Click Chicks Retreat!!

I have been so excited to blog about this!! About six weeks ago, I joined a group of women photographers - Click Chicks. We have a yahoo group and meet once a month to talk photography. I've only been to one get together, but after that first gathering I was hooked! A big group of awesome girls - all as obsessed with taking pictures (some more!) as I am! I felt right at home with all these amazing ladies - even though many/most/all! are much more accomplished than I. It was fun to laugh about funny experiences with clients, share stories, encourage each other and mostly just be with a group who share the same passion.

I learned so much and was so inspired by the things these women are doing I couldn't wait for the beach retreat at the end of April. I was so glad I got to go (Milton* (o: had an awful week at work, so it was up in the air until the last minute.)

I carpooled with Lorna http://carmanphoto.wordpress.com/

and we talked and talked the whole way. She was so much fun and we found so many things we have in common - the church, friends, family in Utah, etc. I was so surprised when I found out she is the grand daughter of the owner of Busath Photography in Utah. I know many family members out there are familiar with their amazing photography.

The best part of the drive to Pacific City was when we were almost there and we were oohing and ahhing at the gorgeous sunset. Then we decided to stop the car right where we were and run out with our cameras to try and catch it. As you can see, we weren't quite fast enough, but it was so much fun and so spontaneous. Something that's hard to do when your a busy mom. There are so many times when I see something beautiful or inspiring and I wish I could get a picture. There was something so liberating about jumping out of the car and running to get a picture. I told Lorna, one of these days I want to do that - just drive around and find things to jump out of the car and take pictures of. It was the perfect start to our photography retreat!

This beach house was the perfect place to hang out together and talk pics all day long. We spent hours looking at blogs and websites, talking about prices, where we each are professionally, where we want to go, what equipment is our favorite, what we like to shoot, etc. etc.

Melissa listening intently - she did a lot of work on her website over the weekend - I love her website, check it out... http://soulmatesphoto.com/

I loved looking through the wedding photo albums that some of the ladies brought. They were gorgeous!

There were lots of these all around. (o:

Some of Sara's "swag" (did I remember that word right??) from WPPI - (a wedding photographer tradeshow).

Deyla was such a riot - she is so fun to hang out with and an amazing photographer! http://www.deylahussphotography.com/

Good times, good times...
This was the only picture I got with Bunn - she rocks!

http://www.msbunn.com/

Hey, what do you know? I'm on the other side of the camera for once...

Christy and Melissa were Mac twins (o: working hard!

http://www.studiochristy.com/

"Deyla, the chewed up ones go in the YELLOW bowl!"

Missy's smokin' hot Poloroid camera she won! I didn't even know they made these anymore!

http://www.missy-cochran.com/

Missy's my hero. She's the one who brought Click Chicks all together. She's a good friend and an inspiration - and besides that, she's so much fun to hang out with!

Sara's parents' beach house was adorable!

Angela's cool shoes - I love red!

http://annierudenphotography.blogspot.com/

Annie is adorable, I love this action shot of her.

The paparazzi!

I loved getting to know Angela! She's so awesome...

http://monarchdigitalimaging.blogspot.com/

Lorna and Annie playing back some shots.

http://carmanphoto.wordpress.com/

I love these of Sara - she was our awesome host for the weekend...
http://www.saragrayphotography.com/

What a hottie - I wish I could pull of "hottie" pictures. I would look like such a nerd.

This captures Deyla's personality so well - you can't help but be happy around Deyla!

The whole group - at least on the day I was there . . .

More links...

Mel - Missy's sis and our honorary prego photographer who luckily felt (or pretended to feel) good during the retreat. http://www.melaniejadephotographer.com/

The most adorable Pocahontus ever - Dianne http://diannebentzphotography.blogspot.com/

and Kim http://www.kimoneilphotography.com/#

who came just a couple hours before Lorna and I had to leave. We all kind of came and went over the course of 4 days - so most everyone could come for at least part of the time.

Thanks to Sara - the most awesome hostess ever - look, she even cooked for us!

I had a blast. I loved staying up until 3:00 a.m. chatting, clicking away at the beach and just hanging out and laughing. I came home so inspired and excited to continue working toward a real live, actual amazing photography business.

I can't wait for our next get together in June.
Thanks Click Chicks!