My story: I started my wedding photography business six months ago and it is growing far beyond anything I had imagined– now I am running at an all out sprint to keep up. My plan was to work at my full time job and shoot an occasional wedding or two for the joy of it and use the extra income for travel or photography equipment. In actuality though, I have been getting constant contacts to cover weddings, to the point of this income rivaling that of my full time job (don’t be too impressed I make very little at my FT, lol). I have invested every penny back into my business creating a website (www.lisarhinehartphotography.com), upgrading to top of the line photography equipment, getting quality insurance and a solid contract, etc. What I’m lacking is a brand– a concept of who I am as a photographer, a feeling for where I’m going and an ability to channel all of this energy so that it is streamlined in a sustainable direction. I also need fellowship. I like the idea of hard questions, accountability and connecting with others who love people, think creatively and support each other. I believe that MTH2010 would take my career to another level and help me to make some of the big decisions that I will be facing in the upcoming months. Thank you for taking the time to read this, may all the attendees grow, prosper and be blessed by MTH!

gosh it wasn’t so bad to write and to let it all out! it feels great. just writing what i want to change i can already feel a paradigm shift.

thank you for taking your time and for this opportunity. i will not let you down.

to our success,
lucia

my passion for design has grown through out my life, but my business story starts about two years ago…after years of designing invitations for family and friends, i had been tossing around the idea of going for it and starting a custom invitation business…besides design, i love to mentor and help others figure things out and share my experiences so i had also been looking into getting a masters degree as i am also VERY interested in teaching. so, i went back to school and got an MA in graphic design and immediately after completing, i (officially) started my custom invitation business. i say “officially” because the fall before that, i had so wanted to put a stake in the ground and say “i am doing this”. but of course, that was just when i started back at school. i mean would like to think i can juggle a lot, but didn’t want to jepordize my degree or my business if i by chance couldn’t make both work. so. i bought my domain name, designed my logo and a quick site with a few samples and let those things be my stake in the ground, committing me to do this and start my business while i finished my degree and started a small buzz about my business. the second i finished my degree, i hit the ground running trying out all sorts of ways to get my name out there. i joined etsy (which is great) and a slew of wedding websites where i could list my business, i got my biz papers in order and got some wholesale accounts set up at my favorite vendors. my efforts began to work a few months in and inquires turned eventual orders began to trickle in. i have never been so excited as when i got my first order that was completely unconnected to me or any friends of friends. and a year later, and i still get excited with each new inquiry i receive. and it probably sounds crazy, but i actually LOVE packaging and shipping orders— the sense of completion and accomplishment i get from finishing an order. :)

i have learned a TON over the past year of officially launching my business, but the biggest thing is that i have found that though design is my passion, i am not fulfilled in my day job and upon beginning to design invitations, even just for friends and family, i found that it was this that was fulfilling.

after all of the things i learned in the past year i am so excited for 2010 and have a million and one things i want to make happen this year — starting new product lines, redoing my site and refreshing my brand, new packaging, purchasing equipment, getting my designs into magazines, create a dedicated studio space, go to more conferences…i could go on and on! but perhaps the biggest thing is that i would LOVE to be able to do my invitations full time. i would love to accomplish all of these things and more this year, and maybe i can! but i think attending this intensive would really help to bring it all into focus for me, prioritize my goals, and get real with what is actually possible to accomplish.

i would love to attend in chicago, but would also be interested in NYC, or vegas as well.
i have heard nothing but amazing things about this intensive and would love to attend to experience for myself and my business all of the wonderful things i have heard!

thanks so much for the opportunity!