It's that time again! It's our Imaging USA pre show where we talk everything you need to know Imaging USA. We give our tips on everything classes and tradeshows this episode. We can't wait to see you all in Louisvile!
This week's episode is sponsored by our friends at Retouch Up! Use the coupon code GYST10 for a special discount!
This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced by Kira Derryberry and edited by Joel North.
It's that time again! It's our Imaging USA pre show where we talk everything you need to know Imaging USA. We give our tips on everything classes and tradeshows this episode. We can't wait to see you all in Louisvile!
This week's episode is sponsored by our friends at Retouch Up! Use the coupon code GYST10 for a special discount!
This episode was written and performed by Mary Fisk-Taylor and Kira Derryberry, produced by Kira Derryberry and edited by Joel North.
This week's episode is brought to you by our friends at retouchup. Retouchup works smarter, not harder. Welcome to Get your Shoot Together at the Photographers Podcast, where we discuss studio business life and keeping it all in line.
Speaker 2:I am Cara Dairyberry and I'm Mary Fisthaler.
Speaker 1:Hey, long time no cast. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:All right, guys, I have a really cool confession to make. John Grest is calling me. That's not my confession I'm going to make. We were going to do this yesterday, so we're so excited this is coming out, all this stuff, but we spent three and a half hours talking about what we're wearing to Imaging USA instead of podcasting so to?
Speaker 1:be fair. There are a lot of events, and as they are, always are, but this year and the year you were president were special years for our discussion, so I'm going to give us a pass. We did, and I think as much of our licensorship as female is just the way of it. I think maybe some of you understand. And there's some dapper gentlemen as well. Dapper gentlemen also enjoy a little shoppy shop. So yeah we actually.
Speaker 1:You know, I was going to say it's more of a, it was more of a, I don't know. I hadn't really started at that point, and so we were just sort of doing our preliminary. Well, let's look at this site. Oh, we haven't ever discovered this brand, and here's it. And then it kind of went off the rails and before we knew it we had run out of podcasting time. So I hope you will forgive us, but it is getting done.
Speaker 2:It's getting done and this is coming out the most, I mean. Besides, like you know, if this is almost like, this is the Christmas Eve. Situation. Next week is like the Christmas lead up to Christmas or New Year's for us photographers the week before imaging, where we're madly packing and getting our stuff together and getting ready, and we love this episode because we love to talk about what we want to do at imaging what we would like to do, but what we won't be doing and which we will be living vicariously through you guys, to do yes At ImagingUSA.
Speaker 1:And for those who don't, it's unimaginable that you don't know what ImagingUSA is, but I think it's worth a quick say. It is our national conference. So if you've just become a listener and you are like literally just getting into photography and joining PPA, it is PPA's annual convention, where we have quite a bit of foot traffic, you know, sometimes upwards of 10,000 people at these conventions. This year it moves around every year, but this year it's going to be in Louisville, louisville, louisville.
Speaker 2:Not Louisville, not Louisville, not Louisville, louisville, louisville, louisville.
Speaker 1:Louisville, kentucky, and it is going to be a blast, and I am president this year, so it is crazy. The planning time is great. I'm literally getting nothing done Every day. I'm like here's my list of things I need to do for work, and then I just go and just like fly off on a tangent that has something to do with imaging, and so that's just. I should have just blocked off the whole dang long. That's what I should have done, unfortunately, you're not wrong.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately, you're not wrong. I mean, the good news is is you don't have to have matching masks for all your outfits, like I did. I remember that that was so fun. That was so fun, that was cute. But that was so cute and by that we mean it was not cute at all is what we mean by that? Right, but that's okay, it's going to be great. I personally love Louisville. It's where, you know, one of my very best friends lives, and actually my other really best friend, kira, and I went with her husband, kevin, and my business partner, jamie. We went to Louisville for an event, so she got to check it out and it's a great town, got to pre-look at the hotels and the space.
Speaker 1:We didn't go through the convention center but definitely saw where it was and all the you know the Marriott is attached to it. The Omni is going to be just a quick walk down the street to it and the Marriott's right across the street, right.
Speaker 2:Is it attached?
Speaker 1:Yeah, it is attached.
Speaker 2:There's a bridge, yeah yeah yeah. And then there's a lot of high hotels right around that area. That's the nice thing about it. It's you can get out and get some fresh air. There's tons of. I mean, talk about the restaurants and let's not talk about shopping, but guys, don't miss New Lou.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Stop by New Lou. I mean don't leave the convention. No, no, no.
Speaker 2:Come in early, stay a day late, Check out New Lou it's a, they call it New Lou. It's a little area right off downtown. You could it's a nice brisk walk or you could take an Uber. There's some great restaurants. There's really great breweries and bars, but the shopping all locally owned little tiny boutiques. Kira and I did a little damage in New Lou when we were there. I got my shirt on today.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, your bourbon and beyond. I got my bourbon and beyond shirt.
Speaker 2:That's cute. Yeah, it is cute, but we had a great time. It's a great town.
Speaker 1:And another pro tip if you think that you're going to get there early or stay late and just pop into like a bourbon tasting or something like that think again, that is something that you probably want to pre-plan.
Speaker 1:So if you're thinking like, oh, I want to go visit Agents and Vee, or I want to go to what is the I can't think of any other oh, the Woodford place, or you know, you need to pre-plan that, you need to call ahead, you need to see when they're doing tastings and if they have a tasting room that's open. So, but highly recommend all that and of course, there's lots of bars that are really walkable in the hotels.
Speaker 2:You know we did a lot of walking. We did, but it was nice walking in it. It's a safe town. You know all the good stuff. I mean it's a city, so like any cities, but it's I think we never didn't feel safe.
Speaker 1:Oh no, yeah it was great Also maybe I'm wrong, because I don't know what the standard is on city blocks, but I felt like the city blocks were tighter, Like I felt like the build you know what I mean Like yeah, they're not New York or Chicago blocks.
Speaker 2:They're like they're like blocks. They're like blocks that I'm used to. So when I go to these bigger cities, I'm like this is like two blocks in Richmond. So yeah, yeah, I did feel like everything was very packed in.
Speaker 1:So and it was, it was really. It was just cute. Everything's cute and of course there's a Louisville Slugger Museum. There's lots of things to see and do if you are coming in again, not leaving the convention, but kind of stay early or staying a day late. There is lots to do, but so this is. Churchill Downs is celebrating.
Speaker 2:Is it their 100th? Their 100th that you care? You know more than me, mary. I think it's their 100th or 100th. Anyway, they're selling it, having a huge anniversary year. You can make reservations and go tour it. There's a movie and a film. There's like all kinds of cool stuff. And then, like you said, louisville Slugger. And then there's some really cool history with Yum, and Yum is like Kentucky Fried Chicken, pizza Hut, taco Bell, but there's a lot of cool stuff all right there downtown. And then they have an area called Is it Fifth Street Live or so. It's just an area that's kind of blocked off. That's got a lot of cool stuff too. Very family-friendly town, very family-friendly and definitely excited for you guys to check it out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we are thrilled, and hopefully by now you've got your hotel all situated, as the hotel block has, of course, closed at this point, and you're just super excited to be there. So, mary, why don't we just dive right in? We do this every year as we go and we go through the schedule and we kind of explain what some things on the schedule are if you're not sure what it is, and also kind of make our picks right. I mean, it's not an allegiance to anyone, speaker or another, it's just like what would I do if it were me Correct Right now, and because we have so many friends that are teaching this year at Imaging, it's so hard to pick between them, but it's strictly based on what I want to learn.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no shade, because we I mean obviously the Speaker Selection Committee, which that, between that and our sponsors and our amazing education department at PPA, they choose all the speakers. It's kind of a three-tier system and they do such an amazing job that I would like to see all of them. However, I can't. So, again, no shade on anybody. But this is like for my business and I'm going to come at it from. I'm a business person, I'm going to come at it from business marketing sales, hire in while portrait business, of course, Kira you're going to come at it with a little bit of a different take.
Speaker 1:I always love a technical. I always love to watch.
Speaker 1:I was going to say that but you know I love to watch somebody do something else. But one of the things that I've been practicing this year and I would recommend to you as well, to anyone is to go take a class, especially if it's on the technical, to go take a class on something that you don't offer, not because you're possibly going to offer it, but because you're going to pick up something that you might be able to apply to something that you do. Because I've found that over and over this year, as I've taken classes that aren't in my market or my niche that I focus on, but I pick up stuff that inspires me to do new things, fresh things with what I do shoot. So I highly recommend that Don't run away from something just because you're like, oh, I can't imagine ever taking that because I would never shoot a wedding.
Speaker 2:Well, but maybe you're going to learn some really beautiful posing for couples and you photograph families and it'd be great for moms and dads or engagements, but I think you wrote an entire one of your president's messages about it.
Speaker 1:We did a podcast about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think you were referencing Deanna.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Who is one of the speakers. I'm sure we'll be talking about her in a few minutes, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Absolutely All right, let's dive right in. Mary, you got your schedule up, you ready, I'm ready, yep, ready, okay.
Speaker 2:So, guys, as you know, we start with pre cons and Thursday, january 25th, pre cons will start. Pre cons do have a fee or a cost. There's a couple different kinds. There's some pre cons that are multiple days and then there's shorter pre-cons right here that are like two or three hour blocks. Is that right?
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm. Yeah, and often that speaker is teaching it multiple times throughout the day.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes. So starting with Thursday, the only thing that is going to be open is just like registration, you know, like I'm sorry, like first thing in the morning, just like registration, yeah. And then, as we go on, you've got our CPP prep classes, which are multiple days, with Steve Kozak, right. We've got our painting with Photoshop workshop with our friend Sandra Pierce, a two-day business intensive which is taught this year by Monica, sigmund, scott, kirke and Lindsay Betz. And then we have Lighting your Way to Success, the intersection of lighting and business, which is our friend Jeff Carpenter from Nashville, tennessee. So, god, that's a tough.
Speaker 2:That's a tough day to pick, because you got to pick, because you're committed to it for a couple of days and it's a couple days, so this is something that you're going to want to spend time with them. It's a little bit more of an investment, obviously, because it's a multi-day class, but these are great. Obviously, if you're not certified yet, I'm going to 100% say go see Steve Kozak, go through that prep class. He is amazing. He will definitely give you the boost you need to get you as a certified professional photographer, which I know Kir and I both firmly believe in.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and he's an excellent instructor in that and has been teaching it for a very long time. So, yeah, highly recommend. And that one is a multiple day class, yeah, and then you've got Sandra Pierce's class. It's a two day, so that means if you sign up for her class, it's going to be Thursday and Friday and then which. So if you're learning, I mean she's not only is she extremely talented, but she's a wonderful storyteller, and so she's going to keep you entertained for those two days, if you're like oh I don't know, it's a lot to take in for two days.
Speaker 1:Don't worry, it's like dinner in a show, it's all of it. She's got you so she's going to. She's going to be a very entertaining and informative class. You're going to love that. Now we push this all the time because this is the I. Honestly, I feel like this is the class that we kind of want to shut our eyes and pretend like we don't need to take because it's the business and the money stuff. But, guys, scott Currican leading the way on a business class, two day business intensive for photographers. We're talking about your cost of goods, your overhead, your just the just getting set up correctly. This is something that everybody needs and even if you're in business for a while, it's definitely something that you're you still need to revisit, even if you don't want to do it, like me.
Speaker 1:It's not fun not fun at all, but it's definitely.
Speaker 2:It's fun for me. I love this, I thrive on this and I think Scott, no one explains it better than he does. He certainly is overly qualified to be sharing this great information and, speaking of that, jeff Carpenter, he's overly qualified to be teaching the lighting your success. But this is going to be the intersection of lighting and business, which I feel like if I were going to sign up for something, this is where I would be, because it's going to force me to be in a lighting class, which I would usually shy away from. But I would love to see how he's going to tie those two things together. And also he's going to lean into business and commercial, which I would like to expand that part of my business this year. So I think that would probably be what I would choose if I could.
Speaker 1:Well, and you know how I feel about, there's lots of money in commercial. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you got this, yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm going to chase some of that this year. That's my one of my goals.
Speaker 1:So and lots of great opportunities. The nice thing about that, on as this one's on Thursday, this is his class is only one day, so that gives you an opportunity to fill up your Friday with another option, if you want to. So let's get ready to move to Friday. Let's go to Friday.
Speaker 2:So Friday we're going to. Obviously, if you're in one of those two days, you're going to be kind of there, but we've opened up a lot of other options.
Speaker 1:Yep, we have the ultimate guide to team and event headshots. That is with Dave Kallenbach. I hope I'm saying that right. Am I saying that right? I don't know Dave Kallenbach. I have not met Dave, but I know Dave's work and exceptional work. So I think that is a can't miss, especially, you know, if you were to combine Jeff's class and then jump into this class. I think you're like really looking to add that commercial side of the business on.
Speaker 2:That would be a good two for, and a volume because a lot of people that do commercial and I know Kara may not use much, but like I and you do, though you go into big companies, that's that would be considered team or volume when you're going into a company or you're attending one of their conferences or sales meetings and you're knocking out a bunch of these. I think that what Dave is going to do, he's going to expand on Jeff in that realm. So a lot of commercial people are in that kind of volume, event, headshot world, and I think that, dave, this is probably part of the part of the, almost part of the SSE track or the sports. What is it? An events or whatever it is.
Speaker 1:It's kind of part of it's a little bit volume, you know, on that.
Speaker 2:So it kind of give you a little taste and understanding of that, because there's so much opportunities for us to go out and photograph these events and do all these team headshots and headshot events. Yep, absolutely.
Speaker 1:And then if you don't have your master photography degree you had a master of wedding or master artist we can certainly learn all about the new. It's still new the MIR, the Merit Image Review. Carl Kaler is teaching a class MIR pursuit your degree through image evaluation. This is a great way, especially if you're new to the game, but if you just never got it and you want to come back to it and learn more, carl is an excellent instructor when it comes to image evaluation and he's certainly with somebody who can give wonderful critique and tell you the best way to earn those merits. Right, mary?
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely, and he's great at it. He certainly knows that he's a former IPC. Before the name changed, he was a chair. He's been a juror for a very long time, so he's definitely understands that he was actually on the action team that helped develop this whole rollout three or four years ago, so he's a great part of it and he does an amazing job Then you're going to move into someone.
Speaker 2:I love this guy's work, david Beckham. I can't remember where David's from. He's down here closer You're. What is he? I feel like he's, I don't know, it doesn't matter, but I remember one of the first times I saw David's work I was judging I feel like it was their state competition, but it could have been an MIR, a PPA judging and I. It was in, but I out of my head. I'm like holy moly, mind blown.
Speaker 2:It must have been a state of it because I gave it a hundred out of the game. Oh yeah, I just the way he lights and poses teens and high school seniors. It's just so fashion forward and it's just edgy enough, but not too Like he. He balances that line for me because I personally don't like the sexy seniors and I don't know how else to say it. Yeah, we're talking about high school seniors. Obviously I love sexy senior citizens because I personally identify as one.
Speaker 2:But I'm just saying, like I, just he does such a great job, like he just yeah, just just far enough, but not too far, like you know what I mean. I just think his work is stunning. So I, even though I don't do as many seniors anymore, since we kind of shut that division down or our volume studio I really would love to see how he does it.
Speaker 1:That's a great opportunity, like we talked about, of taking a class that maybe isn't in a section that you're like trying to add on into your business, but certainly you're going to pull so much information about lighting and fashion style posing that you could then take to something else that you do.
Speaker 2:Right, because if you photographed women at all, this is going oh men, by the way, but this would be great to learn little to how to use up your headshot sessions or how to you know how to work with women in general. If you wanted to do glamour or boudoir, I think that his class will crop, will definitely cross all those platforms easily, and he's very. He's a lovely human being. I I don't I don't know if he even knows who. I know who he is. It's one of those things like I don't know if he would know me, but I definitely know who he is and I'm a big fan of his work. So highly.
Speaker 1:Yes, he is incredibly talented. Okay so Saturday, but let me just put as an aside. I am so excited that there's just coffee out.
Speaker 2:I mean, I literally am like I'm going to be at Oak and Brew Coffee. I literally just thought of that. I was like that's where I'm going to be at 8am and probably 9am. No, I know where you're going to be at 8am.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you are. So this is our first ever live IPC judging for the new, all new, international photographic competition. I am actually going to be a judge, so I will be judging. Mary actually has images in which I have no idea what they look like. I have not seen them purposefully and you might know one. So well, if I do know one, I'm very happy to do you, you will dequeue.
Speaker 2:You will, you will, you shouldn't. I don't think you'll know anything else, but but yeah, but it's exciting. I will not be judging because I have images in and so the first round. If you guys are familiar, this is our first year. I'm so excited. I was part of the team that kind of worked on this. I'm so excited to see it come to fruition and so excited and just so thrilled with where PPA and our, our Rich Newell, the leader of all this, is taking it and the board has directed it. I just think it's going to be such a fun, exciting. This is going to be so different from any judging you've ever seen. It's we're throwing it out. This is a. This is a trophy judging. Winning money judging.
Speaker 1:So it's going to be entertaining head to head.
Speaker 2:They set it up like the if you follow sports, which we all know Kira doesn't but kind of like the NCAA basketball brackets. You know it started out was over 700 and some images. They've narrowed it down to the top 32 in each category, which I believe there's six, 12 categories, 16 is a lot of categories. Right, there's a lot of categories 12 or 16.
Speaker 1:I feel like 16. I feel like 16.
Speaker 2:So the top 32,. So in the morning they'll get it down to the top 16, correct? And then in the afternoon they'll get it down to the top eight, I believe.
Speaker 1:And then we'll have all day long reveal. All day long, All day long. So pop into that. You can pop in in and out anytime throughout the day.
Speaker 2:We want people there.
Speaker 1:Yes, please know it's not private. We want you there, we want you watching, we want you understanding the process. This is all new, so we want it to be really exciting, really fun, high energy. I will try my best to not embarrass myself with my bad jokes, but which, mary, you didn't laugh. Oh, okay, and it's going to be great. So please pop in, grab yourself a coffee, bring it right in. I assume that's fine.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, if not, then tell them. Kira told you to do that.
Speaker 1:The president told me Also hit me up.
Speaker 2:If you see me there, come by, I'll let you know what Jim just reminds you. You can boo those judges if they don't choose mine. I'm just kidding. So just so you know. I'm sorry, kira, I interrupted you. I'm so excited about this. Obviously my business partner has five in, so it's kind of well. I entered four, he entered five. We're so excited to be in the top 32. But just so you know, guys, and some people have questions about this, so those of you who are tuned into this, some categories might not have quite 32. And this is why I want to explain it, because this has been a question I've received from several people over the past couple of weeks.
Speaker 2:As an image maker, I deliberately only entered one in those four categories. I didn't enter multiple. The reason is you only can have one per category, and what I feel like the board and PPA vision I know we did vision for this because I happened to be there is we didn't want one person to just have 10 or five or multiples in one category. That just didn't feel like the spirit of what was intended for this whole process. So just so you know, every single category, anybody who has it in there, they only can have one. So you can only have one in maternity, newborn, one in high school, senior, so on and so on. So that's kind of cool. I feel like that really creates an amazing playing field, so to speak.
Speaker 1:It does. This is a competition and no offense to our. I mean, we have some heavy hitters Every single year blow it out of the water and multiple first place wins and we love that for them.
Speaker 2:We do.
Speaker 1:We also hear sometimes that people are like well, I'm not ever going to take a swing at that, because there's no way so, and so is just going to take it all of the award. You know that's something that's crazy, because you don't. You miss what is it? You miss 100% of the chances you don't take.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the shot you don't take when Gretzky, that was a hockey reference you just gave them.
Speaker 1:Oh, isn't it? I have no idea. Look at you. Sports I said chances. What kind of shots are you talking? Chances? You said chances.
Speaker 2:You know sports. It's going to be fun. It's going to be so, so fun. And if you're involved with your affiliate or if you're involved with your community network, they also are having a meeting all day. I know that the amazing group that runs that is going to be there. I'm sure Kira will be popping in. David Truss usually pops in. If you're involved with your community network, for me it would be the Virginia Professional Photographers Association. That's a great meeting. You do need to register, so if you haven't, please do. I think all are welcome. You can reach out. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll help you. But Kimberly Ochre, I think, is running that from out West Coast California, I believe so.
Speaker 2:And it's a great meeting. It's really great information to bring back to your state community network, so that's another option on Saturday.
Speaker 1:Awesome. Okay, all right.
Speaker 2:So there's so many more options, guys, here we go.
Speaker 1:And so, and of course, if you're taking CPP, you are still taking CPP on that day, so all right, so moving forward on.
Speaker 2:Saturday. So are these the classes, Kira, that are shorter but they're multiple?
Speaker 1:I don't know, because I'm looking at it now and it looks like there are some that are 10 to 5. There are some that are 10 to 1. So there's a lot of decisions to make here, so this is still pre-convention.
Speaker 1:So a lot of people, if you're doing pre-convention, you're going to be arriving earlier. You might be arriving on Thursday night, friday night, if you're arriving just to come to the convention. Some people are going to be coming in throughout the day on Saturday, so and maybe you can't check into your room yet too. So that's another good reason to go to IPC, but you can also, if you get there in enough time and you plan, then you can also come in and attend pre-convention classes that are happening on Saturday as well. So maybe you're not doing Thursday, friday, but Saturday. So Saturday, if you want some all day options, it looks like you have a ton of opportunities.
Speaker 2:This is literally like a scorecard of like the I don't even know where to go with this. Guys, you're going to have to log in and look at it. I'm just going to tell you out of the gate, like, yeah, if you have not, if you like wildlife photography, nature photography in my opinion, no-transcript, amazing. I've been on tours with Kevin. I've been to Africa with him. His work is constantly in World Cup. I'm sure he's got some IPC final. Anyway, his work is stunning. He's an expert. So if that is something that you're passionate about, I would highly recommend spending some time with Kevin Dooley. Like, it's not necessarily my thing to be honest with you, but his work just is awe-inspiring to me. And speaking of awe-inspiring, look at our great friend on there, kira.
Speaker 1:Oh, look at that. B Petra for Wilson, our friend B is going to be doing take control of your lighting creating bold, dynamic portraits. She's going to be a portrait and technique class, but B does a ton of national brands commercial work. And she's just delightful. So just a treat I would pay just to see her smile.
Speaker 2:I mean literally just such an amazing person and a ridiculously talented PS. Her husband is an Olympic jumper, olympic jumper Something, and she does a lot of really, yeah, yeah, I don't know, it's something like that. I don't do is what it is.
Speaker 1:It's something that I couldn't imagine either of us ever attempting.
Speaker 2:But she, just her sports stuff is just in the way she lights up. She reminds me a lot of John, actually John Grest, who I think probably is coming up here soon. Who is?
Speaker 1:also teaching. That day I'll jump around.
Speaker 2:No, not that day right, oh later, yes, later in the day he's actually going up at the same time. So you're going to have to make some choices. I'm going to be honest 10 to one on Saturday. I don't even know what to say.
Speaker 1:Well, don't worry, they're teaching again. So let's pretend you wanted to take B first, at that 10 to one. Oh, there you go. And then you were like OK, but I also wanted to take John's class. Well, don't worry. You can take John at two from two to five, ok.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:John, and those classes are going to go kind of hand in hand as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they are.
Speaker 1:His is creating fashion images that leap off the screen. John is so technically proficient he is. He's not a fast lighter. So if you're somebody who's meticulous, well boy, howdy have you found?
Speaker 2:Jamie Hayes and John Grest.
Speaker 1:But John is, I mean, so precise with his lighting and because of that and I, you know I'm not I'm not very precise with my lighting, in fact, I eyeball quite a bit of it. Watching John work forces me to slow down and really think about what I'm doing and really think about why I'm doing it, and I love that about him and that's why his images are better than mine, frankly, because he really does take the time to do it. So if you really want to learn the why and and how to do it accurately, you're going to get it in his class and and not to mention just amazing cinematic quality, commercial quality.
Speaker 2:Dunnings, yeah, and also I have to be remiss if I didn't say I have to be honest if I were going to sign up for anything from 10 to one, I would probably be in my great dear Irish family friends Ronan Riles class. The fastest way to make a profit, make a difference. This man is a genius. Him and I are kindred spirits as far as the way we think, the way we run our businesses, how it motivates us. I adore him. I think he brings so much just, I mean priceless information to the table. If you guys, when he says the fastest way to make a profit, I promise you you'll leave that class and go. Hey, I think I got this, I can do it.
Speaker 2:So if you want to do a business class, I think he is number one in my eyes. And then there's some great wedding speakers as well that are speaking twice. So if you're in the wedding market, Andre Brown and Ray Whitney are both speaking one at you know both times. So if you're in the wedding track or you want to learn more about weddings, 100% think Andre Brown and Ray are both fantastic and very successful. By the way, wedding photographers.
Speaker 1:And I think what we're saying here I mean like I'm trying to pair up some of these classes, I'm trying to so grown ins class right, the business class that you take first or later in the day if you choose to.
Speaker 2:I think he's only in the morning, Kara, oh he's only in the morning.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you have to take him in the morning, which is good, because you start out with that foundational business stuff, right there, right. But then also, if you were let's say, you specialize, let's say you're really trying to take your commercial to the next level, I would definitely then pair that with Taylor Bremfield's class. Yes, set yourself up for success and product photography. So, because, honestly, that's a class I really want to take. I wish I could pop in, but I will not be able to. But it's a Taylor's class. And if you're, but if you're more, there's certain markets in around the country that really thrive on senior photography. So if you wanted to do that, you could do that with Kaia Bonneron's class.
Speaker 2:She's also only in the morning.
Speaker 1:Well, darn it, why are you going to play that?
Speaker 2:I have more in the morning, I know, so yeah, but in the afternoon. With that being said, you know, if you took Ronin's class, you know absolutely. Then you could go into something If you're in the portrait field. Michelle Salantano speaking.
Speaker 1:Oh good, Okay yeah.
Speaker 2:And also Rachel Bore. She's going to do some talk about strategic pricing Now, she seems, for wedding and portrait photographers. So that's going to cross both platforms, whether you're a portrait or wedding and or both. So Rachel will be doing a sales and business class in the afternoon, which would pair really well with Ronin's class as well.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we're all pair. Here's what I got the pair oh you do it. Do it. I think I've got the pair. Where's the pair? I don't even like pairs. See, that's the kind of quality jokes. You'll get IPC. Okay, you could do the beyond the plate, the art and business of food photography with Christina Peters in the morning. And then you could turn right around in the afternoon and you could take this class. Now, I don't know this person, do I say? Say, oh, I know.
Speaker 2:I don't know him either and I mean I don't know. If it's a man, okay, it's a man. I was going to say him, but I know they should say Taking on your first commercial shoot.
Speaker 1:I think that those would probably pair a while together. If I were bouncing around things and I love food photography is something that I am not strong in. Product and food photography are not my strengths. I'm more on the portrait side of things in commercial those are. So any opportunity if you're kind of like doing what I do, that would be great. To just have more tools in your bag, yeah, great. Okay, are we have? Have we bounced around? Yeah, let's go to Sunday.
Speaker 2:Obviously, we're going to start it out at Oak and Brew. Guys, if you ever want to see us, just meet us in the morning at the Oak and Brew.
Speaker 2:We'll be there and then we'll head out. We're going to head out. So Sunday is exciting. Sunday is when we're actually imaging USA starts, isn't that crazy? That's when the actual convention starts. So you've registered for convention. This is where you can go to any and all and you can only be in one place at one time. But all of these are open to you, no additional charges or fees or anything. You get to go and study with some of the best. So you go to get coffee at Oak and Brew and then we have an eight to nine 30 slot. Then there's another slot and just so you know, then trade show will open. And the cool thing about trade show is there's nothing competing against it. That's an honor of our amazing vendors who make this all possible and keep the prices low. And it gives you time to walk that trade show and really take it in, because there's so much you can't do it in one day.
Speaker 1:Trust me, you can do it Right and also don't sleep through the first classes and go. I'm just going to go to the keynote that's happening.
Speaker 2:Yeah, please don't, because I speak at 8am on. Tuesday.
Speaker 1:Don't get up. Go to this, and then you're not going to be late for the keynote, you're going to get a good seat at the keynote, so all right. So let's go through those eight to nine 30 classes. Let's do it.
Speaker 2:So, first of all, if you're in school sports and events, have to a big shout out, because I just happened to know the chair of this. My sister is in sports and events and she is thrilled she's going to be in coaches corner a lot, so you get to meet my sister if you'll have an any matter, but she's very excited about this modern school portrait class. So if that's where your heart is or you want to look into that as another revenue source in your business, which I started doing we started doing many years ago and I tell you it's amazing. Heather Crowder is fantastic and that would be a great fit. Oh, that would be good.
Speaker 1:Okay, now you know what my favorite is going to be and I never get to go to this class, but it's going to be Julian cost Anything that Julian cost.
Speaker 2:I would pay to see her put on socks. She's a genius, she's hilarious, love her.
Speaker 1:She's great and she talks about things. She breaks things down.
Speaker 2:I can understand them.
Speaker 1:So understandable. I mean, you could follow right along with her and the good news is she's often talking about things that she's also covered a little bit online just a little bit online, and so you can take your notes and then you can probably go to her blog and kind of get some backup to the. You know to how she did that as well, but she's so fun to listen to and just humble. I mean, she's one of the developers for how things work in Photoshop and Lightroom.
Speaker 1:She knows a few things, Kira, and she couldn't, and she just couldn't be nicer. I mean, that's, that's, that's always nice. You know, they say don't eat your heroes, and then you know, because they disappoint you and you build them all up. She did not, oh God.
Speaker 2:She did not disappoint. She did not. I always loved the bridging the gap. Why do I love it? I just I was part of the team that kind of visioned this and developed this. I'm so excited to see it still doing so well and so strong, so that that track is always going to be not just business, it's just, it's beyond business. It's going to go into mindset, it's going to go into clarity. This one's about clarity, mindset and focus. These are not necessarily even photographers. These are professionals that have top podcasts and amazing businesses and their, their multi-corporation coaches that come in and give us kind of thinking outside of just being a photography studio, just more of a global approach to owning a small business and how to be successful. So I feel like that track. I always recommend it because it always has such great talent. Our EDU department God love them, they, they, they, they choose these speakers and they just, I think, always knock it out of the park.
Speaker 1:They do, they've. I mean honestly it's. It's hard. It would be hard for me to pick which one of these classes to go to. Of course, we always recommend to go and see a headshot class from Gary Hughes when he's around. He is one of the best in the business, so definitely try him out. I don't know Gilmour Smith. I don't either, but I'm interested in the topic. Ultimate guide to creative portraiture.
Speaker 2:She's out of Orlando, she's down. Well yeah, down your way.
Speaker 1:Well, I wonder if I'm saying it correctly. I hope I am, but I would be interested to see that as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she's also beautiful, by the way. I don't know about that that matters, but I just looked through her headshot.
Speaker 1:I'm like well she's also beautiful and she's easy on the eyes. Okay, and she's been in the New York Times.
Speaker 2:Hmm, okay.
Speaker 1:Well, whatever, gilmour. Okay, I see you.
Speaker 2:All right, at 10 o'clock, you know we're all going to be where are we all going to be here.
Speaker 1:Here's going to be on stage introducing I am and I'm going to be on stage in tour introducing Victoria, and you're going to laugh at me, labalm, am I saying it right?
Speaker 2:Girl, I don't know. I thought you would know. I haven't practiced my interview.
Speaker 1:You better figure that out before Sunday 28th.
Speaker 2:I have a couple of weeks. Oh boy, I was like it's coming. I missed you, you guys missed this Y'all. I'm not going to mess this up when I get to All right, guys, let's all sit together, because when she messes it up we're going to laugh real loud.
Speaker 1:Like, my face is on fire, embarrassed.
Speaker 2:So after Kira flubs that and we hear an amazing program, we're going to run, run, run, run, run, run, run to oh yes To the trade show, where I will try not to fall down as I cut the ribbon.
Speaker 1:So I need to wear sensible shoes.
Speaker 2:Sensible shoes. I'm going to make a sturdy boot.
Speaker 1:A sturdy boot to zoom over to opening the trade show, because guys guess what If I don't make it over there?
Speaker 2:y'all can't go in, I can. I can you know why, kira?
Speaker 1:You know why I care. You're a vendor.
Speaker 2:Guys, I have a boot this year because y'all are going to be the first to know. Maybe, I don't know, we'll see. I don't think I'll get it. Anyway, jamie Hayes and I and my family have a boot this year. We have a brand new product launching. We have two brand new products launching. I am over the moon excited and exhausted, by the way, but we're very excited and you are hearing it here first. It's going to be a how to brush oil paint kind of very simple steps video subscription as well as a 12 month content calendar subscription where I essentially say here you go, here's your marketing for 12 months of the year. So that is going to be in booth 935. So if you want to find me, I probably will be in that trade show booth during trade show hours. I think it's listed under Hayes and Fisk. So come by, say hi, that's so exciting. Yeah, come by and say hi and Fisk bumper give you a hug. Whatever works out.
Speaker 1:That's so awesome. So let me get let's give some advice on the trade show a little bit while we're here, because the trade show is going to be happening at this. From this point on, the trade show is going to be open every day at certain hours, and try not I mean obviously head straight to Jamie and Mary's booth immediately, but try not to try and do it all in a day if you can Only try, and it's easy to get overwhelmed because there is, it's a full, it's a full show. Okay, so it's easy to get overwhelmed if you. This is not like a small room with a few vendors in it. This is the big show. This is a lot of vendors. These are aisles and aisles and aisles of products and everybody wants you to buy what they're selling and you need to kind of come in and do some homework before you go about what where your pain points are right now and what exactly are the things you need to fill.
Speaker 2:Guys, make a list, make a budget before you go. I mean, as much as I would love for you to come in and support every single vendor, especially mine, by the way, don't you need to rein yourself in. I think Kira's hitting it out of the park. Go in the first day and just do some research and then think about it. Okay, just don't, don't, don't. Don't put yourself in a situation where this is so cool, shiny object. Here's my credit card. No, ma'am, if it's not gonna make your life richer, better, easier, more profitable, more sustainable, more successful, it might be a pass. Take the information put, put it away for another day, but just be careful. It's just Right. I mean, I be careful.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like sometimes. But I mean on. Conversely, sometimes you are looking at eyeballing something online and you're like when I get there, I'm gonna, I'm gonna look at it and I'm gonna touch it and I'm gonna feel it now you know whatever. And then you get there, you go. This is actually maybe too much bigger than I thought it was gonna be and maybe it's not gonna fit. Well, that means I need to go down a size. Look, you just saved yourself a return.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and on the other hand, you know I used to do because I think this will be my 26th imaging wow, I know I started when I was 10, so any who? Um. So what we would do early on is and this is before, obviously now I use my cell phone, but before I would have a notebook and I would write it down. Now I'll go around and if that sees something that I'd like, eventually this is what I want to do and eventually this and eventually that I'll take a picture of it and I'll put. I have a little album.
Speaker 2:You know you save your albums or your phone, and it's like, um, I USA ideas, or I think it's called I USA inspiration, and I'll go back to that. It wants to all go. Now's the time. We just got this huge commercial job. We just and I need this product because now is the time to buy it, because now I can justify the expense, because now I there's. So you know that now there's a transaction that'll make it worth my while. So write those things down or take pictures that you can always go back to when the timing is right. Because, yeah, you know, just because it's not right this me or doesn't mean it's not gonna be right in six months or, you know, two years from now.
Speaker 1:Right. And then also, you know, when you're thinking maybe you're getting there and one of your, one of your items that you need to purchase is a big ticket item, right, and maybe there's, yeah, you get there and you realize that there's more things that you needed to get with it and so it's an even bigger ticket item than you thought. Yeah, I like to do this, I do this with.
Speaker 2:It's called girl math, right and what is it called girl?
Speaker 1:Love girl math yeah it's girl but honestly, I think it's, I just think it's smart. I like to think about how many headshot sessions, just small headshot sessions, would that take for me to pay yes yes, right, and I have been just doing my girl math when it comes to all of my outfit shopping as well. Okay, how?
Speaker 2:many headshot sessions. Is that good to take, but?
Speaker 1:it's with any big ticket purchase right, because I have to be able to just one. We need to know it. You have to get past that. Like I know I need it, I have to have it, I cannot move forward without it.
Speaker 1:So that's, that's one question right percent it's not just that this is pretty and shiny. Okay, yeah, because I have lots of pretty and shiny things that are just gathering dust in the studio closet back there. Same. But then too, how am I gonna pay for it? Right and okay, how and how much more money could this bring in for me?
Speaker 1:Okay, if I have this new item, I'm gonna let's, let's just say it's a tethering startup kit, right, okay, and you're, I'll just apply it to the way I do work. Right, tethering startup kit. You want to start selling on-site at your headshot sessions? Okay, and you're thinking okay, well, I need to invest X amount of dollars in the whole tethering kit, you know. So I could actually do this in my studio, but it's going to be make. I'm doing it because it's going to be making me more money, because I can sell on-site. I'm not losing money by sending proofs out. I'm making ad on sales at my headshot sessions. So now I need to do five headshot sessions, let's say, for all the equipment I want to buy to do that okay, and then it's gonna pay for itself, and then after that it's all gravy right.
Speaker 1:So that's that's girl math, but it's also like legit math.
Speaker 2:It is, and I think that's actually brilliant. I think that's absolutely what you need to do and and it. That's just. That's gulp, that's planning, that's goal-setting, right, it's just it's what we do, what we should be doing in our business all the time, quite frankly. So it's exactly how I think it used to happen. But the trade show is amazing. You'll get to meet people. There's always a little trade show programs and things going on, mm-hmm. But take your time, it's threefold. Well, it's three days. I think it's like 11 30 to five on Sunday and Monday, and on Tuesday it ends a little bit earlier. I think it's like 11 30 to 3 30.
Speaker 1:So yeah, it's anytime where there aren't classes. So it's.
Speaker 2:It was not correct, Mary Like yes, yeah, only yeah, always no classes right because we want you to have time.
Speaker 1:We don't want you to miss the trade show because there's a lot for you to see and do that. I mean there have been times where I haven't got to do anything but go to the trade show, which has been Good for me because I'm in the trade show in three years.
Speaker 2:I mean I cut the thing. I just I've tried to walk in and yeah, it's, it's. I'm excited this year, but of course I'm working the tradition.
Speaker 1:You're gonna be there. You're gonna be doing stuff Anyhow well, let's move on.
Speaker 2:So that's just the trade show, because then we have afternoon classes, right?
Speaker 1:Yep afternoon classes open back up where I'm looking. So we're opening back up around five o'clock.
Speaker 2:Yes, right, and oh, just so you know, there is express talks that'll be happening in the theater at the thing, so that's just a whole another level of cute education. So you're walking around, you need a break, get a soda, sit down, get a cup of coffee at the oak and brew I love that name for some reason and you can sit down there, but they'll have a full schedule of that and usually there'll be there's an IPC exhibit, so there'll be things. You'll be able to go check out some beautiful work as well, correct, right, right.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I'm looking at our little color-coded things Trying to figure out what that means, and I can't I can't make heads or tails of it. So I was like, oh, maybe I can use that.
Speaker 1:No problem because there are things like you may see on the schedule, because everything that's happening at imaging is on the schedule. So you know times where you see speaker lounge or you see exhibitor reception. Those are obviously things that are for our exhibitors, our speakers. You know there's some. There's often going to be stuff you see on the schedule that you're like Well, what's that? At eight o'clock in the morning. Yeah, you know like and it's a speaker lounge. It's for yeah.
Speaker 2:Stadium club is for open to anybody, but it usually is really geared towards people who are in the sports and events world and that. But that is open to all, so stop by. A lot of times the sports and event speakers will come and hang out there and answer additional questions, so definitely check it out. In the afternoon once the trade show closes. There's another great amount of amazing speakers. I probably would go see our great friend Julianne cost and David trust, because they're gonna be talking about AI and what's good, bad and illegal. I love this. I think that we're all.
Speaker 2:I think we're all very, very Tuned into this would love to hear what they say. I can't think of two better people Then to talk to it, because we're coming at it from very, two, very different angles one person that's incredibly in it and art, and one of them that's not. But David has a very different view. I think it'll just be an amazing Conversation having them talk about that. But there's still a lot of great programs sales, there's weddings, there's business, there's all the stuff. Check it out If you love storytelling, children's portraits. I think Meg's work my looks is amazing. I not the style I do, but I like that's what care was saying earlier. It's such a great. I Could go and sit there and certainly be inspired and I could take little pieces of that and make my, make it mine, and I think now absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 1:I mean, you know me, I love the storytelling aspect of Anything like that. And then, if you're also in family photography, there is crafting the perfect family photo experience. That is gonna be with our friend Carol Deanda. Carol is a newer speaker to imaging USA but I I have enjoyed watching her grow and her work and her. I'm so excited for her to be a speaker at imaging this year and it's gonna be so fun. Let's see. Let's see five ways to all your client experience with your process. That's another good business class that you can take. And of course, we've got Joe McNally.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, he hasn't been. We haven't seen him in a while, not in years, I mean.
Speaker 1:I mean, he's amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's an og. He is an og. He's someone who Jamie, my business partner, studied with coming along like he's an og. He was an early on, you know, on a lot of the teams and a lot of the stuff. He's a he's pretty famous guy. I mean he's National Geographic, life magazine, all the stuff. So Joe is pretty off. It'd be cool because and he's an icon guy Kira.
Speaker 1:He's an eye guy, he's on your team.
Speaker 2:He's on your team.
Speaker 1:He's on team Kira. That's a little bit, that's what we're gonna call.
Speaker 2:That's what they call it at Nikon and it's 630 guys networking Avenue. This is kind of new. This is kind of new, it's exciting. It's very hands-on, lots of different opportunities, unless it's change. Kira.
Speaker 1:So, no, it's very hands-on. Lots, of, lots of different opportunities. Different, different vendors will be out there, different shooting stations in a cash bar.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but it's kind of more of like a party atmosphere, you know you kind of it's. It's much freer. There'll be a lot of people walking through. You can stop and chat with people. You can gather around and watch other people work. You can have some opportunities to actually shoot and do some hands-on stuff. That is a that is a really fun little time. So After networking Avenue, we've got imaging USA welcome party, which you know I love a party, mary.
Speaker 2:I know, and it's at the Omni, it's gonna be. So, guys, this is kind of fun. The Omni is right behind the Marriott, like Kira, I think, said early on it's, but it's the Omni's beautiful, it's got some. It's gonna be cool to kind of go over there check it out. Don't miss the lobby bar there. It is so cool and if you have time they have a little tiny speakeasy you can check out. It's really cute.
Speaker 1:It's really cute. Yeah, they're. Speakeasy is super cute. It's not super hidden, so you'll see it.
Speaker 2:Speakeasy is a big word for a little place. It's very well marked, but it is fun Check it out. Check out the Omni. It's beautiful. The Marriott is to. The Marriott was just actually just had multi-million dollar renovations. Oh yeah, they're amazing hotels, yeah they're both lots of fun.
Speaker 1:Just photo opportunities all around, yeah for you to take, alright. So after the imaging USA welcome party, you're gonna want to hit straight to bed. Yes. I want to get a good night's rest.
Speaker 2:Yes, cuz they damn yeah, cuz right.
Speaker 1:8 am You're right back up right.
Speaker 2:So yeah.
Speaker 1:I was like Lindsay's first. Of course you're gonna get up, guys, you're gonna go see Lindsay, right I mean?
Speaker 2:I would. Lindsay, julianne, ray, brent I mean, oh my god, I go again. That's the guys at. The biggest complaint we have is I couldn't see it all. Then you know what we're winning. That's okay, that's good, that's good, but dang, what a lineup.
Speaker 1:Well, and if you know, we've said this every year, that we've done this, this. The show about this is Is break it up and buddy with people. So if you, if you are rooming with somebody, have and you both want to see this in classes what have you got a one? What have you got a other?
Speaker 2:take good notes, absolutely, um, and do your best, yeah so Then at 10 o'clock I mean, so I have, I mean I have Like really good friends speaking. At 10 o'clock I have my friend Aaron who's gonna do connection through content creation. She's so cool. But we have Christie.
Speaker 1:No, Frank Christie and everyone's, and and and tell me. Oh, no, Guys. Yeah again, I feel terrible for you. You're gonna have to make some choices here, because there are other speakers happening at that time. They're just ones that we I'm sorry. They're amazing speakers, exactly and but but next level, newborn photography. I mean, let's, let's, let's break it down this way these are three completely different tracks. Okay that for, for the, for Aaron, for Christie, for wedding yeah and Ray.
Speaker 1:So, um, yeah, christie's gonna be doing, newborn Aaron's gonna be doing. You know business and you know social media content creation, and then what she's amazing at yeah and then wedding, like you said, for Tom. So you just, this is one where I would say pick what, what you do and want to learn more about.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do you want to learn about newborns? If that's and, christie, in my opinion, one of the best, one of the best that bridging the gap program looks amazing. This is that, of course, if you're in this, the volume business, I would stick with that track because it's always amazing. Yeah, good luck with that. Guys. We're gonna probably be in a council meeting so we won't get to see where I'm definitely gonna be in. Yeah well, I'm supposed to, but I could sneak out this year, so cuz 1130.
Speaker 2:I gotta go back to the train show 1130 to five and they'll have those express talks. We've gone through that and then we will start getting ready for awards and degrees and all kinds of ceremonies. Now, guys, don't miss this. I remember going and sitting through this and it used to be I'm gonna be honest, it used to be a lot longer and there was a dinner and there were tickets. It was. It's so nice, you go in, you sit down, hang out, but to just. It's so inspiring to see people getting their awards and degrees. It's so inspiring to see the World Cup team.
Speaker 2:We're gonna have the Gia judging, which I'm sure we'll get to in a second. This is gonna be an amazing evening. Now, from one to three. I would definitely go see our great friend, angela Kirkian, who is an angel from heaven. I could not love that woman anymore. Talk about planning for your success. I can't think of anybody better. So, oh, do that delight, but then get ready and you do not have to dress up. You do not have to dress up to come to the events that night, cuz they started. What time they start?
Speaker 1:seven, five o'clock, right, that's my wife, we've got well, hang on, let's see. Yeah, yeah, five o'clock so there's also programs. Oh, I don't know what you're gonna do, guys, but yes, there's a couple of programs that are great, oh gosh.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna.
Speaker 1:Yeah, seth is teaching, creating atmosphere with light and building a narrative cinematic character portrait. Seth is a fast talker and eat, but easy to listen to if that makes sense it breaks things down in such a simple way. He's not going to make you want to spend a ton of money on equipment because, I mean, he is a very much a gorilla style photographer, so he's going to get it done with very little and he's, and he's just so talented. Um, there's an amazing class. Looks like serving the LGBT.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, that's Chris with Kirsten. Yeah, she's amazing. Adilph will be doing the sports and events. Of course, our Dan Free vault he's got an amazing vision. He's a. He's a master with lighting, kind of known more for his senior stuff but definitely does all of it, has an artistic vision. That says it all Fantastic, I'm sure all these. First, by the way, guys again, we can't say enough how amazing we think all these are. They I'm sure they're all think like a CEO. I mean I would definitely. That's probably where I would go, because that's where my mindset is. I don't know who Travis Stitt is, but there's no doubt that our team put together the best speakers.
Speaker 1:But I've met Travis Stitt.
Speaker 2:He's great yeah okay, I don't know him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, uh, I bet him, I know, I bet his wife, okay, okay. So, but if you, but if you want to come to PPA award and degree ceremony, that is where we're gonna be giving out the annual awards. That's, we had the largest, um, a class of people who have earned their degree that we've had in years. I may be the largest ever. Yeah, it's big. So if you want to cheer on your friends I know everybody out there knows somebody who's getting a degree Pop in and they, you know, they say don't scream, but I'm not gonna tell you, just don't you do you do you All right, I'm not here.
Speaker 1:What's happening right after that? Oh my god guys. Grand Imaging awards now member.
Speaker 2:I said we're gonna they're gonna get it down to the top eight in each category on Saturday.
Speaker 1:So what's?
Speaker 2:going to happen on Monday night.
Speaker 1:Monday night we are going to I think it's more live judging right For a little bit.
Speaker 2:It's live judging. Yeah, we have a great team of judges. My understanding is we have Lindsay Adler, we have Andre Brown, we have Pete Rezak, we have Gary Hughes and we have I'm forgetting somebody, oh Ella Carson, and we have the on and only Boo Ray Berry maybe y'all seen him online with his sequin jacket hosting the live judging. So it'll be the top eight in each category going head to head. Then all of those will go head to head for the Grand Amateur Award. So it'll, you will get to. I mean, I have two months. Guys, it's going to be live announced, live like the voice, like it's going to be sitting in the audience of the voice, like yeah.
Speaker 1:Cash prizes, guys, cash prize, and we and I can't wait to see Boo Ray up there, I know it's going to be fun.
Speaker 2:It's going to be so good.
Speaker 1:It's going to be fun. I think I have to like do a wave and a loop. I'll be up there at some point for a minute and then I'll go. Yeah, we'll get to the process. It's all of them.
Speaker 2:It's going to be this amazing group, rich, and we'll put all this together. I'm sure you know, or the I don't know, but it's. I just I think it's going to be so cool. I'm just so excited to see how this goes Cause again first time, but it's, it's very exciting. So that happens. And then at nine o'clock we're going to get a little preview of Team USA for the World Photographic Cup Team USA and the World Photographic Cup.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes. So we're going to be. We're going to be announcing that team. We are going to see a little preview of what's going to be happening.
Speaker 2:Bestinations? I think yeah.
Speaker 1:Yep, and it's going to be pretty exciting.
Speaker 2:Yes, and Bragg, my business partner, is on Team USA this year, so that's how it's going to be, he sure is that's kind of cool, so they'll be up there with their jackets on Again.
Speaker 2:I find that to be so inspirational. If you want to see some beautiful work, I mean, I sit there and I'm watching, like you know, these images from Norway and Portugal and I'm like I'm not worthy like Mexico, what in the where? Of course, usa. I mean, like these images are just stunning. So that's going to be a great preview, like Kira said, leading up to what will I'll I'll unfold in April in Dallas, texas, during right before Texas school Right before Texas school, so I hope you have extended your stay.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, our incoming president, mark Campbell, will be there to kick that off, right? Yeah, yeah, mark will be there, I'll be there.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, yeah. Well, it was for that part, Okay. So Tuesday, after your good night's rest filled with no late nights and definitely not hanging out with your friends and definitely not celebrating people getting their degrees you're going to wake up bright and early and go to Okanbrew Okanbrew for sure, okanbrew first, right. And then you are going to start right out of the gate with your 8am classes on Tuesday. And guess who's speaking on Tuesday morning? And I just can't even recommend anyone else. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:Oh, you're sorry, it's going to be our friend, you know, or your lover. Very good to know.
Speaker 2:I am.
Speaker 1:I'm very excited. It's a new program.
Speaker 2:It's a new program, it's a brand new program. There'll be some crossover, guys, because there's just some things that don't change. But I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm excited, I'm all the things. I'm just thinking about. It makes my heart beat a little faster. However, if you don't want to see me get up there and make a fool of myself no, I mean, it's going to be great. But if you're like, I've got enough MFT, I'm good. Dr Colvin to my. Colvin will also be doing an amazing sales and business program as well. Of course, you got sports and events with Jeff, and I don't know his name Jeff Gala Vinosh. Oh, gala Opsky. Yeah, thank you, sorry, sorry, jeff. Now they're bridging the gap. Technique, I mean, guys, so much. Vanessa Joy will be doing weddings. Of course, all the great stuff. There's an Adobe program which I think would be kind of cool. Kira would probably really love that. I would hate it.
Speaker 1:And yes, but I will. I know where I will be at 8 am on Tuesday.
Speaker 2:I will definitely know where I'll be so come by and say hi.
Speaker 1:Come by and say hi, wave, little little elbow bumps. There we go. Because we're still doing elbow bumps, right, because I don't know.
Speaker 2:I mean I'll hug, I will hug though, but I'm also. I'm also can do a fist bump or elbow bump, no problem OK whatever, whatever. It's there we're going to. We're going to elbow bump for sure.
Speaker 1:Love you, Bob All right 10 am, 10 am. What are we looking at? Our friend Chris Duncan.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, oh Deanna and Deanna is talking oh my gosh, ok. Well, guys, here, deanna's class. We're going to come back to you, chris, but Deanna's class is the class I was telling you guys about that. I took a full day on that. I got so inspired by, so definitely despite if you're not a maternity photographer, this is definitely going to be a wonderful posing class. Now, that being said, chris Duncan is amazing at lighting and he the technical, and he is going to be showing you how he's going to make it easy for you guys. He's going to be using umbrella. I love that he used the Umbrella Academy.
Speaker 2:I do too. I thought that was really clever. I was like, look at you Maybe. Deanna came up with it.
Speaker 1:Is Chris that clever? Maybe she did no, well, no, chris took that. Chris took that from the Netflix show the Umbrella Academy. I know I'm kidding, I know, so he's not. Sorry, chris. Yeah, that was cute. No, I love that and and yeah, so I mean those are. We've got how to change your habits and change your life, so that's an inspirational one If you're feeling a little.
Speaker 1:If you're a little burned out on posing and lighting let's say you're by Tuesday you're like I've seen so much I need. I need to go get inspired again. That would be when to go see. Yeah, of course you've got wedding track Petronella Lugemois.
Speaker 2:I'm so glad you did that, not me.
Speaker 1:Petronella Lugemois. What's that for the same Petronella I love it.
Speaker 2:I love Petronella. I love that name. We also have a sales and business class with Steve at 10 am. So, there's so many options I don't even tell hey shameless plug guys. If you're anywhere near the state of Virginia, are you want to fly in and march? Guess what? What? Some of these amazing speakers are going to be here for the Virginia Convention in March, kristi.
Speaker 1:Newell.
Speaker 2:Kristi Newell, john Gress, deanna Robles, kira Dairyberry, shawan Davis. Oh my, God. Sandra Pierce. Oh my God, and I'm kidding, oh my God, I'm such a terrible human being I might forget. That might be it. John Deanna, you Kristi, sandra Shawan, that might be right, but hey, hey, three hour programs with them, three hours.
Speaker 1:How do you think now, if they're not a member of Virginia and they want to just pop in, they can just register and come as a non-member. Easy peasy. What's that?
Speaker 2:website Boopity boopity boop VPPAorg. Virginia Professional Photographers Association VPPAorg. Or message me and I will connect you, no problemo.
Speaker 1:And what city is it in?
Speaker 2:Richmond Virginia, richmond Virginia, and I really need to give you the dates because I just donned on me. I was like man, I killed it this year with this lineup. You really did. That's a good lineup March 22, 325th. March 22, 325th so I apologize, not St Patrick's Day weekend, march 22, 325th. Richmond Virginia Got an amazing hotel location, but I think this lineup I happen to be the convention, like I'm the education chair for Virginia, but this is also quote unquote, like my convention, my sister's president, but I am the convention chair and I saved all of these people from my event because I think they're some of the best and the best.
Speaker 1:So if you can't see them here, come to Virginia, you can see them Because, only because, you have chosen other people to see while you're at Imaging USA.
Speaker 2:Exactly, that's what I mean. I'm just saying.
Speaker 1:Definitely not because you can't make it to Imaging USA, because you're obviously coming to Imaging.
Speaker 2:USA. Oh my God, I know I would be listening to this podcast right now if you weren't already planning 100% Longest podcast we've ever given.
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, we haven't been on in a while, so we have not. We're making up your time.
Speaker 2:Y'all are getting it all, but also so that's just crazy. Yeah, Our friend Sean Lee is going to be hosting a meeting from 1 to 3, the Diversity Inclusion Meeting. Everyone's welcome, obviously, hence the title. Of course, Coaches Club will be going on, Express Talks will be in the trade show and that will obviously be open. Like I said, it does close early on Tuesday at 3.30,. By 11.30 to 3.30, trade show and then afternoon classes.
Speaker 1:You're an entrepreneur or own it with David Truss is going to be a great class. David's such a great speaker. He is he's a great speaker.
Speaker 2:He's a decent human being too. Oh, he's all right, my good friend, jennifer Fink. Guys, if you're in the volume business and you're into sports and events, jennifer has built an amazing business working with fire and law enforcement, working with the heroes that she calls it Celebrate the Hero Within. She's essentially doing volume program with these police and fire departments. I know her very well. I've been to her studio. I've done some mentoring and coaching with her. This business is absolutely phenomenal, to the point where several months ago I said you do not need me anymore, you need to just go and be free because you're killing it. So if you're in the event world and you're looking to expand it, I highly recommend this program Highly recommend Absolutely and then Andre Brown, if you're going to be in doing any wedding stuff.
Speaker 1:You're going to be going to effective workflows for positive cash flow. That's what I want is positive cash flow.
Speaker 2:Same, same.
Speaker 1:Authentic approach to senior photography. I'm intrigued by this title with Mary Fink, so I'd love to know more about that. And a walk in the park with landscape photography. You know, landscape, that is something that is a class where I would be. Honestly, if there's not a human face in the shot, I don't know what to do. I am confused by the whole moment. So I, honestly, if that's probably a class, if I was following my own advice, that is probably a class I should take.
Speaker 2:I'm not, because it not only has to have a face, but it also has to have a credit card, and so I'm out, all right. All right, fire it up. No, I'm kidding, that is great. I do appreciate those landscapes. They're beautiful. Yeah, I don't know, there's just too many things out. And then 515. I mean, damn McLean in the hand, guys.
Speaker 1:Oh damn, McLean, Damn McLean, Damn McLean. He is going to be shooting with purpose and I would imagine and not having read the description but, and knowing Dan that this means that he's kind of got the end in mind right when he's, when he's designing his sessions. And Dan is a planner, he does such a great job. I mean he works really well on the fly, but I mean, when you see the way his especially his commercial work or his like really epic family portraits come together, you can tell that this is somebody who knows, who's definitely doing everything with a purpose. So I wish I could rub a little of that on onto my work as well.
Speaker 2:I'm saying he's so creative and he's so funny and he's an amazing speaker, is so relatable, like if you don't know him, go just meet him, just being in his presence just as calming and cool, like he's just.
Speaker 1:I'm like I want to grow up to be. Well, he makes you cooler just by standing next to him.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he does, he actually does. I mean, I have a picture with him and I literally included every chance I get because I'm like, oh, this makes me look real cool.
Speaker 1:Look I look young and cool. Look how cute I look.
Speaker 2:Look at my accessory, Dan McLeanahan.
Speaker 1:He makes a great accessory. Oh, okay, sorry, alex McLeanahan, we love Dan.
Speaker 2:Oh, you also make a great accessory, alex McLeanahan. You do, we love you. There's also going to be a technique class and another sports and events class, and then ta-da.
Speaker 1:You know, it's kind of my favorite night. It is your favorite night.
Speaker 2:It's the night, you can really let your head down.
Speaker 1:Oh, when I do, yeah, you do and I will. Yeah, you will You're going to be like, let's go back to the, to your room and hang out?
Speaker 2:and sit and have drinks.
Speaker 1:Nope, where will I?
Speaker 2:be Mary. You will be on the dance floor For the entirety of the, for the entirety. What is that new? Is it a new like series or something? It's on the dance floor murder on the dance floor. What's this called? Do you know what I'm talking about? No, why am I doing this with my hands? I literally right now have like bunny rabbit hands. I'm doing the bump tea like murder on the dance floor. No, I'm like it's. It's. It's a. It's a big song on TikTok and there's a series on like Prime or something called something. Help us out, people.
Speaker 1:If you hear me, I'm old, not making Help me, I'm old.
Speaker 2:Help me. I'm old, exactly my. Oh my God, dance, dance, dance, dance dance. Don't get an early flight, guys. You're going to need a little sleep in and just cut your feet off, okay.
Speaker 1:Here's what I recommend. You are going to think that you're not. You're like I'm not going to dance, I'm going to go to the party, but I'm not going to dance.
Speaker 2:You're going to dance.
Speaker 1:You're going to dance and you're going to because you're going to see that dance floor and you're going to see that there's so many people. This is not just like a. Sometimes you'll go to a party where there's dancing and like four people are dancing and you're like I don't want to make an idiot of myself Guess what guys Lost in the crowd. You, the whole room is jumping. This is a dance floor that is full. The DJ is amazing. The music is the kind of music most of us want to hear. If you're the age of if you know what I mean you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:There might be some. I'm sure there might be some Nelly.
Speaker 1:There's definitely, there's definitely a healthy dose of hip hop. R&b and rock, so we will be. But I'm telling you, plan ahead. You think you're not going to dance. Go ahead and get those comfortable sneakers that you can jump around, yeah. Like the rebox with the straps, the rebox with the straps or the boots with the fur. They may get hot though.
Speaker 2:They would get hot, but definitely wear your apple bottom jeans.
Speaker 1:If you're going to get low, you need to.
Speaker 2:Shorty, get on the dance floor. No, okay.
Speaker 1:Wow, we didn't even plan that, guys.
Speaker 2:Guys, we're so good. Yeah, how much of you guys missed us Come on.
Speaker 1:I like how we tell a joke, and they were like aren't we funny? We're so funny.
Speaker 2:I love when people talk to me about the podcast. They're like I find myself talking back to you and I love that. I love that, I love that, guys, it's going to be an amazing event. Of course, I could not be more excited. Oh, what can I get a little bit of? I'm going to see Kira up there. We're going to get to see so much Kira, so much Kira, because she'll be everywhere doing everything.
Speaker 1:You're going to be sick of it.
Speaker 2:No, you will not be sick of it, but it's exciting. You know, I met Kira I don't know 13, 14, I don't know whatever years ago at a judging class. She was taking a judging class, I was judging and I said this girl's got something pretty cool. And here we are and she's PPA president and we have an amazingly world renowned podcast. We're called renowned.
Speaker 1:Hey, that's actually true.
Speaker 2:It is so we're listening to the numbers there's people in Poland listening to this. Yeah, they are.
Speaker 1:I mean like for sure they are.
Speaker 2:And anyway, it's just cool and I think it's exciting. Of course, kira has one more year on the board, so she's not even done after this, but this was her big, big year and I think you did it beautifully my friend, so congratulations, thank you. Oh, and you guys, you're going to get to meet her mom and dad, and probably your brother and her daughter. Oh, my God and my mother-in-law Listen, guys, I'm bringing that for you oh, and your mother, mary Helen.
Speaker 1:Geez, the Dodberry family is coming. They are. We call ourselves the Dodberries.
Speaker 2:I love that I didn't know about this. The Dodberries are coming.
Speaker 1:That's sticking. That is my mother-in-law, mary Helen, dairy Berry, my mom, janet. My dad, john Dad's going to walk me across the stage. Dad's got the cutest tuxedo. He's going to look swap guys. If anything, you need to come out to this award and degree ceremony to see my daughter, just to see Kira's.
Speaker 2:Kira's dad is so handsome. He's tall and handsome. I mean, he's a lovely human being. Janet Dodd is a hoot. As a matter of fact, I'm going to Janet's 70th birthday party. You are, my 27-year-old daughter, is best friends with Janet Dodd, so we love Janet. Dodd, and if you see me walking around with a little tiny Kira, that's Lucy.
Speaker 1:Yes, Lucy will be there. Yes, if you see Mary just walking around with what looks to be a clone of me. Well, we'll say miniature in weight, because she's taller than me?
Speaker 2:She is not. She's not even the same girl we photographed on the beach. She's probably as tall as me at this point.
Speaker 1:The baby is not so much a baby anymore, but she's a beautiful young woman and she will be at Imaging in and out and I'm excited for her to see what mommy has been going and doing for a week or a year and why you've been with all your stuff.
Speaker 2:What did she call you President, mommy, president, mommy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I'll be hanging out with Lucy some.
Speaker 2:Of course, kevin will be there, but Kevin's usually there to support you, so it's going to be great, but you guys will get to meet her family or see her family and I can't wait to see them celebrate all things, kira.
Speaker 1:So all exciting stuff. Kira, we forgot something. We're gonna get together.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're gonna get together she's turned it so Tuesday before the party Before the party, but after the trade show. After the trade show, before the closing party At four o'clock, marriott Lobby. Be there, meet us at the Marriott Lobby bar If you haven't met us.
Speaker 1:If you've met us, I understand you don't need to see us again. But if you want to meet us and just hang out and say hi for a second because we are gonna be like Mary's gonna be in the trade, you can go meet Mary in the trade show if you can, but like we're gonna be busy and moving around, if you want to actually come by and say hi to us and just just let us put faith. Here's the thing, guys. It sometimes we do this podcast and we do it so much and so often we forget that anyone is listening at all and so just selfishly, when you guys come by and say hi, to us and and tell us that you feel so good we're just like, oh, let's do this and then.
Speaker 1:But the funnier part too is when you tell us things that we've see, we forget sometimes what we've said, right Like so, because we don't go back and listen. I'm not listening to that. We have an editor that edits this and we put it up live and then I don't listen to it. So you know, I don't know. You guys know a lot about us and then you'll bring it up to us when you see us in person. We're like, huh, how do you know we've helped, but evidently we have. So anyway, just we love to meet you guys. So if you want to pop by, we're just gonna go hang out and you know, mary and I will grab a drink. And if you want to get yourself a drink while you're up there and hang out and talk to us, or if you don't drink and you just want to say hi.
Speaker 2:Case and point of people that know us. It's so funny. One time last year at some point, some amazing listener sent us a gift, sent us each a gift, and she sent me a book and she said Kira, like a headband or something. And she literally said I know you all, I'm not gonna give Kira a book, just like you're not going to give me a karaoke machine or something like it's, just like, it's just funny, or like Dave Matthews is my thing, whereas you know, anyway, you guys get it. We love you guys.
Speaker 2:We would love to just say hi. We don't have, we have 30 minutes, but we would just love to see you pop by, say hi and if not, if you see us walking around, maybe not care of it, me for sure, I'm not as busy Just say hi Again. It does make us feel really good because we do this from our heart, we do this from our own pocketbooks, we do this because we love it and we love talking to each other and we love sharing what we actually do. We also love our amazing sponsor, retouch up. So, yeah, retouch up has been with us since the beginning. Thank you so much to them. They're at the trade show. Go, guys, say hi and please say thank you. Could you just do us a favor? Could you definitely go by their booth and say, hey, thank you so much for supporting, get your Shoot Together, because oh we would love that they do so much for us.
Speaker 2:As well as tether tools, white House, custom Color and Photo Flash Drives and 3XM, they also sponsored our workshops and done amazing things. So if you just let them know how much you appreciate, that would mean a lot, because we do appreciate them and we hope you do too.
Speaker 1:Can I tack on one thing here at the end?
Speaker 2:I can't imagine why you wouldn't.
Speaker 1:If you see me and laying on the ground yeah, if you, if you see my face and it looks upset, sad, droopy, that's just my face.
Speaker 2:Okay, guys like that's called PPA, president Face. Yeah, If at any time where are you pulling on your face? Stop touching your face, because I'm sitting here.
Speaker 1:I'm sitting here trying to like, actively like. Okay, that's not my skin up, it's not helping.
Speaker 2:She's trying to give herself a facelift.
Speaker 1:I am, I'm like it's not working.
Speaker 2:You can like push. You can push on the drain. No, you can't.
Speaker 1:Okay, I don't know.
Speaker 2:Why am I not there I?
Speaker 1:think yeah, because you see those little massagers that like massage the jaw.
Speaker 2:Okay, now we're both doing it. Get that visual.
Speaker 1:We're just making our faces red, yeah, but what? No. But seriously, though, if there's a moment where I if I don't, if I don't remember your name right off the bat, or if I don't remember, it's not because I don't actually remember, it's probably because I have just meeting people fatigue. So I in no way me mean to, like you know, forget or do anything. I don't know why I feel like I need to say that, but it's just. It gets very overwhelming just every year anyway, with, like the amount of people that we run into and I love you coming up and saying hi to me and so. But if my face looks like squeeze, squeezey, squinchy eyes and, like you know, frowning, it's not you, it's me.
Speaker 2:It's definitely me. If I look like that, it's because I'm out of cura, just kidding.
Speaker 1:No, no, no, no no.
Speaker 2:No, um, yeah, you guys get that. I mean, we're all busy, we all have things to do. You guys are gonna be busy too. You're gonna be running from oak and brood programs to the trade show, to the parties, to all the stuff. Hopefully you get to check out a little bit of Louisville. It's gonna be amazing. Say hi, I hope to see you at my booth. Maybe we can get curated. Come by and make it a surprise appearance. That would be cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And, um, yeah, I'll obviously. You know where I'll be Tuesday morning, so you can definitely nail me down there, so I'll be there around. I'll be a lot more accessible this year because I don't have well, I don't have as much to do, so that'll be good.
Speaker 1:Um guess what.
Speaker 2:You've filled it up.
Speaker 1:Like you were like, well, I can't do it that time because I have this, and I can't do it that time because I'm like guys, she's got plenty to do. She's doing plenty Like she's listen.
Speaker 2:I've never seen Mary with an empty schedule in my life, so I thrive on it, I love it and I love you guys, and we can't thank you enough. Say hi, come by on Tuesday, come to the program, come to the booth. Just uh, yeah, just uh. Say hi and we are excited to see you guys. And look, if you're not going to be at Imaging this year, why? Well, why are you leaving with me? I don't know? Like.
Speaker 1:I mean well, are you on the fence a week out? Well, there you go, there's tons of hotel and there's tons of hotels around there.
Speaker 2:There's there's tough because, just so you know, there's so many walking distance. I think we mentioned that three hours ago when we started this podcast, but there's so many other options. So check it out and we hope to see you guys there.
Speaker 1:We will see you guys there, we will, we will, as I whisper so we're going to take a week off.
Speaker 2:We're going to be off for Imaging. Hopefully we'll be back right after, but we're going to get on a schedule and we're going to do better this year, guys. We're going to post a schedule so you all know when we're taking our breaks. Things happen and we definitely need breaks because of our businesses and our lives, right, and so we're going to do better. But we will. This is coming out and then we will be busy with Imaging for the next couple weeks and then we'll be back with a schedule. So you know when you can expect to hear exciting new episodes with us and thanks for letting us know.
Speaker 1:You missed us. We missed you too. Yes, okay, ready to wrap it up? Let's do it, okay. You can follow us on Instagram at Get your Shoe Together. You can follow us on Facebook at Get your Shoe Together. You can email us at girl at GetYourShoeTogethercom and subscribe to us everywhere where podcasts are played. We will see you next time.
Speaker 2:Thanks y'all.