Shortly after we took their Engagement Photos in Santa Barbara last fall they asked us another exciting question.  Would we be willing to help shoot their wedding along with the ultra fabulous Shyla.  And without hesitation we excitedly agreed!   I have to admit there were challenges that came with being a guest AND a photographer but with the Barlow’s, EVERYTHING is a party and the day went perfectly!  We couldn’t feel more blessed to have been a part of Andrew & Kimmy’s special day.

Here is a little taste of their day..

As much fun as we had last year, traveling every month or so with 2 small kids gets really hard.   The night before I left for New Haven I was in a pile of tears on the floor because our 6 year old had a fever and it went against everything in me to leave.   With the help of my amazing Mom and a few “you can do it” cheers from her and Isaac I bucked up and went.  It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in business to date, but I know God used it to touch women and help me grow in my trust of Him.  After all, He loves my kids more than I do, which is REALLY hard to comprehend.

Anyway….with all of that said, we know we are called to continue the retreats but we knew 2012 called for some much needed changes.  This year all of our retreats will only be one day.  Last year they went from 10-4 for two days so we were together for 12 hours.  This year we will be meeting from 10 am – 10 pm, STILL 12 hours.  We did this because we didn’t want to lose out on precious time with you, but this allowed me to not be away from my family for quite as long.

The other big change is we will no longer be doing Stylized shoots as a direct part of the P31 retreat.  As much as we LOVE these shoots, planning such huge events in different states proved to have many unforeseen complications in the spirit of simplification we decided to not add that to our plate this year.   The good news is that each of our hostesses will be given the opportunity, if they choose, to host an A’la Carte Stylized shoot the day after our retreat!   We felt that this was the best of both worlds since our hostesses live and network in the cities and have WAY more connections than we do in their locations.  These shoots are in addition to the P31 retreats and will need to be registered for separately.

So now onto the FUN NEWS!!!! Since last spring my inbox has been FLOODED with requests from Texas.  So when it came time to plan for 2012 they were at the top of my list!  In September I had the chance to meet the Adorable Claire OMalley and instantly fell in love with her!  When I found out she was from Houston it confirmed that this needed to be our first stop.  So here is is! We will be taking our New P31 Retreat to Houston on April 4th!!!

Claire has jumped all over the chance to coordinate a stylized shoot for the attendees and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Look at this AMAZING Inspiration Board she has come up with for the shoot! I COULD SQUEAL!!!

So there ya have it!!!! THE NEW P31 Retreat is HERE!

If you are interested in attending, please visit www.pursuit31.com for more information or

REGISTER HERE!!!

Here are some of my favs that I found searching Polyvore…another online addiction.  I thought I would share them so that I could hopefully convince a few of you to join me in my recent obsession.

New Facebook Fan page & our New Twitter!

Keep your eyes peeled as the rest of our branding will be making switches over the next month or so.  XOXOXO

The older I get the more I realize that life doesn’t change much after high school.   I mean, we get older, we get married, and buy houses, and we realize that there is so much more than getting crowned homecoming queen.  Yet sometimes… it still feels like I am walking down that fluorescent lit hallway, late as always, wondering if all of the conversations I am passing are about me.  In a bad way.

I used to think that once I walked off that stage throwing my cap in the air that all of my problems would disappear with all of the trash I cleaned out of my locker.  I would no longer be faced with not “fitting in”, or false rumors, or jealous hatred that came from my successes.  Life would finally be…. happy.  Well, if you are like my husband and are already filling in the next chapter of this story because it’s so predictable, then yes, you’re right.  That is NOT how things turned out.  The rose colored haze that I had painted on the world after high school was merely an idyllic wish based out of my own insecurities.  Looking back I think that I honestly could. not. imagine. a life that continued like those four years.  I simply couldn’t handle it.

Or so I thought.

It’s now been over a decade since I walked out those maroon doors and stepped into my future.  And through kids, life, business, marriage, church, I can honestly tell you that things have not changed.  But what I can say is that I have learned to be happy despite it all.  I’ve learned that no matter what we do or why we do it, someone is always going to dislike me.   There will always be people who love you to your face and bash you to someone else.  Mean people thrive on stirring up rumors, and making you feel less than you are.   If you succeed, jealousy haters will come out of the woodwork to bash you and drag you down.  Or even more exciting, copy what you’ve done pass it off as their own.  As much as we fight it, it just is.   It’s life.  It’s human nature.  And we have to stop worrying about why it’s happening and how to stop it and instead, decide how to go forward.

As I sit here typing this all I can think about was Joseph.  Joseph was sold into slavery out of the jealousy of his own brothers who saw the blessings and favor on his life.   But with everything that the enemy threw at him, and all of the efforts his brothers did to try to tear him down, he came out victorious.  Imagine his situation.  He was stripped and mocked and sold by those closest to him.  All out of jealousy.  What they meant for destruction God used for instruction.  God used those years in slavery to mold Joseph.  To build character and develop within him the leader that He needed to save an entire people.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Although I am a habitual people pleaser and cannot handle the thought of someone being upset with me, I’ve had to learn to really give it up.  As much as I wish I could rub genies lamp and make everything love me, I can’t.  And believe me I’ve given myself a few sore arms trying to prove that theory. But it’s true,  In the past I would drive myself ( and Isaac) absolutely crazy trying make sure everyone was happy.  And It. Was. Exhausting.

It finally came to a halt when this sank in.  There will ALWAYS be haters.    The more this epiphany dug roots into my heart, the more I was able to let go of this ideal that I could make everyone happy.  And the more I let go, the more free I felt.  Not worrying about the people who didn’t care about me, actually gave me more time to love on those that really mattered.  The ones who were always by my side.

So stop worrying and start living.  Stop obsessing about the past and start pushing the limits of your future. Stop listening to the haters and start listening to Him…

Whoa… simmer down Karen… got a lil’ deep on ya

But seriously, as much as I hate to admit it to my 17 year old self, I still walk through this every day.  I get hurt when people don’t return my calls or refuse to talk things out, and I have to choose.  Will I allow them to hold me back?  Will I let offense take root and open the door to bitterness?  Or will I walk in grace and choose to forgive?

One of my favorite lines by Taylor Swift says…. “People throw rocks at things that shine.”   So in a nutshell, I decided that instead of getting upset, I am going to pick up all of those rocks and use them to build something epic.

Well… it was NOT because I attended WPPI! LOL! As much as I believe in the conference and think it’s an amazing place to be, the hustle and bustle and who’s who game just isn’t for me. Luckily I had read enough ahead of time and was well versed in the do’s and don’ts of this adult high school playground. If I had gone in blindly I’m certain my experience would’ve been polar opposite. So that is why I’m here today… to “hopefully” help you have the best WPPI 2012 experience ever!

So… here the are…. Top 10 WPPI 2012 Survival Tips!

1. Stay at the MGM Signature!

Yes this is my #1 Tip! I feel that staying at the Signature was the BEST decision I made last year. I’m not in to gaming, or smoking, or all of the other gross stuff that Vegas stands for so for me I enjoyed being as far removed from that environment as possible. The Signature is a non gaming hotel and pretty much looks like any other high class luxury hotel. You’d never even know you are IN Vegas unless you go on the strip. Staying here gives you a gorgeous room with a mini kitchen and an amazing tub for relaxing your super tired feet! It is also closer to the convention center so the Trade Show and all of the classes are about a 2-3 minute walk. The food court is about five minutes away. The Signature also has it’s own Starbucks so you will avoid the long lines in the Grand. They also have a bunch of little sitting areas, beautiful lobby’s and a few lounges that make a great spot to meet up with friends.

2. Bring your own food!

Food in Vegas is EXPENSIVE and the food court is kinda ridiculous.  Eating out 3 times a day all week can get very expensive. Jessica was kind enough to go grocery shopping for our room since she drove and we all pitched in.  I highly recommend a grocery run the first day you are in town!  We had oatmeal and cereal, water bottles, soda and tons of snacks.  It was so nice to retreat back to our room for a pick me up and a snack without spending a ton of money and wondering where I would sit in the food court!

Me and my amazing roomies Jessica & Courtney! Photo from Jessica’s blog with permission of course.  Forgive the bad hair day… it was my last day in Vegas!

3. FOCUS. FOCUS. FOCUS.

Don’t try and make it to everything! You will stress yourself out! Make a list of the business goals you have and what you NEED to grow in this year. Filter everything through that list and if it will help you grow in that area, do it, if not, pass it up. Like if you REALLY want to learn lighting but you think it would be cool to hear a wedding planner talk, you should probably pass on the planner. Being strategic in what you go to based on what you are NEEDING right now will help you have a more beneficial experience.

4. Set a budget.

Everyone is doing workshops during WPPI because there is a plethora of photographers needing them. That in addition to the crazy amazing Trade show is enough to send you into a financial downspiral of debt. Be intentional on your purchases. Set a budget and stick to it. And I beg you, please do not take your card into the Trade Show Go and browse everything and leave your wallet in your room and if you want it bad enough, you can go back later. This will help curb any impulse buys!

5. Make a must see list not a full on schedule.

Last year I had my schedule SOOO jam packed that I literally didn’t leave room to eat! I wanted to do everything and it took about half of Monday to realize that JUST wasn’t going to happen.  I literally had my preboards printed, my show it classes scheduled out, a workshop, a shoot, and about 12 headshot shoots on my agenda.  I even volunteered in the shootsac booth for a few hours.  It was NUTS! I quickly realized that this small town girl COULD NOT keep up with that pace, and I surrendered the “non must do’s) of my schedule.  Sometimes there are just things you can’t plan.  Not even a minute after I sat down to hear the Women in Photography panel I got a text from a dear friend and mentor that she wanted me to come to her room and chat.  I’m not a name dropper so I will keep that private, but, let’s just say this isn’t a text you ignore.  So… I high tailed my buns out of the area and off to her room at 9:30 at night.  It was literally one of the BEST 2 hours of my entire trip and I could never have planned on that time with her.

So… just keep this in mind.  Every hour of your time in Vegas is very valuable.  Plan wisely where you will spend your time and what you will invest in.  You never know what a thirty minute meeting with someone will mean down the road.  For me, I am choosing to invest in people this year.  I have no idea if I will make it to one platform class.. except J&M’s because well… I ADORE them and want to support my dear friends.  This is just my game plan.  If you are in the beginning stages of your business you may want to attend every class possible.  Only you know what you need.

Do your research.  Make a Must do list and leave the rest up to the unexpected fun that is bound to present itself!

6. Share a Google Calendar

Last year there were a few friends that I knew I wanted to keep tabs on so that we could meet up for lunch when possible or stand in line for classes together.  We decided to share calendars so that we always knew where each other was “most likely” to be and where we could connect next.  Since we all had different goals and run different businesses we didn’t want to see the same things so this was a great option and worked extremely well!

7. Bring Walkie Talkies or switch to the Edge.

With 15,000 + Photographers on one network you can only imagine how difficult communication can be! Turn your phone to the E (Edge) Network or bring a walkie talkie if you are trying to keep in touch with one specific person. You think I’m kidding???? I’m totally not!

8. Plan to give back.

You will make far more friends and a much bigger impact if you simply GIVE. Go expecting to give.. not take and you will have a MUCH better experience. Last year I was SOOOO nervous to attend because I literally didn’t know more than a handful of people. I stayed with my dear friends Jessica Frey and Courtney Clarke and probably knew ten more people! I didn’t want to be alone and all 3 of us had crazy different schedules planned. So I posted in Showiteers which probably had 90 or so people at the time that I wanted to do some headshot shoots for free and asked if anyone was interested. My inbox overflowed with people wanting headshots and it was a BLAST! I met some of my closest friends in the industry from those shoots and some of them even turned the camera on me and gave me some fun shots! So think about it and figure out something you could offer… a way to give back.. then announce it and see what happens. I think you will be surprised!

Here is one of my favorites from the shoot I did with Jackie Gannon… View the rest of the Headshot sessions I did last year HERE.

9. Dress in LAYERS!

Vegas is tricky and as much as I thought it would be warm it was frigid!  Comfortable shoes are A MUST because you are walking EVERYWHERE!  But don’t forget to throw in a pair of heels and a sparkly dress in case you want to hit up one of the fab parties!  I found myself wearing leggings, skinny’s boots and cardigans everywhere.  You just never know when you will get too hot or too cold!  I thought I would need a swimsuit but it was just too cold and honestly there just wasn’t time.

I did an entire post last year on Packing for WPPI.  Read that post HERE.

10. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

There is a tendancy to walk away from WPPI a little overwhelmed and frustrated.  Do NOT let it get the best of you!  YOU are amazing!  So what if you didn’t get invited to the cool parties… or if so and so didn’t wave at you in the hallway.  It might seem like everyone there has it all together… and trust me, 90 % of them act like they do… but it’s okay.  Let them act that way.  They’ve got nothing on you, because YOU are who does that best!

If you go with

~ goals in mind…

~ areas that you want to grow…

~ relationships you really want to foster AND…..

~ you STICK to that…

IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL!

YAY! We made it through the top 10! I hope these will help you to have a wonderful time at WPPI!  I hope to see you around! And if you do, please come up and say hi and if I may be so bold, tell me your name.  I am TERRIBLE with names but always remember faces!

AND WAIT! THERE’S MORE!!!

So we know that Re-Branding seems to be the BUZZ word this year and we want to help someone out! We want to give someone a complete Branding Photo Shoot of yourself or your team to use on your re-brand! These will be 60-90 minute sessions taking place at WPPI and you can do outfit changes, go to coffee, do whatever! We just want to help showcase you for your new site and blog! We could even make it a fusion video if you want! If you are interested just head on over to our fan page, give us some “like” love and then leave a comment that says something about WPPI!!! In about a week we will collect all of the comments and randomly select a winner… or two! Who knows what we will feel like doing with all of the love from you guys!  Remember you have to LIKE AND COMMENT for your entry to be valid

Comment on our New Fan page and win a Re-Brand Photoshoot HERE!

Can’t wait to see you in Vegas!

xoxo,
Karen