A big thank you to Sara, one of our Seattle attendees for taking time out to share her experience with us.

Where were you in your photography journey when you decided to attend Launch?

When I happened upon a link to the LAUNCH workshop, I was a gal who loved taking photographs.  I also possessed a nagging curiosity about what it might be like to become a professional one day.

Where are you now?

I am a gal who loves taking photographs who also knows just what it would take to become a professional.  Not only that, but attending the LAUNCH workshop gave me a new found respect for how important it is to take my time, be patient while I continue to learn, and not ‘go pro’ too soon.

There are a lot of workshops out there, what attracted you to this one?

I LOVE natural light photography.  That was a big selling point for me because this workshop seemed to focus on that alone.  I also really appreciated the level of detail about the business of being a professional photographer.  Stacy shared nuggets of wisdom that would have taken me years to discover on my own.

What was the number one thing you took away from the weekend?

That’s a tough one.  I took so much away from this workshop that it’s hard to pick just one thing.  (I could have stayed another week!)  I think that the number one message that stuck with me is that practice practice practice is critical to improving.  That, and you can do irreparable harm to your career as a pro photographer if you take your show on the road too soon.

How has your business grown as a result of attending Launch?

Since I was a true beginner when I attended the workshop, I would say that the workshop absolutely has impacted my plans for embarking on this professional photography adventure.  I will spend a lot more time improving my skills, developing a portfolio, gaining experience, and networking with the awesome ladies that I met at the workshop before I ever ‘start a business’.  I am eternally grateful to Stacy for sharing her lessons learned with me so that I may avoid making the same mistakes.

Do you think that coming to the workshop helped you avoid any mistakes, for example do you find you were headed in a different direction?

Did it ever!!!  All I can say is that ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ and that just about sums up the way I feel about most everything that I learned.  Seriously, I feel so well informed and prepared to start a business, build a client base, and conduct myself as a professional photographer after spending the weekend at LAUNCH.

Where would you like to see yourself one year from now?  How about five?

A year from now I hope to have developed my technical skills to a level that I am confident with, as well as begun to build a client base, hosted some ‘casting calls’, created a portfolio, and upgraded from the trusty Canon Rebel that has brought me thus far.    Five years from now I hope to be a well established part-time photographer.  I have a career that I love, so I never intend to make photography my sole source of income.  But I do hope to have established a successful business and respectable reputation as a professional photographer.

And now, tell us a little bit about yourself.  Married?  Kiddos?

Married to the most loving, considerate, driven, respectful, and handsome man I know.  I lucked out big time!  We have a sweet 7 month old boy who by now must believe that mommy was born with that camera attached to her face.  He gives me endless photo opportunities.  Parenthood rocks!

Favorite guilty pleasure?

Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches!  Yummo!

If you could go anywhere and do anything tomorrow, where would you go and who would you take?

I’d take my family to Ireland.

If you could have a super hero power what would it be?

I’d love to be able to pause time, and then scramble around and get everything done, and then unpause time so that I can get caught up on things.  That would be a pretty neat trick.