But I really wanted to go to WPPI and see what it was all about. So I asked one of my BFFs to come with me to Vegas. She is not a photographer, but she couldn’t pass up Vegas. So in a sense I went alone (since she didn’t have a pass) and faced my introvert fears. And talked to strangers. And made new friends.

Now WPPI is one of my favorite times of the year to catch up with friends from around the country.

WPPI is totally intimidating, especially for a first-timer. The bright, flashy lights, the thousands of people, and the newness of it all. I can speak from experience that as a natural introvert (I prefer small groups and 1-on-1 chats to BIG groups), the whole prospect of attending this huge conference freaked me out. Actually, going to a huge conference still freaks me out. But a funny thing happened the first time I went. I started to recognize the people I had met online on forums and Facebook. And with every hope of not seeming terribly creepy, I’d approach someone I “knew” and said, “Are you so-and-so?” Since we “knew” each other online, it usually cut the first meeting awkwardness. Kinda like that first date awkwardness. And the same would happen in return. I remember meeting a ton of people approaching me the same way. It was totally weird and awesome at the same time. Thank you social media.

Oh and then there are the parties. The BIG parties that “EVERYONE” is at. The parties that promise to melt your face off with awesome. I’ve been to some of those parties. And they are fun and crazy and probably will make your deaf before your face melts off. I encourage party attendance if it’s your thing. It’s your experience make the most of it.

My advice on being social…especially if you’re shy…like me:

1. Connect with other photographers online. Seriously. Make a new friend on Facebook that you know is going to WPPI and make a plan to meet up. Then when you meet in person, it’s like you already know each other. Since I used to live in California, I’m looking forward to meeting up with my friends from California that I haven’t seen in three years and catching up. A good friend of mine that now lives in Dallas was someone who I met on a forum, then met in person at WPPI. We reconnected after she moved here. You never know who you will meet and how they will affect your life.

2. Plan your trip with other local photographers…or photographers from across the country. Now that this is my fourth time attending WPPI, I don’t have a problem with sharing my room with “strangers.” It can sometimes be hit or miss, and I think it’s important to find people that you connect with at least initially. Most importantly, with sleeping habits. It’s probably not conducive to bunk with others who like to party all night and you like to sleep. I know it’s Vegas, but I’m totally one who likes her shut-eye. Also, if you’re going to be sharing a bed, make sure it’s someone you know. I’m bunking with my friend Lynn again this year.

3. Attend the parties with a friend or group of friends. Safety in numbers. Seriously. And of course, more fun. Two years ago, I attended one of the big parties with a groups of friends and there was an employee from an album company who wanted to get friendly with me. And wanted to dance with me. And wouldn’t leave me alone, even when I pointed at my WEDDING RING. Needless to say, I will NEVER use that album company. Also, attending these parties with friends allows you to share cab fare.

4. Meet new people. It’s probably inevitable to meet new people, but I suggest meeting at least two new people who you will continue to be friends with after Las Vegas. Or perhaps you have connected with some people online and they’ll be going to Vegas. Make it a point to meet up with them in person, over coffee, lunch, or drinks.

5. Don’t be afraid to say hello. I know, it probably sounds lame or obvious, but when you’re shy, a simple hello can feel impossible. But who knows, the person you say hi to, may be MORE shy than you. Just remember, you won’t make a connection with everyone, but you never know who you might hit it off with. Some of the best conversations I’ve had have happened in the hallways at WPPI.

6. Invest in relationships with the photographers you meet and hit it off with. This is definitely my goal this year at WPPI. I made the decision to not go to the BIG parties, and while I think about how I might feel “left out” or like I missed something or just plain uncool, I know that the time I’m spending with people who care about me and will remember me the next day is way more valuable to me. Instead of investing money into a party, I’m choosing to invest my time with people.

I get to Las Vegas in just 10 days! I’m excited and nervous but more excited.

Read Part 1: Prep | Read Part 2: Classes & Tradeshow

This weekend was the first and last time that I ever buy Velveeta. It really is a plastic cheese product. It’s not cheese! Leading up to the Super Bowl, I had seen commercials for making easy queso. Velveeta + Rotel = voila instant queso. Yeah, not so much. I wanted to make it easy by putting it in the crock pot, and it just didn’t work out so well. I should have known that if it can sit on a shelf without refrigeration and still be edible, I should run in the other direction.

On a better note, the 7 Layer Dip I made was a hit! Made with real ingredients.

Which brings me to goal setting for the month!

FEBRUARY GOALS

PERSONAL
- wake up at 7:00am during the week, and don’t hit snooze and roll over
- reduce processed foods in diet (NO VELVEETA EVER AGAIN) and eat more real food
- participate in the instagram February photo challenge (username is catieronquillo). January was super fun, so why not keep it going?
- pray more, worry less

BUSINESS
- refine workflow system for 2012, write it down
- attend WPPI/Showit United and make time to connect with other photographers
- create a wedding guide for clients
- create a lookbook for clients
- launch a new collaborative project for photographers

As far as January went, I think I did pretty well. Setting goals has been really helpful in following through, most notably in the items that required doing something every day of the month. Writing, blogging, and taking a photo a day is not as easy as it seems and I’m glad that I pushed myself to make it to the end.

PERSONAL
- wake up every week day by 7:00am – as someone who is not a morning person, this will be a challenge! (I woke up in the 7:00 hour. That sorta counts.)
- start the day with reading, reflection, and prayer – instead of worrying, I’ll be praying
- end each day with prayer of gratitude
- complete the January Challenge on 750words.com
- participate in the January Photo a Day challenge on Instagram. Follow along on your phone – my Instagram name is catieronquillo

BUSINESS
- review and revise the Simple Plan business plan (a work in progress)
- host the first Showit Global Share group – this week on Wednesday at our house!
- create a wedding guide for clients (a work in progress)
- refine editing workflow system for 2012 – write down the system, work the system, stick to it (almost there…)
- get receipts in order…it’s that dreaded time of year.
- edit and share photos from a recent project – something good is in the works!
- blog everyday for the month of January – from thoughts, to advice, to photos, or an inspirational quote

What are your February goals?

I love hanging out with the Dallas Showiteers. We always have a great time.

Last night was no different. As part of our SHARE groups, each month has a rotating theme, and this month was a shootout. We played with lighting. Here are some of the results!

Thanks to Elisa for taking these of me:

I tried out Elisa’s 50′in Softbox.

Leaha brought her modifiers out and posed:

A little Charlie’s Angels attempt.

Happy Friday!

To find a SHARE group near you, visit the SHARE map!

PS. Showit is also fantastic for any kind of website, not just photographers. If you want to make your web presence unique, be sure to check out Showit.

But it’s also my Dad’s birthday today! He keeps me updated with the latest gadgets and gizmos, and the latest free apps. He may love Disneyland just as much (if not more) than my sister and I combined. And he’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. Always willing to help and troubleshoot. In my family (and extended family) he’s usually the first to call for tech support. Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you!

Photo by Vanessa Hendrickson of Contemporary Portraits

I told her there are generally three types of people who go to WPPI:

1. Those who go to learn.
2. Those who go to party.
3. Those who go to learn and party.

I like to think that I fall into that third hybrid category. I like to have fun, but I’m also going to Las Vegas to learn something. Sometimes, it’s things I already knew, other times, it’s totally new concepts. It must by my inner nerd. I like to learn!

So how do you figure it all out. What to do? What to see? What to spend money on? Here are a few tips.

1. Make a plan. Easier said than done, right? How do you make a plan if you’ve never been? Well, I suggest looking at the schedule of classes. Check out the topics, the speakers, and the class times. Trust me when I say that Vegas is exhausting, especially if you like to learn hard and party harder. Those 8:00am class times are killer. And unless I absolutely MUST see a speaker, are pretty much a pass for me. But I’ve learned that over time. I definitely suggest taking a look at what you think you might want to attend instead of walking in blind. I like plans.

2. Plan “must-sees”. So, you’ve taken a look at the speakers and classes. You’ve identified speakers you want to see. I suggest making a list with the dates and times. Set a reminder in your phone (but remember to adjust the time zone in case you’re not on Pacific Standard Time). While you may want to see everyone and everything, that’s just not possible. Unless you’re superhuman. Plan what you definitely want to see, and anything else will be extras. This year, Justin & Mary Marantz are on my must-see list. I missed them last year because I left on Wednesday and they were speaking Thursday.

3. Walk around the tradeshow without your wallet. Okay, so I don’t mean that completely. Well, kinda. My biggest advice for tackling the tradeshow is to go in with a plan. There are a TON of vendors, some with products I would never imagine existed. But the best way (in my experience) is to walk around the tradeshow with a plan to see certain products (such as albums, print companies, and bags), but without a plan to buy on the spot. Some of the sales people in the booth are amazing sales people and could probably sell snow to a penguin. So, walk around the first time and check everything out. Then, revisit the tradeshow and just hit up the booths you want to partner with. Also, you can attend the tradeshow without a full registration, and without paying (in many cases, vendors give out free passes to the tradeshow).

4. Don’t overbook yourself. I totally did this my first year. I wanted to see everything. I wanted to do everything I could. I went to classes. I volunteered to help in the Shootsac booth. I hung out with friends and we had a mini shootout. I was running around like a chicken with my head cutoff. And while I loved the experience, I was so exhausted that at some points I didn’t know what to do with myself. Set aside some time just to yourself. Get out and breathe fresh air.

5. Spend your money wisely. I know all the choices, bright lights, and doodads can be overwhelming. As related to point #3, be careful how you spend your money. Think about your purchases before forking over the cash. In addition to EVERYTHING going on just within the realm of WPPI, there are also photographers who offer workshops. Some are totally free, some are casual shootouts with a minimal investment and others are a good chunk of change (of course, that all depends on your perspective on money). This is actually the first year that I’m attending a workshop hosted outside of WPPI and I’m super excited about it. So, as with all things, make a plan, figure out if the workshop will help further your business, and invest with case.

6. Say hello. Yes. Say hello to your seat neighbor. Part of WPPI, and one of the best parts, in my opinion, is all the new friends you can make. I remember my first year. I was sitting in an 8am class, sleep-deprived, and trying to pay attention. Then, the guy sitting next to me introduced himself. While I don’t keep in contact with him, I still remember that they are a husband & wife team in Florida, and when I see their work featured on blogs, I remember that he was nice enough to say hello. To me. A total newbie.

So next time, I’m getting into the nitty gritty of socializing while at WPPI…including the parties and events.

Read Part 1: Prep.

Happy Wednesday!

Be sure to check it out on Something Turquoise and my full recap for this Southern Vintage Tea Party Shoot.

Happy Tuesday!

Thanks again to an amazing team of vendors:

Couture Events by Lottie
Southern Fried Paper
Red Sole Events
Rent My Dust
Colleen’s Cakes
Hair and Makeup by Angie Williams

Actually, I was playing around with the interval timer on my camera, and had ten shots to play with. While I thought about posting a “normal” photo of me, you know of me smiling or something, I thought this one depicts me better. At least it will get a laugh out of Cent. He’s all too familiar with my weird faces.

But, I am shocked at how fast this month went by. However, by challenging myselt with 31 blog posts to write, I’m actually glad that this month is over tomorrow.

Happy Monday!

image from Plans Now

What is your dream home accessory?

Happy Sunday!

Yes, haters. I don’t understand them. And with the Internet, it’s so easy for haters to be mean. Behind the “safety” of a computer and an anonymous name, it’s easy to be negative, critical, and all around mean, just for the sake of criticizing someone or something.

I was reading this great blog post by Young House Love and how they deal with criticism. I love how Sherry says that she tries to look at them from a place of love. Considering their situation. And being compassionate.

I loved this advice. Because it doesn’t do any good to get upset over a comment from someone I don’t know and who doesn’t know me. And really, instead of get all up in arms about how much haters annoy me or are terrible people, instead, I don’t let it get to me. I think about them, and what their situation must be that they are willing to take the time to cut someone down. Positive comments and affirmation are great for self-confidence, however, all it takes is one mean or negative comment to ruin your day. At least, that’s how I feel.

And plus, if this criticism is coming from a source that is not important to me – my husband, my parents, my sister, or closest family and friends, then really, I don’t need to worry about it. Because those people know me, and they can call me out on something if I’m being ridiculous or out of line, and I can evaluate. But anonymous people? No worries.

I found this on Pinterest yesterday, and found the print on Etsy by Life’s a Journal.

Available on Etsy from Life’s a Journal

1. I don’t know what too me SO LONG, but I finally ate at Oddfellows in Dallas. Actually, twice this month. Many thanks to Sara & Rocky Garza for suggesting we go to lunch there. I had the Mac & Cheese, which was voted the Best Mac & Cheese in Dallas in 2011. I wholeheartedly agree. This past week, I had the Fried Green Tomato sandwich and it was amazing, too.

2. Spending time with the Photo Ladies. For the last few months, I’ve gotten together with some photographer friends. We share food, life, and business. It’s great to have friends to chat with, who understand what it’s like.

3. I made it a point that this month, I would connect with new friends and online friends. It’s easy to meet people at a networking event, but I believe it’s important to connect again one on one. And It’s super easy to have online Facebook friends, but it’s a whole other thing to get to know them for real. I loved getting to know them better, and I even got a chance to meet Eugene & Heather who were in town from Nashville, who until last week were only friends online..

4. At the beginning of the month, there was the first Global Share group and a handful of photographers came over to my house to hang out and virtually chat with groups from around the country. Although, we totally failed to take a group photo. D’oh.

5. Reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I just finished this book the other night and it was a great book. It’s a pretty quick read, and really gets you thinking about what’s keeping you from your creative breakthroughs. What is holding you back, what you can do to push through it.

Happy Friday!