RazNoggle

The End.

All good things, and bad for that matter, must end. The last half day of the conference was just as amazing as the rest. We really didn’t want it to end at all. We heard from Graham Wilson more about Operation Smile, but he went beyond that and discussed a lot of great Facebook marketing things that he uses to target high school seniors in his own business. He’s doing something right because things are going very well for him. I appreciated his tips on that as it seems a lot of people are not as willing to share what is working for them. That’s understandable to a point, but I think that giving a little is a lot better way to influence people than staying walled up and crabby… just sayin’.

Anyway, after Graham we got to hear Vicki Taufer speak. She has one AMAZING story. She has been back in the country since Feb after spending 6 months in Nepal trying to bring home their adopted daughter. They had anticipated being gone for one at the most! It was an amazing story. The journey that she has been on is incredible! From her working for free basically out of her basement, to booming and growing into a HUGE studio space, to now reorganizing their business and actually shooting to be smaller. She shared lots of her experiences in Nepal, and the soul-searching that being there has forced her to do. It was an awesome session. Her whole point was “Joy in the Journey” and it’s good to remember that. No, you can’t neglect the numbers, or the fact that you are/have a business, but not to lose yourself in that is a good reminder. And near the end of her time her husband actually walked into the room with their little girl, and from the back you could hear a very distinct “Mama!” and that made everyone smile.

The drive home was uneventful but not that fun. I was tired, and it’s uncomfortable to be the driver for so long. But the time was good and since I’ve got so much to think about after soaking all that stuff up like a sponge, that a little quite time was nice. It was SOOOOO good to get home though. I just can’t say how much I enjoyed this time away, (I don’t think I really realized how much I needed it till I got back) but coming in and being enthusiastically greeted by Myles’ “Mom, your back! You’re back! You’re back!!!!” and of course nearly getting bowled over by his hug felt the best! Not to mention sniffin’ in my sweet Ella and having “serious” conversations with Qade about what he did while Grandma was there, and the comfortable hugs of my Hurb all worked together to just feel like HOME!

I learned a lot over the last 4 days, and I hope that it continues to sink in as some new ideas that I’ve planted begin to sprout, but right now it just feels good to be back! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!! <— happy contented sigh!

So day three of the conference was fantastic, of course! This conference has exceeded above and beyond ANY of my expectations! I’ve enjoyed it so much and learned so much and had so much fun!

This day started with a yummy breakfast again. I forgot to mention that about yesterday’s, ha ha! And there was a session in the morning with Jenn Hudson, whom I’m sure will be making big waves in the photographic art world. She is already making little waves. She spoke on enjoying your journey, and really finding what it is you love about photography and doing that with all of your soul really. The topic was good, and it was a good reminder especially when it really can get bogged feeling when you’re trying to balance the business aspect of it with your passion for photography. But some good thoughts. I wasn’t a fan of her style really, but I could still see the amazing in what she does.

So that was fun, but it just got better. We had breakout sessions in the late morning and afternoon. I had a hard time deciding which ones to go to since I can’t be everywhere at once. I went to the newborn session first and it was good. Max was just as cute a baby as you’ll find, and his mom has quite the story to tell. Max was a 9 pound first baby and he was born in the car on the way to the hospital!!!! Oh yeah! Wow! But they’re both great, and he’s growing to be quite a little chunker boy who responds very well to his daddy’s “motorcycle” hum.

I was a little disappointed because I really wasn’t able to capture much on that one. My 50mm is still “in the shop” and my other lens just could’t handle the lighting situation in that room. But it was informative and helpful.

The second session that I went to was a maternity session. I really wasn’t planning to go to that one at first, but they were doing it in a room with BIG windows and lots of light so I thought perhaps I might just get through with something after all!

When I got there I met our “model” Tina. She is an itty bitty petite gal with the CUTEST baby bump ever! Seriously, she was like the perfect pregnant person to do this session with. She was very willing to step out of her comfort zone, bless her heart, with what seemed like a million of us standing around staring at her. Her baby girl is due in August, and the name is a secret. She is just a glowing little mama and so excited about her baby. It was awesome! And I was actually able to get some good shots of her in this session. I’ve been challenged, like I wrote, to use the equipment that I have till I just can’t grow with them anymore. And yes, it would have been SOOOO much easier to have my 50, but I didn’t. So I popped on my 105mm lens, ha! The room was BIG. And I stood in the back and shot over everyone’s head. Not what I consider ideal, but it DID work! Then when we moved down to the more natural window light, I used my kit lens and got some good shots there as well. I know I can do this stuff, I just sometimes need to be pushed.

So that basically wrapped it up for day 3. I was so thrilled that I actually got to use my camera I got back and started editing right away and posted a shot to FB. Ahhhhh… felt good!

Today the conference ends, and I will be heading home around noon. I’ve enjoyed meeting some amazing photographers and the people from PPA. I will certainly be joining as soon as the studio stables out. It’s a fantastic organization, and I just LOVE the charity work that they do. Stay tuned, I’ll letcha know all about the wrap up of the conference as well. I’m sorry it’s ending because it has been THAT GOOD, but I’ll be happy to get back to my babies and my Love!

Toodles

On the second day of the chicks who click conference we had several marketing sessions, which I ate up! The first was done by a lady from the Denver area named Sandy “Sam” Puc’. She started her photography biz when she was 18 and now has a payroll of 42 in her studio!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW! She is also one of the founders of a charity called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep or NILMDTS. That group provides professional photography services for families who’s baby did not/will not live. Sometimes older children as well but mostly newborns. It’s an amazing organization that I’ve been looking into for some time actually and think that I would like to be a part of in the future. I’m not there yet, but it’s good to know the opportunities that are out there to use photography to help people in ways you never thought possible. You should check it out!

Anyway, her session was not NEARLY long enough in my way of thinking. I would have liked to hear much much more from her, but she does do tours so perhaps I’ll have the chance to do that someday.

We also heard about other ways to use charitable marketing to actually help your business. I’m looking into the possibility of helping launch a new PPA charity called Smile Day. This conference that I am at is a charity event. The charity that the PPA supports is called Operation Smile and it helps children with cleft pallets. It’s amazing what they can do for those kids and families. And of course photography and smiling go hand in hand. It’s great!

There was a lot of information presented on Day 2, and I really enjoyed it. The photoshop session at the end got me inspired to try some of my own designs with the photos. I don’t use photoshop so some of it wasn’t usable, but the concepts certainly were. So stay tuned for all of the overflow from my inspiration. I’ll have to test it all out on someone after all. ha ha ha!!

I met a couple gals who, like me, are just starting out. It was good to know that I’m not the only one. Some of the instructors have been talking about the recent Texas School that they just taught and of course I’m DROOLING to attend one of those. (okay, not really. don’t send me a bib, please. ha ha) But the one best piece of advice that I have discovered recently was in an amazing little article written to new photographers from someone who has been at it and making it work for a long time, and it was,

“- It’s easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you’ve got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don’t spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you’ve outgrown your current equipment and you’re being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.”

So that’s something that I need to keep in mind. Not just with my equipment, but with my desire for more learning. There are so many ways to grow as a photographer, but I can’t do them all… at least not all at once. I need to take and apply what I have learned from this conference and my last workshop, and then when I feel that I’ve exhausted all of that and need something fresh, I go again.

That’s a wrap on Day 2. I skipped out on the “Girl’s Night Out” and went to P.F. Chang’s with my friend Angela. I got the better end of that deal for sure, cause after a very good dinner, (Who is p.f. chang btw?) we finished off the evening with some good old chocolate moose tracks icecream! YUM!!!! I’ll take that over martinis and dancing polls any day!