Brace yourselves. This may be a long post about bubblerock, about crafting wedding video, being keen photographers (a little), filming in Auckland or around the World, meeting incredible people in the Industry and beyond, having truly the best clients/friends and getting through 2012 with the best support network. 2013 has started and with a new year (not that I really actually wait for a ‘New Year’ to start reassessing where I am at and where I want to go), there is always new directions, new goals, and it’s a moment to reflect on what we’ve done well, what we can improve on and how we can still, no matter what, remain true to ourselves and our philosophy and offer a true, incredible experience.

2012 has been the BEST bubblerock year yet. This year has seen us capturing some amazing images, travelling around the country (New Zealand/France) and the world for it with its highlights being to film a wonderful wedding in San Diego and getting to meet Aleah and Nick, the talented duo of Valley & Co, but also filming one of our favourite wedding videos yet: Clare and Justin‘s Australian Outback wedding. We crafted some gorgeous inspiration films too and honed our style and philosophy a little more each time. Do you remember The Ballad of Herb and Daisy, on which we worked alongside some of NZ’s bests from Mag Rouge? Totally makes me proud still, to this day… and it was shot back in January last year!

In 2012, I (Steph) quit my full time job after working both on bubblerock and at Media Design School at the same time. This big leap of faith was worth every little moments of doubts and scare. It was my calling. I had to make the jump to be able to grow something I truly believed in and give the best bubblerock experience to our clients. It was to this day, the best decision I have made for the business and for myself.

And this quote says it all… funnily enough, it will also be so true and applicable in 2013 with another addition to the team in full time capacity: oh yeah! More on this in the coming weeks!

I (Steph) also travelled to Australia for some professional development to attend EDU [Exposed Down Under]. And it was such a fantastic experience. It’s not just the learning in each session that mattered but it was meeting other filmmakers and artists, sharing ideas and just getting a new outlook on our work that really made a difference. I recommend to anyone to participate in conferences, workshops and anything from which you learn more than a couple of technical skills: it’s the meeting with people and sharing of experiences that really make a difference. And I know for a fact that more of those will be in our future. Invaluable.

And many other travels were had. bubblerock (and the two of us) travelled around New Zealand but also to Mexico, the US of A, Australia, Japan, France and it looks like 2013 will have its fair share of plane time too with Fiji, the USA, France (and Europe in general) planned so far. We love to travel, I am sure you got that by now :) so thank you to all the couples who believed in us so much that we travelled the World to capture their day.

2012 was also a challenging year for us on a personal level and we ended up needing to ask for support and help within our Industry and great talents raised to the challenge and gave us the support we needed. Whether it be in a hands-on capacity – Jolyon from White Wedding Cinema and Travis from Burlap and Blossom helped us film Jason and Maria’s wedding at a time of great difficulty in our personal lives. And it’s a stunning film currently in production that will come out of it. But have you seen their trailer?

But also people from near and far just said “aye, we are thinking of you”… and I cannot stop thinking in particular of Clementine from Made In You (amazing wedding planner in France), Pascal from Lifestyle Prod and also Francois & Coralie who are helping make our little “move” to France later this year. (More on that too, in the coming weeks) but also the support of friends and talented/inspiring people like Jacin (from Lovely Little Details), Aleah, Shannon & Justin, Erin (who had a gorgeous little baby girl in 2012), Kate from Magnolia Rouge (#1 NZ inspiration), Coralee and Alex, Keri-Anne, Jasmine, Naomi (At First Blush), McKay (Oatmeal Lace), Mel&Mark, Allison (Engaged & Inspired), Kate Robinson and McPherson, Stephanie Kunau (amazing talented designer: more on her too, over the coming weeks), Melissa (Melissa Marie & Co), Alicia, Abby (and Otto), Victoria, Emily,…

Actually, I have too many people I want to thank/name that I will of course forget someone (sorry about that) or have a page long full of names… but truly, we have met and felt the love from many many people this year.

This really has shown us the power of being supportive. We have helped a few of those and they are giving back; and we will help some more in the coming months as much as I know we can count on many, many people. I don’t drink coffee but I may start buying one for the random person behind me in a coffee shop just like Jacin is doing: INSPIRING.

I can’t forget to thank people closer to home: my family and family of friends. I have the most amazing parents and brothers. My French girl friends are the best around. And my NZ family is the sweetest. My sister (in law…) has been the hand I needed to hold when times got really tough and I will never thank her enough for that.

Many things happened over the last 366 days (yes, we had a 29 of February this year). Many ups and downs but the ups do always seem to come to mind first and it surely should be that way. And not only ups for us, but ups for the people around us we care and love. And having amazing things happen to others around you does bring a great deal of happiness to us too.

For 2013, we have a lot in store for bubblerock (and I mean, A LOT)… a couple of  new ideas to be launched, a few great weddings to be filmed & photographed, some travelling, meeting new people and catching up with old friends. Launching ourselves into incredible projects with the same passion and dedication that we have had in 2012. So I guess the motto of 2013 has to be:

Let’s keep true to ourselves and our philosophy, live each day with intention and attention, make some time for friends and family and give more than we receive as this is the best gift we can give ourselves.

All the best everyone, for a truly inspiring year.