Yes, I did.
And evidently, I'm a bit on the down low and not very good at communicating it when I do, you know, do a THING.
However; I went to the biggest photography conference in the US. It's put on by PPA, (Professional Photographers of America) and it's called Imaging USA. It's where you go to learn from, love on, hang with and be inspired by some of the greatest friends and minds in photography. I absolutely love it. This year it was in Nashville, in the best terrarium in the south, Gaylord Opryland. (side note, I have not contracted one virus from the petri dish thus far. No flu, norovirus, bronchitis, nothing...SO FAR.)
So aside from a fun trip, great friends, no illness and ALL of the inspiration...
I did a thing.
I earned my Photographic Craftsman Degree. This is a degree that only 1% of photographers earn. You get it by giving back, teaching, uplifting and sharing to further the photography industry. That's all big for "hey, if you took any of my super 1 day workshops, you helped me get this."
I also had one of my favorite people with me as my sponsor. She walked me out, she put the degree around my neck and she celebrated my 15 seconds FULLY with me. I couldn't have asked for a better friend and mentor in that moment...so Thank you, Mary Fisk-Taylor! Hayes And Fisk Photography (little side plug, if you're a photographer, you really should listen to her podcast. She does it with Kira Derryberry from Florida and it's AMAZING. It's called "Get your Shoot Together" and I swear, I haven't missed one, yet.... so go listen, laugh and learn with them!) okay, anyhow, back to the thing:
I dressed up, I got my hair and makeup done, I did all of the dressy fancy things. I had two "desires" upon realizing that I was needing to get dressy. I wanted a dress with pockets and I didn't want to have to do the high heel shoe thing. I mean, this is a thing. There's a lot of people watching and it's live streamed to even more. I have no desire to fall on my face in front of everyone. Nope.
I found a dress with pockets.
I found gorgeous strappy heels.
I never put those heels one one time throughout the ceremony. I sat barefoot. I walked barefoot across the stage and I danced like I was under a full moon and nobody was watching...barefoot. If ever there was being mindful of the moment and fully living that tiny slice of time, Mary and I did it. She gave me a gorgeous frame and I cannot wait to put our dancing photo in it.... Yeah, the one pictured. I want this one. Not the formal one, but the one where we were 200% all in and let go and loved it.
So, what I'm saying is...
I might be a bit private and on the down low. I might sit in a room full of photographers for two consecutive months where upcoming degree recipients are read off and just not say a thing. I'm okay with that. It's not personal. I like keeping it to myself, enjoying my own little journey...and then celebrating it as free and grounded and open as I can once the time is right. So to all of my Dallas friends that didn't know...I'm sorry, kind of. I'll try and be better, but I'm never going to be loud about it. But, knowing what the next goals are, I could be really really wrong. hahaha...
Alright... check you on the next blog...stay tuned, don't turn the channel....but go pee...coz it'll take a minute before I have more to share.
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