Back in May 2009, I hosted the very first Fast Track Photographer Roadshow at my studio. At the end of the two days, as we were talking about commitments and things we were going to do, I said that I wanted to see a group of photographers come together once a month. A meetup where we talked about business tips and other photography related topics, new & old photographers alike. Dane asked me what that would look like. Then he asked me when I was having the first meeting, and being true to who he is he forced me to pick a date right then and there for the first one. (Really, that is how Dane rolls. I’m glad he is that way because it forces me to act.) I said that we were going to do them on the First Thursday of the month at 7pm. Every month. We met up in June, and then skipped July because of the 4th. The first BIG meetup, open to everyone, was August 2009.

Tomorrow night, we are throwing a BIG PARTY!!! 12 months later, we have met every month. People have met each other. We’ve openly shared what we know. The motto is that we are For Each Other, and the people exemplify it every month. I am SO proud of the people that have been participating over the past year, whether they came once or have been there monthly. I’ve witnessed, first hand, so many amazing things. I know that I would not be where I am without all of you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the photographers that have participated this past year!

If you’re a professional photographer in Houston and you want to join us, we would love to see you there! First Thursday, every month, doors open at 7pm and our presentation starts at 7:30pm. If I’m ever not there, someone else will be, so don’t worry about that. Just come out and join us! The only thing we ask is that you come prepared to be supportive of one another!

I’m also SO EXCITED to announce that Dane will be returning to Houston in March 2011 for Fast Track Roadshow 2.0. I can’t wait! The first Roadshow 2.0 just took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota a week ago, and there are several others coming up before it makes its way to Houston – so look to see if there is one near you! I could keep gushing about how awesome it is, but I’ll let you go read the site yourself.

I love this video that the Fast Track Calgary group created for the Fast Track Minneapolis workshop attendees. So very, very awesome!

Not in Houston? Find your Fast Track Group here!

Saturday, I’ll be photographing Sarom & Minh’s wedding, with both a Cambodian and Chinese Ceremony! It is going to be gorgeous – I can’t wait! Here are two of my favorites from our engagement session on a very, very cold day in Hermann Park! It was about 42 degrees, but they were so willing to go for anything! More photos to come soon from the shoot!

Next week is WPPI! YAY! I look forward to going every year – it is a great chance to learn so much, see all the new products and upcoming trends in the photography industry, and more. Love it! I don’t normally like to double or triple post something, but I’ve had a lot of emails lately from friends that are going to WPPI for the first time this year — 12,000 photographers hit Vegas all at once! — and I figured if they are asking, others are wondering the same thing. Below – my tips for surviving WPPI, as originally posted this morning on PhotoLoveCat

First, repeat this to yourself over an over again: “You can not possibly do it ALL.”

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here is the rest!

General:
- Bring your most comfortable walking shoes. The MGM is *huge*.
- Bring another pair of shoes in case you you need to switch them up.
- You’ll be indoors most of the time, and they keep the temperature pretty even in most places, so if you’re cold natured, bring a sweater or something easy to carry around to put on when you need it.
- Bring a lot of business cards to swap with people you meet.
- Notebooks, pens, ready to take notes.
- If you can’t afford a full registration, there is a LOT to be learned on the tradeshow floor. Different booths have speakers presenting all the time.
- Go to the grocery store, or even hit up the Walgreens down the strip from the MGM, for snacks to keep in your room.
- MGM has more room specials in effect – keep an eye on Twitter for people posting room specials.
- Heavy iPhone user? Bring your charger with you during the day. Your phone won’t hold a charge long enough with you texting your friends about meeting up with them. (Mine never does, and I have all the battery saving features turned on.)
- Wondering what to wear? Dress ranges from business-like clothes to jeans to whatever. It is a conference with your peers, so wear what makes you comfortable in that situation.
- If you’re tired, go to your room and take a nap. It is ok. You’ll miss something, but you’ll be more receptive to learn more later.

Platforms / Business Institute / Plus Classes / Master Classes:
- Sometimes the descriptions are exactly what they are covering, and sometimes they aren’t as accurate. Ask other people if they have heard people speak, they might be able to give you tips on who to check out.
- If you have a hard time deciding between two panels/platforms, sit near the door and if you don’t like the one you chose, slip out and go to another one. You won’t be the only person to do it.
- My first year in business and first year at WPPI, the Business Institute was the best money I spent. I learned SO much, and met several great friends there too.
- If there is a speaker you just *have* to see, be sure to get there extra early to get a seat. Lots of platforms closed last year when the room was full.

Tradeshow:
- I always bring a tote bag to carry around the tradeshow and put all my goodies into. Some booths will also have totes to pass out in case you need another one.
- I always pick one thing I want to be intentional in researching at the tradeshow. My first year it was getting hands on albums. Last year I was on a mission to find the canvas prints I love the most. This is a great chance to see products in person without having to order samples later. I ask if I can take photos with my iPhone so I remember what I liked. (Include a company sign so you remember where to get things!)
- There will be a LOT of tradeshow specials. B&H normally has a gear sale. Album companies offer specials. There is something at almost every booth. Set a budget before you walk in and stick to it!
- I try to bring a sack lunch to the tradeshow, or snack food, so I don’t have to walk over to the food court area or stand in the long food lines (with limited options) in the convention center.

Parties:
- You might want to bring a few “party” outfits if you want to dress up for the evening social events.
- There will be multiple parties every night. [b] school. Pictage. Finao. Airhorns & Lasers. David Jay. The list goes on and on. Lots more will be announced as the date gets closer.
- Meet new people. Step out of the usual.

My BIGGEST tip – again:
You can not possibly do it ALL. It is impossible. There will always be a conflict. Another speaker at the same time, another class, another dinner, another party. You just have to chose which one you want to do the most. It is ok. (This is really hard for me.)

Can’t wait to see you all in Vegas for WPPI 2010! It is going to be fabulous!

Grow as a photographer while saving lives!

It was a HUGE honor to be asked to participate in the 2010 Thirst Relief Mentor Auction. Our mission is to save lives by tapping into the incredible talent and generosity of the photo industry. The auction is Tuesday, February 16, 2010 through Wednesday, February 17, 2010!

Did you know that every 15 seconds someone dies of a waterborne illness? That’s 5760 people every day! You can help. Bid on a mentoring session with your favorite photographer! (Hopefully with me! But there are a LOT of awesome people to choose from!)

*100%* of the proceeds directly benefit Thirst Relief International. Add to that the incredible wisdom and talent that is being shared in the one-on-one mentor sessions and you have better and more successful photographers! It’s truly a win win for everyone involved!

About me and my mentor auction

With a love of photography spanning over 20 years, and a booming wedding & boudoir photography business, I not only have a passion for the photography work that I do, but also a big love for all of the business side of things that go into having a successful business. From pricing to marketing and branding, I love it all! I’ve had a personal blog for almost 10 years, named WordPress back in 2004, and attribute my blog, SEO skills and social media as being a big part of what has made my business what it is today.

I am a contributing editor on PhotoLoveCat.com and active in the Starting a Wedding Photography Business (Flickr) Group, Fast Track Photographer, and a ShootQ fanatic.

About the mentoring session: A private 90-minute session over lunch or dinner at WPPI or in Houston, or a mentoring call if you prefer. I’m an open book, and happy to answer any questions you might have about anything!

We’ll then have a follow-up call two to three weeks later, where we can discuss things further, answer any questions you might have thought of since our first session, and make sure you have everything you need! I’ll then be available throughout the remainder of 2010 whenever you need help – sometimes, we all just need someone to talk to to work through things, and I love to help where I can! I’m an open book!

UPDATE! Extra bonuses not listed on the Ebay Site! If you win the auction and you’re a ShootQ user – or plan to become one – I’ll also include a ShootQ set-up with your win! We’ll go through ShootQ and help you get it all set up so that ShootQ is working for YOU! This will be done after WPPI, so we can focus on your needs! (Valued at $599.)

AND… I’m giving away two of my favorite books! A First Edition copy of FastTrack Photographer by Dane Sanders (also a ThirstRelief Mentor!) and a copy of the just released Seth Godin book, Linchpin! Fantastic, wonderful books that will help your business go far! (Value: $70 – although the Dane Sanders book is no longer available for sale until the revised edition comes out in May!)

Additional goodies are in the works, and will be announced on the blog as soon as they are ready!

My mentor session can take place at WPPI 2010 (Las Vegas), in Houston, TX OR on the phone. To bid on my auction, visit thirstrelief.shootq.com!

You can bid on me HERE!

However, knowing I would be workshops that were all about the business side of things, and not actually taking photographs, I also recognized that last week was the perfect time to send my beloved Canon 5d MarkII and my favorite 50mm f/1.4 lens, along with both off my flashes, off to the Canon Day Spa – also known as Canon Professional Services. Everything is back at home now in tip-top shape, but it meant I had no gear for taking photos at the workshop last week! Oh no! Fortunately, Justin & Mary’s assistant of awesome, Julia, took lots of great photos at the workshops, and I’m sharing them here. (Note: ALL photos here are copyright Justin & Mary Marantz and used with permission.)

Phoenix, San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake, Kansas City, Chicago & Maine – you’re still in luck! Spread the Love is heading your way, and you can use the code “houstonrocks” to get a ticket for $75! This workshop isn’t just for wedding photographers – no matter what you do, if you’re self-employed, just starting out or needing a kick of motivation for your career, you should attend this!

I kicked last week off at the Atlanta Wedding Loft with Justin & Mary:

We were quite the emotional group in Atlanta! It was an amazing, incredible day. I’m so glad I was there and that I got to experience it with my dear, dear friend Regina Holder and the always incredible Tasra Mar.

Tuesday & Wednesday were spent getting down & dirty going over so much great information with Andrew, Rachel & Mark at the LaCour Workshop – it was just what I needed to kick off 2010! This is going to be such a huge year! I wish I had better photos then the blurry iPhone snaps I took at Zack’s OneLight Mixer the last night I was in town. I really need to get a purse-sized camera and keep it with me! I did get to watch Zack take this shot of Kevin Weinstein, so at least there is one photo of a LaCour Workshop attendee. In case you wondered, they are glass. They make the most delightful sound when they clink together. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, that is ok. Kevin will know. I think his work is fabulous and you should check it out. He inspires me!

I got to spend most of the day Thursday at the airport thinking about it all, thanks to the joys of checking bags and going through security. Oh well, I had my knitting with me, and my Kindle. It wasn’t that bad! Friday morning I zipped off to Austin to meet with Megan & Cruz for their engagement session at the Texas Capital and the UT Campus (with my 5D, which apparently has the battery life of an engagement session and not much more – time to buy new backup batteries!), and then back to Houston again to catch the rest of the Houston workshop! Huge props to Brittany for getting everything set up for me while I was on the road! (I had nightmares last week about Brittany quitting. I seriously don’t know how I survive without her!)

This box holds a lot of magic! But not everyone can have what is in the box – you have to deserve it!

I had filled up over half of my Moleskin on Monday with notes – but fortunately I had left some blank pages and lines, so I was filling in things I wanted to remember!

It is really important to get your financial house in order!

On the left there is Deji, Clark, and Annarica! Bonus? Clark & Annarica brought cupcakes! Delicious, yummy cupcakes! We have the BEST people here in Houston!

I look a little rough after 5+ hours in the car, but there I am on the right with Justin & Mary! It was so great to host you guys here in Houston!

Someone commented that I was a workshop junkie, and really that isn’t the case at all – although I do love a good workshop. I’ve made it a mission of mine and of the upcoming Delight Wedding Collective to help educate wedding vendors of all types – whether photographers, planners, florists, or anything else – to be better business owners. And what better way to do that then to help bring workshops to Houston! Speaking of which, you should check out Jason Aten’s Starting Out Right Workshop, coming to Houston on February 8, 2010! I learned so much from Jason while just having lunch with him at Skip’s Summer School in Vegas last year. Sign up – and be sure to tell him I sent you!

Just a reminder that the Houston Fast Track Photographer Group will be meeting this Thursday night! January 7, 2010 at 7pm at 1024 Studewood in the Heights. The group meets the first Thursday of every month. We’ll be meeting in conjunction with the Houston Pictage User Group (PUG) this month.

The meetings are open to all pro photographers in Houston, no matter what area you specialize in or where you are at in your business. We’re for each other, and want to help each other learn. Everyone – and I do mean everyone – has something to offer! We look forward to seeing YOU there!

Not in Houston? Wondering if there is a Fast Track Group near you? Be sure to check the schedule and find a group near you!

A few weeks ago, Jesus Tirso contacted me and asked if I would be interested in hosting the awesome and amazing Finao Albums and their upcoming Houston Playdate, and I couldn’t say yes fast enough! Finao’s albums have a zillion options, and they are so beautiful! We’ve added them recently as one of our Flushmount album options specifically because they offer a non-leather cover option which is important to so many of our clients, whether they are vegan, eco-friendly, or do not want to use leather albums due to religious reasons – very important to our Indian wedding clients.

On October 29, 2009 Finao will be at my studio at 1024 Studewood, Houston, Texas 77008 in the Heights from 6-8 pm. It is an open event for all photographers — no pressure to buy anything, no big sales pitch, just a chance for you to get your hands on the albums and check them out! The perfect time for you to consider adding them to your 2010 album lineup! You’re going to love them!

Interested in joining us? Be sure to click here to RSVP! We need to know how many cupcakes to have on hand! Mmm… cupcakes!

Our own studio samples are on the way, and we already have all of the cover material samples for you to check out, so if you are a couple planning your wedding or portrait session and would like to meet to talk about all of the album options we offer, be sure to contact us to set up an appointment!

Hey, photographers! Keep reading to the end, because this post involves YOU!

It is hard to believe it was just a week ago that I headed out to Austin for the Fast Track Photographer Roadshow Workshop. It seems like so long ago! But last Wednesday the workshop kicked off with an amazing PUG event put on by Suzi Q and hosted at Studio 563. That place is *amazing!* What a gorgeous studio Andy, Eric & the team have put together. It was also super cool to see Scott from San Antonio who attended the Houston workshop, and Ben, Caroline, Matt, Francis and Errol who were in New Orleans with me just a few weeks ago. I got to meet Nana and Voto too! What a fabulous time!

The above photo was taken by Chip of Studio 563 who drove in with Craig from Houston. There is a lot of others on his blog; I haven’t downloaded my photos yet. Eep! I was too busy hanging out with everyone at the workshop and being in the *now*.

I had warned Andy when I first talked with him about using the space that we had had nearly 50 people at the Houston “Standing Out in the Crowd” presentation, so it was probably going to be packed – but I think he was a little surprised to see 60-75 people there packed into the studio!

The workshop was nothing short of amazing. Having been an attendee myself just a few months ago, it was interesting viewing everything that was happening from a different angle. People were asking me about what was coming up, and I refused to tell them – I wanted them to experience the magic of it all. I know that all sounds so hokey in writing, but there is no other words for it.

Photo by Danielle’s mom, taken with Dane Sanders’s iPhone and processed using the Shake-It app. GoGoGumby joined us for the shot.

At the end of the workshop, we talked about where we were going from there, and I shared with everyone that I plan to continue the First Thursday Photographer Meetups (FTP Meetups – just like Fast Track Photographer!) — and some of them even joined in considering doing something similar in their area! I’m so excited. Really though – ANYONE can do this. Come on out and join us! It is incredible what we – individual photographers – can achieve when we band together and support one another!

I need you guys to help me out though. I can’t do this alone. I need you! If you’re in Houston, I want you to come out and be a part of what we’re starting here. And if you’re not in Houston – that is ok! Start something up in your area. Don’t try to work in a vacuum.

So now for the BIG NEWS!!! The next Houston First Thursday Photographer Meetup is at my studio, 1024 Studewood, in the Heights tomorrow night. (September 2, 2009) Doors open at 6:30 for meet & mingle time, and we’ll be meeting from 7-9pm. Or later. I’ve never been one to kick people out, but I understand if people need to leave at 9. It is opening to anyone in the photography business, or aspiring to get into the photography business. We plan to discuss pricing, and it is a round-table style discussion where everyone can join in!

What: First Thursday Photographer Meetup
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009
Time: Doors open at 6:30, Meeting from 7:00 – 9:00pm
Where: 1024 Studewood (Across from Hello Lucky and 10 1/2 St; next door to Davis Hardware)
Parking: On the sides of the building or across Studewood

And to answer the question I’ve received a few times – as much as I would *love* to see you over on the Fast Track Forums, or see you take the workshop, or even read the book … you don’t have to do any of these things to attend. No membership in anything is required. You just need to be a photographer and be open to supporting others in the community.

Leave a comment if you plan to join us and you haven’t already told me some other way – I want to make sure we have enough seats!

While I’m talking about big news … did you know that the Tofurious SEO Workshop tour has just opened up its other dates? The OC Workshop sold out crazy fast – get in on this while you can! He’ll be in Houston in October!

Come on out and join us!

We’ll be meeting this Thursday night, August 6 at my studio from 7-10pm. The address is 1024 Studewood, in the Heights right across from 10 1/2 St and Hello Lucky! The first part of the event will be meet, greet & mingle, and the second part will be talking about ShootQ – my favorite! Several people have emailed me over the past few weeks with questions about setting it up, so I figured it was easier to do it all together then one at a time.

Later this year we’ll do a variety of different things – night photography, photo walks, business talks – who knows! It is up to the community what happens. But it has to start somewhere and with someone. That is us, and the time is now.

Leave me a comment and let me know if you’re coming – I want to try to get a head count so I know who to expect!

If you can’t make this one, that is ok. I plan to do this the first Thursday of *every* month. Open to anyone who has the drive and interest to attend and share ways to make us all better photographers, better business people, and just plain better.

OH! Did you miss the workshop in Houston in May? You’re in LUCK! There is one just down the road in Austin at the end of August! Sign up here and use the discount code of “christine_workshop_new” to get $75 off the ticket price! Do it! Do it! You won’t regret it!

After much thought, consideration, and begging from some other photographers, I’ve decided to offer online strategy consulting and WordPress assistance to photographers. BigPinkCookie is officially open to the public for business! This is a huge step for me, but one that I am *really* excited about! I’ve already been doing it behind the scenes by request, but now it is available to everyone!

Starting today, I’ll be blogging about building a better blog, marketing, branding and a lot more over at BigPinkCookie again. This is something I’ve written extensively about there over the past 9 years, and something I still talk about frequently on forums, but I want to put it out there where everyone has access to it. (Don’t worry, I’ll still be an author on PhotoLoveCat too!) This is something available to anyone and everyone, and I hope you’ll read it and comment on it often. For me, blogging is all about the conversation!

I’ll also be offering WordPress installations, theme & plugin installations, theme customizations (but not designs from the ground up), consulting on how to make your blog better, improve your SEO, and use a variety of online strategy to help your business grow. I know Social Media is the buzz word these days, but what I plan to offer goes far beyond that. It is a lot more than just using Twitter and Facebook and setting up a blog.

I started making the list below to be a little sassy because I know there is going to be someone reading this thinking, “Blogging Guru? Just who does she think she is?” Then I realized checking up on my credentials is pretty important.

• In January 2008, I was one of the first to move the blog to the front of the site, replacing the Flash splash page that so many photographers have. This completely changed my business model and has rocked my world. I strongly advocate it to everyone.
• Last month I had over 17,000 visitors on this site. Over 9000 were unique visits.
• I’ve blogged since 2000 over at BigPinkCookie.
• I’ve worked for two large web development firms, helping people determine the best fit for their needs when it came to their online presence. I’m an experienced Internet Image Consultant.
• My sites have been featured in a number of publications, including Yahoo! Daily Pick Site, the New York Times, the Houston Chronicle, and many others. BigPinkCookie was featured a number of times by Chris Pirillo on his Call for Help TV show.
• I owned a blog hosting company for over 5 years so I’m familiar with how hosting works.
• I was one of the first 25 or so users of MovableType when it first came out.
• I named WordPress. Yes, really.
• I’ve used WordPress for 5 years now.
• My husband & I have done countless WordPress installations and customizations over the past 5 years.
• BigPinkCookie.com has been in the Top 100 blogs on Technorati.
• I used to be the #1 Google result for “Christine”. Just Christine. I’m still in the top 5.
• I know a lot about SEO.
• I also know how to code HTML by hand and can tweak CSS to make it nice and sparkly.
• If you mention my name in pro blogging circles, some people will actually know who I am.
• I have over 4000 followers on Twitter. I didn’t get them overnight, but instead by engaging with the community since fall 2006 when Twitter started.
• I have attended SXSW Interactive 5 times in the past 10 years.
• I spend more hours per week reading and writing about marketing, blogging, using social media, and SEO then I do about photography. Even on photography forums, I can be found talking mostly about the business side of things.
• I am constantly learning more and more about how blogging, social media, and the internet as a whole is changing how we do business. It never ends.

In other words I’m not just talking the talk. I’m walking the walk. And in case you wondered, I did in fact answer all of the questions in this article correctly.

Someone asked me today how I find the time to do it all, and the answer quite simply is that I have learned what to keep and do myself and what to let go. I am a firm believer in the philosophy behind Fast Track Photographer and the 4-Hour Workweek, along with many other books — why do things that you’re not excellent at when you could have someone who is better than you do those things while you went on to do more? Brittany is such a huge help for me, and now that things are smoothly moving along and she has taken over a number of tasks for me, I get to fulfill the dream of my second love and return to writing about geeky things. I get to help spread my love of WordPress far and wide, helping others at the same time, and I’ll have Mike’s support with this as well.

Oh my goodness. My two loves. Photography + the Internet. My heart is overflowing just thinking about the awesomeness! I’m so excited about it all! I can’t WAIT to share it with you!

All photos in this post were taken by Elaine, because this continues my series of “My computer is still sick” posts. It is currently with the Geniuses at Apple, they got the part in yesterday, and it should be ready tomorrow, hopefully. Maybe Friday. Either way, we’re going on two weeks without my machine, and it has been hard to deal with. I’m missing my album software and templates, Lightroom presets, and Photoshop actions that I use constantly. Ugh. But that is also what inspired this post.

You see, everyone thinks being a Destination Wedding Photographer is so awesome. Ok, who am I kidding? It *IS* awesome. But it isn’t always as easy as it looks. There are a LOT of things you have to take into consideration. It is not your typical vacation, and you must have respect for the responsibilities you are taking on. The wedding last week in Belize was our biggest Destination Wedding to date, in part because Caye Caulker is so remote – an island that you can walk from one end to the other in probably 20 minutes or so, and it is only about 5 blocks wide. This lead to some realizations over the months of planning. I’m hoping if I share some of this wisdom here, it will help someone else along the way. If you’re planning a destination wedding, be sure to discuss these things with your photographer to make sure they are prepared for what you need from them – I’m hoping this will help you out with your own planning as well!

• Part of your trip may be vacation-like, but you’re still working. Behave accordingly.
• You have to bring *everything* you need with you. There is no Best Buy down the road to grab something if you forgot it when you’re at a remote location.
• You have to bring backups of everything critical with you as well.
• Be sure to bring all of your chargers for batteries, phones & laptops, an extension cord for when outlets are hard to find, and any converters and transformers as needed.
• You might have to carry all of this a long way, and the conditions might not always be optimal. Plan accordingly. I had to take a 45 minute water taxi ride in a boat that didn’t have a roof. I have always been a huge fan of my Think Tank bag (Airport International, in case you wondered), but even more so knowing it has rain gear just in case I needed it. I didn’t, but I was still glad.
• Talk to your clients about every last detail of the trip. For example, mine told me about the cab ride and water taxi ride in advance, so I knew to prepare to possibly get wet. I’m glad I had that information so I was able to plan.
• Verify some of the key details on your own as well – for example, does your destination require a visa? Not a work visa, just a visa to visit. How about shots? Do you need anything special? (Brazil requires a travel visa, and most people get shots before going to India.)
• Be sure to negotiate who pays for what when you write up your contract. I like to handle my own flight & room reservations normally, and include the price in the total amount. Also take into account any food and other travel allowance you might need and want your clients to cover – taxis, buses, trains – they all add up! (Personally, I pay for my own food. I would be eating at home anyways.)
• Estimate travel costs, especially plane tickets, based on the average price, not the cheapest fare. That fare may not be available when you go to book, and you also don’t want to get stuck flying a red-eye that will leave you tired when you arrive. Have a provision in your contract to cover fare adjustments if you feel it is necessary.
• Arrive at least 24 hours before you need to be there, if not more. If you’re shooting a wedding on Saturday, fly in on Thursday to give yourself a buffer in case there are any flight delays or anything unusual comes up.
• Be sure to have an emergency fund – cash, savings or an emergency credit card with a balance – in case something crazy happens and you suddenly need to access a lot of cash. Airlines can close down (it happened last year) or a disaster might reroute you, and you might suddenly have to book a $2000 plane ticket to get to the wedding or to make it home.
• Consider what type of plane you will be flying in as you plan your trip. Rolling bags will not fit into the overhead of a Continental Express Jet, and they will make you gate check it when you get on the plane. It is not optional. I always try to avoid the Express Jet flights for that reason, and when I can’t avoid them I pack all my gear (or at least the most essential stuff) in a backpack that I will be allowed to put under the seat. I use the Surge backpack by The North Face, placing my lenses in my ShootSac and then placing the ShootSac into the main compartment of the bag. (Props to this post for tipping me off to the Surge – just look at what all he packs in it!.)
• Keep all of your gear in your carry on bags. Don’t check your gear.
• Talk to your insurance agent about your coverage on your gear. Verify that if something was stolen by baggage handlers, they would pay the claim. Some companies will insist that the airline should cover it, and the airline will point out that they take no responsibility for your bags. If you’re leaving the country, make sure they will pay on losses from outside of the country as well.
• Have a backup plan in case something happens to you and you can’t shoot. (Yes, I worry about these things.) When I shoot in the US, I know people in most areas where I’ve worked, so if something happened to me on a trip that Elaine wasn’t on with me, I could call them for backup. Uhm, not the case in Caye Caulker, Belize. Originally, I was going alone – but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense for Elaine to come along too. I was so glad she was able to do it! And I did fall on the boat dock and banged my knee up pretty bad the day before the wedding — I was ok, but what if I hadn’t been? Having Elaine there meant that if something had happened to me, I had a backup plan. Important when you’re going somewhere off the beaten path!
• Think about what you are going to do to back up those photos before you head home. I made a point of keeping my cards full of the photos when we left, plus backing them up to two external drives. I then packed the cards with my gear, one external drive in my other carry-on bag, and one external drive in Elaine’s carry-on bag. You can never be too safe.
• My latest lesson – think about what you’re going to do as far as a computer as well. Bring *lots* of memory cards – several more then you think you will need. I’m also considering a Netbook or an Epson 5000 type of device for backing up cards. Since Elaine was there, we had her laptop along so fortunately, I was able to use hers to backup our memory cards. For the rest of the trip, with the exception of posting photos to Flickr and the blog posts, I did everything else using WiFi and my iPhone, and I was fine. If she hadn’t been there, I could have had a problem, since in the end I used every last memory card I have, and I would have been nervous traveling without backing up the images before my flight.
• To use your iPhone and WiFi without all the crazy fees for data roaming, set it up so you can get online, check email, Twitter, the day to day things. If you have an iPhone, turn off Data Roaming by placing the phone in Airplane mode so it won’t ring, turning on WiFi, and turning off Data Roaming (under Network in General Settings). Works perfectly!
• Remember to take it all in and enjoy it. Then take photos of it all for your clients.
• You will end up being involved in a lot more things then at a normal wedding, almost like you’re another guest – it is a huge honor to be a part of a destination event because of that! Don’t be a stick in the mud and distant, hiding in your room when you’re not shooting – spend time mingling with them and getting to know the other people on the trip. (Of course, still be professional.)
• At the same time, do be mindful of your own needs – if you’re like me and you like an hour of quiet time before you go to shoot, explain that you’re off to prepare, and leave. You were hired to do your best.
• Think about who will keep an eye on things for you at home while you are gone? Do you have someone that will check your messages and make return calls for you? Mike was willing to check my voicemail, send me emails about messages, and call people back for me. Brittany kept other things running smoothly for me. Having a team at home that you can rely on is really important.
• Be prepared for something to fail. Some part of your plan won’t work out perfectly. For me, not only was my laptop down, but Skype doesn’t work in Belize. While I had planned to be able to call home daily through Skype, I couldn’t even connect. Thank goodness for Twitter and email!

All of this is, of course, just my opinion. What do you think? Do you have any tips or advice to share? Anything I’m overlooking here?

I want to give props to Gene Higa, Ann Hamilton, Tomas Flint, Regina Holder and Jose Villa for all of the information & wisdom they have shared with me about destination weddings – it has truly helped me at each one along the way. I’m so blessed to have such supportive friends!

Also a wonderful resource – and the inspiration behind several of these tips – check out Flying with Fish. “Steven Frischling, aka: Fish, is a self employed photographer, and founder of The Travel Strategist, who has flown approximately 1,000,000 miles since he began to track his mileage 2005.” Yeah, he knows his stuff.

Todd Todderson was a fantastic traveling companion, but he wasn’t willing to carry any of our gear for us and he was completely worthless behind the camera. Thank goodness he is so cute in front of it!