May 5, 2016
Along with our beautifully stylized Bridal Session, we also put on a second styled shoot for Explore North Workshop- an awesome “Engagement Session” featuring real couple and our awesome chefs, Chris and Liz. We shot Saturday morning so our attendees could gain insight and get used to directing and posing a couple to prepare them for the wedding shoot. They did a fabulous job and I was so impressed by all the different poses they were trying. Each photographer had their own unique spin on shooting and I loved watching them embrace every chance they got to lead.
As much I loved our styled sessions and photographing, I enjoyed teaching just as much. Sitting with our attendees in that big, spacious living room as the sun shined through the windows, we openly discussed the business side of photography. It felt so powerful and yet so vulnerable to open up. It’s easy to get nervous about breaking down your business; your business is one of the things you worked SO hard to build up. As I sat there, sharing every single piece of my process and how I grew my business, exposed to whatever came next, I was greeted with reassuring head nods, note-taking, and fabulous questions. It reminded me how wonderful it is to talk openly about our work and our processes. We are all in this together and if my mistakes or triumphs can help others in what they do, then I will gladly share every time! It’s what community over competition is all about!
After all the shoots had finished, we completed our lessons, and the head shots and brand consultations were wrapped up, we all gathered outside for a big, glorious fire. As we danced beneath the stars to our favorite wedding reception songs, I couldn’t help but selfishly wish that this moment would never end. That somehow, we all could transcend time and just stay on that cliff overlooking the water forever. But of course we couldn’t. THAT is why we make photographs. We capture those beautiful moments so they DO stay frozen in time forever. We use our photos to relive and reminisce about all those “good old days.” We use our photos to help our most important moments live on FOREVER.
Check out Part One of Explore North Workshop here – Written in the Stars Bridal Session
THANK YOU to all the amazing photographers that joined us for the inaugural Explore North Workshop. You could have been anywhere else in the world but you chose to be and learn with us. YOU are the reason this workshop was so much fun. YOU are the reason I loved every moment at Lake Superior Barn. I cannot wait to see all the wonderful things you accomplish in your future. Dream big, keep grinding, keep pushing – I know you can do anything you set your mind to!
I adored putting together these adorable customized swag bags for all our attendees!!
Hello Lemon Studio hand-painted every tote bag and notebook for our attendees. She’s seriously amazing!!
Chris and Liz cooking up a storm for us!! We were SO lucky to have them there!
They also made AMAZING models for our Engagement Session. They are total naturals!!
Leah getting all those awesome angles!!
I’m leading the charge! “Photographers – ready, aim, SHOOT!!”
Teaching Day begins!! We led our attendees in discussions about business, accounting, the client experience, workflow, finding your community, working with wedding vendors, building your ideal brand, and creating an awesome website!
Jen sharing all about the exciting world of accounting and business! Did you know she actually went to school for accounting before she became an incredible wedding photographer?! So cool!
I’m obviously very excited to talk about wedding workflow and my favorite topic, blogging!!
April seriously rocked it with her Branding and Website discussion. She’s a graphic designer and photographer so she shared what our attendees needed to do to develop a consistent brand and create a website to draw in potential clients!
April went above and beyond for our attendees by giving them one-on-one brand consultations!
April & Jen are too awesome!! I’m beyond honored to stand by their side, teaching and leading with open hearts!
We couldn’t stop laughing and joking the whole weekend. I laughed so hard so many times that I would literally cry!
The Northern Lights came out and danced for us! It was the first time I had ever seen them and now I’m in love!
That barn. This weekend. These ladies. Wow! Such an unforgettable, life-changing time.
Thank you SO much to our sponsors who believed in us and showered our attendees with AMAZING discounts and deals.
Design Aglow // VSCO // Táve // Align Album Design // HoneyBook // PASS // The Rising Tide Society
H.H. Boogie // Agree.com // Wisconsin Bride // ATS Rentals // Shoot and Share
Will you be hosting another workshop in the future?! I am so obsessed with it and would love to attend one! :)
Thank you so much for being so vulnerable and giving this weekend! Seriously it was such a wonderful experience and Jen’s epic bun will go down in history! I cannot thank you guys enough for putting so much heart into this workshop!
[…] to see even more? Check out each of the girl’s recap posts on their blogs: Shaunae Pt. 1, Pt. 2, April Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Jen Pt. 1, Pt. […]