2023 Year-End-Review
As I sit down to reflect on the past year, my heart swells with excitement and gratitude for the incredible journey that has been 2023.
This year has been a rollercoaster of experiences, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped me both personally and professionally.
Here are a few highlights:
Personal:
- My husband had two surgeries this year. It was a stressful time but he is recovering well. Thank you for all the messages and emails. It means a lot!
A few fun photography projects:
- I photographed returned and new clients this year, from a cottage baker, coaches, professional movers & organizers, a few CEOs of marketing agencies, a commercial HVAC company, psychotherapists, and more!
- I also photographed a few fun events, including a non-profit fundraiser, a business summit, a few Navjote events, a baby shower, a maternity photo shoot, a cake smash, and a grand opening.
- I had the pleasure to collaborate with Happy Films Media to do a 2-day branding video and photo shoot for a client at 3 locations – a park, a studio, and in the Bronx.
- I hosted 2 Mini Branding Session events this year at the beautiful Headshot & Brand Bar in Verona, NJ. My clients received a library of branded images for their marketing in just 30 minutes! Here is a great example of how my client uses her mini branding session photos on her website.
Things I’m proud of:
- Celebrated five years in business! Woohoo!
- I was featured on Bold Journey and Canvas Rebel.
- I hosted my very first Business & Wellness Retreat at the Liberty Office Suites in Pine Brook, NJ. Check out the retreat highlights and testimonials on my YouTube page.
- I attended my first NAWBO National Women’s Business Conference in Austin, Texas. My family survived for six days without me! Lol! Check out this recap video.
- I invested in a professional videographer, Kush from Happy Films Media to create a 2-minute business intro that I can use to market my business and continue to build my personal brand. Check out the video below.
- Being an introvert and scared of public speaking, I now enjoy speaking and teaching in front of people. This is a huge win for me! I was a guest on a few podcasts, you can find them here.
- I’m serving another year as the Communications & Marketing chair for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – North & Central Jersey Chapter.
- I continue to work as a contributing photographer for the Pascack Valley City Lifestyle magazine. It’s always exciting to see my photos in print!
Clients Celebrations:
- Many of my clients officially launched their businesses or rebranded! It’s an honor to be a part of their entrepreneurial journey.
- A few clients received awards and recognition in their fields. Congratulations!!
Lessons learned:
- It’s ok to change my mind.
- Change is not a bad thing.
- Believe that everything will turn out great.
- I’m learning to ask for help…still a work in progress.
Plans for 2024:
- Two mini branding sessions (March & October) at a new location. Stay tuned for more details!
- A summer Business & Wellness Retreat in July near a beach or a lake.
- Offer Canva designs and templates
- Partnering with other businesses to offer more amazing services to support my clients’ marketing needs.
- I want to go to Hawaii and visit Big Island!
Thank you to my family, friends, clients, referral partners, and peers for your support! I’m so grateful to work and be surrounded by incredible people.
How about you? What are you most proud of in 2023? Comment below and let’s celebrate you!
Cheers to 2024!
Charissa
Charissa H. Yong is a New Jersey personal branding and portrait photographer who is passionate about creating authentic branding photos to help service-based business owners show up confidently so they can attract their ideal clients and grow their businesses.
Get in touch to schedule your complimentary consultation!
