This week, I attended my first photography workshop - WPPI Road Trip. At first, I didn't feel like I deserved to go. I want to get back in to photography & re-launch my business, but I felt that this seminar was "too much for me," like I was going to be the only one that was "re-launching" or "starting over." I was wrong. I shared a room with 400 other photographers who ranged from those that have been in the business to those that were just starting from scratch. It was all over the spectrum & I was just so happy that I did in fact fit in.
I learned so much from each speaker. I have at least 3 pages of notes from each one of their speeches. Even though they each had different things to say regarding their individual practices, i took something great from each of them. The fact that they shared so willingly made the seminar so worth it.
Of course, my favorite part, was hearing my favorite photographer, Jasmine Star, speak on marketing, branding & being YOU. I've been following her blog & her work for almost 3 years now. I think what drew me to her was that she was so honest about her trials & tribulations & how she didn't have professional training or an education in photography. She simply loved it & wanted to make a living doing what she loved. Who can't be a fan of someone that does something like that?
When Melissa, William (Melissa's assistant photographer) & Rikki went upstairs to have our lunch, I quickly noticed Jasmine & JD checking in to the hotel. I instantly became star struck. It was almost as if I had just seen Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block. Seriously. Such a dork! So after I put my lunch down, I grabbed my camera & told the others that I was going to get my picture before she had to be downstairs for the seminar. Melissa came with me so that she could snap the picture for me. I walked over & asked if I could bother then for a photo. When JD offered to move their luggage away, I said "NO, JD, YOU TOO!" As if JD & I went WAY back. Again...big dork! So he jumped in the photo, we did a little dance around to figure out who was going to be in the middle & we took a picture....
Afterwards, JD asked what my name was & I replied "Tanya." Jasmine asked "Tanya what?" & I said "Tanya Jose" & she said "I know that name? How do I know you?" And I mentioned that I'd been following her for almost 3 years, I mentioned how I won a gift card from her for
THIS POST & that I leave comments on her blog all the time. It rang a bell with her & she knew who I was & that I was from Seattle.
OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!
The fact that my name "rang a bell" was it for me. Nothing. I mean NOTHING, could've ruined my day after that. I was completely giddy while I ate my lunch & kicking my feet while opening my cookie. You'd think that I had just won a golden ticket to meet Willy Wonka.
Looking back on it, when I had won that gift card, I remember calling a few people in extreme excitement that I had been mentioned on Jasmine's blog. I remember my shaking hands & my shakey voice & all. That's EXACTLY how I was when she said that she knew my name.
So embarrassing!!
But with all that said, I came out of the seminar feeling so inspired. Inspired to focus on how to re-launch my business, start up a website that best represents ME & keeping it all real while doing so. I hope that you'll enjoy this ride as much as I will.
