I didn’t go to a ton of classes this year.  I of course enjoyed listening to Jim Garner and Jerry Ghionis.  Both are adorable, oh yeah and they take pretty good pictures too!  Just kidding, they are actually amazing photographers and incredible business men.  Like I said a few days ago I also loved Elizabeth Messina and Jonathan Canlas.  Amazing!

The first night there we went to the [b] school get together dinner.  It was so nice to meet so many new and old friends!  Keats Elliot, who is the mastermind behind the [b] school and Shootsac, was one of the most interesting and genuine people I have ever met.  I just think she is adorable in every way!

I was so glad that Lauren was able to come to wppi this year.  Her photography business is just starting out and she is awesome!!!

Here are my girls Stacy, Courtneyand Lauren,!  That is Keats in the back with the cute checkered dress on.

I of course had a blast going to parties and visiting the trade show.  Last year I had the awesome opportunity to work at the Shootsac Booth and I knew I wanted to do it this year too.  I met some awesome new friends this year!

This is my new BFF Lee.  I love her!  So funny!  I helped set up the booth before the trade show.  It was such a blast!

Here is my other new BFF Ally in the green shirt and purple pants.  She is a total hoot!!!

Me, Lauren, Stacy and Courtney all worked the booth the next day.  It was beyond nuts but it was one of the most fun I had at wppi!!!  I know that sounds crazy But I had a total blast and I wish I worked for Shootsac.  I also got to work along side Jessica Claire and she is about the nicest person I have ever met.  Really sweet.

We also went to the Airhorns and Lasers party on Sunday night.  It was pretty fun.

These next two pictures were from the Smile Booth at the party

One of the people I have always wanted to meet is Millie Holloman.  She is a really great photographer and a really nice person.  She is a gem.

We had to stop by the Shootsac one last time.  Ally and Lee, I love you girls!!!

Lauren really wanted to meet Becker and get a picture with him.  He is so super nice!

This is just a random picture of me and Lauren.  Yep we are adorable. ha ha ha!

Now comes to the best party during WPPI.  The [b] school party.  It was at the Border Grill at the Mandalay Bay this year and they had such yummy food.  Here is a picture of me, Keats and Becker.  I have no idea who those two guys on the bottom left are.  They asked Alex to take a picture of them.  Random but funny!

I had such a wonderful time this year at wppi.  I can’t wait until next year!!!  I have a few more pictures of Vegas that I will post tomorrow.  Until then!

Love,
Tonya

A few months ago I made the decision to switch back to film.  I was going through a bit of a slump and was surfing the internet trying to find some inspiration.  I came across Jose Villa’s blog, which I had been to before but that day I saw something different.  Of course I knew Jose shoots film.  He is the film guy!  I spent the next few days immersed in other photographers blogs and I started to notice a crazy pattern.  All the photographers whose work I really loved had one thing in common.  FILM.  How could film make such a difference?  I spent the next few days reading and listening to every article and interview that these photographers had ever given.  I was a bit obsessed actually.  Alex thought I was crazy, but for the first time in a long time I felt like I knew what I wanted my business to be like.  Most people think I am crazy, but I have no doubt it is the right decision for me and my business.

Ok, back to WPPI.  There were very few classes I cared to attend this year but there were 2 I knew I did not want to miss.  Elizabeth Messina and Jonathan Canlas.  Both shoot film.  Both are inspiring.  Both are real.  They both talked about shooting for the love of photography.  They are both passionate about shooting film because they are making art not just pretty pictures.  They have inspired me more that they will ever know and for that I thank them.  They both have fabulous workshops that I want to go to.  This year has been hard so I hope next year I can go (unless someone wants to donate to the cause!)

Elizabeth’s workshop is called a Lovely Workshop and it will be help in France at a Chateau. Yeah. A Chateau.  Awesome right!?!?

Jonathan’s workshop I might just be able to pull off this year since it is in Park City, UT.  I hope I can.  I want to go so bad it is scary!!!  His workshop is called Film Is Not Dead.  He has a serious passion for film, the guy doesn’t even own a digital camera. WOW.  He is totally awesome and such a nice guy too.  I wish I would have known him when I lived in Utah.

And here is me sporting my FIND shirt in Vegas.  Thanks Jonathan for hooking all of us up!!!  I look super disgusting in this picture.  Sorry for that!

Here are some more amazing film shooters:

Jose Villa
Elizabeth Messina
Jonathan Canlas
Jill Thomas
Leo Patrone
Jesse Leake

Go spend a few minutes being inspired!

It is funny how life works out.  A year ago we were living in Utah, my business was doing better than it has ever done before and we were preparing for my very first WPPI. I was so excited for the way my business was headed and I just knew that 2009 was going to be HUGE.  While we were at WPPI Alex got a call saying he got an assistant managers job in Roswell, NM. I am always excited to move to new places, but I was a little worried about how my business would be effected by the move.  If you would have asked me two months ago I would have told you it was the worst thing that could have happened in my business, but God has a plan for all of us and almost a year later I am starting to see just why we were supposed to move down here.

I have booked ZERO weddings since I have been down here.  ZERO!  That to me is just scary.  My confidence has been shaken to the very core.  Am I not Good Enough? Too Expensive? Too Weird?  I just didn’t know why I wasn’t booking anything.  Since I haven’t had much work, I decided to really start networking with other photographers in the area.  When I first moved down here I contacted all of the photographers I could find and not one person got back to me so I just forgot about it.  Well that was the old me.  If you have been reading my blog and following me on twitter you will know that I have organized a group of photographers in my area and we meet once a month.  Not only do I look up to them as an artist and photographer, but  also consider them my friends.  They have changed my life and the way I do business!

I finally feel like I am in a place where I can help other photographers.  Like I actually have something to contribute.  And it feels great.  I feel like maybe God wanted me to slow down and really figure out what I want my business to be and how I want people to see me as an artist.  I am also thinking about switching back to film, but that is a whole other blog post!  More on that later!

I just want to thank all of the wonderful people who come to my blog and leave me comments.  There have been times in the past year where I have felt like such a horrid photographer and it just made my day when I knew that someone really cared enough to stop by my blog and leave a comment.  Love you all so much.  And since a blog post is stupid with out pictures, here is one of Paige from the park today.  Gotta love some converse!

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