I Heart Faces Conference...

"Dream big...it's better to have an impossible dream than no dream at all." -Sue Bryce

October 6th was a big day for me.  I was at the I Heart Faces Conference at South Fork.  If South Fork rings some bells, it is where the TV series "Dallas" is filmed.

The "Dallas" ranch house: South Fork

It was a nice location, but not as plush as I expected.  I never saw so many ladies with cameras, bags, and camera accessories.

The main conference room

The speaker who kicked off the morning was Kelle Hamton who gave a very emotional talk about her evolution as a photographer and mother.  Her second daughter was born with Down's syndrome and that event changed how she approached life and photography.  She shares the story on her blog: http://www.kellehampton.com.  Keep some Kleenix handy.

Kelle Hampton

My favorite workshop was "How to photograph children with natural smiles" by Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman.  Website: http://www.thejellybeanblog.com.  She showed us how, by using kids she had never seen or met.  They were adorable.  The first was a little 2 year old girl.  And least one think it was a small crowd, think again.  Picture a two year old going into a strange situation with an unknown lady and 40 people watching.  I think that would be intimidating for any one.

Part of the crowd...look at all those cameras.  And it was so cold outside!

Is this not the cutest little girl?

Next was a 4 year old boy who was equally cute.  He was so excited to do all the things Jennifer asked of him.  And with the biggest smile ever.  Notice how he is pulling on his pants, and shirt.

Here's the little boy

We learned never to say "cheese" or count.  Hmmm.  I am certainly guilty of that!  I cannot wait to try out her methods.

The last speaker was Sue Bryce.  She was funny, inspirational, and practical.

Me with Sue Bryce

Sue Bryce with the founders of I Heart Faces: Amy and Angie.

In one of our breakout sessions, we did not have enough models, and I was chosen to be the model.  I tried out my Sue Bryce pose: Sit tall, chin out and down, shoulder toward camera.

My Sue Bryce Posing

Finally, some fun shots of me.

This is taken in a mirror in the Ewing Master bath.

At the hotel goofing around.