About a year and a half ago, a dream to host a photography marketing workshop began to take root. And, last week, that dream became a reality! 

I’m so excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at the In Focus Marketing Summit—a marketing workshop for photographers I had the pleasure of hosting with Jasmine of Jasmine Norris Photography in Lafayette, Indiana—on the blog!

 

So much happened during this photography marketing workshop!

Jasmine and I decided that the goal of the In Focus Marketing Summit was to provide photographers with the marketing strategies and tactics they needed to get their work in front of their ideal customers and convert them into clients.  

Not wanting to take up too much of attendees’ time, we decided the workshop should include a kick-off night to get to know one another and then two full days of content. 

Day 1

On Thursday, we kicked off the In Focus Marketing Summit at Second Level Studios with s’mores, hot chocolate, and wine. (Big shoutout to Charity Douglas for allowing us to use her studio for the Summit! It was perfect!)

Day 2

On Friday, we had a full day of content and went over ideal client identification, branding, social media, SEO, and getting published. Then, we enjoyed dinner as a group downtown, as well as margaritas at Chumley’s, because it was National Margarita Day!

Day 3

Jasmine and I have both been to workshops where you learn a ton, but because you get busy when you get home, you put implementing what you learned on the back burner. We didn’t want this to be the case with the Summit, because we know that the strategies we went over have the power to help photographers’ businesses really grow.

With this in mind, we asked attendees to bring their laptops on Saturday morning and started the day with a working breakfast. This gave our photographer friends a chance to start implementing what they learned and allowed us to help them with their specific questions (like how to do things on the backend of their websites, submit their sitemaps, use Google AdWords’ Keyword Planner, etc.).

Then, Jasmine and I had the privilege of taking new headshots for each attendee. (In case you’re a photographer looking for a studio in Lafayette, Indiana, Second Level is truly an amazing place to shoot!)

After headshots, it was time for more content! We went over websites, blogging, client experience, and the things Jasmine and I wish we would’ve known when we became photographers.

Now, with the goal of this photography marketing workshop in mind, we had A LOT of content to fit into two days. But, because our attendees were determined and goal-oriented, they stayed focused the entire time! They were incredible!

Are you a photographer interested in attending the next In Focus Marketing Summit? Join the waitlist now!

 

The best part of the In Focus Marketing Summit: being in a room of photographers with big goals.

While Jasmine and I spent months preparing for this photography marketing workshop, the photographers who attended the In Focus Marketing Summit are the real MVPs.

Each and every photographer showed up to the Summit ready to grow and learn. They took notes, asked great questions, helped one another, gave each other feedback, and started implementing what they learned before they even left the studio.

I think it’s safe to say that photographers—or even creatives in general—are naturally driven, determined, passionate (obsessive might be a more accurate word), goal-oriented people. And, because not everyone functions this way, it can be easy—as a photographer—to feel like something is wrong with you or like you don’t have your priorities in order.

I’m by no means saying that being a workaholic is a good thing or that finding your worth in your work is healthy. That’s not it at all. But, it was an incredible thing to spend 72 hours with other photographers who share a passion for both art and business and to be in a room with others who have the same struggles, goals, and desires.

The In Focus Marketing Summit did my soul a lot of good, and I can only hope that attendees feel the same way. While I hope each photographer who attended learned a lot, I also hope that they left the Summit with a support system and community they feel they can count on.

 

A shoutout to all In Focus Marketing Summit attendees!

In case you’re wondering who attended the In Focus Marketing Summit, here’s the list of the 10 photographers Jasmine and I were blessed to hang out with!

• Adison Smith Alward of A Smith Studios
• Chardé Barrett of Chardé Barrett Photography
• Charity Douglas of Sweet Secrets Boudoir and Owner of Second Level Studios
• Emily Bressler of Emily Jayne Photography
• Emma Males of Emma Males Photography
• Heather Corbin of Heather Corbin Photography
• Michaela Blanding of Byrds Eye Photo
• Nate Dale of New Adventures Productions
• Paige Overbeck of Gypsy Soul Images
• Sarah Cadwell of Sarah Elizabeth Photos

We’d love for you to be part of the In Focus Marketing Summit tribe! Join the waitlist to be the first to find out when dates and details for the next Summit are announced!

 

I couldn’t have asked for a better workshop partner than Jasmine.

All of our attendees were amazing and made the Summit more fun than I ever could’ve imagined, but the In Focus Marketing Summit would not have been possible without Jasmine of Jasmine Norris Photography.

I knew I wanted to host a photography marketing workshop, but I also knew that I couldn’t do this alone. So, late last August, I shot Jasmine a message asking if she’d want to partner on this venture. 

If you don’t know Jasmine Norris-Dixson, she’s an incredible wedding photographer also based in Lafayette, Indiana and the leader of Lafayette’s TuesdaysTogether chapter. She’s amazing behind the camera and all about community. I just adore her!

Anyway, Jasmine agreed to partner, and I seriously couldn’t have asked for a better co-host! I mean, while I showed up to one of our first meetings thinking we’d discuss general ideas and things we needed for the workshop, Jasmine showed up with restaurant menus, vendor quotes, and a detailed schedule for the workshop.

Now, I would consider myself an organized person. But, Jasmine puts Marie Kondo to shame!

Jasmine, this workshop wouldn’t have been possible without you. I’m so thankful to call you a friend, fellow photographer, and co-host! Thank you for all you did to make this workshop possible!

 

Good news! There’s going to be another In Focus Marketing Summit!

Now, in case you’re a photographer thinking, “I’d love to learn to strategically market my business so it can grow,” or, “I wish I had a supportive community of photographer friends,” I have good news for you! There’s going to be another In Focus Marketing Summit!

We’re still working out the details, and dates haven’t been determined, but we do know the next In Focus Marketing Summit will be in Indianapolis, Indiana. And, if you’re a goal-oriented, determined photographer who wants your business to grow, we’d love to have you!

To be the first to find out about the next In Focus Marketing Summit, register for the In Focus Marketing Summit waitlist! We’ll shoot you an email with all the details as soon as they’re determined, so you can save your seat before anyone else has a chance!

 

 

I’m forever grateful for the team and attendees who made the In Focus Marketing Summit possible, and I hope the attendees loved every second. I can’t wait to see how their businesses grow! And, I hope you’ll check out the photos below to see all the fun we had!

 

We loved the chance to get our photog friends in front of the camera for headshots! 

Workshop Team

While Jasmine and I hosted the In Focus Marketing Summit, this workshop wouldn’t have been possible without these local businesses and vendors!

• Azzip Pizza – Azzip delivered pizza for lunch on Friday, and it was amazing! Don’t pass up on their cookies!
• Einstein Bagels – You can’t go wrong with a good bagel and shear for breakfast!
• Great Harvest Bread Company – We enjoyed a delicious breakfast of muffins, scones, and blueberry bread on Friday morning. Yum!
• Java Roaster Cafe – We wouldn’t have made it through without lots of coffee from Java!
• The Lahr Atrium – The Lahr Atrium is one of our favorite Lafayette, Indiana wedding venues (Jasmine even got married here!), and we had the pleasure of dining here Friday night.
• Mama Susie – Okay. Not a business, but my mother-in-law did make monster cookies for the workshop, and they were delicious. She deserves a shoutout! 
• Sassy Sweets Catering – No matter the size of your event, Sassy Sweets Catering is the way to go! Connie and her team delivered a taco feast complete with some of the best cupcakes I’ve ever had.
• Second Level Studios – A big thank you to Second Level Studios for allowing us to host this workshop in their space. It was perfect!