Anne Casey Workshop Recap | Small Business Education | Maryland Photographer

Aug 29, 2018

A few weeks ago I hosted the very first (of hopefully many!) Anne Casey Workshop. The back story of this is that I have always had a serious passion for small businesses. My entire working lifetime has been spent in small business, and I wouldn’t change that! I’ve seen the triumphs and the struggles and everything in between. When I was ready to venture out on my own, I was so fortunate to have a more comprehensive understanding of business ownership along with a lot of wonderful mentors to help me along the way.

Not everyone has this. Not everyone has a clear path in their business, but they do have a whole lot of heart and a whole lot of passion. And I love that!! You can’t run your own business without that! So I created the workshop for the people that have the passion, have mastered their craft, but need guidance on all the business-y things.

With the help of some friends, we found the most perfect venue to rent for the day. A historic house on a farm with lots of room, the most amazing kitchen, and SO MANY GOATS! I brought in a private chef to feed us, videographers to capture the fun, a planner to create a beautiful tablescape. Friends photographed the event for me, as well!

The group of attendees couldn’t have been more perfect! So many different creative businesses were represented- photography, calligraphy, bloggers, yoga instructors, public speakers, life coaches; it was basically a full day therapy session with fun headshots! I am completely humbled that all of these wonderful people trusted me and my experience to help push their businesses along. I covered every topic I could think of- blogging, social media, how to define and attract your ideal client, why video is an important marketing tool, finances, how to take your side hustle full time, and so much more.

Attendees were welcomed with a gift box and educational materials. Anchor Fifty-Two provided us all with name tags, as well. Then we started off with a little mix and mingle and some breakfast nibbles. I got to know the attendees one-on-one, and it was a perfect start to the morning. Enchanting Events and Design was there making sure everything looked perfect and designed a gorgeous tablescape with goodies from White Glove Rentals.

We dove into the education portion of the day after we went around the room and introduced ourselves and shared one “normal” thing that we just can’t stand! Some people hated going to the movies, some people were scared of fish, others had a serious issue with stickers and band-aids. It was an awesome ice breaker! We stopped for lunch and to stretch our legs and got right back into it- there was a lot of content to cover! Mid-afternoon, we took a goat break. The owner of the inn stopped by to let us know that she had left snacks out for the animals in case we wanted to feed them- and you know I wasn’t about to let them go hungry! We finished up after that and shared a delicious dinner together. Once dinner was over, it was time for headshots! Attendees were welcome to trade headshots and I made sure to take eveeryone’s, as well. There was an attempt at a group shot and I think we did ok! 😉 It was bittersweet when the day came to an end! We were all tired, but I think everyone learned a ton!- not just from me, but from each other! Each attendee brought something different to the table and was able to share so much with the group.

I’m so thankful to have had this opportunity and that so many people trusted in me and my journey to get where I am today. I can’t seem to find adequate words to describe it all! Enjoy these images! There are so many photos to share, so get comfy!