Lighting Another Candle | Teaching at ‘Envision’

In less than a week, I’ll be attending my Five-Year High School Reunion… Crazy, right? It’s funny to think that this gathering marks over half a decade of my life that I’ve spent building my full time photography business and pursuing my dream of being a small business owner.

After graduating from high school, I knew that I wanted to be a photographer – but I wasn’t sure exactly where to start. I am a firm believer that education is one of the most important aspects to building a strong foundation in any professional field. Whether this education is in the form of a university, technical photography school, or in learning hands on by practice and reading – different methods work best for different types of people.

I started as someone who was entirely self taught. And throughout my last year of high school, I devoured any book, blog, or magazine article that I read on the topic of photography. It was this obsessive hunger for knowledge that led me to the University of Pennsylvania where I furthered my education in one of the strongest Visual Studies programs in the country. At Penn, I was fortunate enough to study photography in addition to psychology, optics, philosophy, as well as cognitive and visual neuroscience.

So yes, by all respective measures – I am eternally wandering the intersection of book nerd and passionate artist. My left brain and right brain are in a constant tug of war… And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Photography has allowed me to do things I never thought were possible. I have photographed for inspiring companies like Lilly Pulitzer and sponsored shoots for Target on the Glitter Guide. Documented love stories along the Chesapeake, in the Caribbean, and beyond. Seen my images published in magazines and on blogs, shared by couples in love and framed for families to cherish. I worked hard, improved, and worked even harder in the pursuit of building a business that will one day be my legacy.

And when the conversation about teaching arose a few weeks ago among a group of young women that I both admire and respect – I felt ready for the first time in my entire career to say ‘yes’. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle (or so the saying goes) – Which is why I am so incredibly excited today to announce the first workshop that I have ever been a part of.

Today we are announcing Envision. Six photographers with different backgrounds and styles. Ready to get down to business and share the nitty-gritty of how we make our businesses succeed, while bonding in a little beach house by the sea. All of the hosts bring something truly unique and valuable to the table (including the Editorial Expertise of the wedding bloggers behind, Bayside Bride and Charm City Wed).

I can’t wait to spend three days at the beach this autumn, teaching about all things photographic.

More Details + Signups for Envision Open one week from today! I hope you join us!