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Imaging USA Wrap Up

I just returned from Phoenix, Arizona, after teaching a pre-con class at Imaging USA, the annual convention and tradeshow for Professional Photographers of America that brings in thousands of photographers from all over the world. I had teamed up again with the strikingly talented Jesh de Rox to deliver a course we created specifically for this event: The Client Experience Workflow.

We spoke to a fantastic audience, quite participatory, open-minded, interested and also just a really lovely group of people. Afterwards, there was a cool writeup about the class. Here’s a blurb…

It’s kind of amazing to meet up with so many industry friends, many of whom are actual friends and many of whom are virtual friends who then become actual friends – thank you, to my so-friendly facebook page and my fun-to-keep-current twitter profile šŸ™‚ šŸ™‚ šŸ™‚

Two of those friends who are now real, live ones are Jeff & Allison Rodgers of Allison Rodgers Photography, in Mississipi, who also spoke at the conference. We volunteered them to be our models, so that we could showcase some techniques. We didn’t spend a great deal of time shooting, but here are a couple images that were grabbed. Kind of a blended effort – Jesh set up them up, then I went ahead and photographed them.

I then very quickly finished the images using products from Jesh’s new Enlighten – Life as an art form site, which showcases his new Colorshift Action Set (amazing stuff, beautiful effects and highly customizable! – been working with these actions for months now and am loving the look and ease of them) and, of course, the Fine Art Textures set, which I’ve already been happily using for the last couple of years.

Both of these images were photographed in pretty poor conditions – terrible room lighting, 1600 ISO with the Canon Mark II, and the background was a projector screen… (you can’t really read Jeff’s shirt – it was pretty funny: What is another word for thesaurus?” šŸ™‚

I also got a chance to spend some good time at the Expo, showcasing all things photography in the way of products and services. Was great to catch up with the vendors we use that do such wonderful work for us … and I also got to see some of my work scattered throughout the huge show, too.

The first one I saw was the Buckeye Color Lab booth – they have been sponsoring all of my talks, so it was great to see my work showcased in their marketing, too.

(these were all grabbed with my iphone camera!)

I then ran into Simply Canvas. They sponsor my workshops and talks, as well, and I loved the pieces they chose to showcase – and they did so BIG . I hope both Lydia (sweet pouty girl) and her mom, Deb, get to see how much attention she got at the Expo. And, of course, the beautiful Carrie – I know you’ll see this, woman! Did you know that you were life-sized in Phoenix this past week? šŸ™‚

The next one I didn’t even know to look for – I was actually stepping through the Expo looking at some beautiful images of children, thinking of my own, when I suddenly saw them. My children, that is. And I saw them on high, to be exact šŸ™‚ They were this very large, tall image that was used for Pickpic, a company we work with to create customizable galleries. It was a sweet moment, to see them at the exact time I was thinking about them.

And then to see that we were, all together, on their hand-out marketing materials, it felt very family-like. Me and my babies šŸ™‚

The image on the left is the poster on high – the second is what they were handing out…

I then found Amherst Media, the publisher of my book, The Art of Children’s Portrait Photography. I was thrilled to see a huge poster of the book in their booth, and they said that it had been selling like crazy at the show. (Yay!)

They also shared that it was currently the 3rd bestselling book in their entire catalogue, out of hundreds and hundreds of fantastic books. That was a wonderful surprise. Such a feeling – for all that hard work to pay off like that.

And I can’t really think of a cooler way to support such amazing organizations like Save The Children or World Wide Orphans Foundation.

If you aren’t already familiar with these wonderful organizations, please do check them out!! – I know that I do post their sites often, but they really are doing that amazing kind of work that we could all be reminded of time and again šŸ™‚

All in all, it was a terrific experience. This is a pretty amazing industry, with some wonderful people on all sides of it.

And I am so very grateful to be doing the work that I’m doing šŸ™‚

27 responses to “Imaging USA Wrap Up”

  1. It all looks so beautiful Tamara! What a joy to be so involved with the photography community in a variety of ways. Congrats, and thanks for sharing the fun!

  2. It all looks so beautiful Tamara! What a joy to be so involved with the photography community in a variety of ways. Congrats, and thanks for sharing the fun!

  3. Kari Rogers says:

    I so wish I could have been in that class with you guys. I wish I could have gone to the whole convention but I really wanted to go to that class!!!

  4. Kari Rogers says:

    I so wish I could have been in that class with you guys. I wish I could have gone to the whole convention but I really wanted to go to that class!!!

  5. carrie Richards Williamson says:

    WOOHOO!!! You are right…. of COURSE I would see it! You are too much! Congrats on being so awesome šŸ™‚

  6. carrie Richards Williamson says:

    WOOHOO!!! You are right…. of COURSE I would see it! You are too much! Congrats on being so awesome šŸ™‚

  7. Jen MacNiven says:

    I got your book for a Christmas present from my grandma. I was so super excited and I’m loving reading it…so much about what you talked about at Image X…but it’s easier to go back to and learn from. Yeah!
    btw…if you check out my blog, I have a photo session from last month "the Wright stuff"…and I was thinking of you ane all I learned from you during that shoot…and it’s one of my favorites so far! Thank you!

  8. Jen MacNiven says:

    I got your book for a Christmas present from my grandma. I was so super excited and I’m loving reading it…so much about what you talked about at Image X…but it’s easier to go back to and learn from. Yeah!
    btw…if you check out my blog, I have a photo session from last month "the Wright stuff"…and I was thinking of you ane all I learned from you during that shoot…and it’s one of my favorites so far! Thank you!

  9. jesh de Rox says:

    such an honor, as always, to work with you, amazing friend. thank you!!!

  10. jesh de Rox says:

    such an honor, as always, to work with you, amazing friend. thank you!!!

  11. shawna says:

    i got your book for christmas and all i can say is it’s no wonder it’s a best seller! i ate it right up. :O) i was telling my whole family about you, giving them examples of the inspiration i get from your work as i learn more and more about photography. thank you so much!

  12. shawna says:

    i got your book for christmas and all i can say is it’s no wonder it’s a best seller! i ate it right up. :O) i was telling my whole family about you, giving them examples of the inspiration i get from your work as i learn more and more about photography. thank you so much!

  13. Chung Nguyen says:

    I loved your book, just as much as I love that you’re donating the proceeds to such great causes. (:

  14. Chung Nguyen says:

    I loved your book, just as much as I love that you’re donating the proceeds to such great causes. (:

  15. Tamara says:

    Love hearing such cool feedback on the book – thank you!! šŸ™‚ šŸ™‚

  16. Tamara says:

    Love hearing such cool feedback on the book – thank you!! šŸ™‚ šŸ™‚

  17. Lizzy says:

    Your work is incredible and you inspire me to be a better photographer!

  18. Lizzy says:

    Your work is incredible and you inspire me to be a better photographer!

  19. steve Lackey says:

    Love seeing the kids on display like that – as the inspiration they were born to be – beautiful showcase of the gifts you share, Tamara – so truly proud of you : )

  20. steve Lackey says:

    Love seeing the kids on display like that – as the inspiration they were born to be – beautiful showcase of the gifts you share, Tamara – so truly proud of you : )

  21. Lisa says:

    Wow!! Giant Sophie and Caleb – absolutely gorgeous. The book looks amazing when it is life-sized, and I can see why our fabulous vendors had such a great trade-show experience – they are amazing. Glad that you had the opportunity to meet some of the fabulous people that truly help to keep our business successful, and to meet more fabulous up and coming photographers….. sounds like a great, great week all around!

  22. Lisa says:

    Wow!! Giant Sophie and Caleb – absolutely gorgeous. The book looks amazing when it is life-sized, and I can see why our fabulous vendors had such a great trade-show experience – they are amazing. Glad that you had the opportunity to meet some of the fabulous people that truly help to keep our business successful, and to meet more fabulous up and coming photographers….. sounds like a great, great week all around!

  23. Mom and Dad says:

    Are we impressed or what? So proud of our daughter!

  24. Mom and Dad says:

    Are we impressed or what? So proud of our daughter!

  25. Sonya says:

    Hi Tamara! I, too, was at IUSA in Phoenix. When I saw your canvas of Lydia, it was like looking at my 4 month old in a year or so. LOVE the shot, so adorable…

  26. Sonya says:

    Hi Tamara! I, too, was at IUSA in Phoenix. When I saw your canvas of Lydia, it was like looking at my 4 month old in a year or so. LOVE the shot, so adorable…

  27. Daysi Mense says:

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