Slow It Down | Moments In Motherhood DC Workshop Recap

The days leading up to DC could not have been more stressful.
Stomach flus, a loss in our community, and all the head games. I missed my first flight (and nearly missed my connection)
I spent a lot of time in the airport preparing myself, reading, watching 39587396 Ted Talks, praying, crying, evangelizing. I was stressed and doubtful and nervous and excited and so glad to be able to work through it all on my own.
I slept in a guest house, ready as I was going to be for the next day.

And then these beautiful women started walking through the door with their babies.
They came to be photographed by me, and to learn from me. They were there for me, they came to see me be me and all of my doubt started to fall away.
I found myself talking much longer about some things than I planned, and completely forgot many things that I rehearsed. Like, for hours. But the women there soaked me in like a ray of Texas sunshine that they'd longed for. We laughed and cried and exchanged ideas in a way that I couldn't believe we were able to. And in such a quick whirlwind, it was over.

A few months ago, I talked to my friend, Joy, and said "I just hate when people think they know me." to which she said "Why isn't it okay for people to know you? Why is it only okay for them to know what you tell them? What you want them to know?" I didn't know it, but she was speaking into my deep issue with intimacy. I started reading Donald Miller's "Scary Close" and came across this -

"The more fully we live into ourselves, the more impact we will have. Acting may get us the applause we want, but taking a risk on being ourselves is the only path toward true intimacy. And true intimacy,
the exchange of affection between two people who are not lying, is transforming."

The temptation to keep it together, to keep up my image, to give these women whatever I thought it was that they wanted was so great. But the call to give them ME, instead of this manifestation of myself that I thought they wanted, was greater.

Before this workshop, I didn't know what I had to offer, outside of what I theorized. But now I know for sure, and I want to share it with you. I was really scared in DC, but I pushed through. And now that I'm on the other side, I am ready to give more. To slow it down and reign it in and pour it out all at once.

So. Tampa. You're next. Then Phoenix. Then Fort Worth.

Mozi Giveaway

One of my goals this year was to be published in the incomparable photography magazine - Mozi. When I found out that they wouldn't be running their annual "Maternity" issue, my heart was in a puddle of self pitty.

BUT THEN they told me - Hey Mae, let's use some of those pretty belly pics of yours for this new thing we're doing - The Love Issue. And I was all - YA!

I was happy to contribute some of my very favorite images from last year along with a little snippet about how to include dads in maternity sessions. And to celebrate, Mozi was sweet enough to offer one of my fans a free digital copy of their own!

Here's how to enter: *Comment below (in the blog) with your favorite verse/quote/lyric about Love.

For extra entries: *Like Mae Burke Photography on Facebook (comment below to let me know) *Like Mozi Magazine on Facebook (comment below to let me know)

Boom. Easy. Winner will be chosen at random on Saturday :)

Good luck!

(PS!) Want your own amazingly gorgeous printed copy of your own? Head over here to grab you one!

****GIVEAWAY CLOSED*****

THE WINNER IS: MEGANN SANBORN

2015 Mentoring

 

Teaching is something that has always been in me. Call it oldest child syndrome, first chair clarinet disorder, control issues... whatever, I'm a teacher. Not only do I teach my three girls at home, but I've worked with women all over the world to build their brand, their skill, and their confidence to take the next step in their photography journey. So far I have stuck to mentoring online via Skype (which I still plan to do plenty of next year!) but in 2015 I'm going bigger.

This next year I am excited to be hosting two workshops in my beautiful hometown, Rockport, Texas to walk with you side by side and give you all that I can in our short time together. We'll watch the sunrise over the bay, get to know each other, photograph some beautiful mamas, laugh, cry, eat (a lot), and wish we had more time together.

These workshops will go beyond the basics getting to know your camera (must own and be comfortable shooting in manual mode on your DSLR camera) and focus on fine tuning your artistry and business:

• We will spend the morning getting to know each other over coffee and breakfast at the beach
• we will assess where your business is and talk about where you want to go from the pictures you are taking to the money you are making.
• We will talk about acquiring the client you want, preparing them for your session, and covering yourself legally.
• During lunch we will get some alone time reflect on what we've learned and shared
• After lunch we will photograph a beautiful mama and her babe in a gorgeous canal side home. We will cover organic styling, posing, finding light, and working at the client's pace.
• After that we will head to the water to photograph a real life amazing rambunctious family
• We will head to dinner after our family session at a local, adorable, amazing restaurant in town (dinner is covered in your fee)
• After dinner we will head back to the gorgeous canal side home to talk about the hard stuff. The mom/wife/own person plus business lady problems. The time management, the priorities, the reason that we are so passionate about this work that we do.
• Sunday we will wake up, have a sweet time of worship (for those interested, otherwise, more sleep for you!) and get back to work talking about post production and fine art products.

Your fee will cover your lodging, dinner on Saturday night and lunch on Sunday afternoon. Lodging will be cozy (2 to a room) in a beautiful home here in Rockport. There are only 8 seats for each workshop.

So, are you ready? Email me at maeburkephoto@gmail.com with any  questions (spoiler alert, I have payment plans available) and let's get started.