This business of mine has been quite the journey, and there have been so many amazing times, but there have also been a lot of struggle trying to figure out how to balance it all. How to make clients happy but not be a slave to the business. How to find who my ideal client is and market to them. How to create important relationships with these amazing clients that I love so much, but not lose out on the most important relationships in my life…my family. The last two years I feel like I have grown more than ever before. I have had the most amazing time with truly amazing people. But honestly, I have also had some of my lowest moments. Moments were I truly considered walking away from this entire business. But luckily, I was in the right place at the right time to meet people who in big ways and small changed everything for me. I felt like I finally figured everything out. And now I have a smooth running business with systems in place to help me run it LIKE A BOSS, not be a slave to the business. I feel like I have grown closer to my clients than ever before and have developed such important relationships with them while being able to spend more time with my family than I have in years.

And once I figured it all out, I couldn’t just keep this to myself. I knew there were other photographers out there who are stuck exactly where I was. And so I put together the BEHIND THE SCREEN workshop with all my tips, tricks, advice and laid out plans of how I run my business. I am so excited with how the workshop turned out and I am so excited for the future of this workshop…

First off I have to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who made it happen from the styled shoot to the amazing styled dinner to all of the yummy yummy food that we enjoyed:
Design & Planning Middle Aisle / Floral Bloomers / Wedding Cake Sweet Cakes By Karen / Hair & Makeup Julie Thomas Style / Paper Details Jacki Miller / Rentals Swoon Vintage Rentals / Catering Katering Koncepts / Audio Visual Assistance Festival Sounds / Models Nathan & Bethany Ruesch

I know that I could not have accomplished anything that we did without them. I am so lucky to have such an amazing team behind me to help me put this on! Enjoy some of the shots that I took from the beautifully styled shoot!

And here is the gorgeous video that Brad from Forevermore Media put together from the styled shoot

I have been overwhelmed by the feedback to the workshop from the fabulous gals who attended! I feel like they have said it better than I ever could. Thank you so much ladies for such wonderful reviews. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed meeting all of you and am so grateful to now have you as partners in this crazy journey…

ANGELA CROWE PHOTOGRAPHY
” Abbey has helped me in so many ways that I could not possibly tell you everything she has done for me. You must attend her workshop for yourself and take back your life!!! “  read more on her full review HERE

BRIANNA GAMBLE PHOTOGRAPHY
“When I signed up for the event, I thought I would learn a few helpful tips and network with a couple of other photographers. Boy, was I wrong. I feel like I walked out of there as a new person with a completely different outlook on my life. I took SO much from that workshop that I’m still reeling from everything I learned. The entire time we were there, I felt like Abbey was speaking just to me. EVERY single thing she said applied to my business and she answered every question that I came there with. The conversations were so deep at times, and so many moments that she spoke about hit very close to home. Time saving techniques, easy to learn pricing structures, social media tips, workflow, scheduling, client communications, and amazing software programs were just the tip of the iceberg on the topics we learned in a short three days. Although the topics were advanced enough for a seasoned photographer, Abbey simplified everything so that even a beginner could understand it and apply every step to their own business.”  read more on her full review HERE.

CS STUDIOS PHOTOGRAPHY
“I just recently started my photography business and it was obvious that I was on a beginner level compared to the other photographers at the workshop.  I came to realize that attending the Behind the Screen workshop gave me a huge advantage in my business because I now know every step that will grow my business and make it a success.  I now have all the tools I need to streamline my business and my life so that I have more time to spend with.my family.  I also now have a group of talented photographers that I call friends and that support me and help me with the challenges.that running a photography business brings.  That is priceless to me!”

JANICE TWITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY
“I’m so glad I went because I walked away not only educated about how to run my business more efficiently but, I walked away a different person. A better person. I learned that I can still do what I love, but how to manage it to where I can give my clients the best products and care they could possibly receive without it interfering with my family life.  Scheduling, client contact, workflow, the best programs to make my work faster and more efficient, but most importantly, how to take back the time I’m spending away from my family. One of the BEST investments I’ve ever made for my business.” read more on her full review HERE

MORGAN SLADE PHOTOGRAPHY
“My sole purpose for attending the Behind the Screen Workshop was to find a solution that would enable me to get my life back, without completely giving up on my business. The knowledge I walked away with was simply an answer to many prayers. Just within a few short weeks I have implemented things I learned from the workshop and transformed how I approach my business. There is absolutely no way I can put a price on the knowledge I gained. The investment I made to attend the Behind the Screen Workshop was quite honestly one of my best investments to date. It was one of those experiences that leaves you with a renewed sense of direction. I will forever be grateful for the numerous things I learned as well as the amazing and inspiring people I met while at the workshop. The continued support from Abbey as well as the other photographers that attended the workshop is amazing.” read more on her full review HERE.

NICOLE GULICK PHOTOGRAPHY
” I walked into the workshop with excitement to perfect my passion for photography, but I walked away with tools to be the best boss for my business. I had never previously wanted to be a full time photographer because I knew I would let it run my life, I am so excited now to be just that I now know how NOT to let it run my life.  I can go on and on about Abbey’s amazing heart, but being able to witness first hand your love not only for photography, but for your clients, touched me so deeply. I now am excited to love my clients as much as I love photographing them – it was the ultimate realization of how important it really is to be yourself and love others.”

NICOLE MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY
“Abbey stirred up a new fire inside of me and helped me set my priorities back to where I needed them to be. I am such a happier person and my family and kids are grateful for the changes that I have implemented also. Abbey is a rockstar. There is no other way to describe her. She is a crazy busy, successful business woman AND she is a hands on mommy and wife. She showed me that it is possible to do it all and still be successful at the many jobs I have…… and still actually sleep and have a personal life. If you are running your own business and trying to juggle family and children you will understand when I say, it is hard. Very hard. I came home inspired, with a plan, slapped around and back on track for success in all things, and more importantly I wasn’t overwhelmed. I was excited. Excited to make the changes.” read more of her full review HERE.

PRISCILLA DAVIS STUDIO
” If I could sum up in one phrase what I learned during this workshop its this…Photography is not my passion…its my business. My passion is my family. As much as I love photography and running a business to help provide for my family…no one wishes they “spent more time in the office” when all is said and done in life. I have no doubt that if I make my family a priority WHILE running a professional business with top notch customer service and high quality art I can be successful.” read more of her full review HERE.

JACKI MILLER PHOTO + DESIGN
“Coming to this workshop was simply one of the smartest things I could do for my business. I went in with little knowledge about  how to run a successful business, but came out of it knowing what steps I had to take to set my business in the right direction. With the information I was given, I almost feel like I got to take a short cut through my business set up. I was able to learn, and learn fast about what NOT to do in your business, how to communicate with your clients, how to organize your time, and most importantly, how to make sure my business doesn’t run my life. I simply can’t get over how beneficial this workshop is for any photographer out there.”

TENIA LISE STUDIO

VISIBLE HEART PHOTOGRAPHY

Thank you too as well to Brad from Forevermore Media for putting together this great promo video. I just love it!

And stay tuned because coming up is a shout out to all the fabulous vendors who contributed to our wonderful goodie bags that the attendees received!!!

Are you interested in attending the next BEHIND THE SCREEN WORKSHOP this coming September? Message me for details! If you book by the end of May you could get $100.00 off your workshop cost and learn how you could enter to win a free spot!!!

Brie & James won the free wedding from AK Studio & Design and Irresistible Weddings and it was so fun putting together their peacock themed wedding. I loved how Irresistible Weddings went with bold bright tones, instead of the usual dark tones that are associated with peacock. It was perfect for their summer wedding. All the details turned out gorgeous and I am so happy for these two.

Wedding Planning & Design: Irresistible Weddings
Floral: My Favorite Flowers
Venue: Lichfield Ponds
Wedding Cake: Irresistible Weddings

Every bride hopes for everything to run perfectly for their wedding…but unfortunately Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate. This spring Zion wedding was supposed to be blue skies and sunshine. A destination wedding, the couple had been in beautiful Zion all week enjoying hiking and the outdoors. But on their wedding day it ended up being rain all day. Grand plans for an outdoor ceremony, were set aside, but I think it couldn’t have been a more perfect day. These two were so in love and didn’t let a little bit of rain get in their way.

Laura and her amazing team from Forevermore Events took care of everything and brought the ceremony inside and made everything lovely and perfect. It was such a fun day full of love and lots of FUN! The dancing was amazing. I always love a great dance party…its hard for me to keep taking pictures. I want to be out on the dance floor!

I am so happy for these two and absolutely love how this wedding turned out…

Wedding Planning & Design: Forevermore Events
Venue & Catering: Switchback Grille
Floral: Bloomers Floral
Wedding Cake: Nothin’ Bundt Cakes
DJ: Festival Sound

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!