Wednesday(ish)

(since I promised- this is Tuesday night's Boudoir Class- at max capacity- 1k people 30 minutes before the class actually started. In my terms "this is what happens when you offer free on stage lighting demos of half naked girls)
(and she did not disappoint! I have mostly video from this....but yeah, it was pretty hot)



So on Wednesday, again, I miss my 8am class. Another WPPI tip- did you know if you want to make it to someone really cool at 8am, you have to be there by 7ish? Did you also know that if you stay in the main area of the hotel, it takes 30+ minutes to get to the classrooms? SERIOUSLY. I actually did lose some weight.

Tuesday night was party night- a certain "resource blog" for photogs that gives away things had a rockin' party. We took photo booth pictures, had a drink and everyone acted like idiots for free stuff. I won some canvases from a great canvas company! There were tons of other parties that night but by 1am, I was wiped.

So Wednesday I had my shootout and I decided to have a cup of coffee and wait for the trade show to open. I was sitting across from Dane and wanted to talk to him about how fantastic his seminar was and how influential his program was in getting me to come this year- but he was eating a bagel and I didn't want to interrupt his breakfast.

I went on the trade show floor and finished TWO scavenger hunts in 40 minutes. Awesome. Of course, I didn't win anything.

I told myself I would push WAY out of my comfort zone and go to a shootout on my own, and it was well worth it. I was super nervous, but just kind of relaxed and went with the flow. Met an awesome girl in the cab from Charleston.

Here are a few pics from the shootout


Is she not SUPER adorable? I have more pics from the bride/groom on my FB page.

Annnnnddd....if anyone can re-post this blog with the name of the fantastic blog who not only set up the party on Tuesday but the shootout Wednesday (Post on FB with the title "Dee was partying AND shooting with "blog name here" the best resource on the web!) I have an awesome discount code for you that I don't need!

So I headed back to the hotel to see Amber Holritz. This was the class that solidified everything for me. She had one moment, where she said something specific (I won't quote her here- if you really want to know, as me next time you see me) that gave me a lightbulb moment. Hence the huge shift in my business.

Is it scary to think about losing my classic portraiture clients? Absolutely. Am I worried about not doing business for awhile? You bet. Do I think I'm making the right decision? No doubt in my mind.

Above all, the best thing I learned was to be true to yourself. Find what drives you, what part of photography motivates you and make it work. Because honestly, if you are not giving your clients something YOU like, how will they ever believe in the work you are doing and like it themselves?

Wednesday night was a Misfits night out on the town...best night of the trip. I don't personally have photos (Kaela was rockin my camera) but I will post some when she gets them processed. There are some adorable pics of us girls on the strip!