Time flies, we are already a few days into 2009 and I finally found the time and energy to put up a new blogpost in quite some time. Let me wish you and your beloved ones all the best for 2009.

Time Flies! 2008 has been one hell of a rollercoaster. I had so many great moments with my family and friends, I met so many fantastic new people and I was lucky to be able to enjoy so many amazing photographic challenges.

Time Flies and has become a bit of a double edged sword to me too. I rolled from one thing into another and enjoyed every second of it. But I also started to miss some time when nothing happens, some spare hours for Bert, not Bert-the-photographer. I love photography so much that it hardly ever feels like working but the pace I’ve been living at for the last two years has been just a bit faster than my natural clock. I’m not suffering from a burn-out at all but I want to prevent that from happening in a few years time.

Time Flies and my kids grow every day. I feel very lucky to be able to spend so much time with my family. But if I’m honest I’m sometimes just too tired or distracted to enjoy the quality time like I should.

Time Flies and I don’t regret any second or decision. But now it’s time to slow down just a little and focus on the things I like most, both personally and professionally. The problem is that I can’t say ‘no’ and that I feel like I need to be a good father, friend, husband and photographer at the same time. Cutting back on giving back to the photographic community would seem like a logical choice but not for me, I even want to give back more. That’s why I decided to start LIME together with my friend Pieter. We figured that the only way to reserve the time to teach, inspire and motivate other photographers on a regular bases was to join forces and make giving back a little part of our business. That way I can cut back on some assignments I don’t really like and spend that time on LIME. From a business point of view LIME probably isn’t the best idea, there are other ways to make more money more easily. But from my personal point of view it makes a lot of sense. I hope it will allow me to spend more time on doing what I like most without a negative impact on my personal life.

Time Flies and it’s time to lift my photography to a higher level. In 2009 I want to spend some time on reflecting on my creative vision and redesign my business based upon that. I won’t take a 180 degree turn, but some modifications to my services and products are necessary to keep them in line with the evolution I went through since I started as a professional photographer.

Time Flies, so I want to get the most out of it. Organisation, streamlining, workflow management and outsourcing will be my keywords to ensure I spend time on the right things and stop to loose time on unimportant details.

Time Flies but shouldn’t make me forget to thank the people who make me a happy man:
- All of you for your comments, encouragements and critiques. You make me better photographer and person.
- My clients for giving quality photography a chance in a world where many people and companies are cutting back on creativity and quality.
- Fellow photographers for answering my questions and pushing me to new creative heights.
- Pieter for all the energy and humour he has put into a crazy project, and even more for his friendship and the good talks.
- My parents for their endless support and for being such fantastic grand parents to our kids
- My friends for forgiving me for not making enough time for them, for their support and no-nonsense approach to life.
- My kids for loving me with everything they have nomatter how many mistakes I make as a father.
- My wife for putting up with me on my bad days, for believing in everything I do and for making me feel like high school kid in love.

Time Flies, so I really should stop writing and hit my bed so I have the energy to spend a fun day with the family tomorrow.