ROWDY RAMPAGING ROADIE REUNION

This weekend was particularly fun. About 21 of our wonderful tour Roadie helpers flew in from all over the country to enjoy a weekend of education and fun. It was wonderful to see some of the many faces that helped us while we were on the road.

This class was dedicated to working with children, tips and tricks, better posing, workflow, and artwork. Almost ever attendee has been in the business less than three years. They are so full of energy and excitement, it really was contagious.

Yesterday, we did a complete studio walk-through while we explained in detail why each system we used was created. I was surprised how well received our organizational systems were. Everyone loved the way we handle and file our client information.

After the walk-through, we had two live sessions. Our first session with Kaitlin and Jacob was awesome. They had me using every technique in the book to get the job done. It was an excellent session that showed exactly how photography is 20% photography and 80% psychology.  Our second session with Miles, Kianna, and Avery was wonderful as well. Here we were trying to show how to pose older siblings with a baby. The models were wonderful, and many of the newborn techniques came into play as well.

Last night’s activities included a great dinner at Three Margaritas, and then it was off to bowling in our pajamas. We had a ball the whole night. It did get a little crazy when someone taught us how make an inappropriate noise using a straw and your armpit. It was hilarious watching 25 people running around blowing air through their pits.

Today was spent concentrating on sales, workflow, and imaging. We are also taking a field trip to look at a park and discuss where and why we choose locations.  Everyone LOVED the Ron Nicols Pallet, and I think each of them will create a better and faster system for workflow. I also embarrassed myself by showing years of bad images, and we discussed how they could be improved.

The best part of the whole trip was in the very first hours. As we were introducing ourselves, each person had to tell a little bit about themselves and why they were here. One wonderful attendee started to share how much attending the Bellies and Babies tour meant to her. She had become so motivated that she had lost 30 pounds, built a studio in her home, and raised her sales average by $200. She then proceeded to tell us that the reason she was able to do it was the quote I had used in the show that said, “What you do today is important because you are exchanging day of your life for it.” 

There was not a dry eye in the room until she said what really motivated her was something else I said during the tour. I had stated that if I lived to be 70 years old, I had 1,500 days left. Well, what I said was that if I lived to be 70, I had about 15,000 days left. She misunderstood and was totally motivated by the thought of only living 1500 more days. We all died laughing when she realized her mistake. She had worked SO hard because she thought she had so little time. She had never thought to do the math!!

This was probably my all-time favorite in-studio workshop because everyone was SO passionate about his or her craft. We have already decided that a second reunion will be necessary.