Well … I say I am just back although it has been over a week. After catching up on client work, emails, phone calls, and not to mention with my family I FEEL like I am just back.

So, some of you may know that Stacy Larsen (aka Stacy Larsen Photography/Launch Workshop) is my bff. What most of you don’t know is that LUXC would not even exist without her. That’s right! I met Stacy in 2006. I was a stay at home Mom (of 1 and 2 year old boys) and I was finally ready to find and hire a GREAT photographer. I called her up and we had our shoot. While ordering holiday cards I was being a bit picky regarding the font (we designers can be that way , I apologized and blamed it on my “graphic designer past”. She was super sweet and instead of getting irritated with me she asked me why the heck I wasn’t still designing. I told her the long story of why (the deadlines, all-nighters, countless weddings and graduation that had been missed as well as low pay to boot!) and of course she quickly understood how that did not fit into my new life as caretaker of 2 young sons. To my surprise she asked me to consider getting back into it. She told me that there was quite a need for photographer templates that were more her style (keep in mind this was quite a while back Although I had never even thought about going back to work she had lit a fire under me. I quickly realized that design might be the one thing that was missing in my just-about-complete life. Long story short … it was. I started Eva Talley Creative, met Ashley and Lisa and the rest is pretty much history.

Stacy and I have been just about inseparable since. We carpool, hang by the pool in the summer, our kids spend the night at each other’s houses and we even had babies at the same time (and yes, on purpose!) I have done 2 entire brands for her and of course she takes ALL of my family’s pictures (she even photographed the birth of my 3rd son). So, why am I telling you all of this?

… Because I am about to vouch for her workshop (LAUNCH) and I want you to know it is in more than a “LUXC sponsors” it kind of way. When Stacy first decided to do a workshop (which was in all of about 5 minutes after I suggested it) she totally panicked. She wondered if she was qualified, if anyone would want to come, if everyone who DID come would go home with the knowledge she wanted them to and so on and so forth. As a matter of fact, she pretty much worried in this manner until the morning of the first workshop day! So, at the end of the first day of the workshop I was happy to say something that I say to her A LOT … “I TOLD YOU SO!” Although I am certain that this was the first time she was actually happy to hear it LOL

the LAUNCH gang

I attended day 1 to speak about branding/identity but was also privy to take part in the workshop as well. Along with 11 others we casually sat in a circle in Stacy’s studio and listened, discussed, laughed and learned. (Day 2 was similar but included a newborn shoot and Day 3 – the optional day – was portfolio review and on location shoots.) Stacy was simply amazing. She was open, honest and shared an incredible amount of knowledge, experience and advice. She poured her heart and soul into this workshop and when I saw it all come to fruition I was almost bubbling over with pride and joy.

Luxecetera sponsors many great workshops but this is the first one I can personally attest to. If you are a new photographer looking to launch your business (or take your new business to the next level) this is a MUST! And by the way … she just announced the next LAUNCH workshop for Seattle, Washington on June 19-21st. Not only that but she is giving away a free seat again this time! Go over there NOW and register to win because the contest ends March 5th!

Hope to see some of you in Seattle

~ Eva