In April, I got an email from one of my favorite photographers Amanda Hedgepeth saying that her workshop, the Salt Air Motherhood Experience, was opening seats once again for September in the Outer Banks. I read the description of the event and all of the amazing things we’d be learning about and I was hooked. I mean, hook line and sinker, seriously. I sat staring at the screen paralyzed though. The workshop was meant for mothers. I’m not a mother. Although I hope to be one day. I fretted a little, immediately texted my mom and Ryan about the workshop (who both said, if you can afford it, why wouldn’t you go?) and I cried, submitting my information. I quickly sent the amazing Amanda an email to confirm my sign up went through and double checked that she wouldn’t mind if I came, childless. That sweet sunshine filled lady told me OF COURSE!
I waited anxiously for September to get here. Danielle had graciously agreed to come down to the Outer Banks with me so I wasn’t alone since Ryan couldn’t take off work and we left Saturday, taking our time traveling down to the salt air we both love. That night, I wound up doing a photoshoot with Danielle instead of attending the welcome dinner. Because, again, Amanda was so wonderful and understood I didn’t get to shoot in the sand and salt often enough.
And then our workshop began! I left Monday morning and headed to Rooster’s Southern Kitchen where our education portion took place. Amanda talked to us about her own business and all the wonderful reasons she’s loving being a business owner. We talked about how to make our businesses run a bit smoother so we could enjoy our families and our lives while also enjoying the business we worked so hard to build. Here, I met the other attendees – all of these women are amazing business owners and it turned out there were a few like me who weren’t moms yet. I felt so relieved! We had a great day learning from each other before heading to the Yellow Submarine for pizza. Okay, if you go to the OBX and haven’t eaten here (I was guilty until this trip), GO NOW. It’s SO good. We just laughed + talked and enjoyed our time together there too. I think that was the best part of this workshop – feeling like we were really all rooting for each other! I was so happy that the workshop was filled with tips, programs and time savers I will (and do!) actually use now. Unlike other education that has been filled with plugs for a product or service the educator offers, Amanda seriously just wanted to help us because WE DESERVE MORE LIFE and less stress running our businesses.
Tuesday was the styled shoot over at Jeanette’s Pier. I’ll actually be sharing this separately because the images are just … amazing! I’ve never actually done a styled shoot before this so it was a great chance to exercise my creativity in getting detail shots and then being able to utilize them for my business afterwards. Amanda and the creative team who designed (and executed!) the shoot were seriously geniuses. Everything was perfect! While we were doing the shoot, we got new headshots + spent time learning tips and tricks from each other. Nevermind a big ol’ tropical storm was rolling in… It was a BLAST! (More on this later this week!).
I couldn’t have loved my trip to the OBX to meet Amanda + these other business mommas/ladies anymore than I did. It was an amazing experience from start to finish. I’ve never met someone who is more full of light, love and sunshine and I feel incredibly grateful to know Amanda now and have her in my corner. Opening herself up to us in the middle of everything she had going on at the time was just simply incredible of her. Her transparency, ability to dig deep within her heart to teach us from all the things she learned + not treat any of us like we were less or didn’t deserve what we wanted is simply a gift. I hope that one day I’ll make it back to the salt air to mentor with her – or at least have lunch next time I’m there – because her personality is just too bright to be away from for too long! Amanda, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming me to this event and for making it memorable (and incredibly useful!). Thank you for loving each of us enough to have something like this. I hope to see you again soon!!
xoxo,
Kristina
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