Then the opportunity to go to Las Vegas for Skip’s Summer School came up. It was just too good to pass up, and so even though it followed right on the heels of my trip to New Orleans (I was home for 36 hours inbetween the two), I am SO glad I went! I met the most AMAZING people this summer, and it has been a HUGE inspiration! Thank you to everyone that made that happen!

The trip to New Orleans was the perfect kick-off to the trip to Las Vegas. I joked that it was like I was in training. In Vegas, the Fast Track Photographer community was on fire! We kicked it all off with a fantastic meetup that my friend Lain from Lubbock put together. You can see a bit of it in the video below that Ray Pryor of Emotia in Chicago created. Can’t you just feel the buzz? It was so awesome! From there it was two solid days of school, where I got to learn from some of the best leaders this industry has to offer. As a bonus, there were only 360 or so people there – so everyone was so accessible!

The best part for me was all the people I met, by far – and the fact that Dane Sanders helped in his own magical way to bring so many of us together. You can just feel the energy in that video – and that was within hours of arriving in Vegas. Just imagine how it was after we had two days to bond! It was so moving to help out with the table after Dane Sanders spoke and getting to hear from so many people such awesome feedback! Dane is the MAN! If you get a chance to attend one of his workshops, I can’t recommend it enough! (You can check out the upcoming dates and sign up here – and use the code Christine_Workshop_New to get $75 off of the price!)

I’ve been home for a few days now, and Elaine & I went down to Galveston on Saturday for Melissa & Brandon’s wedding reception — not only was it fantastic seeing their family that were in Belize in July, but to meet the rest of their family & friends *and* get to see Elizabeth & Michael, one of our May wedding couples! It was a happy coincidence that we discovered a few weeks beforehand that Elizabeth & Michael are friends with Melissa & Brandon – we had no idea about the connection, and they didn’t even realize until after the fact that we were working with both of them on their weddings!

I’m hitting the road one last time now in my crazy, crazy August – it is off to Austin, where I’m going to help out with Dane’s workshop! There are still seats available, and it doesn’t start until tomorrow, so get in while you can if you’re interested! If you’re in the Austin area (or willing to make the drive over) and you can’t do the workshop itself, join us *tonight* for Dane’s presentation on Standing Out in the Crowd – FREE! (RSVP here.) Hope to see you there!

1. Viva Las Vegas! WPPI 2010
2. Wait a Minute Mr. Postman!
3. Bridal Photography in New Orleans, Louisiana

This past weekend, I attended a workshop with the amazing talent behind Tri-Coast Photography and learned things about my own equipment that I didn’t even think was possible. Getting together with other photographers is always such and AMAZING experience, especially nice when it is a number of photographers that live right in the greater Houston area so we can get together again and again.

I am a big believer in learning all that I can so that I have even more “tools” in my mental toolkit to use when confronted with different photography situations – especially when it comes to lighting. You never know when a venue might be less than ideal to lending itself to the shot you want to get. Knowledge is power, because it gives you options and therefore control.

I left Houston just 12 hours after I got home from the workshop to head up here to New York City. I love New York! I have a newborn shoot today, and then I’ll spend the rest of the day out and about exploring the city. I’ll only be here for 48 hours total, so I’m trying to make the most of it!

I’ll return to Houston on Wednesday, only to leave 20 hours later to assist with shooting a wedding in Asheville, North Carolina with Regina Holder and then attending a workshop hosted by Corey McNabb. The next two weeks are going to a be a whirlwind!

I am receiving phone calls and answering emails via my BlackBerry, so feel free to contact me! For now I have internet access, but I’m trying to keep my online time down because there is too much to see and do out there!

Both of these photos are from the workshop; it was truly a good time!

1. Happy Birthday, Regina!
2. Nathalie & Joe – Wedding in Asheville, North Carolina
3. The Groom

More to come soon, when the internet doesn’t cost so much!

1. Hurricane Ike Status Update
2. Greetings from Amsterdam!
3. My New Toy!

Jason & I arrived yesterday morning at about 8am (local time) in Amsterdam. After finding the hotel & getting a short nap, we went out and walked around the city. So fabulous to see so many people walking, and so many bikes. I always knew that there were a lot of bikes here, but had no idea just how many until we arrived – it is just astonishing!

We went on a river cruise, and walked and photographed some more, until we just couldn’t stay awake any longer. Another nap, and then when Mike arrived from London, we went out for dinner and a stroll around the Dam and down Damark.

We are having a great time, although the jet lag is still making me a bit tired and punchy right now. We’ll adjust soon though, I’m sure! Today, we are off for Germany!

1. Sunset Sailing in Belize – Destination Wedding Photography
2. My New Toy!
3. Germany Update!