Get ready for a SUPER fun post. :)
Nancy and I hosted the Branches & Light Photography Workshop just one week ago in Wake Forest, North Carolina. What an incredible day! This was our THIRD Branches & Light, and we have no intention of stopping there. We’ve already been coming up with fun ideas for next time. Lady photographers, you just might want to start following us on twitter to be the first to know when we announce our next dates (@branches_light).
This year was phenomenal. We hosted the workshop at The Sutherland, invited Emily Ayer (art director of Southern Weddings) to be our guest speaker, and had Erin McLean style our fabulous shoot! As amazing as everything was, it just wouldn’t have been the same if it weren’t for our absolutely incredible ladies who attended. Our attendees came from all over — Texas, Rhode Island, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Virginia, and of course, North Carolina — and we could not have been more honored to spend the day with them.
My proudest moment was when I taught on overcoming fear. What a task it was to reach inside myself and be vulnerable about such a hard topic…but how rewarding it was. One of the quotes from the talk was, “As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Marianne Williamson) What a beautiful thought! As time goes on I realize more and more just how passionate I am about the topic of fear and how to overcome it. I’m not quite sure what it will look like, but I want to embrace it; possibly teach more, possibly write more.
I always wish I could go back and relive workshop days–they are the BEST! Can’t wait til the next one!
This was our view when we were teaching. :)
Emily Ayer, our guest speaker from Southern Weddings gave the most wonderful talk about how to get published. Nancy and I were in the back of the room, madly scribbling notes ourselves. :) We were thankful beyond measure that Emily could join us.
Our styled shoot was TO DIE FOR. Oh my goodness, I can’t even believe how gorgeous it was! The amazingly talented Erin McLean put together the cutest bride & groom you’ve ever seen and the most stunning guest table & dessert table setup. For now I can only give you a behind-the-scenes look, because the shoot will be featured on Southern Weddings in the next couple of weeks. Make sure to watch the Southern Weddings blog…you’ll swoon when you see it!
At the end of the day, we all played in the Photo Booth! How appropriate for a group of photographers. :)
To the insanely wonderful ladies pictured above, I love you all so much and I cherish the memories we made last week! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being there, for opening up, for being authentic. Please, please let me know if you are ever in Texas because I will want to make a coffee date with you! :) I’d love it if you’d leave a comment below and share a little about your experience at B&L. xoxo
Posted in For Photographers
Love love love! :)
Love this! It was an honor to be a part :)
I had so much fun. :) I am still soaking it all in and loving the feeling and energy I am getting from that day. Thank you so much.
Yeah!! So happy to have been a part of this! Great job all!!!
Someday I’d love to join! Looks fab!
I wish I could have heard that little talk on overcoming fear(:
I needed this workshop. I really did. I was so thankful I was able to attend. You and Nancy gave me the kick start I needed to get down to it in my business, and really, my life. You both are an inspiration to me. I hope we (the students) are an inspiration to you, too. I have a dear friend who wants to attend the next B&L and I may just have to join her!
[...] The workshop is a day-long program run by Nancy Ray and Caroline Joy. I have to commend both of these women for their attention to detail (something that is very important to me!). From the moment I walked into the workshop venue, I felt welcome. Caroline’s husband, Aaron, greeted a fellow attendee and I immediately, and we were guided upstairs to what might have been the most adorable room I’ve ever seen in my life. There was a breakfast spread and goodie bags on each chair. During breakfast, we were all given a chance to acquaint ourselves with one another and settle in our seats. I wasn’t able to take pictures (I wanted to focus on meeting the other women), but both Nancy and Caroline blogged images here and here. [...]