The Hybrid Co. 2020: Recap

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN? 🤯

Let’s do vendors first, since obviously this shoot deserves a standing ovation 🤩🙌🏼

Event design, styling, and coordination: Amorology: @amorology      

Workshop host: @tenthandgrace           

Florals: @sirenfloralco     

Venue: @julepvenue      

Rentals: @adorefolklore      

Tabletop: @hostesshaven       

Invitations and paper design: @greyandcake         

Calligraphy: @fourthingspaper       

Terrazo clay place cards: @kitandcloverdesign      

Cake: @heytherecupcake_      

Installations and backdrops: @backupbackdrops      

Gowns: @elizabethdye      

Hair and makeup: @kcwitkamp     

Specialty cocktails: @snakeoilcocktail     

Styling mats: @locustcollection

Shoes: @bellabelleshoes     

Suits: @theblacktux

Conference: @thehybridco

Earlier this week, I attended my first Hybrid Co. Actually, my first photography conference, ever! The days were long, content packed, and exhausting, but rich with new friendships, conversations with photography idols, self-reflection, insecurity, and empowerment.

Part of what made this experience so intense and moving for me, I think has to do with the specific season of life I am in, and all of the unknowns and anxiousness I’ve been experiencing over the future. A future that looks a lot different than what I had imagined for myself two months ago.

I am the freest I will ever be, and yet I easily feel suffocated by the decisions I feel I need to make for my future, now. Being in such a season of transition and possibility, I was so ready to hear what these seasoned photographers had to say about life, business, money, and of course, taking photos.

Here are my key takeaways. Snippets from the stage, and from the quieter moments in between:

“You must be passionately in love with your craft. Shoot until you are inspired. Cameras are only tools that are as good as you are. If you’re not screwing up, you’re not doing it right. Obstacles are opportunities. Seek feedback to grow. You must start with your why. WHO are you, beyond the business? Creativity is a show-up mentality. Focus on the feeling. Speak your truth. Know your limits, know your value, and know your numbers. When good people, make good money, they do good things. It’s genuine human connection that makes for genuine work.”

Thank you to the incredible keynote speakers Elizabeth Messina, Carrie Moe, Corbin Gurkin, Daniel Kim, Darcy Benincosa, and Erich & Amy McVey, for so vulnerably and courageously sharing your stories, and exemplifying that we are all capable of living our dreams, even as imperfectly human as we may be. Yes we’re all photographers, but at the end of the day, we’re people first, whom all could learn a thing or two from each other’s journeys, no matter our current stage of life or success. 

And to all the old and new friends, thank you for making it so easy for this introvert to feel at home in a new community <3

See you next year at The Hybrid Co. in Charleston, SC?? Highly considering 😉