My first ‘Anything Goes’ social was held this past weekend and can I just say — IT WAS AMAZING! I had such high hopes for this new type of mentoring workshop for photographers and it really surpassed any kind of ‘hope’ I had for it! Four very sweet photographers showed up to my home on Saturday!  Everyone introduced themselves, discussed what we specialize in, what everyone needs help with, and had some miscellaneous chit chat! Once I knew we were all comfortable with each other, we went to the lake behind my house and each girl got new head shots for their growing business! :) These girls were amazing in front of the camera too — fun, silly, all around beauties (on the inside and the outside)! While I was shooting their head shots, each girl got a chance to shoot as well so they could ask camera based questions, settings, etc.

We all went inside after about an hour of shoot time, and ate some yummy lasagna that was hanging out in the oven for a while! We stuffed our faces while having casual conversation and it suddenly just felt like a little family :) We all have the same passion, the same goals in mind, and we’re all so in love with our jobs! Hanging out with other photographers will always make my heart happy!

After dinner I plugged my computer into my TV so all the girls could see Lightroom on my TV screen! I showed them some tips and tricks in Lightroom and seriously ya’ll — watching the ‘lightbulb’ come on for some of these girls and their excitement for something new they never knew existed was amazing! It truly makes my heart happy to help others this way!

We had a small break to stop and eat dessert (Allison brought homemade pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing and I bought Harris Teeter pumpkin spice cookies — we had the same idea except hers was way better LOL). We all had a sugar rush and went back to editing, followed by a Q+A portion. We went way over our time but I loved every extra minute of it!

I’m seriously SO grateful to each and every one of you that trusts me to help you achieve your goals in photography and to become a successful photographer. I was once new, I know how it is. I know what it felt like to have the sting of each seasoned photographer tell me “no” when I needed/wanted their help. I know each girl in my living room IS a successful photographer and will continue to be just that. I’m excited to see where this journey takes you all and even more excited to have you a part of mine :) Love you all, can’t wait for round 2! XOXO!

Now check out these babes!!!

Next two ‘behind the scenes’  images taken by Sarah Nolen with Turnaround Photography

Ignore the iPhone quality on this last one, ya’ll! You know I had to get in the picture SOMEhow! A kid on the playground took this ;-)