Showit United 2015 Photography Conference Scottsdale & Sedona, AZ Vacation {San Diego Wedding Photographer}

Every year for the past 3 years, I have gone to the +SHOWIT United 2015 photography conference. The first two years it was in Santa Barbara in February, but this year it moved to Scottsdale in October. Every year, since October is my birthday month, I try to take a week off and go on vacation somewhere new. Well, this year it looked like my vacation would be in Arizona ! Initially I was irritated, but as the time drew closer, I started getting excited for the conference and to see my photographer friends from all over the country again.

I roadtripped it out to Scottsdale on Saturday. Driving 6 hours alone is rough if you rarely do it ! I was jamming out to T-Swift and the Biebs in the car but by the time I hit Yuma, after 3 hours, it was time to get some lunch, stretch my legs and wake up before I crashed my car ! 

I made it to Scottsdale and checked into my hotel Saturday afternoon and looked forward to the following day when all the festivities were to begin ! 

After a quick lunch on Sunday with some new and some familiar faces, it was time to head over to the +FireSky Resort & Spa, a Kimpton Hotel for the first of the styled shoots. I signed up for Fine Art Bride & Groom with the awesome Karie Denny from +Ace & Whim. About 25 of us piled onto a limo bus and headed for +Tremaine Ranch in Chandler, AZ. We photographed a beautiful tablescape styled by Sage & Stem with florals by +Sara Severance at Ivy & Aster. Our gorgeous bride and groom were a newly married couple with the "bride"s gown provided by Bella Lilly Bridal with hair and makeup by +Kiana Waltz. 

We got about an hour to shoot before the heavens opened and all the thunder and lightning that had been threatening us all afternoon became huge drops of rain. I do miss a good thunderstorm.

 

  

 

 

    

  

  

 

  

 

That evening was registration, vendor market and welcome drinks. I decided to head back to my hotel because I knew I had a big day ahead of me the next day ! 

On Monday, it was great to catch up with some familiar faces. I went to breakout sessions with +Carrie Swails about blogging and +Benjamin Turner about website SEO. Both of them were very informative and I've got some work to do on the blog and website for sure! That night was the highly anticipated gala, so I hit the local +Primp and Blow to get my hair did ! They handed out some awards to Showiteers and we had a nice dinner and got to Ooh and Aah over each other's pretty dresses ! 

United 2014 Santa Barbara, CA {Escondido Wedding Photographer)

This was my second year attending United in Santa Barbara, CA. It's a photography conference put on by the guys from PASS and Showit. Last year it was less than 200 people and while it doubled in size this year, it still managed to keep it's sense of intimacy.
I hit the road north on Sunday, stopping at LAX to pick up a couple ladies heading my way who were in need of a ride. Natasha from Missouri and Jill from Minnesota. None of us had met before, but this is nothing new at United, where photographers looking to share a bed at the pricey conference hotel just post their need on the United Group Facebook page and the offers come swarming in. I snore. Bad. So I relegated myself to the nearby renovated Motel 6 for $70 per night. I promised myself after last year, that I'd try to be more social, be a joiner and make a concerted effort to meet new people at every turn. Mission accomplished ! It was a fabulous 4 days meeting new people, seeing old faces from last year, learning about posing, shooting and workflow from some of the best photographers in the biz and generally getting and giving lots of hugs. What I love the most about this community of Shoot & Share Photographers is their emphasis on serving each other, their clients and the photographic community as a whole. They selflessly give of their time and talents to help other photographers and their community as a whole. It's not about competition and success, although, success does seem to follow ! After spending just a few days with these awesome people, I am sick with a cold, and tired to the bone, but it's difficult not to come away with a refreshed mind, feeling less jaded by the industry and looking for ways to give back. Taking a page out of Josh Newton's playbook this year, I am definitely going to be looking for a passion project to work on. Something that'll keep my creativity fueled and hopefully give back somehow.
To see some cellphone pics from last week, check out my Facebook Album.

Here're a few behind-the-scenes and shoot photos from the week: