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To say I am exhausted in an understatement. If you remember in June, I attended a conference of luxury wedding vendors in Orlando presented by the incredibly talented Rebecca Grinnels and Kathryn Arce of Engaging Concepts -- ENGAGE 08. We became fast friends and I have a reputation to uphold with them as the first registrant --so back I went to Orlando for Engage 08 - The Encore. (I did let Rececca know with all the love in my heart that it is the middle of my busiest month and weekends --that is how much I love this conference).
It just that --as I said before, the photography industry is its own animal with it's own breed of artists --and well artists (I know, I am one of them) just don't always give a damn about the business and the market. They live a world if "if I build it, they will come". It is a self-serving industry and I don't grow from being around that ---that is just how it is for me. I want to learn from the industry's best and learn about my brides and market to better serve them. And while I have been a bride, weddings have changed dramatically in eleven years. I simply didn't have the choices today's brides have in vendors and artists. It has got to be a overwhelming experience to plan a wedding and I need to understand that experience. But I also need to grow and have my business serve my life --not the other way around. This is the easiest concept to grasp and the most difficult to put into practice for some reason. See how I babble on --this conference takes me to a whole new level of business thinking. And if I get the business systems running smoothly --well , my art grows.
So, I digress...Engage 08 - The Encore --took me away from the daily management and made me think big. It was intense, packed with incredible, mind-stretching content, incredible speakers and amazing networking opportunities. Sure, I worried if the conference could be any different than it was in June. Don't think I didn't ask myself if it was worth the time and financial outlay to do this so close together. It was. Every second and every dime.
Rebecca led the day with marketing and trends...
Simon T. Bailey challenged us to grow as people --in his words "if you don't change then you will be changed." I could give you a hundred moments during
his session where his words sank into my soul and reaffirmed where I need to be going.
Carely Roney and David Liu --the founders of The Knot told their story and I don't think a single person in the room
wasn't sitting on the edge of their seat --riveted. I was most impressed by the commitment to their brides, the knotties --and how
they don't create the illusion of perfection in their advertising and real stories. They are committed to showing brides real options and
helping them achieve a realistic fantasy.
We had a panel of speakers that included Jill Meister from CBS, Eda Kalkay of Eda Kalkay Public Relations and Bee Kim of the infamous blog, The Wedding Bee.
Bee just sold the Wedding Bee to EHarmony--her story was uplifting.
Sean Low, President of Preston Bailey Designs gave us the insight into building a business, a brand and revenue streams. I have to thank him
personally for taking two hours to talk with Amy Harvey and myself about business. That alone with worth every penny of coming to the conference.
and finally --who doesn't love a Sylvia Weinstock cake. Well Sylvia was the grande finale of the day. She was incredibly charming and real --which you just don't expect from someone at the pinnacle of the game. It was refreshing and energizing. And she brought us her new book and her new line of Godiva chocolates.
The best part of the conference was that all of these experts are touchable, real people --who took the time to simply talk to us after their presentations.
That accessibility makes the conference for me. To sit and have a drink or dinner with successful business people is inspiring and exhilarating --and that is why Engage 08- The Encore was the best education money I have spent in a year!
And of course, for me --I have discovered...
Thank you Rebecca and Kathryn -- I will most certainly see you next time.
DVB
