2024 Year End Review

At the end of each year I like to write a short recap and share some of my favorite images of the year.

2024 has been one of the most chaotic years of my life.

Back in 2017 I created a facebook group titled the Michigan Photography Network which grew to over 9000 members. I was the sole admin and moderator of the group until early 2024. I added several new moderators to help take on the workload. After disputes between moderators led to them threatening to sue each other I decided to step down as an admin and leave the group.

I was thankful to be able to serve as a photographer for Royal Family Kids camp club for the 2023/2024 school year and during July camp. Sadly due to other commitments I wasn’t able to serve as photographer during the 2024/2025 club, which I’ve greatly missed.

This was my fourth year serving as a deacon at Christ Covenant Church OPC in Midland, Michigan. This was a difficult year for us as a church due to two deaths in the congregation.

Some of the highlights of 2024, have been serving with the Jaycees. I was able to help with events put on by the Ludington, Mt Pleasant, Great Lakes Bay, Livonia, Clare, and Allegan chapters. I was elected as the 2025 JCI Michigan District A Director and won the Membership Award of Excellence. I served as president of the Clare Jaycees who won the Programing Award of Excellence during their last year as a chapter before they sadly ended up having to fold. I am now a member of the Great Lakes Bay Jaycees.

Due to the lack of income I've had over the last two years through my photography business, I’ve hoped to transition to a different job for my main source of income. This transition has been far more rickety than I’d hoped. I took Meat Cutter training courses in 2023 through the Michigan State Extension Program but haven’t been able to find employment in that field. I was hired by USPS but wasn’t able to take the job due to the schedule conflicting with the weddings I already had booked. I worked briefly as a Youth Specialist for Eagle Village but quit after getting assaulted multiple times, including getting punched in the face so hard my nose remains slightly crooked. I finished the year working as a Temporary Bookseller at Barnes and Noble which I’ve greatly enjoyed. I hope to find full time employment in 2025 and only do photography as a side job going forward.

Outside of work and other organizations I’m part of, I was able to complete my goal of reading over 100 books this year. I started the year on the carnivore diet and got down to the lightest weight I’d been in the years, until I started stress eating and fell off my diet and exercise routine. I also ended up totaling my Chevy Malibu, when I got in two car accidents on the same day. Thankfully insurance covered it and I was able to purchase a 2011 Subaru Forester from a friend.

Here are some of my favorite images from 2024.

2024 Year End Review

Devin and Allison Wedding

Tiffany Halloween Shoot