Katelyn James Workshop

Can I just be honest with y’all for a minute? This blog post has been weighing heavy on me since Wednesday morning on my 6:20am flight back to Atlanta. I went to bed around midnight the night before because – well anytime Katelyn James wants to allow me to just casually hang out at her beautiful home with her adorable dog and freely give me loads of information and advice – I’m going to be there. Sleep is suddenly not important. And I LOVE my sleep!! I got about 4 hours of sleep and was set on passing out on the plane – I’m talkin’ mouth opened wide passed out. I even had a whole row to myself 😉 HOWEVER, I couldn’t sleep for nothing. My mind was racing with ideas, things I wanted to implement into my business, my branding and new logo and THIS blog. I had to blog about the amazing experience I just had… but I also had to go into my part-time job as soon as I got back, bummer. I got home around 5:30 that evening and being my OCD self – I frantically started to do laundry and unpack. I can’t stand feeling unorganized. I was exhausted to say the least and bedtime came quickly.

I also had to work Thursday and Friday. This part-time job is to help us in my transition to full time photography (a little extra cash flow never hurt) but some days it is A LOT. I get stressed, discouraged and sometimes I want to do nothing but photography work (especially when I’m full of new ideas!). Katelyn emphasized the importance of her schedule and how it keeps her on track, she has to meet her deadlines not only for herself but also for her clients.  This is huge for any business and a great reminder for me as I juggle multiple tasks – a wife, a photographer, a payroll assistant and full time dreamer ;). From now on I will have a set day for my blogs – FRIDAY!! These posts will vary from weddings, engagement sessions or just a surprise topic! There could be two posts a week but since I am trying to commit to this whole blogging thing – let’s start with once a week. I’m not much of a writer but I’m tryin’ so bare with me!

Katelyn James Workshop Bichpoo

Starting with today, my blog about The Workshop Experience with Katelyn James – the best choice I’ve made in my photography career. Why you ask? For SO MANY reasons!!

How did I know Katelyn? Well, I didn’t but I sure felt like I did. I have followed her blog for a couple of years. I instantly fell in love with her as a person and also her beautiful work. Her faith, her dog (Bokeh), her decorating – she was a celebrity in my mind – Mitchell told me before I left, “Amber please don’t be star stuck and freak out in front of her!” He was just trying to protect me from embarrassing myself, which I do often! Well, when I met Katelyn… I was star stuck (guilty). But I contained myself & suddenly became shy. After my butterflies went away 😉 I quickly learned that Katelyn is a normal girl, just like me. She is the sweetest and by the end of the workshop I felt like I could tell her anything business or personal and she would just listen. This is exactly how she treats her business… it’s about the EXPERIENCE not the transaction. Her brides are her friends not her clients.

Katelyn shared more information at this workshop than I could have ever dreamed of. She doesn’t hold back. She opened up her home, her business and her life to us. She shared all of her business practices, her editing style, her struggles in the business & how she grew from them and answered any question we had. I love that she wants to HELP us, like genuinely wants us to thrive in this industry. She shared meals with us, laughed with us, and she shared her FAITH with us openly and freely. She is proud of what she believes and she wants everyone to know it. Katelyn said that she is where she is and she was able to take risks because of her FAITH. She said if she lost her business it would be ok because,

“My identity is not in my job”

I have a passion for photography but that passion will never fully satisfy me. Nothing on this earth will fully satisfy me. I desire something greater because I was created for something greater. When Katelyn opened up to us my love for her grew tenfold. I will forever follow her work and her blog. She is a great role model, not just for photographers but also young women.

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Not only was this workshop more than I could ever expect, it was full of surprises!! TWO big surprises! During our styled shoot, the couple got engaged! It was soooo sweet, he got down on one knee in his tux and she was crying in her beautiful wedding dress – talk about adorable!! ENGAGED in a wedding dress, custom designed wedding dress! And THEN – Tuesday night we’re all around the table eating some delicious tacos (thanks Michael!) and walks in a young man – I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to know him – I thought he might have been a surprise speaker? HA! Turns out, he was there to get down on one knee to his girlfriend, Lyndsey. She said YES!! I LOVE love!!

I am so blessed to have shared two days learning from Katelyn. I took away so much more than photography tips. I gained friendships that will last forever. Friends I can lean on in this industry when times are hard, friends that I can share accomplishments with and struggles with. And for that, I am thankful. I am encouraged. I am EXCITED. I am ready to do this!! I am pursuing my dream of full time photography and Katelyn reminded me that anything is possible. She pushed me to keep following my dreams. She has faith in everyone that attends her workshop and she wants nothing more than to watch us grow in this industry. My head is full of new knowledge and tips and I am eager to implement them all. So expect great changes to Amber Hatley Photography for 2015. It’s going to be a huge year for my business!!

Katelyn ended her workshop by displaying a photo from her wedding day of her and her Dad during their father daughter dance. She said this was her favorite photo of her Dad because of the moment and how she felt during that moment. That photo will allow that memory to last a lifetime!! This made me emotional for many reasons. One being that I deeply miss my Dad and I wish we were able to have a father daughter dance together. Two being that she is more than right. The last photos I have of my Dad are special to me – not because of the photo – but because of the memories we shared together in those photos. Those photos are what I have left. I can look to those photos and remember his cheesy jokes, his joyful spirit, and his complete adoration for me and mine for him. My Dad was the most amazing man, husband and father – He was a huge influence on my life, he is why I am who I am today and I want to share that with my children one day. The photos I have of him are how I will do that. This business of mine, it’s about so much more than photography. It’s about capturing real moments, moments that will last a lifetime and I want my clients to feel those moments through my photography!

 “Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.” – Marc Riboud

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