Back in January, I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee for a National Photography Conference called ImagingUSA. It’s a conference filled with educational classes, a huge expo with all the different vendors in the industry, a banquet honoring photographers who earned their degrees that year (Yay Amy!) networking, and so much fun. Thanks to the education, the friends, and especially insane travel delay, this trip was definitely an experience I won’t soon forget.

Sometimes I feel like I might be cursed. Wherever I go, whatever I do, it seems as though some form of chaos is sure to follow. So when I got a text at 10:30 pm from United Airlines that our 6:30 am flight was delayed until 11:30 am because the incoming crew was delayed due to weather elsewhere the day before, I shouldn’t have been surprised. Knowing that this delay meant we’d miss our 8:30 am connecting flight in Chicago, I decided I better call United Airlines to find out my options. Are you surprised that after being put on hold for an hour they told me there was nothing they could do other than maybe get us on a flight the following day? And when I asked if they could switch me to a different airline so we wouldn’t miss the first day of our conference she told me she couldn’t do that because her internet browser was locked from seeing competitors websites? Dumfounded, I hung up and attempted to get some sleep.

Anyways, fast forward to the morning. I check the app, and there is now a 3:00 connecting flight available. So I try to make the switch and they tell me that we can’t get on that flight because the available seats are first class, and we have basic economy tickets. (Note to self: don’t buy basic economy to save $35)

Frustrated and anxious about most likely getting stranded in the Chicago airport all night, Tonya and I went to the Lincoln airport to begin our journey to Nashville. We get checked in, we get through security, and we wait.

And we wait, and we wait, and we wait.

11:30 rolls around and there is no sign that boarding is about to begin. Finally around 11:45, there is an announcement that there is still no crew to fly our plane, but that they are on an incoming flight that is to arrive around 12:30, and our new boarding time would be 12:45.

12:45 comes and goes, and now they say it will be 1:30 because, you know, they still don’t have a crew, and they’re trying to get one. New boarding time: 3:00. (good thing we didn’t get that 3:00 connecting flight in Chicago)

3:00 rolls around. Do we board the plane? Nope, because now we have a pilot but no attendants. (Can’t I just serve the drinks and read everyone the safety manual?)

As Tonya and I sat in the Lincoln airport, stranded all damn day 15 minutes from my house, with only overpriced airport sandwiches and fruit cups to eat, we realized how thankful we were that at least we were together and making the most of it, and making new friends, too! (what else do you do when you’re stuck in close quarters for 9 hours?)

Finally at 3:45, we board the plane, and we headed for Chicago. We landed, found our gate, enjoyed some overpriced dinner, grabbed some hot tea, and it was time to board our 7:30 p.m. flight. We were so excited because we finally boarded on time, AND we each had our own row of seats. (miracles really do happen)

Just kidding. We sat on that plane for an hour waiting to take off. Why couldn’t we make our 58 minute flight from Chicago to Nashville you ask? Because the bathrooms were broken. The airplane plumber had to come try to fix it, and he opened the wrong one, and it smelled SO BAD that they finally deplaned us. THEN, after 20 more minutes, they switched us to an entirely different airplane. We had to wait another 45 minutes so they could stock the concessions. WE DON’T NEED SNACKS ON A 58 MINUTE FLIGHT!

In the end, we arrived at our hotel room at 12:30 am, approximately 12 hours later than we were supposed to. But finally, we were there and ready to soak it all in!

Day 1: Classes + Trade Show

What is super cool about the ImagingUSA conference is that there are so many classes to choose from, so no matter what level you’re on, or what you specialize in, or what you want to learn, there is a class for you. So this is where we all split up and went to learn what we needed to.

The first day of the conference was my absolute favorite in the educational sense. The first speaker I listened to, Makayla Jade, gave me so much inspiration and affirmation in the way I view photography and the power and value of a printed photograph. I walked out of her class with a vision for where I want to take my business and little steps I can take to get there. Seriously you guys, I am so excited to start implementing what I learned from her. After her class, we all met up for the Keynote speaker, Jim Kwik, who is a master of brain power. Raise your hand if you find yourself losing and misplacing things often. Is your hand up? This guy is for you! Seriously, check out his podcast, Kwik Brain! After the keynote I went into the trade show and stopped by all my favorite vendors, and some new ones too, to get updates on their products and pick some new things to add to my lineup this year! And also to get super stoked over one of my favorite Professional Labs, ACI, using one of my albums for display! The afternoon was filled with a couple more classes on branding and creating an amazing senior experience, followed by a truly southern dinner experience at a local restaurant. The Moonshine Bloody Mary and the Shrimp were to die for! So. Good. To end the night, we hung out and danced and had a few drinks at the welcome party!

Day 2: Classes + Trade Show + Amy Gets her Master’s Degree + Night on the Town

The second day of classes was equally as great, but my absolute favorite was Vanessa Joy’s Lighting class. Now I know the secret to getting that golden hour look at any time of day. SENIORS ARE YOU READY FOR THIS!? I seriously could have learned just this and gone home satisfied. After her class, I went back to the trade show and made some big decisions. Like new packaging! I don’t know about you, but making things look pretty makes my heart so happy. The afternoon was spent in our hotel room, learning from each other, munching on pizza, and getting ready to celebrate Amy. This woman, I swear, is the most giving, the most kind, the most intelligent, and the strongest woman I know. She has been through so much this past year recovering from a very serious brain trauma, and yet she still powered through and earned her Master of Photography Degree. Amy, I am so proud of you. You are truly an inspiration and I am better because I know you. After getting all fancy and attending the award ceremony, we celebrating by hopping around the iconic Broadway Street!

Day 3: Classes + Naps + a Late Flight Home

The last day of the conference, we slept in a little, and then went to the best photoshop class I’ve probably ever been to. I learned so many little things that are making my life so much easier, it’s unbelievable! After that, Tonya and I said farewell to our friends, packed up our train wreck of a hotel room, and made our way back over to the conference center for one last class before we had to catch our flight. We were an hour early for the class and I was in need of a nap… so I found a quiet place and passed out for hot minute. I guess thank you for documenting that moment, Tonya. I’ll forever know how tired I was! The final class gave me some great ways to serve far away clients, so even though I was exhausted, I am so glad I sucked it up and went to one more class before hitting the road. Now I’m sure you’ll be surprised, but our flight home was flawless. It was a late night. but not a single delay. Except when we landed in Omaha and it was freezing rain/snow and our Lyft driver to Lincoln drove 55 the entire way because the roads were so icy and it took almost 2 hours for a 50 minute drive. Let’s just say the next day was filled with lots of naps.

When it comes down to it, yes the education is important, and yes the degrees are exciting. But the friendships that being a part of the state and national organizations have brought me are so much more valuable. This little tribe I’ve come to call my own unlike any other. These girls bring out the best in me and inspire me to do my best every day. Although we are spread across the state of Nebraska, and I wish weren’t so far apart, it’s so nice to have someone to call up to bounce ideas off of, to get advice from, to love and support in all aspects of business and life, to laugh with and to grow with. Tonya, Amy, Alecia, Jes, Emily (and Brian and Derek) THANK YOU. Thank you for being my people, and for letting me be one of yours.