MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | AKP DASHING RETREAT | DEEP CREEK, MD

MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | AKP DASHING RETREAT | DEEP CREEK, MARYLAND

akp retreat deep creek maryland confetti toss at workshop for photographers

A priest, a wedding planner, and 21 photographers walk into a castle…

Heard this one before? I bet not.

There is no punch line, because as witty as it sounds-this group was no joke. What do all these ladies have in common? They are all power house creatives and they signed up for the AKP Dashing Retreat in Deep Creek, Maryland this past weekend.

I’ve spent most of the past year looking forward to this particular event. Browsing the internet, I came across The Herrington Manor and fell in LOVE. Plans with Simply Gorgeous Events by Lara-Jill quickly went into place. These past few months have been torture as we kept secrets from attendees about welcome bags, a 90’s themed party, a royal inspired styled shoot, and so much more. We truly went all out for round eight, and I am so glad that we did.

I believe there’s a common misconception that if you host workshops, you must be unbreakably confident. I wish that were so! I’m here to tell you that’s a myth, and I hope that it brings you comfort to see revealed. While I love hosting events and empowering women, I am just as nervous as any one who has invested to walk through that door.

THE REAL

Am I good enough to provide these girl bosses with content that can really help them? Is my work even comparable to others who’s league I’m expected to be in? Will everyone be disappointed when they find out I’m just an Average Joe? And worst of all, what if someone has a terrible time? These are all the things that keep me up at night as we head into AKP Retreat week (and if I’m keeping it 100.. a lot more than just that). The questions are a loaded gun that never let you rest until you’ve seen the event through.

I will be honest when I say that I have walked away from certain events unsure that I had made a difference. While we do our absolute best, we are also our toughest critics. In a lonely industry that can very much be competitive, it’s easy to do the tearing down from within. All of our fears, doubts, and insecurities can overcome us. I place myself vulnerably in that seat each and every time we provide a new experience. The important thing I learned this weekend is: so does everyone else who attended.

I AM NOT ALONE.

maryland wedding photographer akp dashing retreat 90's party for photographers

I was not the only person who was nervous about the weekend. Everyone was. AND THEY SHARED ABOUT IT! 30 women sitting in a circle all agreeing that the wedding field is a tough cookie, that it was super hard just to show up to something like this, but that at the end of the day-we were all bonded by just wanting to be understood. And who better to get you and what you do than those who do it, too?

Most know that I’m emotional in general, but specifically during AKP Retreat weekend. I cry as I walk down a hallway approaching a room full of laughing women or smile when I see someone lend a hand to their peer. I’ll become giddy with excitement when the girl who doesn’t like to hug gets up to hug someone because they truly needed it. It brings so much joy watching women connect that may otherwise never have met, and I am made WHOLE each and every time we are able to bring together a diverse group of women who simply accept one another and just pour love back into each other.

There are not enough good things to say about these girls. For such a large group, they astounded me in almost every way. They were thoughtful, appreciative, and I feel like I never saw one arrangement of women together for too long. These ladies really came and opened themselves up to an unfiltered, judgement free, safe, and FUN atmosphere that thrived on their energy.

Even though you weren’t instructed, I just want to thank each and every one of you who stayed in the house for packing their most important accessory-a good attitude!

THE HIGHLIGHT REEL

Here’s a glimpse into our weekend. I want to give a major shout out to Alisha Faith Photography for snagging the mass majority of this footage from the festivities. Without your attention to capturing these memories, we wouldn’t have this amazing highlight reel to reflect back on. Thank you ALL for being such a fantastic example of hustle and heart.