Here…in this place in the middle of the desert was a place I wanted to go for the last two years. And now we were landing.

Never in a million years would I have thought that I could enjoy an event like this so much. I often tend to be on the more introverted side of the spectrum so why it was so important to me to go to WPPI in Las Vegas this year where thousands of photographers descend to the biggest photography convention was definitely out of character. Regardless, I just had to be there and it was worth every obsessive, self conscious, how am I going to do this moment that it required for to make it happen. Let’s just say, I am so glad I did. While I didn’t know what I was walking into, what I walked out with was nothing short of amazing. I was intent on getting my little rear into every session I could to glean from those who have paved the way before me. I saw some of my favorite people that I met through my experience with the SOAR Scholarship and we had a ball. The trip would not have been complete had I not seen my friend and mentor,an amazing international photographer and speaker MeRaKoh and her other half Brian, who guided me up to this point in my journey with photography. There were some amazing speakers there. The place was full of so much energy. The amount of information packed into that venue was nothing short of amazing. For the first time in a long time, I felt like a kid in the candy store. “All of it..I’ll take all of it, my insides screamed.” And try I did. If I were going to be away from my family for an entire week, I was determined to make the most of it!

It was also a time to meet and make new friends as well. However, as far as speakers go, they saved the best for the last day. Sue Bryce delivered a power platform class that hit me at the core. I actually found some water floating around my face during the presentation as well. Yes, I’m sentimental, what can I say. :0 Needless to say, a picture was a must. Every skilled craftsman regularly increases their knowledge through education and practice to assure that their skills are being refined in order to deliver you their very best at all times. This trip was like taking an accelerated college course with all of the universities best professors, then meeting them out for drinks and dinner afterwards to toast being able to say you are creating the life you want by doing something you are passionate about. From the person just picking up a camera (like your first day in college) to the extremely seasoned veteran…this event was a reminder that our dreams should be limitless. Remember to trow down those things limiting us. They can’t succeed if we don’t let them.

Own your dreams…