Catching up with Maria..

Where have I been? Not on my blog

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind–and at some moments, literally a whirlwind. Over the last few weeks, this is where I have been. Dallas, Oklahoma City,  Tulsa, and Austin. 

First. one week in Dallas..Had a great time at the TPPA event there. It was great to see all my photographer friends from around the state and other states! Loved every minute of it. Came back for one day and did a bunch of sessions and then left again for Oklahoma. I went to go speak in Oklahoma City on the night of their first huge, national news making, destroying tornado. Holy cow! Before you ask..no, I did not take any photos of it. So, I went to Oklahoma as the May keynote speaker to the professional photographers association in OK city and the tornado came. long story short…city sirens went off, got sent to the freezer in a restaurant…still ticking in Austin Texas - Maria survival rate: 100%   I had a great time with that group. They were so inviting and they treated me really well.  The next day I went to Tulsa as the May keynote speaker to the Professional Photographer’s Association of Tulsa. That was a funny group. They laughed a lot, they were so much fun! Overall, speaking in Oklahoma was a great experience, minus the tornado.

After that, I got back to Austin in time to photograph clients for two straight days and then the Austin Professsional Photographer’s Association held their annual print competition. I entered and I was so excited to win a First Place Tropy for Best Portrait, a Second Place Trophy for Best Portrait, a Third Place Tropy for Best Illustrative Image, a First Place Trophy for Best Wedding Image, The BEST IN SHOW Trophy, and a Judge’s choice award. Overall, I was super duper excited but to tell you the truth I was more excited for my associate photographer, Nathan who entered one print and received the second place trophy for an Illustrative image, and my friend Dianna Walker who won first place. I was so proud of them!!!! I gave them huge hugs..

Then, I have had session after session, a couple of personal things that got me distracted and another wedding to shoot. I am finally back in the office for a few days. I am on vacation this weekend, then I leave for Fort Worth to speak to their Professional Photographer’s Association, then I come back and then I go to Kerrville for the Texas State Annual Print Competition, then I go to Iowa to photograph the Bridges of Madison county and then, I am flying to Chicago to photograph one of my favorite couples, Esosa and Marcus for their anniversary.  Nathan and I photographed their engagement last year, her bridal and her two days of wedding (Nigerian and traditional european ceremonies). You can probably find them in a previous blog.

Talk to you all soon and I know that I have a lot of photos to post and I will do so very soon!!!

Maria