I should start this post by prefacing that this is a totally personal post into me, me as me, me as a business woman, just me...if you'd like to just see beautiful senior work - wait to check out the blog until tomorrow...I'll have gorgeous girls to show you then! ;)okay, now that that is out of the way...I got to go to Las Vegas these past four days for the annual WPPI convention.the days leading up to it I was a mix of emotions:excited - feeling like a kid on Christmas morning because I was going to have the opportunity to sit under the teaching of photography greats like Justin + Mary Marantz, Jesh de Rox, Sue Bryce, Sam Hurd, SO. FLIPPING. EXCITED!nervous - feeling like a high schooler wondering if I would make any new friends or if people would like me,embarrassed - I know that a lot of you who read this blog live in a world where two foot little people depend on and drain you (yes, you love them, but it's the truth) and declaring to all of you that I was going on a personal/professional trip on my own with my sister in Las Vegas seemed decadent and I shied away from saying anything to most until I was leaving and couldn't keep the excitement in,overwhelmed - I'll be honest, any kind-of photography lighting other than the sun intimidates me and I would be taking a class specifically geared towards helping photographers understand it...what if I was too dumb to comprehend this intimidating kind-of lighting? overwhelmed before I even got there.why start this post admitting all of those negative emotions?well, because it sets the scene a little for this week and the journey from all of those emotions to some conclusions that I've made and probably will continue to make.and to be honest...every single one of those emotions, along with:laughing until I cry, having my heart swell with emotion at feeling my soul stir at the words of a speaker, feeling awkward in an $800 rent-the-runway dress at a vegas club (a total out of body experience that I'm still laughing at), feeling like a junior-higher in the lunch room in the main lunch area trying to find a table to sit at, feeling bold and confident meeting like-minded colleagues, feeling tongue-tied meeting those photography greats in person and feeling my heart race and my tongue feeling swollen and dysfunctional in the presence of those same photography greats, feeling tired looking at my feet wondering if they would ever be the same after walking nearly ten miles in wedges (rookie mistake)...ALL of those emotions plus more made for this past week to be one of the single most educational + learning experiences of my professional and even personal life.and even though it was kind-of like taking a drink from a fire-hose with all the knowledge + emotions...it SO was a life-changing for the better week.okay, so what did I take away?I've talked about my creative crayon box before.creativity and being inspired creatively has always been like that for me...my own sort of crayon box...filled with people and moments that fill my mind and creativity with other colors I might not have or experience on my own.this week added a few more colors to my box and shown a spotlight to some previous favorites...Justin + Mary Marantz - periwinkleI. LOVED. THEIR. CLASS. (that SOOOO deserves an all caps declaration.)it started my week of learning at WPPI off on the right foot.these two amazing people + photographers challenged me with remembering the "why" of what I do.why did I take that shot?was it because the industry told me to take it? was I shooting that shot to get an easy facebook or insta-like?or did I remember that what I do matters and that I was there to tell a story? to tell my clients beautiful and unique story.shooting a wedding matters...most people would agree.but it's not just about a black-eyed pea song, it's not just a party, it's not lets see who's the best at pinterest...no, it's a beautiful celebration that takes skill and careto visually tell.my job as a visual storyteller is to show young girls the beautiful woman they are becoming and already are,my job as a visual storyteller is to show young parents that there is beauty in the chaos of living,my job as a visual storyteller is to remind couples who have been married for 20+ years that their story is worth fighting for...that their love is beautiful despite difficult seasons.Justin + Mary reminded me that this passion that has become my occupation is something incredibly special and IT. MATTERS.I found my eyes filled with tears at a few of their stories...one in particular was about Mary's grandparents...Justin + Mary had spent some time photographing Mary's grandparents...and the last photograph they took from their time spent with themwas of her grandparents standing side by side mimicking their wedding day photograph...they stood side by side holding a silver framed photograph of themselves on their wedding day...it was their only memento from their wedding 50 years earlier.the photograph was taken, and then they hugged Justin + Mary and they went on their way.two weeks later, Mary got a phone call from her grandmother letting her know that her grandfather had suddenly passed away in the night.the last picture ever taken of that beautiful couple was a simple photograph of them holding on to their precious silver framethat for years had hung on the mantel reminding that old couple that their love was worth fighting for.the last picture ever taken of that beautiful couple was of them smiling at each other and at the years they had lived together.taking photographs matter.we take photographs not for the insta-like, but for the silver frame on the mantel.

"you never know the value of a photograph until it becomes a memory."

Jesh de Rox - sea greenthis class and him really, they still make me smile.the best way I can describe him is he is a true artist.he is as non-traditional as they come...all the way down to teaching his class in his socks and encouraging us to touch the faces of our neighbors. ;)he's not afraid to be emotive, in fact it's a large part of what he's built his business on - if you can even call it that - it's his life...for him business + life go hand in hand.he is simple in his aesthetic - almost hippy-like but cleaned up a smidge more.and at the heart of who I see him as is his unreal talent and ability to captivate and inspire.

"photography is not looking. it's feeling.if you can't feel what you're looking at then you will not be able to get anyone else to feel anything by looking at your photographs."

"if it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips your heart out, then that is a good picture moment."

(said originally by eddie adams modified by jesh)

"a thing you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people."

annie leibovitzhe quoted a lot more incredible photographers from past + present,but his point was that the act of being a photographer and being in the moment have to coincide and be one and the same.he challenged me by asking "why? why do we miss great moments?"my main conclusion being twofold...one, because good is the enemy of great and in this digital age, we settle for good - never seeing the need to strive for great.and two, because we belittle the emotional connection between the photographer and the thing or person being photographed.he also reminded me that my life is a gift.an absolute gift.and to give that gift justice...to see the beauty in the world and people around me...even in the little things.to really taste your food...to really look into the eyes of the people you meet and love...to feel the wind on your face - not just photograph it.to hear the beat of the bass drum at a concert - not just photograph it.and to pause and wonder at the color of 100 sunsets.and once you really feel, hear + pause...to take a photograph. and not just a good photograph, but a great photograph.I like Jesh...it was positively inspiring to sit and learn from a genuine + humble artist.tamara lackey - pale yellowI'm going to be really honest here...this was not my favorite class.her aesthetic isn't something that I naturally gravitate towards.BUT. :)she is an incredible person and an even more incredible business woman that I learned a LOT from.things like recognizing your personal patterns of thought...what lights you up, what turns you off, what are your core values?things like "don't be passive...examine + articulate your brand...actively practice being yourself...be consistent."learning to understand that I will not be liked by everyone...as a people pleaser learn to be okay with the discomfort of that.learn how to set yourself apart from being just one more person in the market.goooooooooooooooooood internal self-exploration stuff that typically I don't take the time to pause and consider.the next person I learned from was from a hair + makeup artist that works primarily with jose villa.her words were direct...some might say too direct, but I liked it.mar from team hair + makeup - blackshe talked for just a short while and I left feeling that I really just would love to work with her...her work is flawless...feminine, romantic + now.but the one thing that stood out to me is this:

"to be great...at anything really, it takes: drive, skill + humility."

she went on to talk about several famous people she's worked with in the industry that have had maybe two out of the three and greatness eluded them.I like that: drive, skill and humility.wise words.kenny kim - ivorya few weeks before WPPI, while editing I was watching the TurnItUp Conference online...kenny happened to be on and talking about how to be a successful destination wedding photographer.his online class was helpful and impactful.fast forward to the second day of WPPI when my sister and I were on the elevator on the way downstairs.I looked across and was startled to see the man I had just seen on TurnItUp literally standing in front of me.seeing someone who's made it in the industry, so much so that they're teaching about it on TurnItUp,when you see them in real life it makes you be a little star struck.my heart beat fast and my tongue instantly felt four sizes too big...but I told myself that I was going to be brave before I left for Vegas so I managed to squeak out:"are you kenny?" (he had a badge on that said so...I'm seriously lame.) he smiled and said yes."you're a teacher."can we pause on that.not a question, not "hey, I like your work!" just a lame statement "you're a teacher." I am officially lame sauce.but he was gracious and smiled again saying yes.I finally found my tongue and told him what I liked about his class on TurnItUp...but I felt lame after he left and my loving sister confirmed my lameness with her amusement and laughter at me.BUT.as the week went on he continued to see us in passing and every time he did, he'd wave hello or stop to talk about our day.kenny freaking kim.he had no reason to remember us...OR follow us on social media...but he did.he so did.he made me, who felt somewhat incredibly small in a sea of photographers, feel less small.and it meant a lot to me and made me want to treat others the same way.myrna loughery - desert greenI didn't take a class from her...she wasn't speaking at WPPI but was attending it like I was.we were standing in line to see Sue Bryce speak as the keynote speaker.my sister wasn't feeling well, so I ended up waiting in line by myself.I was feeling tired and little overwhelmed at all the people around me so I was looking at pinterest on my phone...I know, lame.this five foot nothing woman brought me out of my pinterest escape by softly asking if my bag was the leather house of flynn bag.oh man, the fact that she knew what that bag was and even more thought it was unashamedly cool...I liked her right away.I put my phone away and found in chatting with her that she is a senior photographer as well!she lives in Las Vegas and also specializes in elopements - which in my mind would be a crazy fun industry.she is a military wife with a baby girl and in a few months is uprooting her life and moving to guam.I think that guam is lucky and I wish she lived closer to me so I could have a photography friend near me!we shared insta's and immediately I loved her work...very color and emotionally drivin in a beautiful and simple way.the reason she's in my crayon box is because of her interest in me and open-ness to my interest in her.it sounds lame and over simple.let me explain...I had just spent the week being surrounded by a great many photographers.sat next to them in classes, chit-chatted with them waiting in lines, even sat with a few at the MGM food court.not one made me feel as welcome as she did.we sat next to each other in the middle of the thousands of other photographers and were inspired and wowed by sue bryce.it was a fun memory and I'm glad I made a new friend to share it with and even more meet someone to be inspired by...even all the way in soon-to-be-guam. :)my final crayon in my crayon box for this post...THE Sue Bryce - roseI feel like the entire week and the book I've been reading tied into one life changing moment the two hours I learned from her.really.her statement:

"we are not a digital generation, we are a NOW generation."

resonated with me and spoke truth to where the industry is.clients don't necessarily care about huge high-resolution images...sometimes they just want a fast picture for their instagram feed...now.she reminded me that my job is to be a professional and still provide legacy prints for my clients and to educate them on the value of that...to not devalue my work by succumbing to a world seemingly obsessed with only the now...but to strive to provide quality service and product that out live their now.to provide quality service + product that out lives their immediate gratification of the insta-photograph.she went on to talk about how we view each other in the industry...the competition we feel often with one another...she defined competition as someone living in fear (jealousy, insecurity, pettiness, comparing what you don't have)and you cannot create beauty when you are competitive.that competitiveness creates anxiety in being a creative...some creatives cop out declaring to be an introvert when maybe that isn't the case...it becomes a safety net of anxiety...question your "introverted-ness"...is it just projected anxiety, fear of rejection or social dread?then maybe you've put a label on something that is allowing you to hold yourself back...manage your emotions and anxiety.negativity, anxiety + competitiveness can't create beautiful portraits.she challenged us to remember why we fell in love with photography in the first place.to ask what lights us up photographically...and to DO that.she reminded me that I am creating work that will out-live me...that will out-live you.my job is to beautifully stop time.my job is to get to create something incredible.because I can.because it is valuable.because I love it.holy moly, that's good stuff, no?!there is so much more that I saw and learned...but for now, this is what I've processed from my amazing week at WPPI.I can't wait to put it into practice!

because I love it.