I had this crazy idea. My husband looked at me like, “Whhhhaaa!???” And I calmly repeated that I had not yet fleshed out the details, but it was going to be badass.
Here’s my idea:
I create a roadtrip and stop at the homes of photographers who need help with their business and their branding. It’s about two weeks long, there are ten stops on the tour. Each photographer pays enough of a fee that my travel costs, food, and much-needed Starbucks runs are covered. I make no bank. (Seriously. This isn’t about making a profit. It’s about having a branding & business adventure.)
Each photographer on the tour also provides an evening meal and housing for one night. Your house or a hotel. Makes no difference. Wine, beer, and/or shots while you bring the party are worth bonus points, but certainly not necessary.
I told Haunani, my Essential Imagery business partner, about this plan. She’s stoked, too. So, you get two peeps helping your business for ridiculously cheap while I share my road-tripping adventures with the Brand Camp readers.
If you’d be willing to pony up a few hundred dollars (exact $ amount determined later) for a crazy-awesome, one-on-one business therapy visit from Haunani and myself, I need you to do two things.
1.) Leave a comment below with your city and state.
2.) Tweet/spread the word/generally bribe other nearby peeps into being willing to host a leg of the tour.
3.) Get really effin’ excited that this absolutely fabulous, totally heartfelt and utterly hotel-conference-room-free tour could actually happen.
Makes no difference to me if you’re in Alaska or Seattle, Phoenix or Boston. If we can get peeps who are relatively close together, we can begin to make a tour plan. I just need you to raise your hand and say Booyah, please!
If you have some bad-ass idea that relates to this or is a twist on this, leave it below. I just need to see if there’s any interest in this — lunch, coffee, roller derby, whatever…
What a fantastic fun idea!! I've been trying to come up with a road trip photography idea for myself (just a photo project, not business counseling).
I'd love to have you as a guest and mentor. Not sure if I can afford it until I know the *when* of your plan. (I'm in Memphis, by the way.)
wow! awesome! thank you for this heartfelt gesture. would love for you to roll through the n. california area! I work out of the san francsico bay area and sacramento. good luck!
Love your idea! I would love to have you here in Jacksonville, Florida!
Hands raised, I think we would be interested.
How about Wilmington, Delaware?
I would love to have you visit me way up in Moorhead, MN!
How about Vancouver, BC? That would be awesome!
Vancouver, BC! Canadaland would love to have you.
Love it! Road trips rock, and this is a great idea for one. I'm in Pensacola, FL, but would love for you to go to New Orleans if Pcola is off your path.
Houston! Houston! Houston! Don't you want to come down south where it will be nice & *warm* when it is still cold in Philly?
Sounds so rad! Depending on the final amount owed would determine my ability to join…but im in phoenix and would LOVE it!!!!!!
Booyah! Outside Chi-town! Sounds like an awesome time for you and those who you'll consult!! Excited to see how it works out!
vancouver would treat you well. :p and we’d learn lots! contact me- I’m founder of Vancouver wedding photog n second shooters… we could make this work
PAR-TAY! St. Louis BABY! I'm so in…
Could definitively get a crowd together if you were to come out to Vancouver, BC.
Atlanta baby!
I would love to have you in my small little town of Archbold, Ohio. Nearest big city is Toledo.
I need you!!! Please come to Spring Lake, Michigan. That would be awesome!
I 2nd J'ville…ummm….that's Jacksonville, FL….you know…Dec. 14=75 degrees!
Another Vancouver, Canada stop…what if we hook you up in a 5-star? (w/ hand raised) "Booyah!"
Yes! I'm with Christine! It'll be nice and warm down here in Texas – always – just stop by Fort Worth (Dallas people can drive over here) on your way to Houston! And then you could come stay at MY HOUSE!!! And MY husband could go "Whhhhaaaa?"
This is awesome! come to Utah. Utah Jazz, the Olympics, Sundance Film Festival…see, it's not that bad.
Come to Vancouver and I'll come down there too!
Sounds fabulous…Hazlehurst, GA. (If you want to get off the beaten path for a while.)
Since you are about 30 minutes from me, can I give you $10 and you and haunani can sleep on my sofa bed and eat Ellios pizza with me and my kids? Lol. We DO have alcohol.
Spencer, Indiana. I’d be all over this!!
Fantastic idea! Come to Destin, FL – I know several people who would be interested! We are right in the middle between New Orleans and Jacksonville! Great road trip stop on the beautiful Emerald Coast Beaches!
Havertown, PA
Booyah!! Charlotte, NC!! I could probably talk a few fellow pet photographers into making a trip to my house for the adventure.
You should for sure come to Huntsville, Alabama. My husband and I would love to buy you dinner and pick your brain!
Omg yes I want in!!!! Please come to long island ny!!!
What a fabulous idea! Please come to Atlanta, GA!!!!
Near-ish Indianapolis, IN? Done and done.
NOLA, NOLA, NOLA!!!
Oooh– come to New Orleans! I promise ridiculously yummy food & drink, warmish weather, beignets at Cafe Du Monde, and maybe even a parade! Who can top that?!? A parade, for goodness sakes!
Sounds like a blast! Enter my vote for the Cincinnati, Ohio area (Burlington, KY)! My husband and I would be so excited!
I know this is a huge longshot, but if you’re considering Canada, and possibly small town Northern Alberta, I need you SO badly!! If ever it’s possible and you need to find photogs on your way up here to Cold Lake ( a 3 hour car ride from Edmonton) I will work on it for you
. It never hurts to ask…
Ooo! I would love you to come to Houston!
i left a message earlier via phone..it didnt go thru..
vancouver canada wants YOU!!
email me – i'd love to partner you up with our 175+ group of photogs – i founded vancouver wedding photogs & second shooters in vancouver.. we could do something crazy cool.. xo
info@vancouverphotogs.com
would you be willing to do this again when you come to aus next year????
You know that you've always wanted to go to Fargo. Everyone secretly wants to come here to see if the movie was based on real life.
Columbus Ohio … please. There's tons of us here who need help!
Kristen, if your tour is in the next few months, you should come to Phoenix. You can warm up here. If your tour is in the latter part of Spring, go to Portland (we're planning on moving there in April).
My only one stipulation is that we cannot go to Starbucks. You're going to have to trust me on this one but we'll take you and your business partner to a nice mom-and-pop coffee joint. They don't have blenders BUT the coffee is the best around. Deal?
boohyah from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada!
You should add Annapolis, MD to your tour – I'd love to host you and have a few photographer friends who would join in also. Just think, seafood, sailing, the Chesapeake Bay….what a great setting to talk branding and business.
Edmonton, AB Canada!!!
BOOYAH – come to Minneapolis (maybe not in the winter though??); since we have, oh like EIGHT MONTHS of cold weather we know how to do coffee right. I'll take you some place FANCY.
Um, YEAH! We have Starbucks in Raleigh. And hotels. And shots. In fact … I would come to you. I've always wanted to hit up Philly. Either way. Let's do this.
Phoenix, Phoenix!!!!
I'm sure tons of people here would love this!
Too bad you can't drive to the Middle East!!! This Abu Dhabi gal would definitely buy you dinner!!
Awesome idea! I'd love to see you come on through to Lynchburg, VA!
Totally effing awesome idea. Road trips ROCK. Come to Western Massachusetts! I'm about an hour west of Boston, and I'm a great cook, there are tons of gorgeous bed and breakfasts in town, my studio is in a renovated barn on 5 acres–you'll love it! And I totally need what you have to offer–doing it one on one is priceless.
I would love to have you down here!!!!! Orlando, FL BABY!!!!!!! Your Starbuck's cup will never run dry and your beer mug will over floweth!
This would be awesome! Come to Lubbock,Tx. Or Dallas….I'd be more than willing to drive to Dallas to meet with you guys!
hehe.
I don't think I'm quite ready for a consult yet since I haven't quite gotten things running, but if you need a rest stop in Baltimore, I offer you my couch. =)
San Diego!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That would rock!!!
Ok I'm pretty sure I've got everyone beat on this one. I live in NEW ORLEANS! I think it's a great idea and I'm interested in seeing the amount of $$ it costs!
I'm in Roseburg, Oregon and I would totally travel 3-hours to see you in PORTLAND, OREGON! **But you could even hit EUGENE or ROSEBURG on your way down I-5 to Cali… just sayin'…
San Mateo County or Orange County, CA!
You know, if your visit to Houston was on the first Thursday of the month, you could join us for our monthly meetup as well. Just something to think about…
aw not coming to kansas city. we would have had a great time! shots/beers/martinis and all!
I was just able to read the post about the tour and think it's a great idea. Of course, now that the locations are set, there's no way I could attend one for I'm out on the west coast. So, hoping that this works out for you and that you want to do it again therefore moving yourself out West and then….. I'll take the bait. Good luck! I'm so jealous that someone (other than myself) will get to do it.