The Fount Workshop Review

Last week, I spent 3 days with an incredible team of artists at the beautiful Serenbe, right outside of Atlanta, being inspired, catered to, and coached. The Fount Workshop was a photographer's dream getaway (honestly, Tiffany Farley confessed it was based on her idea of a dream workshop) and I am so very glad I made the investment to attend. 

Fifteen other motherhood photographers and I spent our time together observing while professional stylists and photographers collaborated to bring their visions to life. Between each of the five separate styled shoots, we also had the opportunity to learn that business money management isn't so bad from the very knowledgable (and sought-after) Shanna Skidmore. In addition, we gained valuable insight into the creative process of photographers as artists. This workshop leaned more towards relaxation, inspiration and encouragement to consider yourself an artisan versus equipping and training on the business and marketing side of things. Athlough, there truly was a bit of everything thrown in. I knew ahead of time that this workshop would be different. And in my case, different was oh-so-very good.

It is easy to lose a bit of your artist self when you have to approach your work from a business standpoint. Balancing numbers and customer service is a quick way to help you forget why you started doing this work in the first place. The Fount Workshop took me back to the heart of why I do what I do. The team embraced the differences of each attendee and encouraged us to continue being true to our own voice. They shared practical tools we can use to bring us back to the heartbeat of our work again and again. 

Some of my biggest takeaways were: 

• Rest is best... sometimes you have to take a step back and regroup in order to continue producing your best work.
• I'll be painting my studio walls white... not grey. 
• I'm going to beg my husband to let me also stain my studio floors white (ha!).
• Journaling is truly all it is cracked up to be.
• Client experience really does go a long way... (not that I ever doubted)... and I will be adding even more elements to the experience I offer my clients in the very near future.
• More session styling also coming to the Liz Cook Photography studio in the very near future.
• I've also already purchased a few more pieces for my client wardrobe as well.

Below are some of my favorite behind the scenes images from our time together. In the coming days I will be sharing images from each of the styled shoots we worked on. And also... this blog is coming back to life! :)

Doesn't it look heavenly? It really was. If you are looking for a workshop that will renew your artisan spirit, encourage you to keep being true to yourself, and equip you to reach your goals, I highly recommend The Fount Workshop. Tiffany, Rylee and Abany are skilled in their crafts and are passionate about encouraging other artists to find their why. This was the perfect blend of a momtog getaway and an inspiring retreat, with sprinkles of business wisdom on top. :) 

I am so grateful I made the investment to attend... and I totally plan to attend again in the future!

Liz is a wedding, family and birth photographer in Central Virginia. She loves to photograph fun and easygoing couples in love as well as emotional and discreet birth stories and just about anything in-between.

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Why Should You Be On Periscope?

This blog post is written specifically for my birth photographer colleagues. So if you are a client or a friend, consider yourself relieved from reading it! :) 

I'm a little bit obsessed with Periscope at the moment. It is a newer social media platform that's changing the world of social media. In a culture of immediacy, the live broadcasting service is quite frankly unbeatable. 

My colleague, Amanda Ditzel from Raleigh Birth Photography, is hosting a Birth Photography Periscope Challenge starting this Monday, March 7th. There are over 60 registered birth workers (you don't have to be a birth photographer to participate!) and it is a wonderful opportunity to practice on periscope with a community there to support you!

I know a lot of people are thinking "I don't need ANOTHER platform to manage," or "How is this even beneficial for my business?" I wanted to take a minute to address a few hesitations because, not only do I really believe Periscope is an incredible platform that every business owner can use, but having a challenge to participate in makes everything seem a bit less intimidating! My hope is that at the end of this blog post, you will be convinced to sign up for the challenge and join us on Periscope!

Why Should My Business Be On Persicope?

1. Connect with your clients face-to-face and build relationships. Periscope is THE fastest way to build the "Know, Like and Trust" factor! When you literally show up in your client's living room in REAL time and you talk directly to them, you are building TRUST. When people like you and trust you, they will invest in you and your business. It is honestly unbelievable how EASY and SEAMLESS this process is through Periscope. (It almost feels too good to be true, guys!)
2. Set yourself as an expert in your field. Using Periscope to share information and "teach" your clients is a wonderful way to set yourself as a leader and expert in your field (and community) without actually organizing an event and standing in front of 30+ people to teach. Less effort, equal benefits! Again - people invest into businesses they TRUST.
3. Build your tribe. Let me say it again. When people like you and trust you, they will invest in you and your business. But who has time to sit down and build an individual relationship with so many people? We have enough on our plates as mothers, wives, aunts, friends, and business owners! Periscope offers us the opportunity to meet with many people at once and investing in them and their interests in an easy way. This helps build your tribe and your tribe are the people who will always support you. 
4. Create enticement and anticipation by showing your products and services in real time. Imagine with me an "unboxing" periscope:
   1. You receive a box from UPS.
   2. Log into Periscope and begin a 'scope titled "Unboxing an album! Sneak peek before I deliver to my client!"
   3. Say "hello!"
   4. Set your phone on a tripod and open the box. Ooh and Ahh... with great enthusiasm, show your clients the quality of your product. Tell them the story behind the pictures and the family/clients you are delivering it to. Add romanticism. 
   5. Before you know it, you have an inquiry in your inbox that reads "I saw you on Periscope and I LOVE the album you showed! I'm interested in hearing more about what your studio offers!"
   6. Send me a virtual high-five, because, friend, IT IS THAT EASY.
5. Show behind-the-scenes of your work. You'd be surprise how much people want to know how all the magic happens! Use Periscope as an exclusive platform to only show "Behind the Scenes" clips of your business and your life. People feel more connected to you when they are getting exclusive peeks into your world... and... you got it, they will invest in YOUR products and services when the time comes for them to make that decision.

Are you getting the jist, guys? Periscope is incredible... it is truly changing the scene of social media!! I hope these quick bullet points will help give you the push to hit that Broadcast button! Or at the VERY least, download the app and watch some scopes! You will learn SO much!

If you are scared to do try your first broadcast (Who isn't?! It's SO intimidating!), I'd love if you would download this Free Periscope How-To Guide! It's 5 pages of information I've gathered to help you get on your feet in the periscope world!

And lastly, if you are a birth photographer and you haven't already signed up for the Birth Photography Periscope Challenge, what are you waiting for?!

So the question is... Will I be seeing YOU on Periscope next week?! Leave your username in the comments and I'll be sure to follow you!

A Periscope Series #birthFAQscope

For the last couple of weeks I have been experimenting with and researching about the new-ish social media platform, Periscope. Periscope is Twitter's live video broadcasting app. If I'm being candid... it's basically like everyone was just given their own TV show and platform to use as they wish... for free. Some people ROCK it... some do not. In the meantime, I am trying to learn how I can use it as a tool in my business. 

I would have bet a million dollars back in college that I would NEVER be a public speaker. I actually won the "most improved" award in my college Speech 101 class because I was HORRID the first time I stood up in front of my class. And I think by the end I was... not so horrid. Hah! Honestly, who is honored to receive a Most Improved reward? That just confirmed that I was actually as terrible the first time around as I had thought. Hah!

Anyway... so it's been an interesting few weeks exploring this app and basically putting on my own live broadcasts. But the app has really grown on me and I've enjoyed getting to know people better and share information with others. What I love the most about the app is that there is a constant influx of information... I learn SO much from the other broadcasters! About everything from homeschooling to cooking, to social media marketing strategies and where to buy sparkly pink backdrops (which we all know won't be happening... so yeah sure, some of the info is useless ;)).

All that to say... I have officially started 'scoping daily, and this week I am starting my very first Periscope Series! I've been too afraid to invite you all to watch my 'scopes - but this ENTIRE experience has been about pushing past my fears (like going live with NO make-up on. That seriously happened...!) and taking the leap! And honestly... that's kind of how the entire last year has been. And I have loved it. 

So - if you are a birth photographer or if you are interested in what my life looks like while running a birth photography business and raising girls... or if you just want to see me make ridiculous faces and stumble over my words... come follow me! I'll be scoping twice every day this week! :)