I reckon it was late 2015 I was browsing Instagram one day and I'm not sure even how this photo came up on my feed, but I remember it stopping me in my tracks. I can't even remember the content of the photo, but I remember clicking onto the photographers account and being in awe. THIS was family photography! I'd recently re-ignited my passion for photography and a few friends had planted a seed in my head that I should start a business photographing kids and families. At that time, all I'd really seen was the more traditional posed style, studio portraits and I had zero interest in doing that. I've never been about perfection and that style just didn't stir my soul. It wasn't until I saw this account that I realised family photography could be so much more than that. The account I was obsessed with was Amy Rushbrook, so I then jumped across to see who she was following and opened up a whole new world of what I'd been missing out on.

The seed which had vaguely been planted began to grow. So I found an online photography school (Clickin Moms) and started absorbing everything I could. I did several work-at-your-own-pace courses and one active participation courses and without too much actual thought for how, I started a business mid 2016. Then in late 2016 Amy announced that she was going to run a 2 day workshop. Life Unmade. I was eager. I was in. It was March 2017. I turned up with my rented camera and a $200 lens. And felt totally out of my league. But I tried to absorb everything I could. The house was a truly magical space on the Mornington Peninsula, the other ladies who were also there were super lovely, and Amy was an amazingly humble human and an open book with everything from how she photographs to how she runs her business. I learnt so much in the space of 2 days and my business went from bumbling along to flourishing. I suddenly booked out from July 2017 through to Christmas of 2017. I was producing work which stunned myself at times and was so much more confident in where I wanted to steer my business and my photography. Within a few months I'd made enough money to buy myself a brand new pro-level camera and a brand new lens.

So naturally, when Amy mentioned she might run another workshop mid 2018 - a Life Unmade 2.0, open only to the people who had attended her previous workshops or mentoring, I was in!! Again, super eager. I felt like I was at a place in my business where I was starting to feel a little stale and needed something extra to push and boost me along again. I needed some more direction.

Then Amy announced that by some will of the gods, the workshop was going to held at the exact same house as the last one, if just felt like it was meant to be! The workshop content, and the house, and the amazing sunny winter Melbourne weather and sunsets and the other ladies who were there...  It was all exactly what my soul was craving. I came away feeling renewed, lighter, with a bit more of a plan of attack. I got some verification that I was tracking along in the right direction, but with some more goals. I know where I want to improve, to aim, to grow.

So thanks Amy. And thanks Liane, Kim, Delanie, Kirstyn and Jess! I had a blast!