Friday, January 21, 2011

Inspiring Imaging USA

Totally Oblivious
When a photographer I work with told me about about a photography conference in San Antonio- I had no idea what it was, only that I wanted to go. I was completely oblivious to what the conference was or just how much it would impact my life. D picked me up from work on Saturday afternoon and despite this nasty weather,

  
we headed down to San Antonio- which is a beautiful city! I wish I would have more of a chance to explore the city. After an extremely filling meal, we headed to our hotel- classes at Imaging started at 7am the next day. What I didn't know? That the next day...I would be joining over 10,000 photographers from all over the United States.

Thanks to a good family friend, we were able to stay in this beautiful little room :) Thanks for helping us find such an awesome place, J&B!



Take The Plunge
Wow, as soon as I walked in the door, you're enveloped by photography talk and terms and people. My first class- how to make $100,000 in 100 days, just shooting high school seniors. For three days, I attended two classes in the morning, and two in the afternoon, then I had the late morning and early afternoon to explore the biggest expo I have ever been to.
 Here's an "above" view of the Expo-- three day, 5 hours a day still didn't cover it all!
  Got to see an awesome talk from the photographer who shot Eva Longoria Parker's wedding! :)
Me in front of the expo.
 One of the classes I got to take- Portrait Posing and Lighting! It was so fun!
I also bought my first "big girl lens".... I was attempting to save for a new body, but after talking to various photographers, I realized that it's more important to have good LENSES. So I bought a nice little 50mm 1.4... and it takes the most amazing pictures!
Taking a Breath...Go Spurs!
Dana has awesome connections, and we had the privilege of going to a Spurs game for the evening on Sunday. It was so much fun! Exhausting after a long day of conference, but super fun! We sat in the LOUDEST part of the crowd, I think her connection purposely got us tickets for that area...I think D was in heaven. :)


 
At the beginning of the game.
YAY! Close game, but we won.
The Wind Down
After an awesome closing celebration, including authentic cajun food to prepare everyone for next year's conference in New Orleans, D and I headed home. Thank you so MacBeth Photo for letting me hang with you for three days- I learned so much! I can't wait to start experimenting with everything I'm learning. I also have some awesome photographers to look up to!


PS...A Little Love
Just wanted to share how sweet my guy is: we got home around midnight on Tuesday night, after an awesome closing celebration, preparing us for the conference next year (in New Orleans). It's amazing how much a little box marked "ProFlowers" can make a girl smile. B sent me a sweet little bouquet of roses to mark halfway through our month apart. 
 My flowers...halfway there babe!