When It Starts to Feel Real: Preparing for Spring Fest
A behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to prepare for Spring Fest - from choosing prints and ordering inventory to the exciting, messy, very real moments in between.
There’s something really surreal about opening a box and realizing it’s filled with your work.
So much of getting ready for my first festival has happened behind the scenes - choosing prints, figuring out sizes, ordering inventory, planning my booth, second-guessing things, changing my mind, and trying to make it all come together. But opening this first order made it all feel real in a totally different way.
Not everything is here yet (my metal pieces are still on the way), but seeing this first batch of prints show up at my door felt like such a big milestone. Equal parts exciting, overwhelming, and wow… I’m really doing this.
As I get ready for Spring Fest, I wanted to share a little bit of the process behind it all — not just the finished pieces, but the prep, the progress, and the real-life moments in between.
Choosing What to Bring
One of the biggest parts of preparing has been deciding what I actually want to bring to the festival.
That sounds simple… until you realize how many little decisions go into it.
Which pieces feel the strongest? Which ones fit my style best? Which ones will connect with people? What sizes should I offer? How much inventory is enough without going overboard?
I’ve been trying to build a collection that feels true to the kind of work I love most — a mix of architecture, urban details, black and whites, and nature scenes that all feel like they belong together. I wanted the collection to feel cohesive, but still varied enough for people to find something they connect with.
The Reality of Festival Prep
I think from the outside, preparing for an event can look really exciting and polished — and parts of it definitely are. But there’s also a very real side to it that people don’t always see.
There are spreadsheets and price lists. Product decisions. Packaging. Display ideas. Re-checking measurements. Ordering supplies. Wondering if I bought enough. Wondering if I bought too much. Trying to make smart choices while also trusting my gut.
It’s exciting, but it’s also a little vulnerable.
There’s a difference between posting your work online and physically preparing to put it out in front of people. This feels more tangible somehow. More visible. More real.
And I think that’s why opening this order hit me the way it did.
My first print order for Spring Fest - and one of the first moments it all started to feel real.
Seeing It All in Print
There’s something different about seeing your photos on a screen versus holding them in your hands.
Even pieces I’ve looked at a hundred times somehow felt new again once they were printed. Some instantly made me feel proud. A few made me pause and think about how they’ll look displayed. And some just reminded me why I wanted to do this in the first place.
That’s probably one of my favorite parts of this whole process so far — seeing the work take on a different kind of life once it’s physically in front of me.
Still in Progress — and That’s Okay
One thing I’m learning quickly is that preparing for something like this doesn’t happen in one perfect, finished moment.
Some things are here. Some things are still on the way. Some things are figured out, and some are still very much in progress.
And honestly, I think that’s part of the beauty of it.
This season feels a lot like building in real time - learning as I go, adjusting where I need to, and letting it all come together one piece at a time.
It may not be perfect, but it’s real. And right now, that feels like enough.
Looking Ahead to Spring Fest
As Spring Fest gets closer, I’m feeling a mix of excitement, nerves, gratitude, and probably a little bit of “what am I forgetting?” energy too.
But more than anything, I’m feeling really thankful.
Thankful for the support, the encouragement, the people cheering me on, and the chance to put my work out into the world in a new way.
This first order of prints feels like one of those small-but-big milestones I know I’ll remember.
And if you’ve been following along, supporting my work, sharing a post, buying a print, or just encouraging me as I go - thank you. It truly means more than you know.
Spring Fest is getting closer… and it’s finally starting to feel real.
I’ll be sharing more behind the scenes as festival prep continues and I can’t wait to bring these pieces to life in person.