Welcome [Jennifer] to the Family!

This week, we thought that a double dose of incredible would be appropriate for the holidays. This week as we celebrate Christmas with our loved ones, we also celebrate another remarkably talented photographer we are proud to add to our family...
Meet Jennifer, owner of Jennifer Sosa Photography in New York! Jennifer is a native New Yorker specializing in Wedding/Portrait Photography. She was raised in Queens and loves the diversity and creativity that NYC offers her as an artist.

The Facts:
Camera: Canon 5D and 5D Mark II
Favorite Lenses: 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8
Experience: Graphic Design Major turned Professional Photographer

We also asked Jennifer to share a little bit of what she is looking forward to with the Photog Retreat and here are her answers...

What are you looking forward to most about the Photog Retreat?
Fun Photoshoot and meeting lots of other photographers while learning more about the business.

What challenges you most as a photographer?
Group photos! I find it difficult to position lots of people in an interesting way.

What challenges you most as a business owner?
I'm more of an artist than business person. I find making packages and pricing challenging.

And of course our favorite questions...
Tell us a little bit about yourself? (what makes you, YOU!)
People often compare me to Ugly Betty. (I take it as a compliment). She is strong, independent, optimistic, warm, quirky, colorful, full of life and has a personality all her own. She is confident in who she is and won't compromise her ideals. If you couldn't tell, I'm also a fan of her show! :)

After being a graphic design assistant for 2 years I got laid off. It was actually the best thing that ever happened to me. With all the free time I had, I rediscovered my love for Photography. I shot my first wedding in the summer of 2009 and I haven’t looked back since. It's been a roller coaster ride but I'm loving every minute of it!

Please join us in welcoming Jennifer to our wonderful family! Thank you Jennifer for adding your style and refreshing perspective to our upcoming retreat!

Welcome [Paola] to the Family!

The goodness continues as we get to know more about the photographers that make up the Photog Retreat 2011 family! In addition to our speakers and industry leaders the photographers that our taking this journey with us bring with them their uniqueness, creativity, fun and personality that sets the stage for a one of a kind experience!

Everyone has something to contribute and we will be the first to say (and continue to do so) that we have a pretty awesome and talented group, but don't take our word for it...read it for yourself :)







Meet Paola, owner and Director of Awesome of Spotted Photography in Salt Lake City! Paola specializes in Wedding/Portrait Photography. She is happily married and loves reading books, is passionate about photography and lives for traveling and new experiences.

The Facts:
Camera: Nikon D700
Favorite Lenses: 50mm 1.4, 24-70mm
Experience: Destination and International Wedding & Portrait Photographer

We also asked Paolo some more questions, here are her answers...

What are you looking forward to most about the Photog Retreat?
The shoots! I want to see myself putting what I will learn to good use.

What challenges you most as a photographer?
I often feel too comfortable with my work. I feel like I need to try different things more often.

What challenges you most as a business owner?
Deadlines and work flow- I am constantly overwhelmed.

And one of our favorite questions of all time...
Tell us a little bit about yourself? (what makes you, YOU!)
I am a happy, social person.
I have been living in the U.S for the past 3 years (I'm Brazilian- but I am often reminded that I look too pale to be one). I am constantly bombarded with inspiring thoughts, dreams, and ideas. I'll admit I kinda live in that world- yet I check back to reality often enough so it doesn't look suspicious (or at least that's what I think).

When it comes to photography, I do it because of the feeling it gives me. I love both the artistic and business side of it. I don't do it for the money, but I really really really don't mind that in the end of the month photography paid my bills.

Please join us in welcoming Paola to our wonderful family! Thank you Paola for adding your positive energy and creativity to our upcoming retreat!

What It's Really All About! [Part II]

After reading the origins and concept of The Photog Retreat, see the actual experience...

What It's Really All About!

By: Kathryn Brown

This week is all about putting a face to a concept. A concept that just three years ago was a little light bulb that went off and thank goodness it did! We have started this upcoming retreat off by introducing you to not only the speakers but also the photographers who are coming along with us. Why? Because that's a big part of what it's really all about...

Let me take you back to the beginning...I am a mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend and to that list I am happy and proud to say photographer. I started out like most others in that I had always had a passion for photography, capturing a moment. Even when I did not have a camera with me I watched things happen around me in a cinematic view, trying to freeze it in my mind so that I could remember every detail and every emotion that went along with it. It was so bad, that even in high school, my friends would comment (ok, tease) on how I always had my camera with me.

Fast forward ten years and I finally took the steps to become a professional photographer. I was lucky and had tremendous support of family and friends but I wrestled with doubt, feared failure and struggled to find a balance between work, family life and saving even a smidge of "me time". Thankfully, I am an overly positive person and have tremendous faith in taking the path that God has placed before me and did not let any ounce of worry hold me back.

I dug in, determined to succeed and continually improve and in that process found the most amazing group of friends, colleagues and mentors along the way. I attended meetings, workshops, shoots and even did some one-to-one consultations. Through it all I found that I learned the most from my true friends, those who really cared about me and the success of my business. They were not seeing me as competition or only speaking to me because I "paid" them to. Those who inspired me the most really cared and would be there for me to talk to, answer my silly questions and challenge me to push beyond the limits I placed on myself. All this was done over a cup of coffee, at a just for fun shoot, dinners, birthday parties and the like.

That's when that little light bulb went off and the original vision of the Photog Retreat began...The idea was simple: Create an environment where friendships flourish, Everyone was viewed as peers, Egos were no where around, Learning would be casual, relaxed and fun. Needless to say lots of prayer, planning and communication went into transforming this vision into a reality. And I am happy to say that it was successful. But not because of anything I did alone- The underlying foundation that really truly holds it all together is the strength of relationships- our connection as a group of photographers all striving for the same thing...SUCCESS!

Success through encouragement and support

Success through learning, simplifying and improving

Success in our goals both business and personal

Success through opportunities, challenges and new adventures

Success in finding our true self- as an individuals, artist and more!

What I personally got out of the Photog Retreat would fill pages and pages but the one thing that I cherish most is the lifelong friendships that I will forever have because of it. Knowing that following through with my one little idea that began the domino affect to meeting these wonderful people who have had such a profound affect on me both personally and professionally is what fuels my mission of paying it forward and continuing the same opportunity for others. It is my passion, my heart and I am forever thankful to those who have taken (and will take) this journey with me.

In closing, I thought that it was appropriate for this post to share the images below that are from the trip to Chicago with one of my best friends and fellow photographer (Ezra Marcos) that served as inspiration for the whole idea of the Photog Retreat to begin with.

Looking forward to what the future has for us all!
xoxo,
Kathryn

Welcome [Mindy] to the Family!

At the end of our last retreat there was one thing that had become abundantly clear: We came from all over the U.S. as individual photographers but we were leaving as one big happy family. Not only did we learn, plan and develop strategies for our own business, but we now had a team of cheerleaders, encouragers, peers and friends to not only hold us accountable to our goals but to also share the victories and challenges throughout the year.

In that same spirit we would like to welcome photographers who join us this coming year into our Photog Retreat Family. We look forward to meeting you, learning with (and from) you, and supporting you in the future as we all grow our businesses together!

This week as our first special feature, it is our pleasure to welcome Mindy and share with you a little about her...

Mindy, owner of Red Rock Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada specializes in Wedding/Portrait Photography. She is happily married and mother of two beautiful little girls. She studied photojournalism at NMSU, and fell in love with weddings by accident while in school. She discovered it was a much happier form of journalism :)

The Facts:
Camera: Canon 5D
Favorite Lenses: 50mm 1.2 and the 70-200mm 2.8
Experience: Over 8 years as a Professional Photographer

We also asked Mindy a few other fun questions, here are her answers...

What are you looking forward to most about the Photog Retreat?
Shooting in exotic locations and relaxing with my hubby

Who are you looking forward to meeting the most?
Everyone, I love people :)

What challenges you most as a photographer?
The business side, staying focused/organized, and delegating.

And one of our favorite questions of all time...
Tell us a little bit about yourself? (what makes you, YOU!)
I love adventure. I spent my childhood through college years hiking,
biking, kayaking, rock climbing, riding horses, and more! I play piano
(sort of). Once upon a time I competed in triathlons... a long time ago.

Please join us in welcoming Mindy to our wonderful family! Thank you Mindy for adding your sense of adventure and love for life to our upcoming retreat!

Dance Off [Get Totally Rad]

The Challenge has been issued for a little Photog Retreat Dance Off. Last year it lasted over a series of nights as everyone enjoyed heading out after dinner for some good clean fun!

It will definitely be an event not to miss and makes you wonder which one of our speakers may have a secret move that hasn't yet been revealed???

Oh and you better believe the classics will make an appearance at some time or another: the running man, mash potato, swing, and everyone's favorite...The Chicken (ha, ha, ha!!!!)

So, let's start this off right by seeing which speaker you think has what it takes to earn themselves the title... Leave a comment below or take the facebook poll telling us who you think will win and not only can you cheer them on, but also be entered fo a chance to win a pretty awesome set of Lightroom Presets from Totally Rad Actions!

NOT Your Typical Workshop...

...and Kudos to our very own Lydia Shannon (and friends- ha!) for creating this fabulous video! Go ahead, please leave her some love with some comments below...

and then go ahead and Register here :)

Photog Retreat in 30 seconds...

Love this short and sweet video from last year's attendee Sarah. In just a few seconds you can get a little glimpse of the fun our group had last retreat in the Bahamas!

It Just Keeps Getting Better

As if a 7 day vacation is not enough to make us all jump for joy, here's something that is sure to have you leaping...

$200 store credit to KISS books
for EVERY Attendee on the 2011 Photog Retreat!!!

...and 6 months of ShootQ will belong to one lucky winner who comes along with us on the cruise!

yeah- we think KISS and ShootQ are pretty awesome :)

Good Times

We were just reminiscing about the last retreat and thought we would share some of our favorites...can't wait for 2011 Photog Retreat!!!

Black Friday [Save money + Save Lives!]

Sooo exciting, last minute deals to share for
Black Friday (November 25th)... SAVE $400!!!

[Register Here]

Not only have we have been able to negotiate a very short window of a HUGE deal for the 2011 Photog Retreat but EVERY registration will
SAVE 5 lives through a very special donation to Thirst Relief!!!

As with any amazing opportunity this one has VERY Limited availability so act fast: First come First serve...good luck!

* $400 savings NOT combinable with any other offers, coupon, discount codes or certificates.

A little bit more information about Thirst Relief:
Thirst Relief International is responding to the worldwide water crisis by helping thousands of families each year gain access to safe water through simple, low-cost means. A locally manufactured biosand filter or a well repaired by nationals has the power to radically improve the health and well-being of an individual, a family, a community.

More than 1.1 billion people in our world lack access to safe drinking water. (UNICEF) Living without this precious resource results in a host of preventable illnesses and even death. Each year 2.5 million people die from diarrheal diseases, many of them caused by contaminated water. Ninety percent of those deaths are children under age five. (World Health Organization)

Thirst Relief’s vision is simple yet profound—to save lives and change the world.

Registration is Open!

Registration is open and thanks to some amazing sponsors, you can save even more for registering early!

Single Photogs can save $250 and it you thought that is something to be excited about then you will LOVE the deal for Two Photogs!!!

BOGO
{Buy One at Regular Price, Get One HALF OFF!}
...that's $1550+$775= a savings of $775!!!!!
Getting these special discounts on your registration is easy:
- Tweet about the Retreat (tagging @PhotogRetreat and #PhotogRetreat)
- Post/Share a link on Facebook
- Blog about it by Nov. 19th, 2010

Register Here!
That's it, easy money :)

Save the Date...

Whoooo-hoooo, mark your calendars...
February 26th- March 5th, 2011
7-Day Caribbean Round-trip from LA!!!

It's Almost Time

It's almost time to reveal 2011's destination...where will it be?????

....Where do you hope it will be????

Join the group and Stay tuned :)

Photog Retreat 2011

Plans for the next Photog Retreat are already in the works...stay tuned as the details become available. In the mean time enjoy some videos of the last Photog Retreat and let us know where you would like to go next (leave a comment or send an email)!

Video by Shain Petty:

Photog Retreat 2010: Bahamas from shain petty on Vimeo.

Video by Sarah Bohl:

We're Back....

Wow! Is all I can say about the absolutely AMAZING three days that we spent together cruising the open sea and leaving our little mark on the Bahamas...from our first night welcome party that celebrated not one but two birthdays, our fun introductions and opening workshops, walking through the Bahamas with everyone's attention on our beautiful couple and gorgeous bride (lots of congratulations & honks...as well as a few stopping to ask what famous person we where photographing- ha!), from sun up to sun down our phenomenal group transformed from strangers... to friends... to a photog family!

Over the next few weeks we will share more about the retreat and our adventures, but for now...here are some awesome blogs and videos to get you by :) enjoy

Blogs to check out:
Scarlett Lillian- Photog Retreat: Bahamas Cruise Wrap Up
Sarah Bohl- My New Photographer Friends
Connie Rollins- Photog Retreat to the Bahamas
Karla Garcia- Back from the Bahamas
Shain Petty- Photog Retreat 2010: Bahamas

Video by Shain Petty:

Photog Retreat 2010: Bahamas from shain petty on Vimeo.

Video by Sarah Bohl:



And a very special Thanks to all our speakers...can't wait until 2011!!!
Scarlett Lillian
Stephen Knuth
The Bui Brothers
Shaun Austin
Kylie Banks
Todd Watson

...and our models: Jodi, Todd & Elisa :)