DREAM BIG, SPARKLE MORE, SHINE BRIGHTER WORKSHOP | Clarksville, TN

One of the things that I’m thankful for the most in this industry is the photography friends that I have made along the way.  It has always been my goal to help others succeed in this business and now I am teaming up with some of the BEST in the field to bring you a workshop like no other. dream

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

YES!  Here it is!  A workshop that will focus on every genre.  Weddings, newborns, children, family and seniors.  I have hand picked these amazing talents to join me in Nashville for 3 full days (and one amazing opening night dinner) of teaching, sharing, shooting (in small groups, you will have the chance to shoot with each one of us) laughing, crying (yep, we might just get raw and the tears will flow) all for YOU!  Nothing will be held back, we are all open books and are ready and willing to share with you!

So, we want YOU to join us!  I can promise you that this week in Nashville will change your business for good.  You will leave inspired, renewed, and with a ton of new friends.  Still not convinced?  Well, let me introduce these ladies to you.

Meet Sarah Cornish (My four Hens Photography)

 

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My Story:   I have loved Photography ever since I can remember. When I was ten I remember asking for a Polaroid Camera for my birthday. At fifteen I got to road trip and backpack across the US from CT to CA with my awesome film photographer aunt and take it all in. I dreamed of getting back to that for a long time. It has always been a huge interest, but getting married and having children at a young age, we didn’t have the means to support that fancy for years. The truth is we barely survived. We lived paycheck to paycheck. We were happy, but boy things were tight.

One year, when our son Noah was just born my husband surprised me with a DSLR when we received an income tax refund. I didn’t put that camera down from there. Every opportunity I had, I read tutorials online and watched videos on YouTube. I put my camera on manual and didn’t look back. As the economy tanked a few years later, and after having our daughter Sophia (our fourth child), I knew I had to do something to help my husband supplement our income. We were drowning. I was tempted to sell my camera, but I had been a hobbyist for years at this point and figured in a last ditch effort I would put myself out there. The response was amazing, and I haven’t gone back since. It has been nearly a decade since I truly lost myself to photography. It has been the biggest blessing imaginable. I now not only have countless beautiful images of our children, but I am able to help support our family. I am a true believer that dreams are meant to come true, if you work for it and you really want it.

Meet Courtney Weittenhiller (Blue Dandelion Photography)

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My Story:   I started with film photography in college (while getting my BSN degree) and it quickly was a hobby that got out of control. I can’t tell you how many thousands of rolls of film I went through in the early days, but I have boxes and boxes of photographs that are near and dear to my heart. I shoot both digital and film these days but my D800 is my favorite go to camera. Weddings and newborns are my specialties and I love them both for different reasons! I shoot alongside my husband and I’m so blessed to be able to share this career with him. We have four beautiful kiddos who add a sweet chaos to our lives, but I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

Meet Tiffany Bender (Munchkins and Mohawks Photography)

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My Story:   I have always taken pictures- and lots of them! I think it came from my mom. No, I KNOW it came from my mom. Back in the days of film she would have boxes and boxes of images all over our house. I could piece a decent part of my life together with just those images, actually you would probably feel like you lived my life just from those pictures. So, I guess history repeats itself.

With the birth of my son the obsession began. I took thousands of pictures his first year- I have even filled two computers with those shots. With the birth of our second child it only became more pronounced. Not only did I want to capture the moments, I wanted to do it beautifully. That is where it began. I have shot and shot and shot some more until I could replicate what was in my head.

I dream about photography. It has not only become my career, but my love, and my passion. In fact- I think about photography more than I probably should! I LOVE what I do and I feel so blessed that I have the opportunity to life this life.

Meet Julie Paisley (Julie Paisley Photography)

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My Story:  I never ever intended to be a photographer, much less a wedding photographer!  But, fast forward 5 years and here I am.  Since I was practically “thrown” into this business, I made a TON of mistakes, in fact, 2 years into the business I had to back up and almost start over because I didn’t lay the correct foundation.  I vowed right then and there that I would devote half my business to teaching and educating others (I have a degree in education, so teaching will always be my first love) and over the past 2 years I have had the privilege of teaching others all over the world.

I am obsessed with love and I strive to show the REAL you in the photographs I take.  My style can be described as dreamy, romantic and real and I specialize in relationships.  You see, when you connect with others, it shows in the images.  That my friend is my goal.

and.... me, Spanki Mills (Spanki Mills Photography)

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My story: Years ago before my youngest child was even thought of, my husband and I sat down and talked about the possibility of me becoming a photographer. But, with three children already we decided against a job that seemed to be primarily evenings and weekends.

Fast forward a few years… now my youngest was 3 and I was a stay at home mom just capturing the everyday moments of our lives and blogging them and it was then when the photography business found me.

It was no time before the small town I lived in got word that I was “good” at taking pictures and like many of you, before I knew it I was a full time photographer but I was NOT running my business. I was drowning, my family was suffering and I was becoming miserable. At that moment  I decided it was time for a reset and I needed to take control over doing something I loved.

Four years later here I am. Finding a work and home life balance and loving what I do again.  I specialize in seniors and families and inspiring others.

 

So, I hope we have convinced you to come to Nashville in October and join us for this amazing workshop!  We are already brainstorming and planning, we want it to be great, no, we want it to be AWESOME!:)

Ready to sign up? CLICK HERE Don't wait...we are almost HALF FULL in the first hour of registration!

We can’t wait to meet the 50 of you who join us in Nashville!!!

SPANK.stagrams | Galveston, TX workshop

SpankiMills_0961 Image credit: Gretchen Blair

Another workshop weekend has come and gone. I am left with the "Workshop Mondays" ...the day I unwind from a fast and furious week of planning and organizing and a weekend full of FUN. Mondays are bittersweet. It is the day I get to relax and spend time with my family...but it is also a day I am left missing the new friendships I have made. It is a day I am reflecting on the weekend, that moment each person walked through the door with a mixture fear, excitement, doubt, insecurity and hope on their face. We hug hello and introduce ourselves.... but by the time we all part ways we hold on to those hugs a little longer. This weekend we shared our hearts and we opened our souls to one another. We are now forever a part of each others journey.

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1. Hello papa.papa-razzi ...

2. some call it posing in the sun, others call it warming up.

3. The view out of the BED from our house. I will miss the crashing waves putting me to sleep each night.

4. My generous workshop host Rosie whom I mentored 2 years ago!

5. Ann. THIS is who I want to be when I grow up. LOVE HER!

6. Just taking some time to soak it all in on the beach.

7. Thank goodness for my awesome friend Shane AKA the STUD model!

8. Ashby doing what interns do, holding the camera and taking BTS iPhone shots!

9. Angela was a Simply Spanki girl turned in person workshop girl! so glad to finally meet her in person!

10. Layla taking a moment to capture the true beauty of our location.

11. Every morning we would all stand at the windows taking pics of the view!

12. Fun times with Gretchen at the shootout!

13. Laura sacrificed herself and the warmth to be our posing model.

14. Jen rocking out the light and the stud boy model...

15. Lacey enjoying time by the waters edge.

16. SHOOTING!

17. if you look close you can see our little dolphin friends who joined us for coffee.

18. It wasn't cold and windy...not at all! ;)

19. yes, we had a SELFIE portion to the workshop at the attendees request! They should all be professionals now.

20. Amy and Tisha, these ladies are a blast!

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Image credit: Tisha Rackley

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Image credit: Amy Jones  ...and love this image. sums up the weekend filled with reflection and dreaming.