2024: A Year of Growth, Reflection, and New Horizons
"Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together."
— James Cash Penney
Hello 2025!
As another year comes to a close, I find myself once again sitting down to reflect, review, and recalibrate. Just as in years past, I dive deep into my numbers to analyze what worked, what didn’t, and how I’ve grown as a photographer and business owner. But numbers only tell part of the story. Behind the metrics are the experiences, lessons, and relationships that shape my incredible journey as a solo-preneur.
If 2023 was about lessons learned, 2024 has been a year of transformation and setting new standards—both for myself and my business.
2024 by the numbers
This year was quite productive.
- 385 headshots photographed
- 22 photography classes and workshops taught
- 9 military ceremonies captured
- 8 podcast and panel guest appearances
- 1 DoD SkillBridge intern mentored for six months
- Moved to a new studio with double the square footage
- Retired the 15-month Vietnam Veteran exhibit at the Virginia War Memorial reaching over 650,000 visitors
- Earned Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification from SBA
Each of these milestones represents more than just a statistic—they tell a story of impact, learning, and growth.
Revisiting the Highlights
Closing a 15-month chapter. Storytelling and preserving legacies has always been at the heart of my photography. Last April, I had the honor of attending the closing ceremonies for the Vietnam Veterans exhibit I helped bring to life in 2022. Watching the Veterans reconnect and reflect on their stories was profoundly moving, and I felt immense pride in knowing my work contributed to documenting their legacies. While the exhibit has retired, the War Memorial intends to have a traveling version to visit schools and Virginia Care Centers.
Military ceremonies continue to be a highlight. This year, I photographed nine promotion and retirement events—each one a testament to the sacrifices and dedication of service members and their families and I'm grateful to be part of honoring those milestones.
New Space, New possibilities
In the summer, I took a leap of faith by moving my studio to a larger space—doubling both my square footage and my rent. The new studio has already proven to be a game-changer.
Moving into a larger studio allowed me to host group sessions, including a visit from a local high school entrepreneurship class. Their questions and excitement reminded me of why I started this journey in the first place—to inspire and empower others. My photography classes, once limited to 4-5 students in a cramped room, now accommodate up to 8 students in my new space.
Sharing the journey
Running a business isn’t always easy, but it’s endlessly rewarding. I mentored and hosted a DoD SkillBridge intern from March to August. The SkillBridge program allows active duty service members to intern with a company to support their transition to a civilian career. Mentoring a fellow Veteran was even more fulfilling than I anticipated, and we stayed incredibly busy during her time with me.
2024 Year in Review
On the Horizon
As I look ahead to 2025, here’s what I’m most excited about:
- January/February: Attending Imaging Expo 2025 in Dallas, Texas
- March: Documenting the unveiling of the Alexandria Waterfront public art.
- March: Supporting the Naval Academy Minority Association (NAMA) Annual leadership summit in Annapolis, MD
- April: Supporting UMGC Military Veteran Fair with headshots
- June: attending a photography workshop in Italy
- June: Supporting the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (JWLS)
- December: Beating Army again (Go Navy)!
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve trusted me to capture your memories, attended one of my workshops, or cheered me on from afar—your support means everything.
Here’s to another year of living, learning, and creating.
4 Comments
Jan 3, 2025, 6:43:17 PM
Laura Hatcher - Thank you Brother, best wishes to you in the New Year!
Jan 3, 2025, 6:42:40 PM
Laura Hatcher - Thank you for reading Gabriel!
Jan 3, 2025, 1:11:29 PM
Gabriel Allan Tolliver - Constant Elevation and Expansion! Thank you for sharing.
Jan 3, 2025, 8:09:45 AM
Enrique Acosta Gonzalez - It has been such a blessing watching all these events unfold for you. 2025 already looks bright for you and I will continue to cheer you on from afar until we meet in person. Blessings 🙏🏼⚓️💪🏼