Only a handful of people have known what I have been up to for the last handful of months, and now everyone knows!
Since the first week in January I have been meeting with a team of people, doing marketing research, developing excel spreadsheets and crazy matrixes, drawing up legal documents, consulting with expert business and legal professionals in the community, doing web design, troubleshooting microsoft word issues, locating space, researching vendors, meeting with guest speakers, creating contracts for them, researching lodging and transportation, and oh, about a million other things that go into planning a workshop.
It has been such a massive amount of work and has become such a large part of my daily business life for so long that it feels very strange to have the bulk of the preparatory work now done. Officially as of about 3:45am last night! (Or I guess I should say this morning).
BUT, I am excited. SUPER excited!! Every time I think about it it fills me with an overwhelming sense of joy. I love to teach, and I love to help others, and have always felt frustrated and sad that I can’t give more because my business keeps me so busy. But now I can!
A few of you may remember that last summer I tried my hand at consulting, which was generally by email. I did a phone consult with my clients first, and then sent them an email full of information tailored to them. I stopped doing it because I felt like I wanted to give so much more, and a quick hour long email wasn’t nearly enough. So the workshops were the next best thing (only better!). And really, to give credit where credit is due, it was Ron from North Carolina who contacted me asking to be put on a list should I ever offer workshops that helped me make the final decision. The deal was sealed baybee.
After doing a massive amount of research my team and I came to the conclusion that there aren’t any intensive workshops for location pet photographers, at least, none taught by full time professional pet photographers whose sole income comes from the business of photographing animals. At least, not in the documentary-style that is so popular among pet owners.
I am thrilled to be the first person offering this type of workshop resource, and although I have a lot to learn myself, I feel I have a lot to offer those who are early on in their businesses. Did I mention I was excited?! 
Now, to all of my clients and friends that this special project doesn’t affect, I’m trying to come up with something nice I can do for you, since so many of you have asked me “when do we get to find out the big surprise?!”.
How about a fun open house party at my new studio next month? Yes, that’s right, it looks like I found space, at the one place I had my heart most set on. The place I mentioned on my blog a couple of months ago. I’m still pinching myself and won’t believe it until I move in, but to say I am happy would be a huge understatement. Wait till you guys see this place. It’s uh-may-zing.
OH- and if anyone likes to paint walls let me know! I may need a helper or two to paint my office in the new studio (Christina’s got that yoga thing). Sometime this month, whenever, I’m flexible. I’ll bring the drinks and pizza, you bring the scrubs!
So many changes, and all oh so good. To those of you who follow my little business, I can’t express enough how much your support means to me. I feel humbled every day at how many really wonderful, loving people are out there, and feel so lucky to be a part of such a great community online and off. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel deeply grateful for everything I have- and you my dear blog readers never cease to bring me joy, as I hope I do for you.
Hope you are all having a great weekend!
After hundreds of hours sitting in front of the computer lately, I am off tonight for dinner + the Sex in the City movie downtown with my sis! Can’t wait to relax. I need a vacation.
