives, like going really close and zooming in on an element that speaks to me.
Generations
I am much more attracted to going close to where the action is, and I chose this image to remind myself that I want to take more image by stepping away and telling a bigger story. I would have shot this a bit different if I could go back in time with more of the trees and less of the floor, but I love that in this image you can see the different generations. One at the end of his life while the father pushes the pram with his baby who just started his life.
My Photography Word
I looked at the 5 images and wanted to find 5 feeling words that came to mind by looking at them. These words are a way to define my photography style and find the moments to look out for when I am doing a photography session. The words that came to my mind are: belonging, comfort, intimatcy, honesty and connection.
My main photography word for 2024 is: Belonging
In previous years, I’ve chosen words like “intimate” and “connected,” but as I reflect on this year’s images, “belonging” resonates most deeply. To me, belonging means being truly present, sharing moments with people who feel like home, and finding connection—with loved ones, with the world, and even with the legacy of those who came before us.
Which words or feelings come up for you when you see my top 5 photographs? I would really love to hear what comes to your mind by telling me in the comments below.
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