Last week I went to California for the very first time to attend a photography conference called United… the founders of it have a vision of connecting like-minded people so that we can grow and serve together…and it exceeded all of my expectations…I’ve spent all week processing it — re-reading my notes from all of the amazing speakers and reflecting on the friendships that formed and the conversations had — the dreams shared and the encouragement given…and I still don’t know how to even begin to explain it! It’s so refreshing to be a part of an industry where my supposed “competition” are actually some of my best friends and the biggest cheerleaders for my business. I love that so much!

Ali, Tori, Abby, Lauren, Natalie, Anna, Caroline, Jen, Katie – my roommates, travel buddies, and good friends…Thank you for helping to make my time at United such a rich experience! I’m so grateful to know each of you!!

Sending a HUGE hug and thank you to everyone at PASS/Showit for working so hard to make this amazing conference a reality! I also wanted to send a virtual hug to Katelyn…I don’t know if I would even be a photographer if it wasn’t for her…and I KNOW that I wouldn’t have met all of my incredible friends in the wedding industry if it wasn’t for her bringing us together!

I didn’t actually take very many pictures at United because I spent most of the time building relationships with people and soaking up as much knowledge as I could from some of my favorite industry leaders like Mike Larson and Kenny Kim, but I did get to take a few portraits of my gorgeous friends and now I am dying to go back to California to shoot one day! It is such a beautiful place!

I hope that I get to go back next year!!