PPA Convention

Beautiful Cathedral in New Orleans

We thought it would be fitting to begin our blog with some stories from our recent educational journey to the PPA Convention. This year's Professional Photographers of America Convention was held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
  

Besides the beautiful weather (70 degrees in January!) and taking in the culture of the city, we spent our time taking class after class learning how to improve our business, our photography, and our attitude. Learning from the nation's top photographers and speakers, we absorbed so many great ideas and are inspired to kick off 2012 with some fantastic images!

Trade Show of Vendors

Amazing walk along the Mississippi River

Famous Cajun restaurant where we had lunch

 After classes in the morning, we would tour the galleries of the contest winners and visit the booths of thousands of new products and companies! We visited our favorite vendors who help make our business possible, and made some new friends at new companies.  Another round of classes in the evenings and we were able to come up with some awesome new techniques we can't wait to show you!

Mark Ruffalo and I !!

Two other exciting things happened throughout our time in New Orleans.

1- We had a celebrity run in!! Walking down the street we accidentally stumbled onto a street a film crew was prepping to shoot on. As I turned to say something to Susan, I was shocked to find that walking in step with me just inches away was Mark Ruffalo! Don't know who that is? Click his name and learn but don't feel bad- Susan had no clue either. But I recognized him instanly from one of my old favs- 13 going on 30! I was a little awkward but quickly asked him for a photo and he said sure. We had a quick chat before Susan questioned "who on earth was that!?"

It was awesome.

Susan won a Samsung Galaxy Tab!

2- Every day one of our favorite vendors, StudioPlus, did raffle drawings for tablets! I always wanted to make sure that after my class I sprinted there to get a ticket.. I was determined to win! Twice in a row I was ONE number away. It was killing me, I needed to win the tablet! Susan, not knowing what a tablet was, got a ticket too and stood next to me only to have HER NUMBER called in the last drawing! She won my tablet!! She was so excited, but don't be fooled by my smile in the picture- I was pretty ticked...

After five days of training and inspiration from the best, we can't wait to share what we've come up with!!