The idea for this entire shebang came as a result of a push. A push from where? you may ask. A push from the greatest and most heartfelt of pushers, Mary Marantz. We first talked about it at dinner after Matt and I’d anniversary shoot in New York City, and then she pushed me (along with 100+ other people) at the What’s Next tour to ASK for opportunities. To stop waiting for things you want to magically happen upon you, to make them happen yourself.

You all already know that I eventually want to teach one day- there’s something about sharing what I’ve learned and seeing it transform other people that really lights a fire within me. I LOVE pouring into others! But I’d been waiting for someone to tell me “hey, you should really think about teaching” to have the courage to set something up, and if I’m always going to wait for someone to tell me to take a risk, I’ll be waiting a LONG time.

I was on the phone with Rebekah a few weeks ago, talking about something completely unrelated, when I interrupted her (sorry, girl!) and abruptly asked “Hey, would you want to host a Q&A night with me? You know, for other photographers?” Being the awesome friend that she is, Rebekah was on board and within 5 minutes we’d picked a date and decided to get together the following afternoon for a couple of promo photos.

This past Friday night came and Rebekah and I found ourselves with our husbands scrambling around my town house at 6:45 hastily arranging finger foods and napkins, wine glasses and soda bottles, and when the first doorbell ring came, I was so glad we were in this together. Because at least if we failed, I’d have someone to laugh about it with!

It’s crazy how faithful God is when you think you’ve planned something impossible. When we originally opened up 12 spots for this Q&A night idea, we were just hoping we’d manage to fill half or so of them by the time March 8th rolled around. And then, within 45 minutes, all 12 spots were gone, and even more requests for spots trickled in throughout the day. So then I started to figure something HAD to go wrong, and that even though people RSVP’d, that they’d probably all email us the day of to say they could no longer come. But that didn’t happen. So THEN I figured, since something needed to go wrong, that even though they RSVP’d and even though they didn’t email us to cancel, that non of them would really show up.

But they did. And sure enough, by 7:30 on Friday night, we had 12 photographers sitting in my living room, chatting with each other, laughing with each other, and learning from each other. It was an amazing evening- I was thoroughly flabbergasted by the end of the night. The original blog post said “7-9 pm,” but we didn’t technically break until 9:30. And when we did officially end, we encouraged people to stay if they still had more questions, that we weren’t in any hurry to clean up. So stay they did, and the last person didn’t depart until 11:30. IT WAS AWESOME. (PS- all photo credit goes to Matt Hoyt!)

Photographer's Q&A night- Rebekah Hoyt & Abby GracePhotographer's Q&A night- Rebekah Hoyt & Abby GracePhotographer's Q&A night- Rebekah Hoyt & Abby GracePhotographer's Q&A night- Rebekah Hoyt & Abby Grace

I look like I’m trying to fight someone. I wasn’t, for the record.

Photographer's Q&A night- Rebekah Hoyt & Abby GracePhotographer's Q&A night- Rebekah Hoyt & Abby Grace

Rebekah: thank you so much for being my partner in crime in this! If you hadn’t agreed to do this with me, I never would have had the courage to do it alone. So, so thankful to have you as a friend! And to our Matts, thanks for being the support systems we needed to make this a reality. Thank you for being willing to stand because there weren’t any chairs left, thank you to my hubs for encouraging me and praying for us, thank you to Matt Hoyt for the beautiful images, and thanks to you both for being willing to sit down at midnight to chat about what we did well and what could be better for next time.

Happy Tuesday!

A Night with Rebekah & Abby- the review!

March 12, 2013

  1. Beside learning SO much from you both in such a short time, your husbands’ being there, helping out, and chiming in was my FAVORITE! It made me wish I brought my fiance! 🙂 There needs to be a photog husbands support group! The way you described your first two years of business is exactly what we’re going through right now, and I’m sure he would have enjoyed hearing that it does get better. 🙂

  2. Rici says:

    So cool Abby!!!!
    looks really fun and relaxed in your living room! Proud of you going for it and not waiting for something to come your way!!

    ~ Saluti.

  3. Abby! This is so beautiful to hear your heart behind teaching and wanting to pour back into others. I’m so excited that you have this mentality and it’s cool to see you live the things that you learned at United about blessing others. You really have blessed all 12 of us and we couldn’t be more thankful. I look forward to seeing how teaching ends up working for you… you better believe I will be following closely to jump on an opportunity as soon as it rises 🙂 So excited for you and the community you’re helping create.

  4. YAYYYY I am so glad you enjoyed your first Q+A experience!!!!!!! I remember reading about someone saying you shouldn’t go through with it (RIDICULOUS) and look how it ended up, I have no doubt you two rocked it out and helped others! That’s seriously the best best best feeling ever and I LOVE the emails I get afterwards with people making things happen!!!!!!!! REWARDING 🙂 XOXOXOXO

  5. ashley link says:

    so completely awesome!!! i hope y’all do another one soon!!! i really wanna hang out with you awesome photographers!!! 🙂 y’all are so kind! keep up the great work! 🙂

  6. Joey says:

    It was such a great night and I learned a lot! Both you and Rebekah are gifted teachers! Thanks so much for having all of us over and it was wonderful to meet both you and Matt! 🙂

  7. Megan says:

    I think you should do a blog post to give us all a tour of your new home… just sayin’ 😉

  8. Rebekah Hoyt says:

    SO thankful to have experienced this with you!! I’m so overjoyed right now 🙂

  9. Judie says:

    I knew it would be a great evening, I am just sad I missed it 🙁 I do hope that you and Rebekah will have another one. You ladies rock!

  10. Sarah Adams says:

    You two are SUCH a blessing. Thank you thank you for sharing your gifts, wisdom, and gorgeous home with the 12 of us!! What an inspiration that night was 🙂 🙂 So wonderful meeting you!!!

  11. Aimee says:

    Not only does it look like you’re trying to fight but you seem to be asking, “who wants to fight?” Rebekah in the back is saying “she’ll whoop all you.” Oh and I’m glad your Q & A night went well 🙂

  12. Elizabeth says:

    GO YOU for making things happen! What a great idea that was made a reality 🙂

  13. Megan Chase says:

    Thank you for opening your home and heart to us on Friday evening! I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to learn from you. Your passion and faith drives me to dream bigger! Don’t forget… This is just the begining for you!

  14. Karen Field says:

    Hmmmm, that teaching thing, wonder where that might have come from? So proud of you for not only choosing this risky journey of photography (a your father and I chewed our nails down to their edges) but for really going after it and then choosing to give the gift that only a few could or WOULD do, that is sharing from what you’ve learned with others. It is selfless to do this. Kudos on finding a partner in crime in Rebekah. “Many hands make light work.” That goes for encouragement when trying something new. Many thanks go to the two Matts who chose to support the two of you in this endeavor! I’m so utterly proud of you!

  15. You are SUCH a rockstar. I love your go get ’em attitude! I’m sure you helped so many photogs that night. Makes me want to host a seminar on small business branding!

  16. AH! I totally want to do something similar to this … well, just get a bunch of photographers together at least and talk 🙂 I feel like with our passions, we can all talk FOR HOURSSSSS! Haha! If you do this again, I would LOVE to join ya’ll 🙂 I might be trying to get a group together in NOVA soon before the busy season officially begins!

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