BlogHer 2010! (Conference Shots)

 

Photos further down the page, but I wanted to say a few things first.

BlogHer was really, really fun. When Justin called me asking if I'd like to second shoot the event, I had no idea what I was getting into, but I'm glad I got the chance to go. I learned a lot, I shot a lot and I met a lot of cool people.

Here are some things about BlogHer that I really liked.

Women who go to BlogHer are smart. Often very smart. They way my shooting days were set up required me to go to lots of panels for 10-15 minutes each. I was always impressed with the conversations going on. The panelists and audience were contributing to a great discussion. Interesting questions, interesting answers.

The panels were set up to serve the audience. Discussions were moderated very loosely, insuring that panels were there to inform attendees. It was a very organic style of discussion, and I think it worked very well.

Everyone is genuinely interested in you. When people would ask about my work I felt like they actually cared. This was definitely not a place where you waited for someone to finish talking so you could talk. The women of BlogHer have fostered a community that is interested in each other. Whoa.

At BlogHer, it's hard to not make friends. Seriously. I can't tell you how well I was treated. Often I would sit down at a table to change lenses - and find myself with five new friends by the time I'd stood up again. People are just nice there.

I had a blast at BlogHer and I'm excited to be going back for BlogHer '11.

I hope to see you there.

Now, pictures!


At 6:30 AM I shot and ran a 5K. The run was set up for the charity Tutus for Tanner. Besides the blisters I got from running in Adidas, it was a great way to start the morning.


(More about Tanner here.)





Part of the fun of shooting BlogHer was sitting in on the panels.


Kimberly Blessing talking about how to get hired.


Liz Henry speaking about plugging holes in your security life.


Genia Stevens on bringing sex out of the closet.




The International Activist Blogger Scholarship Recipients Keynote. (I wrote a little about this panel here.)






 

Attendees.








At the tradeshow there was even a place you could get your hair done.

Tomorrows post is what happens after the panels (party time!)

A Brief Explanation

Before yesterday I'd never been told that my photography could end up causing the direct death of someone. So that was an interesting milestone.

Saturday mornings keynote featured the International Activist Blogger Scholarship Recipients. Anyone who was there will back me up when I say that these four women are doing great, inspirational things.

Those four women are also doing dangerous things.

So that's where the photography embargo comes in. Because of some of the activism that these women are involved in, it is imperative that they're not photographed. The organizations who would have them killed, do not know what they look like, and we'd like to keep it this way.

Shortly before the keynote began the situation was explained to me and I was introduced to the panelists. At that time the panelists, a staff member, Lisa Stone and I went over the ground rules of what would be appropriate. (Absolutely no photos of the women's faces, or anything that could easily identify them.) During the conversation someone did ask if it would be OK if I were to shoot from behind their backs. Lisa and the panelists agreed that they would all be comfortable with that idea.

OK, where are those photos?

Well, I took about 10 photos from that angle. Most of the pictures I took and BlogHer will be available on the Flickr shortly. I will not, however, be releasing the photos featuring the panelists backs. They will be sent to the BlogHer staff and they will decided if it would be appropriate to make those photos publicly available.

So that's the story. If you were a worried attendee I hope your fears are quelled. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions or concerns.

(And Shannon, if I were in your position, I would have tackled me too.)

BlogHer, NYC

A few from yesterdays BlogHer Business. Today the real fun begins.

Pray for me.





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The News York City Success Story!

Two things of import.

1. Justin Hackworth and I will be going to New York City to shoot BlogHer '10. I am both thrilled and excited.

2. My zine came out. It's got stuff I've been doing lately. It's got both hot air balloons and grown men who place with swords in the park. Check it out here buy it for $3 here.

In addition to those exciting things, I've started a picture of the day Tumblr blog. Those photos also post to my Twitter and Facebook photography page.

I'll see you when I get back.



Got a trim for the event.

Utah Engagement Photography - Danny & Monica

Danny, Monica and I woke up bring and early on a Saturday morning not to long ago to shoot their engagements. Mornings like this are why I love summer. Mellow hiking, fun people and photography.

Things could be worse.

















They get married in a little less then 3 weeks. Look for wedding photos to follow.

LCZ: Issue #4

The Love City Success Story: Issue #4 is out. This zine has an article about going to a trappist monastery, a photo essay featuring Provo's very own Battle Guard crew, pictures with captions and more.

Here's what it would look like if you bought it, and then held it at arms length.

Get LCZ #4 here.

4th of July

Out of sentimental duty I rode my bike to Bulldog Field at 5:30 AM to shoot some balloons.

Hot air balloons hold a special place in my heart. Growing up my older sister, Kjerste, used to take me to see them every 4th of July. These days she lives in Maine, so for now that tradition is on hold.

But I'm sure, once I've got some children of my own, I will take them early in the morning, to see some really big balloons and to eat an Egg McMuffin.

Happy 4th of July everyone.