With over 120 MJ2Day alumni now taking over the globe, I thought it would be fun to start a series on my blog to check in on past attendees and see what they're up to now and how their businesses, lives and photography have been impacted by their experience at the workshop. I've heard so many fun stories from past attendees that leave me beaming with pride at their coolness and I can't wait to share!
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Brittani of Britt Croft Photography -- an attendee of the Boulder, Colorado MJ2Day that took place last July. Brittani is located in South Carolina and is getting married herself in two weeks time -- so exciting!! She's going to make a beautiful bride. (Photos by Kelly Sauer)
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Brittani of Britt Croft Photography -- an attendee of the Boulder, Colorado MJ2Day that took place last July. Brittani is located in South Carolina and is getting married herself in two weeks time -- so exciting!! She's going to make a beautiful bride. (Photos by Kelly Sauer)
We get photographers at all stages of their business at the MJ2Day and Brittani was a relative newbie when she came to the workshop. She had never photographed her own weddings or even 2nd shot for that matter. She was really experimenting in a lot of different types of photography and it turned out the workshop came at a great point in her journey to really get her started off on the right foot. 2012 is her first full year in business and even with a move from Maryland to South Carolina and planning her own wedding, she has eight weddings booked! What a go-getter!
I interviewed Brittani for this post and I was giddy over her answer to the first question:
Q: Are there any cool connections or events that happened as a result of you attending the MJ2Day?
A: Definitely! First, because of the friendship I made with fellow attendee Katie Derus, she recommended me to one of her best friends in whose wedding she was a bridesmaid. I was able to fly to Wisconsin to shoot her friend's wedding at a venue I never even dreamed I would have the opportunity to shoot at.
I also shot a fellow MJ2Day attendee's wedding, although she attended at a different time and location than I did and we had never met. After getting engaged, Kristi Kratzer emailed Melissa for recommended photographers in South Carolina and Melissa sent her my name. Kristi and I immediately hit it off and her wedding was one of my favorites of the year. I'm so fortunate to now call Kristi and Michael friends!
Finally, I attended the Justin & Mary Lighting Intensive in Richmond this past July, as did fellow Boulder MJ2Day attendee Jessica Maida. It was SO nice to already have a friend there, and even cooler that I finally met "virtual" friend Coty Jones, who attended the Annapolis MJ2Day this summer.
Q: What is the biggest difference in your photography since attending the MJ2Day?
A: So much has happened in the last year since attending the Boulder MJ2Day that I feel like there's not much about my photography that HASN'T changed. Technically, my photography has improved leaps and bounds. I think about my shots more creatively and authentically, and I also have really grown into my style in terms of how I determine my settings as well as how I post-process. There were also SO many little nuggets of wisdom Melissa shared about light, shooting techniques, and interacting with clients that have been extremely helpful in improving my images.
Here are some examples of Brittani's work before the workshop:
I interviewed Brittani for this post and I was giddy over her answer to the first question:
Q: Are there any cool connections or events that happened as a result of you attending the MJ2Day?
A: Definitely! First, because of the friendship I made with fellow attendee Katie Derus, she recommended me to one of her best friends in whose wedding she was a bridesmaid. I was able to fly to Wisconsin to shoot her friend's wedding at a venue I never even dreamed I would have the opportunity to shoot at.
I also shot a fellow MJ2Day attendee's wedding, although she attended at a different time and location than I did and we had never met. After getting engaged, Kristi Kratzer emailed Melissa for recommended photographers in South Carolina and Melissa sent her my name. Kristi and I immediately hit it off and her wedding was one of my favorites of the year. I'm so fortunate to now call Kristi and Michael friends!
Finally, I attended the Justin & Mary Lighting Intensive in Richmond this past July, as did fellow Boulder MJ2Day attendee Jessica Maida. It was SO nice to already have a friend there, and even cooler that I finally met "virtual" friend Coty Jones, who attended the Annapolis MJ2Day this summer.
Q: What is the biggest difference in your photography since attending the MJ2Day?
A: So much has happened in the last year since attending the Boulder MJ2Day that I feel like there's not much about my photography that HASN'T changed. Technically, my photography has improved leaps and bounds. I think about my shots more creatively and authentically, and I also have really grown into my style in terms of how I determine my settings as well as how I post-process. There were also SO many little nuggets of wisdom Melissa shared about light, shooting techniques, and interacting with clients that have been extremely helpful in improving my images.
Here are some examples of Brittani's work before the workshop:
And here are some examples of her work since attending:
Gorgeous stuff!
Q: What is the biggest difference in your business since attending the MJ2Day?
A: The differences in my business were the biggest, and fortunately I LOVE the business side of being a photographer so it's been awesome to see those skills grow and develop since implementing a lot of the things I learned from Melissa. The MJ2Day gave me a great head start on having systems in place (a truly systemized workflow), really investing in my clients, fellow vendors, and industry peers, understanding the publication process and why it's important, and truly developing an authentic brand (from potential client interaction, to website design, to product presentation, to my images) to help attract the right kinds of clients.
Check out some of Brittani's published work here:
Every Last Detail
The Wedding Row Charleston
Style Me Pretty Gallery
Q: It sounds like you made some awesome friendships as a result of the MJ2Day. What part do they play in your life and business today?
A: The relationships I've made from attending the MJ2Day are far and beyond one of the best parts of having attended. Obviously I took an enormous wealth of knowledge from Melissa and made new friends in her and Sara, but you kind of become a little family with the other attendees and it was even cooler to have connected with a few other "young" attendees like myself, just out of college and breaking into shooting weddings. I still keep in touch with many of the attendees from the Boulder workshop....we follow each other's blogs, leave comments, and email one another frequently. We're kind of cheerleaders for one another and it's been so cool watching everyone's businesses grow in the last year.
Q: Have you changed or raised your prices since the workshop?
A: At the time of the MJ2Day, I had very low portfolio building rates for wedding photography, but after every couple of weddings I booked, I raised those portfolio building prices another tier since I was gaining experience with my own weddings and as a second shooter. Currently, I'm booking weddings at the rate I feel like is fair for my market. A year ago, I never thought I'd have shot so many wonderful weddings this year or be booking at a "normal" rate right now. Because of the MJ2Day, I also feel more confident in the prices I present potential brides and that I am valuable.
See what I mean!? Beaming with pride. I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of Brittani's journey, and to be able to see what she has done with the experience and knowledge she gained from the workshop last summer. And it's only been a year! At the rate she's going, I can't wait to see what the next year holds for her!
Thanks for sharing with us, Brittani! Have an amazing wedding!!
If you're a photographer and would love to take your photography and business to the next level like Brittani has, join us at an upcoming MJ2Day!
Q: What is the biggest difference in your business since attending the MJ2Day?
A: The differences in my business were the biggest, and fortunately I LOVE the business side of being a photographer so it's been awesome to see those skills grow and develop since implementing a lot of the things I learned from Melissa. The MJ2Day gave me a great head start on having systems in place (a truly systemized workflow), really investing in my clients, fellow vendors, and industry peers, understanding the publication process and why it's important, and truly developing an authentic brand (from potential client interaction, to website design, to product presentation, to my images) to help attract the right kinds of clients.
Check out some of Brittani's published work here:
Every Last Detail
The Wedding Row Charleston
Style Me Pretty Gallery
Q: It sounds like you made some awesome friendships as a result of the MJ2Day. What part do they play in your life and business today?
A: The relationships I've made from attending the MJ2Day are far and beyond one of the best parts of having attended. Obviously I took an enormous wealth of knowledge from Melissa and made new friends in her and Sara, but you kind of become a little family with the other attendees and it was even cooler to have connected with a few other "young" attendees like myself, just out of college and breaking into shooting weddings. I still keep in touch with many of the attendees from the Boulder workshop....we follow each other's blogs, leave comments, and email one another frequently. We're kind of cheerleaders for one another and it's been so cool watching everyone's businesses grow in the last year.
Q: Have you changed or raised your prices since the workshop?
A: At the time of the MJ2Day, I had very low portfolio building rates for wedding photography, but after every couple of weddings I booked, I raised those portfolio building prices another tier since I was gaining experience with my own weddings and as a second shooter. Currently, I'm booking weddings at the rate I feel like is fair for my market. A year ago, I never thought I'd have shot so many wonderful weddings this year or be booking at a "normal" rate right now. Because of the MJ2Day, I also feel more confident in the prices I present potential brides and that I am valuable.
See what I mean!? Beaming with pride. I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of Brittani's journey, and to be able to see what she has done with the experience and knowledge she gained from the workshop last summer. And it's only been a year! At the rate she's going, I can't wait to see what the next year holds for her!
Thanks for sharing with us, Brittani! Have an amazing wedding!!
If you're a photographer and would love to take your photography and business to the next level like Brittani has, join us at an upcoming MJ2Day!
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