Breaking News Ladies! The Seattle CONFIDENCE Wkshp is going to release THIS FRIDAY for Early Bird Registration! The official dates are January 16th and 17th (Saturday and Sunday). ALL other details will be posted this Friday when registration goes live at 6am, including the winners of Brian and Jeramy’s post. It’s going to be a party Friday! Mark your calendars ladies for 6am this FRIDAY to make sure you get your spot. And can I just say “Yeah! January is going to work!” Brian and I still talk about the intense emails that some of you sent when you didn’t get a spot in the November CONFIDENCE Workshop. I’m so glad we’re going to be able to make it happen in January for all of you. It will be so fun starting the new year together!
So what was I doing last week in LA? Time to spill the beans! A driver to pick me up at the airport, a room at the W Hotel that was bigger than our first apartment when we first got married, and nine amazing women bloggers for company…it could only be another awesome Sony gig! As I watched this special event unfold, I kept thinking, ‘Sony definitely puts the style into SonyStyle!’ Sounds corny, but it’s TRUE! Every minute was detailed with Sony class.
Here is what happened. Nine of the top mommy bloggers were flown in from all over the country to see the new line up of Sony imaging products (DSLR cameras, Cybershots, camcorders, etc).
They were introduced to these products in an adventurous way. Sony Animation joined forces for this event, and these women were given back stage passes to interview the directors and talent of the new Sony animated movie Cloudy with a Chance or Meatballs. They got to get in on the red carpet premier of the movie, plus they were given a private tour of the Sony movie lot. Read one of the mommy bloggers, The Mommy Blog, share her experience. Mindy’s fun recap is HERE!
I was given the privilege of welcoming them and kicking the three days off with sharing my passion for photographing our kids. I walked them through the new Sony Alpha 330 (the camera I can’t say enough about!) and also taught on my philosophy of…(you know it! π Yep, that’s right!) Refuse to Say Cheese.
Text arrives.
Are you free to do this upcoming event with 9 top mommy bloggers?
‘Hmmmmm….Spend the day with wonderful mommy bloggers at the Sony Lot, share the new Sony Alpha with them, and talk about taking better photos of your kids…hmmmm…okay, you twisted my arm.’ π
Can you tell how much I LOVE these kinds of speaking engagements? π Images like the one below could be embarrassing. (but it’s not, I can’t help it!)
After my session, we were given a fun tour of the Sony Lot and the chance to practice the photography techniques I’d talked about. Most of these women had never met until that morning, but we ended up having the best time together. We laughed a lot,
(remember this moment ladies :))
tried new techniques with the cameras.
The gal below in the dark sunglasses is Linda, one of Sony’s PR Managers. I can’t say enough about what an AMAZING job she did with putting this event together. Plus, she is one of the sweetest people ever. Linda, you ROCKED this event!
This was a group of women that you could totally goof around with and have a blast being silly (one of the things I loved most about these ladies–no ego from any of them!–which is probably why their blogs are so loved)
I offered to take head shots of the women during dinner. It was wonderful to spend a couple of minutes with each of them alone. It gave me a window into some of their specific passions and voices. And then how blessed am I? Since I’m a “mommy blogger” too, I got to pick their brains at dinner on ways to improve my blog. Their input was gold! (thank you ladies)
You mu
st check out all their blogs. You’ll see what I mean!
β’ Monica Villaβ¦β¦β¦β¦www.TheOnlineMom.com
β’ Amy Clarkβ¦β¦β¦β¦. .www.MomAdvice.com
β’ Beth Blechermanβ¦..www.TechMamas.com
β’ Darcy Cruwysβ¦β¦β¦.www.MommyPie.wordpress.com
⒠Kimberley Blaine⦅www.TheGoToMom.TV
β’ Kristina Sauerweinβ¦www.MOMformation.com (on BabyCenter.com)
β’ Karent Bodkinβ¦β¦β¦www.KarenSugarpants.com
β’ Alli Worthingtonβ¦β¦.www.MrsFussypants.com
β’ Mindy Robertsβ¦β¦www.TheMommyBlog.net
Look out world. These mommy bloggers have a lot to say, and if Sony does the research and decides their worth spending the money to fly them out for three days…they may just be worth listening too!
To join their fun and insightful conversations around the SonyMom event, follow their hash group on Twitter by searching for #SonyMom!
To the nine beautiful mommy bloggers,
It was a complete honor to spend the day with you. I will never forget our meals and how honest some of you were in the struggles and challenges you face as women, as bloggers, as moms. And yet, you continue to push forward never giving up on your dreams and passions. Don’t ever stop expressing your voice. Don’t ever let the fears keep you from what you believe and dream. The world has so much to gain from each of you. Your inner voice, your strength, your crafted talents, but most of all your ability to risk while being completely feminine, strong and determined. Power Houses is what you are.
Much love, Me Ra
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Want to learn more about REFUSE TO SAY CHEESE? Check out our Award Winning DVD set, Refuse to Say Cheese and Beyond the Green Box ,or discover our popular 101 Kits for starting or expanding a business in photography, click on the titles of your choice!
The NEW January Seattle CONFIDENCE Workshop Early Bird Registration goes live FRIDAY AT 6AM PST!!!
FUN!! I can’t wait to check out their blogs. π Thanks for ALWAYS providing links. (As a mommy blogger… sometimes I’m too lazy to link) π
Congratulations on your amazing role with Sony!
MeRa!! How fun! And what an honor!
I’d say more, but I have too many blogs to check out now!! π
Mera, I am crying!! You have a beautiful way with words, and your photos, well, I see why people are ready to plunk down what would be a year’s salary for me to photograph their special moments. That one photo of me smiling at Kristina is the best one of me, ever.I may make it my new head shot. π
You made some real friends and gained devoted cheerleaders. Thanks so much for being there with us. We’ll be watching!!
Having had the priviledge of attending one of MeRa’s Workshops recently (Hi Seattle Sista’s!!), I am inspired and motivated all over again (well, I haven’t stopped feeling that way since I left the workshop, actually). MeRa and Brian are magical. They are a shining, no BLAZING, example of the what we can do with our lives if we take action, and believe in ourselves. Holy crap, that sounded like fun!!! Congratulations MeRa and Brian on the Sony launch!
Keep up the fantastic Blogs Blogger Moms, we women need them!
what a neat opportunity. sounds like such a fun event. i actually have a lot more to say….but i’m not going to be that vulnerable on the internet today.
WAHOOOOO!! I’m so happy Brian and Me Ra!!!! I will be setting the alarm for 6am and registering for the workshop. I so CAN NOT wait! Only 4 more months to go. π You guys are the BEST! Thank you for making so many dreams come true.
Wow – I SO LOVED reading this! What A BLAST! Makes me want to be an un-mommy blogger! how about an auntie-blogger (get the pun?:))But what a privilege in all directions. I was very moved Me Ra. Hey, who’s the dude? One of the male mommy bloggers?
Speaking of the workshop- I just got off the phone with a heroic husband who just found a forwarded email in his junk box about November – boy was he bummed…then happy to have a chance for January! Adorable! I’m emailing him Thursday night to remind him to sign up. Maybe even a phone call. Anyone else want this service? It may be the only time to have a genie-at-your-service, so take advantage! This is for husbands/boyfriends/brothers/dads/friends only – it’s a friendly reminder call, not a sales call, okay ladies? So gentlemen, send an email to genie@fioria.us and I’ll set it up! (Me Ra: I had to keep rolling on Brian’s husband support team – whaddya think?)
Yea!!!!!!!!!Thank you for opening a workshop in January. I am so excited and will be up early Friday to register.
Me Ra, it was an HONOR to hear you talk at #SonyMom, both professionally and personally. You’re a kind but strong soul, and you inspire. Thanks for teaching me a new way to look at the world–both from a camera lenses and from within.
Kristina
Hands down, THE BEST part of #SonyMom was spending that first day with you — you’re SUCH a fantastic teacher on so many levels. And that energy of yours? Downright infectious! A million thanks Mama!
I could have spent days listening to you and your fabulous stories. Move to Canada. I have two monkeys!
xoxoxo
Me Ra I haven’t stopped talking about you since I met you. To say that it was a pleasure is an understatement and I can tell you that I will make you proud. I have learned so much and have started practicing all the great tips you gave us. Thank you so much and thank you Sony!
#SonyMom