LOCATION: Garden of the Gods

OUTFIT DETAILS: Denim Shirtdress || Black Hat || Jo Totes Camera Bag || Black Booties (similar)

If you read this Instagram post the other week, you’ll know that one of my goals is to be better at reaching out and engaging with my local creative community. For years I blogged on the side, slowing growing a community and engaging with other bloggers. I’ve made so many dear friends over the internet who live in other states & countries. People I wish I could call up for a spontaneous photo shoot or invite to be part of a collaboration party. People I would love to brainstorm with and bring all our talents and passions to the table. People to learn from and share what I know. But the miles kept us apart – and while we can still collaborate & inspire each other on a great many of things, we can’t do the daily coworker thing. We can’t just meet up to work on a project together. It honestly took me too long to realize there were other creative people in Colorado. I mean, of course there were!

It all started out by trying to find other local people on Instagram and I did! There were so many people in my town doing great things, sharing great photos, and following their dreams. I started following and interacting with them and then people began reaching out to me to meet up. Photographers, small business owners, girls who just moved to the Springs, people who wanted to start blogs. I was FLOORED and honored and nervous. And I thought they were all so brave and I doubted my skills. But I met up with them and chatted and shared and dreamed. We planned collaborations and met up for photo shoots.

Kaylee is one of those friends. She is one that reached  out to me and we met up several times to take pictures. It is so fun to meet up with creatives like this and just hear their heart & process. We chat about blogging and SEO and camera settings and posing. We both have so much to bring to the table and my learning bank always gets filled to the top! Every brave lady I’ve met over the last several months has encouraged and challenged me! It has been an unexpected gift.

My dreams for 2017 are all that and more. To reach out to others for joint projects and adventures. I want coworkers and friends in this self employee world. I’m exicted, I’m hopeful, and I cannot wait! A rising tide sure does lift all boats!

Photo Credit: Kaylee Sorrells Photography