LOOKING FORWARD

This year is the year I’ve been waiting for since I was sixteen, the plane doors opened and I stepped on unfamiliar ground for the very first time. We’re spending 2015 country hopping with nothing but our backpacks and my camera.

If there’s anything I’ve learnt in my twenty two years, it’s that life is shorter than you think, that societies expectations are silly in the grand scheme of things and that you should always love and be grateful for your family, but you need to live your life. You can’t walk in their shadow, you can’t fulfil their dreams.

You should be selfish, you should find what you want to do in the world and just do it. I know most people would think that is a horrible thing to say, but imagine the irreparable regret if you wake up one day having lived the life you never dreamed of, when in this world anything is possible. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not smart enough, fit enough, rich enough. Money is just paper with numbers printed on it, when I look at the mountains, the beauty of a flower, the vastness of the ocean, the millions of stars in the sky, and then I look down at these small metal coins in my hand, I really see the perspective of what I want from my life.

We’ll spend less, we’ll save more, we’ll earn less but we’ll have so much more time to see the world. I feel like I’ve awoken from a slumber and I’m running as quickly as I can in the opposite direction.

We’re not taking a year off from work or study to go gallivanting across the world, this is how we are choosing to live our life. We’re not going off to explore the world while we’re still young and don’t have things tying us down, because I want this to always be our life. I might not have the 9-5 job, the house in the suburbs, the mortgage, the three kids and a dog. Maybe I’ll live in a van for a while, exploring the harsh outback and sandy beaches of Australia, and then I’ll spend some months in Indonesia, practicing my yoga, creating art and helping local communities, maybe we’ll buy a small block of land in Tasmania, i’ll photograph locals and sell handmade trinkets at markets, Martin might work casually at a cafe or maybe he’ll own his own food truck, and each year we’ll mark another spot off the international map. Or something else entirely.

What I’m trying to say here is, don’t let anyone but you dictate your life. Your dreams are so important, you life means everything. If you want the house and kids, do it, if you want to work your way to the top of your career, do it, but if you just want to spend your life exploring the world, creating art and making friends, don’t let anyone tell you that’s a meaningless dream.

Here is my last look at 2014, filled to the brim with experiences and life lessons. I began the year in Japan, I came home to Melbourne and dropped out of university, I began working for Emporium Melbourne where I photographed and met some amazing people, I travelled to the USA, I photographed at New York Fashion Week, we sold everything we owned and left Melbourne, we started living on the road.

Watching the sunrise over Tokyo, spending our new year in an unfamiliar country and making memories we’ll never forget.

Returning to our home beside the sea, after having travelled to Indonesia and Japan, I had rekindled my travel bug and it felt strange to be back home again. I had made my decision to leave university and I felt butterflies at the unknown.

I visited my father in the heat of outback Australia.

My best friends twenty-first birthday in Adelaide.

In February began renting my own workspace in a wonderful warehouse in Brunswick. My desk across from my dear and talented friend Lauren the designer of Her Pony, our days were often filled with me watching her tie-dye, sew magic dresses or photographing her designs (in between getting work done of course!). I finally felt like I was where I belonged, working towards my passion each day.

I somehow managed to land a dream job writing and photographing for a new high fashion shopping centre in the CBD. Each week I would be given new and exciting assignments, photographing an event filled with delicious food, popping into the centre to take a quick portrait of Peter Alexander, interviewing shop assistants, meeting Baz Lurhman.

I was filled to the brim with inspiration, photographing and creating more than I had in a very long time.

I took Martin to see my parents country home in NSW.

Making magic with my muse Josephine.

After weeks of sleepless nights and lots of hard-work (mostly sitting here in my comfy bed!), I finally launched my new blog. A space that will last the test of time, that I filled with old posts that felt special, and now houses another year of memories.

Working with gorgeous models from my friend Stacey’s brand new agency, AZALEA models.

Launching my online store, filled with handmade treasures and trinkets, vintage clothing and pretty jewels. Discovering that my passion might not just be taking pictures, but also creating with my hands.

More flights than I can count on two hands. Watching the moonrise from the qantas lounge with my mama.

The most important decision I made all year was a very serious diet change. I’ve been vegetarian for a few years now, but I mostly replaced meat products with bread and cheese. I finally was pushed to my limits of feeling unwell and having terrible skin. I ditched all gluten, dairy and most things that come from a packet. I could cry with happiness about how much this has changed my life, but I know how much I hate hearing preachy diet stuff. All I can say is i’m so grateful for my new found energy, not feeling sick everyday for the first time in eight or more years, and realising that life doesn’t need to be so hard.

Afternoons enjoying the sunshine and taking the basket ball down to the nearest park. Without the stress of university and feeling unwell, I found so much more time to just enjoy fun things and stop worrying about needing to be working all the time.

Photographing the gorgeous Petrova of Lady Petrova wearing my friend Kelseys’ new designs!

My creative little cubby at home where I would spend evenings resewing dresses and making jewellery for my shop.

I cannot thank Martin’s parents enough for taking us on this wonderful trip to America!

Shooting on the rainy streets of New Orleans.

Street scenes in New York.

Fulfilling my dream of photographing the runway at New York Fashion Week.

Doll houses in San Francisco.

Exploring downtown Las Vegas with Darby.

Santa Monica sunsets in LA.

Sharing and loving with the beauties at the Plant Love Picnic just twenty four hours after returning home.

Watching my soul sister Nirrimi creating magic.

Squeezing in some last minute test shoots before we leave our home and Williamstown, where I photographed most of my shoots in Melbourne.

I was lucky to work with some amazing graduate designers.

My final shoot with Pride model girls in Melbourne, Chelsea and Amy were fascinating to watch as they moved in tune with each other. We danced on the sand, and took pictures in the soft light.

Officially on the road, without belongings, a home, or worries. Finally I feel like a weight has been lifted and I’m ready to see the world.

Shannon

02/01/2015

I am so glad that I discovered your blog-your photos, your words, are perfect. Good for you for having the courage to live an international, globe trotting life! Hope your time in Europe is fantastic!
Portia

01/01/2015

Your opening words speak such truth and definitely inspire to make sure that I do what really truly makes me happy this year. Your photographs tell such a beautiful story of your year that has passed and I’m sure that 2015 will be even better. Good luck!

http://cequisuit.blogspot.com

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Shannon

Portia

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LOOKING FORWARD

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