About 4 months ago I was asked to help with something at our state photography convention and of course said I would. Later I questioned my choice, but since I had agreed to help I followed through with it. I played Simon Cowell at a "Georgia Idol" party and the good thing is that I made it out alive. Some of the reasons I had questioned my choice was that it was a hectic time and weekend for me at home and the studio, the convention was in Albany and I had already seen a lot of the speakers before. Albany, Georgia – a hot spot for conventions! Well what did I learn? Lots, for one thing just how much these people mean to me and how good some of my professional friendships are. Some of the photographers at the convention I met almost 30 years ago and others I have met over the internet in the last few years and finally got to put a face with a name at the convention. One thing I will always know about many of these photographers is that they will always have my back and I will have theirs, even though we hardly ever see each other anymore. It is amazing how quickly friends can pick up where they left off. Another thing about the speakers that I learned is that though I had seen them before they still had something in the program that you could learn from, and who learns everything just in the programs anyway.
The speakers were great, the food was terrific and the friendships are priceless.
I also found some great locations to shoot! It would be great to have some of the buildings around here to use for portraits. And in front of the hotel Ray Charles was playing the piano every day.