At the beginning of October, I traveled to Franklin, TN, the cutest southern town just outside of Nashville, to attend the Abound Conference! It was SUCH a refreshing few days getting to see old friend & make new ones, & I am so grateful for the amazing experience created by the Abound team! Karen Stott, founder of the Abound Co. (previously known as Pursuit Community), is such an amazing leader & her heart for women, specifically women who are entrepreneurs/creatives, has made such an impact on my life over the past few years.

I attended the last Pursuit Conference in Rome, GA a little over 2 years ago, so when I heard that the first Abound Conference was going to be held in Franklin, I immediately bought a ticket & made plans to attend! I got to stay in the cutest Air BNB with 4 women that I now consider dear friends, & I’m so thankful for the time we had together!!

One of the coolest things about the conference being in Franklin was that it was just a little over 4 years ago that I spent the summer there, right after I graduated college. I was totally unsure of what the future would hold & if photography was what the Lord wanted me to pursue. I had been doing photography “on the side”, & while I loved the idea of going “full time”, I just didn’t see that as a possibility. When I returned home after that summer, I continued to grow my business little by little, just trusting & believing that if God wanted it to be my full time job, He would make a way.

I’m SO thankful for the months & months of waiting on Him & His timing, & I can’t believe that I’ve been able to be a full time wedding photographer foremost 3 years now. His grace is completely overwhelming to me. This year has been another long season full of waiting — trusting that He alone is able to sustain this dream He’s given me, knowing there’s nothing I’m able to do without Him, & believing that abiding is Him is better than any success I could have in this business He’s given me!

The Lord used this conference to do such a huge work in my heart in this season, & I can’t wait to see what He has in store for the next Abound Conference (of course I already plan to attend!!) I took a break from my camera during this conference, but I wanted to share just a few fun moments that I captured on my phone!!

Since I drove to Nashville on Sunday & the conference didn’t start until Monday, I got to meet up with my sweet friends from college, Micheal & Anne Marie! They live such a fun life in Nashville, & it was so fun getting to catch up with them & eat Shake Shack & Jeni’s Ice Cream (the BEST!)

I woke up to a beautiful sunset on Monday morning & sat on the back deck of our Air BNB with my coffee, just soaking in getting to REST! Then the girls & I headed to downtown Franklin for brunch at Frothy Monkey!! It was DELICIOUS!

After brunch, we had time to walk around downtown Franklin & walk in so many cute shops!! White’s Mercantile is my all-time FAVE!

The conference didn’t officially begin until Monday evening, but we got to attend the pre-conference workshops Monday afternoon! I got to hear my girl Callie Lindsey (who hosted The Charleston Workshop I attended last year) speak about photography & how it can truly be our ministry, which was SUCH an encouragement!

Jess & Nick Connolly were the keynote speakers on Monday night, & I was SO encouraged by their faith as they shared what it looks like to truly believe God is good, even in the hardest of seasons. I’m so thankful for all of the truth that the Lord poured out through them! I was so grateful to get to catch up with my sweet friend Shawna during this conference! We met at the Pursuit Conference 2 years ago, & she is one of the most encouraging friends in my life!

Tuesday was a FULL but amazing day! We started off early at The Factory to grab coffee at Honest Coffee Roasters & donuts at Five Daughters Bakery!

It was so fun getting to hear Annie Downs speak on the day her new book, Remember God, launched!! She’s been such a huge influence in my life over the past couple of years!!

The girls & I ended the day with dinner at The Grilled Cheeserie in West End & another trip to Jeni’s Ice Cream (have I mentioned it’s the BEST?!)

SO thankful for these friends!! God is doing amazing things through them, & I can’t wait to see what He continues to do in & through their businesses!!