Back From WPPI...Nothing Beats Old and New Friendships

Click for a larger view in the SCU light box

Friends are the people who make you smile brighter, laugh louder and live better.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

​While I'm off track on topics like marketing and business, today's Reflections hits on one of the best reasons to attend every possible conference and workshop you can work into your schedule - time with friends, both new and old.

I left a week ago for Las Vegas and the WPPI convention. Spending most of my time in the Platypod booth, it was a very different experience this year and jam-packed with meeting more photographers. (Note: If you haven't checked out Platyball.com, wander over to the campaign. Interest in this revolutionary new product was pretty amazing at WPPI. There are only two weeks left in the Kickstarter campaign.)

I usually get time to walk the show, but not this year. However, I still caught up with a lot of old friends and new ones, and along the way, there were plenty of selfies. Levi Sim, when asking me to step into one of the group shots, reminded me to practice what I preach with, "Come on Skip, I need pictures for my Throwback Thursdays in the future!"

This morning I was thinking about what to write for today's post, as I get back on schedule. It hit me that nothing beats the friendships we've all made and shared over the years. People outside photography don't realize just how small an industry we are, or the strength of so many bonds. We all watch each other's backs, provide feedback, and have worked on so many different projects and concepts.

So, whatever your schedule is for the rest of 2020, make the time to attend every possible convention and workshop you can get to. Take the time to connect with old friends, but keep bringing new ones into the mix! Share ideas, ask for help when you need it, and remember the only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask!

Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you!
Misty Copeland

Wishing everybody a day with family and the friends who mean the most to you. Go for those long therapeutic hugs and have some fun looking back on the relationship with whoever's on the other end of those hugs. And, as I've written a few dozen times over the last year alone - the best part of this industry has NOTHING to do with photography directly, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft!

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.