BLINK! has been somewhat of a mystery to folks. A new dynamic movement with a lineup of fantastic names with no real purpose or identity, to some, but to me, BLINK! is the result of many “no’s” turned yes.
Every year, photographers have a line item budget for learning. We all sit around waiting for that perfect learning opportunity that will give us the take home items we need and will make us feel like we found the answer to all of our photography trials. The problem is that many times, in order to spend those dollars we have to compromise key components that might be valuable to us, whether that is the speaker(s) or lack there of, the location, the amount of attendees, the costs, or the lack of real life practical teaching that we can actually be applied.
Personally, it has been challenging for Ike & I, as photographers to relate with the industry at times because of the lack of diversity among our industry leaders. There is so much talent but oftentimes the industry chooses to put those who are more familiar forward more consistently and many up and coming artists from different backgrounds who could provide a new and fresh perspective are overlooked.
Instead of cursing the industry, becoming unsettled and apathetic, we decided to take action, thus the idea for BL!NK was born.
The vision behind the BL!NK Conference was to create a conference situation that reflects the photography community ethnically, a place where a photographer could come and learn from a variety of talented photographers (both industry leaders and up-and-coming photographers) as well as, provide an intimate hands on learning environment (maximum registration is 50 people) that allows for true connection and diversity, a boutique experience for the thriving photographer.
Everyone pauses. Everyone blinks to clear his or her eyes for a new perspective and vision. The concept behind this conference is to stop, to take a moment and refresh, to re-think some ways of doing things…
Conference will take place over the course of 3 days, 2 nights at the Aloft Nashville Downtown in Nashville, TN.
Friday, November 1st will kick us off with a mixer and LIVE MUSIC in the the XYZ Lounge of the Aloft Hotel.
Saturday, November 2nd you will have the opportunity to hear from all speakers:
Zach & Jody Gray: “How to Avoid What Most Small Business Do – Fail”
Named one of Nashville, Tennessee’s top wedding photographers in 2009, Zach and Jody Gray have quickly gained national recognition for their imagery and business savvy in the wedding photography industry. They have hosted numerous highly successful photography workshops in the states and overseas, and have been invited to speak at WPPI, Imaging USA, and SWPP in London. Their images have appeared in various publications including People, Southern Bride, and PPA Magazine. This award-winning couple has also been named by Westcott as one of their Top Endorsed Pros and are a part of the exclusive SanDisk Extreme Team.
Did you know that 80% of small-business fail in five years? Within TEN years 96% of small-business fail. Listen to Zach & Jody share how to set up your business so you can defeat the statistics and avoid becoming a small-business casualty. While most photographers are statistically on track to fail – learn how to do what most photographers don’t – WIN. Become a part of the winning percent!
Dawn Davis: “Taking the Business Out of the Wedding”
“What can I say? I’m a blessed girl. If you would have told me back in April of 2005 that I would quit my job as an Accountant and become the Creative Director of a business with my husband, and that we would have the most amazing clients that make “ME” cry when they look at the work we’ve created for them, I would have thought you were crazy!
BELIEVE would be the one word that I would say best represents what I am about. I believe in ME. I believe in my husband, I believe in our family. And I deeply believe in our dear Lord.
I have sat in Oprah Winfrey’s kitchen, been to Paris to photograph the wedding of Eva Longoria and Tony Parker. I have designed some of the most incredible books for Forest Whitaker, Maya Angelou, Tyler Perry, Oprah, and of course Eva. And most recently, Bob & I had the honor of photographing & designing for ABC’s TV show The Bachelorette Ashley’s wedding to J.P. in Pasadena, California. I pinch myself everyday. Every single day!
I don’t say this to boast, I say this because I believe! I believe that if I can do this, so can you. You can live the life you want you just need to believe in yourself, work hard, and move in a positive direction. Why not DREAM BIG? I do…!!!
I want so much to see you succeed. I’m here to help! I enjoy sharing my knowledge and passion. And I look forward to meeting you!”
“Tired of watching your competition excel in the industry or book a lot of weddings because they are under cutting your prices? Lets talk about how you can take the business out of the meeting and become more successful. The strategies that I will sharing with you are not costly, they are obtainable, and they work! I can’t wait to see you all in Nashville.”
Audrey Woulard: “Photographing Children! Mastering the Connect”
Audrey’s road to professional photography was simple…she began documenting the honesty in her children’s lives. With a natural talent and a plan to keep it simple, she photographs exclusively with natural light, both indoors and out. She works on location and in her 2,200 sq.ft. studio in Downtown Chicago.
In addition to her children’s portrait work, Audrey also photographs high profile commercial assignments for clients, such as Pottery Barn Kids and IAM’s pet food. She also conducts workshops at her studio for photographers across the world, and she’s written a book discussing her approach to natural light photography, entitled “Natural EnLIGHTenment Photography.”
“After being in business for 11 years the one thing I’ve is a very solid return client base. I haven’t marketed since 2006 and that is because I’ve mastered the connection.”
Joshua Dwain: “Storytelling & Creative Engagement and Wedding Photography”
Photography is what I love to do. I’m blessed to photograph wonderful couples who help fuel my creative pursuit. I love to take photographs. You may call me, eager, passionate, spirited, or even fervent. The simple fact is I truly love photography.
“The key my talk is about NOT about magically being a creative wedding photographer, but giving you the tools to begin thinking differently so that you WILL be creative, becoming better at what you love doing so that you can seperate yourself from the pack.”
Alejandra Vidal: “The Power of Motion Storytelling”
I was born with blonde hair and English was my second language. Though I might argue that talking with my hands was my first language because I never seem to speak without using them!
I lost myself in books as a child. I wore my pink leotard to bed and fell in love with films like E.T. I found inspiration everywhere. Lucky Charms cereal box. Perfume bottles. Lace. I’m not very different now. I have always been a story teller. I’m captivated by color, texture, emotion, and curves. These elements are different in everyone’s story. When combined, similar to taste or smell, they trigger a memory.
And that… well, that is what my makes my heart yearn: To share the emotion and memories of your story through my cinematography. To celebrate you. My hope is to inspire you to have self-love and imagination by embracing your individual style and building the confidence to exhibit it.
I’m blessed to have a husband who encourages me each day. His faith in me motivates me to take risks — to allow myself to make mistakes but keep moving forward.”
AND FINALLY, us!
Ike & Tash Haynes: “The Street Team: How to Build a Loyal Senior Model Program That Generates Income for Your Business”
We are a husband wife photography duo based out of the Seattle Tacoma Area. We have been wedding and portrait photographers since early 2010 and have been working our niche market in the industry since then. We are well connected in our area and leaders of many community groups and forums online. We have been published in Junebug Weddings, Munaluchi Bridal, Life & Baby, Senior Style Guide and a few more to come! We started offering mentorships in late 2011 and it was in offering these mentorships that we were able to identify disparities in the photography education among photographers. We recognized the shortage of development in diverse communities and on the speaking circuit, which led us to the solution we call, BLINK!
Connecting to the youth voice and vision can be challenging, staying up on trends and what is popular to ever-changing population of young people where “here today, gone tomorrow” has become “hot for a minute and on to the next,” can make it tough to build a senior model program that sticks and garners the excitement you need to keep your business growing and going. We are going to introduce you to our Street Team concept & the process of how to build a loyal group of young people who not only represent your business, but also inform it.
Sunday November 3rd: will include 2.5 hours of on – location shooting with the speaker of your choice ( 1 and 8 ratio – which makes it PRETTY hands on) , along with more focused workshops in the afternoon around legal forms & contracts, marketing & branding and Lightroom Post – Processing and workflow.
Registration includes all meals and training materials, as well as single occupancy complimentary hotel for the first 30 registrants (of which, because of a sponsor, there are still a few available).
Registration for BLINK is currently $995 until September 30th of which it will increase to $1195.
If you are looking for a something new, a fresh perspective -hands on, intimate experience to learn and grow your business from some of the most talented people in our industry BLINK is definitely for you! YOU do NOT want to miss it!
For more information about BLINK visit the website here.
Check out the BLINK PROMO video here & SHARE!!! Video by the very talented Alejandra Vidal of Imaginale Design!
