Happy Monday, friends! If you’ve been following us on Instagram at all, you know that I (Caitlin) was out of the state last week for an INCREDIBLE week at the Trio Workshop in Dallas, Texas! And y’all… I cannot even start to explain how amazing that week was for me and for the future growth of our business! I shared a ton of what I was up to over on my Instagram and my Instagram story, but I wanted to give you guys a little recap right here on the blog today! BUT, I wanted to do this in a way that would be most helpful and impactful for you, so let’s break this all down into a few bullet points (my fave ????)!
After investing in my second workshop ever, here are my two cents on why you should invest in education via a workshop, along with a few fun iPhone snaps from my week in Dallas!
Table of Contents
workshops foster community
First things first, guys! Community MATTERS. As a photographer, I’m guessing you’ve probably sensed that oddly bitter, competitive spirit that can sometimes be present in this industry! You guys, it’s the worst! And the only way that it’s ever going to change is through valuing community more than the competition in the photography industry. At the Trio Workshop, I was assigned three amazing roommates who literally shaped my entire week. Ashlen, Alex, and Jessica were the best roommates I could’ve asked for, and I left Trio feeling like I had three new best friends that I’d known for my whole life! Not only that, but there were multiple other amazing women at the workshop who I got to know and learn from. Lastly, our incredible leaders Shannon, Claire, and Ashley poured into us more than we could’ve ever asked for. To me, the biggest benefit of investing in education through a workshop is most certainly community. It’s the best!
inspiration is necessary
Have you ever found yourself in a creative rut in your business, your shooting style, or even your physical location? We definitely have! A workshop is an incredible kick-start for your creativity, and this is especially helpful during the off-season. While I was at Trio, we had the privilege of traveling to the incredible White Sparrow Barn in Quinlan, Texas to shoot for two full days. Do we have a venue like this in Illinois? Heck no! (I wish… ha!) Shooting in a brand new state with incredibly planned florals and details and a stunning venue provided the perfect creative spark to propel us into 2017. Plus, as a workshop attendee, you have the opportunity to create so many new images for your portfolio… and maybe get a new headshot or two ????
your clients deserve YOUR growth
What do I mean by this? You should be a better photographer on your clients’ wedding day than you were on the day they booked you. Luke and I believe that this is literally our responsibility as photographers, and one of the ways we strive to serve our brides and our grooms is by always learning and growing for them. Trio taught me so much about how to be both a better photographer and a better business owner, and the main reason I’m so pumped for Luke and I to implement these things is the fact that what I learned will help us serve our couples even better in 2017 and beyond. Our couples deserve nothing less than the best we have to offer, and the education I got at Trio grew “our best” to another level.
education keeps you humble
Ohh, friends. I had one or two moments at Trio where I just wanted to crawl under a rock because I was so embarrassed that I didn’t know something. Just keeping it completely real with you! And you know what? As hard as that part of the experience was, I’m glad that what I learned from other attendees and our leaders humbled me. Being that humbled means what I learned equals BIG and healthy changes for us. “Work hard & stay humble” is a motto we try to live by, and while that whole staying humble part might sting at first, it’s completely worth it in the long run. Don’t we all need a little pride check every now and then?!
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When I got home from Trio, Luke and I took part of an afternoon to sit at one of our favorite parks with my laptop and talk through everything I learned. (We may or may not have stopped for Dunkin Donuts happy hour, too!) You guys, we already cannot WAIT for our year and for how our business is going to positively change as a result of my experience at Trio! If you’ve been tossing around the idea of investing in education, particularly through a workshop, I just want to encourage you to go for it. It’s expensive, it’s a time investment, and yes… it’s quite humbling. But growth requires sacrifice, and growth is a good thing in the long run!
