The New Year is a great time to stop, take a look around, absorb what you've achieved, and focus on what the year ahead offers. I've just done the absorb bit. Gone back and had a look at what we've posted over the past year. I found some really great stuff I'd forgotten about! No doubt you've forgotten or missed some of these posts too so over the next few days we'll bring you our favourite posts of 2008.  There's not much of a criteria - just posts that really stood out to us. I hope they do to you too. We'll start by engaging your senses. Today we've picked a couple of really interesting interviews, and two gorgeous albums we featured last year. Enjoy.

• The man who kept the lab honest - In this three part series distinguished photographer Rod Ellmore talks to us about the change from black and white to colour, fashions and fads in the 70's, and retirement. When to do it and why he enjoys it. There's a lot to learn from people like Rod who've enjoyed long and successful careers.

• From DJ to Rock star - NZIPP 2007 Wedding photographer of the year Steve Sharp talks to us about how he went from cheap-and-cheerful to high end in five years. He talks about money and productivity and shares one of his albums with us.

• Red and white all over - Matt and Enna of Grazier Photography reflected the details of this wedding in a stunning red and white album.

• Wedding venues, valued partners - Relationships with local wedding venues are a great way to build a strong wedding and portrait business. This beautiful album by Simon Whitten rests on the piano in the drawing room of  the luxury castle hotel Swinton Park in Yorkshire.

Tomorrow we'll have the top tips, how-to's and marketing posts of 2008. See you then Nigel