Explore North Workshop | A Wedding Photographer Workshop

Hosting and teaching a workshop has been something I've been talking about and wanting to do for years. I am so SO excited to finally be making it happen and to be working with two other amazing photographers, April Violet and Shaunae Teske! Together we are all hosting the Explore North Workshop on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior.

Our workshop is going to be very unique in that all 3 of us have different styles and ways that we run our business, but we all believe in community over competition and we want to help other photographers grow their businesses and reach their goals. That's why we're going to be giving very detailed information on exactly how we do things. Blogging, client experience, accounting, organization, branding, and design are some of the main topics we will be talking about.

But wait, there's more! Haha I totally feel like an infomercial right now. What other things would be valuable to a wedding photographer? New portfolio images, a new head-shot for your website, networking with other photographers and vendors, and just a few days to have fun. As important as all of that other stuff is, being a wedding photographer is draining. You need to take time for yourself to re-charge and get inspired!! This is why we're doing this, and all of this is why we are so very excited to be making this happen :)

Wedding Inspiration | Pastel + Bright Pink Wedding | Chicago Wedding Photographer

I have been in a spring mood this week (it could be the tease of 50 degree weather we had recently) and really looking forward to spring and summer blooms! Last spring I took part in The Big Fake Wedding in Chicago at the City View Loft. If you haven't checked out what The Big Fake Wedding is all about and you're planning a wedding or know someone that is, you should. You get to see all of the wedding vendors in action as a real vow renewal happens! If you've ever wanted to crash a wedding to help you plan, here's your chance. I'm also really hoping by putting all of these pretty spring images out there will make the snow that we got this week the last time until December... a girl can hope, right?! :)

Travel Diaries | Joshua Tree, California

If you read my last two blog posts about Yosemite and Big Sur you'll know I was traveling with other wedding photographers in California a few weeks ago. Why were we doing this? Well really you don't need a reason, but we had all signed up for the Heck Yeah Photo Camp hosted by Ben Sasso!

Signing up for this workshop was a total impulse. The workshop with 130 photographers sold out within 3-4 hours! Wow. Why were we all so excited for it? Not only was it in a really cool location, Joshua Tree, but some of the world's best photographers were speaking. Like I said in the previous posts, this trip was very inspiring and reenergizing for me. Just being around that many talented and like-minded people will do that, but I came away refreshed and with a new desire to really build the type of business that I want.

The wedding industry is in an interesting place right now with styled shoots and destination weddings being the new hip thing to do. Add on to that trying to get your work published and what kinds of images these publishers are looking for and it really has changed how photographers approach and photograph weddings. So what then do I want to shoot? What is my goal for my business? Why am I a wedding photographer? Haha, getting really personal now.

I am a photographer because I love creating images and capturing memories. It's my creative outlet in life and I really don't want to do anything else. I am a wedding photographer because I love getting to preserve all of these wonderful, important, and meaningful moments for my couples and their families and friends. A wedding day is filled with so much love and happiness, how could you not want to be a part of that?!

My goal for my business is to get to know and work with couples that value their marriage and quality photography. Simple as that! I love couples that plan a wedding day that reflects and is meaningful to them. Do you love epic views? Let's hike for a bit to get that breathtaking spot. Do you have a piece of land that has been in your family for generations? Set up some chairs and say "I do" somewhere that is meaningful. Find the venue that when you walk in gets you excited and you immediately can picture dancing and having the time of your life with all the people you love around.

I am so excited for my wedding season this year and all of the memories that it will bring! Here are some fun moments and memories from the workshop in Joshua Tree :)

Travel Diaries | Big Sur Coast, California | Destination Elopements

If you read my previous blog post (which you should definitely check out if you haven't) you'll know that I started a road trip with 3 awesome ladies in Yosemite National Park. After spending just a day and a half there, we headed west for the coast!

It has been a while since I've taken a trip with just other photographers, and I have to say I've missed it!! Being around other like-minded and totally awesome photographers is both energizing and inspiring. We all understand each other, the struggles we go through being photographers, and our desire to make many stops and take portraits of each other all day! Most people have co-workers that they're with Monday - Friday in person each week, but I work from home by myself. This trip was a good reminder for me that I need that community and support more often. I am so grateful to each of these awesome ladies and the things that they taught me and the many laughs we shared :) Again, here are just a few of the landscapes, portraits, and random moments driving down the California coast through Big Sur!

Travel Diaries | Yosemite National Park, California | Destination Weddings

If you've been following along on Instagram and Facebook you probably know why I haven't posted anything to my blog in the last month, it's because it has been an insanely crazy month! Between launching the Explore North Workshop, doing a winter elopement styled shoot, and then a busy two weeks in California and New Mexico I've fallen a bit behind.

Time to change that with the first post about that trip, starting in Yosemite!! I got to spend a few days road-tripping with 3 awesome girls, April, Katy, and Hilde, before we all attended a photographer workshop in Joshua Tree. Wanting to take advantage of our time in California, we started in Yosemite! This was my first time there and it will definitely NOT be the last. We were even lucky enough to have a friend of mine, Trevor, who lives and works there show us around the park and catch up with all of his amazing adventures out there. Here are some landscapes, portraits of the girls and Trevor, and just a few random funny memories like when Hilde (from South Africa and first time in the US) walked in snow for the first time :) Lots more of this trip coming!!