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!

1. Be a Fast Track Photographer in 2010!
2. Houston Fast Track Photographer Meetup!
3. Fast Track Photographer Roadshow Workshop – Houston Rocks!

The day after the workshop I drove Zack to Austin so he could do a workshop there, and then I came home and wrapped up a busy fall wedding season here, and somehow I managed to never really edit my photos from the workshop. Other things took priority, and before you know it — well, here we are. Last week as I was looking through my backup drive for something else, I came across my photos from the day, and I decided it was time to share a few of my favorites with you!

Thank you again to Tracy Tesmer and Marc Brubaker for being our models for the shooting portion of the day. It was nice to see both of you in front of the camera for a change!

Zack Arias working some of his Zack magic. He is one of the best teachers in the industry and if you are a pro photographer and want to learn more about off camera lighting and you ever have a chance to learn from him, do it.

1. Greetings from Mexico!
2. More from Mexico!
3. News and More News!

I had the honor of being asked to sponsor & photograph TEDx Houston this year. This was a very BIG DEAL because TEDx is a curated event. Not everyone gets to attend. You have to apply. The speakers are not paid to be there, and a curated audience insures that everyone is invested in hearing what they have to say.

The other reason it was a BIG DEAL is because people weren’t allowed to take photographs. I don’t think they went around and slapped people’s hands down if they tried to take pictures, but they were asked not to do it. They were also asked not to live-tweet or live-blog the event, instead focusing on what was being said.

Two Star Symphony explained about their music and then performed. I was blown away. Wonderful, and cool to hear how they collaborate together to create their work. They are behind the screen performing a score for silent movie in the second photo.

The theme of the event was Expanded Perceptions, and I won’t deny it – my own perceptions were expanded. I had already made plans to start meeting with a business coach this week (Christy Lewis of B.E.E. Ventures – can’t wait!) and yesterday gave me some whole new things to think about. Things I’ve already been kicking about about pricing – which is why the 3rd quarter 2010 pricelist hasn’t been launched yet – and things about me.

Dominic Walsh talked about his process, and then shared a taste of a rehearsal of his delicate ballet, For the Two of You.

One of the biggest realizations though came afterwards at the after-party event. I was talking with David Brown, who also photographed the event. He was talking about his art photography, and I was, I’ll admit it, a bit jealous. Photographers, we do this. We often want to be doing what we’re not. That is a good thing, as it gives us something to reach for. But as David talked about how the four of us standing there were all together, yet all experiencing a very different reality internally, flavored by our own life experiences, I realized at that moment WHY it is is that I LOVE what I do.

I’m one of those people that remembers things down to very finite details. I notice little things. I have memories from 20 years ago that I can tell you almost verbatim what someone said or what they were wearing at that event. Recently, I got to see a friend who I first met when I was 4 years old – our mothers were best friends, so we spent a lot of time together growing up. Then when we were 20, and I was living in Germany, she & two friends from University of Illinois came to Europe to Eurorail around the continent before going to their study abroad program, and I joined them. I introduced her to the man she would later marry. In other words, we spent a lot of time together.

When we got together with my parents, we were talking about a trip we took to Six Flags in St. Louis over 30 years ago. She doesn’t remember it at all. I remember the ride there in the station wagon, driving from Kankakee to Champaign to pick her up, the fact that it was a “family pack” of tickets so my Dad joked that if anyone asked we were sisters, the t-shirts we got that were made in front of us at one of those shops where you picked out the design and they pressed it on for you. My memories are vivid. Hers? None. She sort of remembered the t-shirt she got. That was it. It made me sad for her. I love my memories.

Dr. David Eagleman talks about how it is simply impossible to know all that there is to know about the world around us, and when it comes to religion he’s a possibilian.

So as David talked, and I was having a different conversation in my head wishing that I was a true fine art photographer, showing at FotoFest and things like that, I suddenly realized I didn’t want that at all. I’m so happy where I am.

I preserve memories for people. I get emails from my clients telling me how every time they look at their wedding photos they cry because they remember it all so vividly thanks to me. Clients that tell me how their husbands love their boudoir books that they gave them. From women that tell me that they see, some for the first time, why people are always telling them they are beautiful. Now with the SLGT Photo Project, people just happy to have photographs to use for their businesses. With my expanding newborn, infant & maternity lifestyle photography, which I am so excited about because I want to keep telling the stories of the couples I’ve worked with at their weddings, parents have shared with me how precious & special it is to have those fleeting moments stopped for just a little while. They go so fast.

I get to capture the now for them. The memories that will always live within me are something I can hand to people in a very real form. They can go through their wedding or portrait albums with their family, and always remember that day.

I save stories. I preserve them for their future memories. I am a historian.

I am blessed. And I am doing exactly what I want to do. My own perceptions have been expanded, and I’m writing it all down here so that whenever I have a doubt, I can remember again how this moment feels.

Thank you, TEDx Houston, all the volunteers & attendees. Thank you to to the team at Culture Pilot for reaching out and asking me to be a part of it. I’m honored.

If you’d like a far more detailed summary about TEDx Houston, check out the posts at Startup Houston, Karen’s site Chookooloonks, and at Culture Map. Good stuff, good stuff.

(Oh, and in case you can’t quite figure it out, they are spelling out TED for me at the After-party. They crack me up!)

1. Get Out the White Linen! Houston Art & Photography
2. Weddings in Houston 2010 Bridal Soiree!
3. The Photography Studio in the Heights – Houston Texas

When I got back from our trip and graduation was over, I did a redesign and a relaunch at Wholly Matrimony, a blog about real destination weddings and destination wedding planning tips. I’ve had some great contributions so far, and more in the works. I can’t wait to share them! I’m excited to see what the future holds for the site, which has been online since 1998. It is ancient in internet years!

I started a personal photography project back in May. A bit ambitious, but over the span of a year I’m photographing 365 businesses, artists, non-profits and creatives. I do all of my sessions for a week on one day, and then I blog about each shoot daily. It has been such an incredible experience! I was inspired by the Support Local, Grow Together movement, so it is the SLGT Photo Project. I do a 30-45 minute shoot and then blog about them, and they receive 5 digital files to use. Know someone who might need photographs? Buy a Day!

With everything else, I have been craving a change to this blog as well. So tonight I made one while I watched “Dear John”. I wanted it to be more light and bright. It was hard to see as I cried through the ending of “Dear John”, but I made it in the end! If you haven’t seen it yet, and you’re a sap like me, be sure to have the Kleenex handy! Meanwhile, what do you think of the new look around here? I hope you love it too!

I told Mike the other day that my second job for the next few weeks is as a blogger. Photography, of course, is first! Things are settling into a nice routine, and I’m looking forward to the summer. Having a fresh look here is so inspiring, I see lots of new posts coming soon! I have several drafts almost ready to go live – next week is going to be fabulous!

Shhhhh… you can tell everyone, there is a new Boudoir special coming on Monday too!

We all know that no post is complete without a photo, so here is a taste of what is coming soon – Naurin & Michael’s wedding at Agave Road in Katy, Texas!

1. The Favor of a Reply is Requested
2. Miss E – Houston, Texas Boudoir Photography
3. Sunset Over Seattle

On St. Patrick’s Day I headed down to the CBS Radio Station to pick up the new 2010 Chevy Malibu! Thanks to Kelly for going down there with me and capturing some of these photos for me!

I love a car with GREAT safety features, and this one has them! The controls for the radio are right on the steering wheel, along with the cruise control on the other side. It has OnStar for roadside assistance and turn-by-turn directions. And my favorite feature at all? Hooking up the iPhone to the bluetooth so that I can use the phone hands free!

A *HUGE* thank you goes out to Parkway Chevrolet for providing my car. Sharilyn Durdin, the vice president of Parkway, came out to give me the keys. She is the BEST – I just adore her! I had just as much fun getting to know her as I did learning about the vehicle, and her staff at the dealership is excellent.

Ok, this may sound like a silly thing to be excited about, but I *love* this trunk! Kelly & I were joking when I opened it that it is so big, you could probably fit 4-5 bodies in there! (I kid! I kid!) I learned on Tuesday that it is big enough to hold all of my newborn photography baby props – the big beanbag, all the bags of fabric, plus all of my camera gear! It is like the Mary Poppins bag of trunks – it just never ends.

One of the members of the camera crew from Great Day Houston was there filming us picking up our cars, and he filmed the trunk as well!

They were filming us because yesterday we were on Great Day Houston talking about all the fun we’ve been having with the ‘Bu! (I learned from David at Parkway that that is what all the cool people call it. Cracks me up every time I say it, especially if I add the soccer mom gangsta accent!)

Thank you again to Parkway Chevrolet and all of the Houston Chevy dealers for the opportunity to enjoy the Chevy Malibu and be a part of the Girlfriend Getaway Houston! It is such a smooth, sweet ride – I love it! If you’re in Houston, be sure to go by for a test drive of the new 2010 Chevy Malibu and you will get a *free* 1-hour massage at an area Massage Envy location! Plus don’t forget to register in the sweepstakes and vote for me so we can all go to the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa!

Full Disclosure: Girlfriend Getaway Houston is sponsored by Chevy Dealers of Houston. I get to drive the car for a month but I don’t get to keep it, and they are providing me with some gas money, gift cards, and a Flip video camera to help out with some of my missions. If I get the most votes in the Girlfriend Getaway Houston contest, I’ll win a trip to the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas.

1. Brooke & Nathan’s Engagement Session – Hill Country, Texas
2. Andi & Jason – Hermann Park Engagement Session, Houston, Texas
3. My New Toy!

Coming up over the next few weeks we will be launching a new online gallery software, offering in-person ordering sessions, and adding an album option to our existing album collections that will blow you away! I can’t WAIT to share it all with you!

Ah, Vegas. It was a great time, and I’m glad I ended it by sitting on the patio at Mon Ami Gabi with Travis and Jessica, enjoying great company (iPhone free conversation!), delicious food, and the fountains going off across the street at the Bellagio. Perfect day, perfect ending to a wonderful trip!

1. FastTrack Houston March 2010 Meetup and Surviving WPPI!
2. Gearing up for WPPI!
3. New Orleans, Las Vegas & Austin – Travel Update!

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!

1. Viva Las Vegas! WPPI 2010
2. Houston Fast Track Photographer Meetup!
3. Gearing up for WPPI!

As a wedding photographer, it is a rare treat to have a Saturday free. However, Mike’s parents are in town right now, so I kept my schedule clear for their visit and we headed down on Saturday with them and Jason to Houston’s Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market just off of 3000 Richmond. I decided to bring my camera gear along to photograph it all to document it for Mike’s cooking blog. We made plans to head out early because Mike wanted to make sure to get fresh yard eggs from one of the sellers there – they are so good, they always sell out fast! We picked up lots of yummy vegetables too, which Mike made into a cauliflower soup for lunch on Sunday, roasted cauliflower for dinner Sunday night, and there are some green onions and other items on the schedule for this week as well. Oh! And fresh, handmade cheese! Mmmm… cheese. Yum!

I also made a point to stop and see Cammie’s Handmade Soaps – Cammie used to be our booth neighbor when we participated in the First Saturday Arts Market in the Heights a few years ago!

Mike was in charge of picking out the produce to buy, along with selecting the cheese. We were sure to pick up some Muenster, as that is one of Jason’s favorites!

There was so much gorgeous produce, and a few sellers with plants available as well. We might have to make an attempt at a garden this year!

One of my favorite things about going to the Farmer’s Market is getting to meet the people that grew the produce. This gentleman, the owner of Laughing Frog Farm in Hempstead, Texas, was just so nice, and happy to share information about the produce he grows!

We wrapped up the morning listening to good music and treating ourselves to crepes. Sticking to my Weight Watcher’s plan, I went for the Crepe Suzette – but between the crepe, butter & sugar, it probably wasn’t very point friendly! Good thing it was small, and I ate light for the rest of the day to make up for it!

1. Yale Street Market!
2. The New New Office!
3. Get Out the White Linen! Houston Art & Photography

From their site:
“The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds. This year’s winners represent the top five percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which consists of over 100,000 local wedding professionals nationwide.”

What a HUGE HONOR!!! Thank you again to ALL of our couples that we have worked with – we truly wouldn’t have received this award without YOU! You are all truly the best!

1. WeddingWire
2. Rated!
3. Tuscany of Garden Oaks & Bella Terraza Displaced Brides

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!

1. Happy Birthday, Regina!
2. FastTrack Houston March 2010 Meetup and Surviving WPPI!
3. Boudoir Valentine’s Day Special!