It’s Wednesday night, and I am headed home.  I’m thinking about all that happened “just” today, and I am overwhelmed. It has been an amazing year at WPPI, Wedding and Portrait Photographers International.

I want to thank ALL of you who said a prayer for my platform talk, Creating Confidence.  Hundreds of women (and a few good men :)) came, and within two hours I felt a deep, beautiful confidence infuse the room.  So many of you shared your stories with me afterward, and I treasure every one.  Their was a shift that happened in that room for so many.  I felt my own spirit step into a new level of confidence.  What an amazing morning.  A couple thank you’s that are a must…first, thank you to SONY for sponsoring me to give my talk.  It is a honor to represent you and have your support.  Big thanks to WPPI for having me join the conference in the last hour.  Something shifted this year in how many women attended, and how supported they felt.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  Thank you WPPI!  And a HUGE thank you to all those who attended my talk!  To get up and be at my 8am talk–8am in VEGAS!–and not only attend–but you brought your whole heart, it was a honor to be with all of you this morning.  We took a gazillion photos together, will you tag me on FB b/c I would love to remember all your names.

But the day’s magic didn’t stop with my morning talk.  Seventy women got in the limo shuttle and packed into taxis to the Little Chapel of Flowers for a special SOAR! Luncheon to honor women in photography.  Wow!  This luncheon was AMAZING!!  I wanted to cry with tears of joy as I watched SOAR! Applicants meet each other face to face for the first time in two years.  And then there were so many women who came that are simply new to the industry, new to SOAR!, and after this luncheon they felt plugged in and surrounded with support.  A BIG thank you to a few of the SOAR! Partners who helped pull off the luncheon.  Roxanne at Pixel2Canvas was our hero on making this luncheon happen.  Smugmug and FastLine Media also came and blessed the women with surprise, generous gifts.  A couple from Thirst Relief dressed up as a Bride/Groom so we could do a live shoot–we LOVE Thirst Relief for 1001 reasons!  Mike Larson and his lovely wife Rachel and sweet baby Hannah came so we could practice taking photos of a family/baby.  Mike, amazing photographer and busy as all get out, gave us two hours to practice taking photos of him and his family!  Dane Sanders came and shared some of his favorite tips to working with a bride and groom, and then he shared a few things from his heart that were so sincere and moving.  Thank you Dane.  And Lauren Wendle, the VP of Nielsen Photo Group (who owns WPPI, Photo Plus, PDN, really–all of it ;))…she graced us with her presence, words of support and that alone felt like such incredible gift to women in the industry.  The venue, Little Chapel of Flowers, went over the top in hosting a beautiful lunch for all of us.  If you or a friend is ever getting married in Vegas, this sweet chapel is the place to go!

But one of the most beautiful parts was having some of the SOAR! women get up and share their stories.  Christine Barker and Lynda Kennedy, former SOAR! applicants, both shared their stories and it was powerful.

SOAR! Sisters! Melanie Soleil and Christine Barker

Their was a shift this year at WPPI, and it was beautiful.  If you didn’t get to come, you’ve got to mark your calendar for next year.  We will have to do another SOAR! Garden Party!!!  Throughout the week I asked several women, “Do you feel supported this year at WPPI, or do you feel like the show is catering more to men?”

Orange County CONFIDENCE Women from 3 years Ago!

Every single woman told me that she had had the BEST week at WPPI, felt wonderful support and was excited at how much she had learned.  This year, 65% of those attending WPPI were women.  It was amazing!  I have to thank all those at WPPI who have made subtle changes that are empowering women in POWERFUL ways. Without WPPI, none of these powerful experiences would have happened this week.  (thank you George for EVERY thing you and your team did)

Nine speaking sessions in three days.  Phew.  I can’t wait to get home tonight and hug my beautiful babies.  Pascaline told me on the phone today that she bought me a gift at Starbucks because of how proud she is of her mama speaking to women.  How did I get so lucky to have the most beautiful support from my nine year old?  My heart is full.

To all of you who are in Seattle/Tacoma area, I invite you my last February speaking engagement this Sunday at Destiny Church.  Click here for directions.  It starts at 10am.  And I’m going to share my heart on how the impossible still happens today. If your spirit is heavy, your heart is discouraged, and you feel alone, I hope to meet you on Sunday at this speaking engagement.  This is for women and men–so all of you guys who email me about coming to hear me talk–this is your event.  🙂  Look forward to seeing you.

xoxo,

m

p.s.  Due to being up front, I didn’t get a lot of photos from this week and the Garden Party.  If you took photos, will you post them to FB and tag me?  I would LOVE to share the photos on the blog!!  Thanks so much!