So the question is what do you do when pretty much all of your photography mentors are in the same room and all you want to do is ask them a million questions and get to know them but your one of a bunch asking questions and your one of many looking to get a photo.

I am one of those people at WPPI who walked up to a photographer they admired and asked shyly if they would take a photo with me. I’m not sure why to be honest (as I don’t really like having my photo taken) other than I guess to say that I had met them and as a souvenir of the trip. This time I vowed to do something a little different, this time I was armed with important knowledge that I think I knew at WPPI but was just too overwhelmed to realize – these guys are normal people! We have this tendency to put them on this whole other unreachable range but if you stop for a second and try and have a normal conversation with them they will really listen and you’ll get some great feedback and instead of just admiring someone you really have made a new friend.

After WPPI I messaged three of my favorite speakers and photographers I had met to let them know the impact they had or just that it was really great to meet them and why and each one of them replied to me. Jasmine Star, Jesh de Rox and Me Ra Koh! Messaged me! At first I had that silly reaction of omg I can’t believe it and then I thought to myself these people started somewhere and approaching things from an honest and heartfelt AND genuine place will get you everywhere in this business. So armed with my knowledge and with the connection I had made I went to the Free to Succeed tour in New York. I went to this one specifically because I wanted to go to New York and because it was a tour stop that Jasmine Star was speaking at. Now for those of you who read this blog you probably hear me mention her name quite a bit – Jasmine is also someone new-ish to the industry but has had a meteoric rise for many reasons but two of which are her photography as well as her amazing personality. I could gush for awhile about many nice things about Jasmine but I think what’s more important for me to say is thank you – to her and the many other photographers that share themselves – whole heartedly – with the rest of us and inspire us to attain new levels and get us to look at our businesses in new ways. After hearing Jasmine and DJ speak I have been infused with even more ideas and even though I didn’t want to hear some of what they were saying deep in my heart I knew they were right. What’s more is that I felt like I connected with some of my mentors in much more of a real way. I decided this time I was going to get photos again but that they were going to be memorable and cheesy and fun. Nataschia Wielink from Life’s Journey photography – from Vineland also came to the seminar with me and she took the photos for me – check them out! PS I am a huge dork – I would just like to say that before you view these photos . . . .

Ok so a little background here – after I had talked to Jasmine for a little bit and shared some Nerds with her (the candy) I told her I wanted to do something fun for the photo and this is what she came up with. The one on the end is my reaction to Nataschia’s laughter and I’m sure Jasmine was laughing at me! heheh but I love them!

Ok so if you’ve came across this blog post because you are a David Jay stalker and think he is the hottest thing let me just say that you are not alone – I work with certain ahem people that would agree with you strongly. Personally I find this part of being a well known photographer funny – almost like every profession has their star that women seem to fall all over. The thing about DJ is that I like him because he’s just a really nice guy who has shared so much of himself with the photography industry. So in keeping with the silly and ironic poses I pretty much knew what I was going to do for my photo with him. I wanted to act like I just met a member of the backstreet boys (or insert whatever boy band’s name of the moment is here) and have the photo caught mid scream like I was freaking out. I think I look insane in the photo but that’s mostly what makes it funny. What’s even more perfect is that right after this photo I got to meet DJ’s girlfriend Allie who I have to say is an absolute sweetheart. Thanks to DJ for going through with this photo and also the other photo for Sam – which will make you die laughing and will come later.

Yup I’m definitely a dork