VIRTUAL EVENT. ELEVATE IN THE BOARDROOM SERIES.

As Creative Entrepreneurs, we wear many hats in our business, but the one that most don’t love is “IT Specialist”. In the session, “Setting Up Your Tech for Success”, creatives will learn the benefits to creating a “Tech Duty Day”, how to utilize online systems to keep your devices in sync, and most importantly, making sure your data is safely backed up. In the first part of this session, we will discuss the basics of computer and device maintenance. This includes tips on decluttering files and suggested routine maintenance to keep computers and devices running smoothly and quickly. This part of the session will also include a breakdown of how to create a “Tech Duty Day”, and what tasks are included in that (clean up, purge junk, update software, restart).

In the next part of the session, we be discussing ways that creatives can keep their devices in sync to support their busy lifestyle. As creatives, we often find ourselves out in the field, traveling, or working from a coffee shop, so having a system that allow us to access what we need from wherever we are is key. The goal for this section is to talk about the concept and how to set it up. While it will mention certain tools (Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, etc), it will not be focused on one particular tool so the creative can choose the tool that works best for them! In the last part of their session, we will be discussing back-ups. This will be a deep dive discussion covering the different types of backups, why they are important, and how to set them up to function automatically. Unfortunately, this is a common issue that I see in the creative industry.

My goal is to help creatives become proactive when it comes to their technology, not reactive after something does happen to them! This topic is far from sexy, but it’s one that everyone from beginners to seasoned entrepreneurs need to attend. Our businesses are dependent on our tech, and it’s more important than ever to get things organized, secured and functioning well so we can focus on what we love to do and thrive.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

• The basics of computer and device maintenance, and why this is important
• How to establish and execute a “Tech Duty Day”
• How to utilize cloud based systems to seamlessly work between their devices, regardless of where they are or what device they are on
• The difference between a local back up and cloud backup and when each should be used
• How to set up your backup system to run automatically

ABOUT THE SPEAKER…DAWN RICHARDSON:

I’m Dawn, and I’m a Texas-based software engineer turned wedding photographer who has a passion for empowering creatives to take control of their technology. My technical background laid a unique and successful foundation for my wedding photography business. In the last 12 years, I’ve worked in technical support, technical training, software development and systems engineering. During my last corporate IT position, I fell in love with photography from a technical side.

While I might not be developing web apps anymore, I’ve found that my technical experience has been a huge advantage in building my six-figure photography business. I also learned along the way that the majority of creatives are downright terrified of the “tech” in their business. Important things like backups, automations, using tools and software effectively, computer and device maintenance and so much more are simply pushed to the back burner.

My career came full circle when I launched Tech Savvy Creative in 2020. At Tech Savvy Creative, my mission is to take those not-so-sexy topics and give creatives an easy to understand, step-by-step resource that allows them to confidently tackle their tech. My educational content has been featured throughout the creative community, including Rising Tide Society, Creative at Heart, So Here’s the Thing Podcast, Brands that Book Podcast, and more.

Aside from running Tech Savvy Creative and shooting 25 weddings a year, I am a Mama to 2 year old Kendall Grace and a Wife to Andrew. I LOVE building my businesses (strong Enneagram 3 here!), but when I’m not working you can find me on my Peloton, searching for the best Margarita in San Antonio, or watching some terrible reality TV!