Last week I had the privilege to meet Dane at his workshop in Florida.  Lifechanging, fun, informative, hopeful, moving, and magical are words that come to mind.  Equally as amazing was all the great girls I got to meet and develop friendships with.  Can’t wait to see where God and Dane lead us:)

We had a photo shoot with Amanda and Colton in the GORGEOUS Florida sun! Seriously, why do I live in Knoxville, TN again?   Here are some of my faves…well, alot of my faves.

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So, these past few days I have spent in Nashville at Imaging USA, a annual professional photographer’s conference.  In light that I have some photographer friends who couldn’t go and for those photographers that check the blog and went, I thought we would do a little Imaging USA review! If you went too, feel free to leave your suggestions, answer the questions or just share your experiences in the comments!

What did you love most about Imaging USA?

This one is a hard one! I loved the teachers and all the learning that went on but I think my most fave thing that I LOVED was the tradeshow.  Only because I LOVE things like that where you can walk around, see a ton of fun stuff, get some freebies, and browse. You can feel the products in your hand and talk to those that know and love them! Love it! The tradeshow was the thing I got giddy about when going to.  The thing that I was most excited about.  And it didn’t disappoint!

What did you like the least about it?

The only thing on Imaging that I can think that I didn’t like was the traffic pattern for the classes.  Perhaps it was the Opryland, not sure, but they had all these doors going into a room and only one open to have enter and exit traffic creating this huge jam.  Could they not have opened a door as an exit?

What did you think about the classes?

First the giant loves that I have for all the classes! I love that there was a variety so they ran the gamut so everyone had a different learning experience depending on what classes you went to.  I loved that you could go into a class on the portrait track and still learn things that could apply to weddings.  I love that the instructors were all unique and really great speakers. You had some speakers that spoke on more intangible things, like who you are as a photographer and how to get to where you want to be. And then you had classes and speakers that provided tangible things to go home and do or just to give you ideas of what you can do. So it was a great mix and I’m in love with some of the classes I got to participate in!

I feel inspired, capable, and a little overwhelmed with all the great knowledge I got the honor to hear. It was unbelievable!

What about the hotel!?

Aside from the tradeshow this may have been the second thing I was super excited about! We have been to the Opryland so many times to look around and I have always dreamed of staying there.  I had my fingers crossed for a good view (aka…please don’t let me be looking out at the parking lot!) So, first off, have you ever realized that the Opryland is more designed for tourists and not their actual guests.  We had a nice little walk around while we figured out where the heck to check in at! Once we found that we made our way to the room.  We were in the Magnolia section and overlooked the whole delta area! So, beautiful beautiful view!! Yay! The hotel was actually quite normal but very nice.  My only complaint was that their beds don’t have comforters, just a sheet and a thin crocheted kind of blanket thing.  I like to snuggle in giant comforters so that was a little of a bummer but other than that, FANTASTIC experience!!

My roomies!

Some people thought we were crazy I’m sure but I love how things work out! I needed roomies because I wanted to share the cost of the hotel with me and a friend from Knoxville and meet some new people so I hooked up with a few girls from PPA and we had such a blast getting to know each other and room with each other.  From a scare with an asthma attack (not me…), eyelashes that looked like spiders:), a little Zack Arias inspiration, and to spicy chocolate…Great times were had by all!  Thanks Amy, Jenny, and Becky!!! You guys rock!

Things I learned:

• That regardless of where you are in your career you have something to learn here. There were lifelong photographers there and those that were just starting out. Very cool mix!
• That every photographer/speaker will tell you something a little different and there are so many ways to make it work, your job as a photographer is to find out what works for you.
• Take all the info you get, process it, and see what works for you and your business and what doesn’t.
• Famous photographers are people too and started somewhere.  I heard some people say that they felt defeated because they weren’t as good as all these great speakers but I really looked at it like hey, these people are doing all of this and more and are no different from me really. They have the same struggles.  Gives you a little hope that no matter where you are in your journey, you can do it.
• There were some themes that stood out in a lot of the talks: your job is to capture the story, the emotion, and that you have to be you.  Don’t try to copy the next photographer, be yourself!  That is what makes you you and your photography stand out!

The end…

All in all it was a GREAT time that I would do over and over again.  Yes, I returned to my to do list that is overrunning, chores, and life that goes on with all its ups and downs but I’m counting my blessings and getting to be involved in photographing life is definitely one of them! Super excited for 2010!

If you have any more questions that I didn’t touch on, feel free to ask in the comment section and I’ll add on! Oh, and a picture to end the post of our view from our room!

You know what struck me most though? The smell. I love how cities smell. Its that kind of smell that you can get no other place. That smell that, even blindfolded, you know where you are. That mix of good food, vendors, taxi fumes all wrapped up in one:) Love it!

In my walk up through Manhattan I grabbed a few pictures….first up, my lunch when I first got off the train from the airport, yummy gyro:)

ahhh…my room at the Wyndham and its view. Happiness!

I love these two pictures…I love that they give you a different perspective on Times Square.

I’ll skip the story about how you shouldn’t wear new shoes when you decide to walk over 40 blocks to Central Park and back and just share this street scene picture of the carriages with you:)


Love this picture of the airport. love it.

In the midst of gyro’s, sore feet, and awesome hotels, I also got the chance to meet some amazing and inspirational photogs…

Jason Groupp – NYC’s most awesome wedding photographer
John Michael Cooper – very different wedding photography
Seshu – Connecticut documentary wedding photography
Tim Dinofa – modern south NJ wedding photographer with very neat handwriting
Steven Young – amongst the most awesome NYC peeps
Willi Wong – NYC modern and lifestyle type of guy
Jacobus Photography – Jared + Rachel Jacobus!
Jason Miller – Washington DC guy but missed the DC workshop I guess
Jim Altieri – CT!
Tina Jay Photography – Philly! (and fellow Penn Stater I might add:) )
Kim Percival – just Kim (leading a double life)
Darren Squashic – fresh and fun
Ahmetze – NY and NJ awesomeness

and a thanks to Lawrence and Julie for being awesome and to Jason Groupp for letting us invade his studio!