I have three friends I have talked with in the past couple of days who are driving into the seminar today. All of us combined have more than 100+ years of experience, so why go to something like this when you have so much experience?
Some of the workshops intrigued me. For example, I was interested in hearing from Deb Pang Davis on “Branding Strategies & Marketing Yourself.”
While I even teach regularly on this topic, I am interested in how others are seeing the industry and places for growth. With the economy so upside down and my industry taking a major hit these past years, many of the traditional avenues for income are not just down but gone. I hope to hear about how some photographers are remaking themselves and finding income.
I am not interested in copying their path, but how they discovered the new niche may give me insights into where some potential growth for my work could lie.
I find that everyone sees things much differently and that I grow and learn something new when I am open and listen. So I then try to see how to incorporate some of these perspectives into my life.
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| Tom Kennedy |
The other workshop, “Understanding the Changing Media Landscape,” led by Tom Kennedy, appealed to me.
Kennedy is on the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications faculty at Syracuse University as the endowed Alexia Foundation chair in the multimedia, photography, and design department.
I first met Kennedy when he was the director of photography at National Geographic. I remember showing him my work, and he commented that he didn’t see any surprises. My last blog can read more about this: “To break the rules, you must first know the rules.”
As co-president of the ASMP Atlanta Chapter, we invited Kennedy to speak. He packed so much in on this topic back then that I just about got carpal tunnel syndrome from that talk. So I am looking forward to hearing him.
If you come to the seminar, you will see more than the four old guys sitting in the room listening to some of these young folks. You will see more of us because we understand that you stop learning and growing.
Keep yourself vibrant and growing by attending a seminar or workshop. Then, come to the workshop. For example, if you are in Atlanta on December 2nd and 3rd.
By the way, Simon Bruty:: Sports Illustrated speaks on Saturday at 9:25 a.m. This presentation is free and open to the public, courtesy of Canon’s Explorers of Light program.
If you are an amateur, you are welcome to attend as much as any professional or student.
While the speakers on the program are outstanding, I can tell you from my 30+ years of experience going to these events that those in attendance sometimes are on the same level and sometimes better known than the speakers.
Come and hang out with us. My daughter calls these events that Daddy goes to “Nerd Fests.”
There will be Nikon and Canon gear to see and other vendors.
Hope to see you there. If you are there, come and say hello to me.