A few weeks back I had the pleasure and honor of speaking at the annual retreat for the National Association of Professional Child Photographers at the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee. When I was originally contacted about the conference, I thought: what could I possibly offer to child, family and senior photographers? I was anxious and questioning my abilities and feeling all the normal things that come along with doing something a bit out of the ordinary!

However, I could never have anticipated the inspiration and knowledge I would gather from the event, let alone the impact I might be able to make on such talented photographers from all over the nation (and even world!). The attention to detail, community mindset, and truly genuine people who create this event are some of the best in the industry, and each and every person who is a part is there to learn, give, and grow. It was such a fabulous experience, and I’m beyond honored to have been invited to speak alongside such talent. My prayer for the workshop was to spark a bit of joy or creativity in even one person. Seeing the glimmer in the eyes of the attendees was more than I could have imagined – their enthusiasm was such an inspiration and a reminder that we all have something so valuable to offer, even if we don’t believe we do.

The majority of the speakers shared about topics including creating an unforgettable newborn photography experience, running a senior rep program that is focused on community building, and creating a business that allows you to live and work in a way that helps you do what matters most. I had the chance to speak into those sorts of things from a bit of a different perspective – and one I absolutely love: food photography & styling!

An unforgettable experience of a shared meal, community building around a table, and doing what matters most in sharing memories with others – I quickly realized that I had the opportunity to share about those things from the view of food photography. For this “creative session,” attendees were encouraged to dig deep into their creative souls to incorporate photography into something we encounter every single day – food. Our group began with a talk on food photography and styling principles and then took to the… sidewalk (anything for the shot!)… for a hands-on session styling and shooting this gorgeous and delicious Pomegranate Rosemary Prosecco Cocktail! I am so excited to say the recipe and more images were featured on the NAPCP blog this weekend! And finally, check out the awesome behind the scenes shot below from Mackenzie Leigh Co. during my session!

I’ve been loving seeing images from the attendees sharing their food photography adventures since the retreat & can’t wait to see what’s next for them & NAPCP!