Hey there! I'm buzzing with excitement as I plan my exclusive trip to IMAGING USA 2025, and I just had to share it with you. Picture this: from February 2-4, 2025, I'll be soaking up knowledge like a sponge at the prestigious Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, TX. But wait, there's more! I'm diving in early for the pre-conference workshops from January 30 to February 1. It's going to be a photography extravaganza, and you're invited to be part of this exclusive experience! 

     Many of my students and professional photographers I teach constantly hear me talking about the thrill of lifelong learning. Each time I attend a conference, I'm on the edge of my seat, eager to discover ways to improve my photography skills and knowledge. I started creating images in the 1970s with an old Polaroid SX-70 land camera that my mother had sitting around the house. The learning never stops, and I can't wait to share the excitement with you at IMAGING USA 2025!

      One of my favorite pastimes was dressing up our German Shepherd, Carlie. She was such a gentle dog, and for the most part, she simply accepted our dress-up sessions. I remember my favorite photos I took of her wearing my favorite shirt and shorts, white socks, and one of my old T-ball hats. I can still remember the smile on her face as she sat on the sidewalk. I just wished I had kept those photos.

     Back to Imaging USA 2025, this is where the magic happens for professional photographers. Each year I attend, I get to rub elbows with over 10,000 other photographers who are just as passionate about photography as I am. Each one of us is on our own separate photography journey. I've actively worked to push my creative boundaries each year since I retired from the Navy. That is challenging for me because I learned a purist form of photojournalism established for news documentation rather than for adding or removing items or enhancing the story by telling people how to pose or what to do. I observed, documented, and submitted for publication. The value of this conference is immeasurable, and I can't wait to share it with you!

     Now, I get to have conversations with clients to build on an idea and then create a vision from scratch. I love how Imaging USA is a huge brainstorming session with the best photographers in the business.

     I'm particularly stoked about Shannon Squires-Toews' workshop. She's a wizard with fine art photography, and I can't wait to learn her secrets. And don't get me started on Sandra Coan's marketing session—each time I attend a marketing workshop, I leave with a million game-changing notes on how to better connect authentically with my amazing clients. Oh, and don't let me forget to talk about the lighting workshop with Ivan Duran?

     Let's say my portraits are about to get much more dramatic (in the best way possible, of course!)! If you are a photographer and want to know what to do better, differently, or even how to grow your business, Imaging USA 2025 is for you. My charge to any photographer is to stop what they are doing, go to the IMAGING USA 2025 website, and discover what you are missing out on and how you can make this year's conference.

     I know many people who tell me that attending the conference is expensive and they need to make more from photography to afford to attend. I always answer, "How can you afford not to attend?" I attended my first convention in 2014, and each year, I have seen my photography skyrocket to new levels that I am still amazed I can create.

     As a photography instructor, I tell my students that I have many phases of my level of quality images from nearly forty years as a photographer. Of course, there is the work I did before I graduated from high school, where everything was inconsistently exposed and, most of the time, a bit out of focus. Then, I had my years as a U.S. Navy Photomate; the images started becoming more consistent and focused, but they needed more style and direction. After seven years as a photographer, I discovered photojournalism and cross-rated it to become a Navy journalist. As a Journalist, I found composition and storytelling, where most of my images were published in newspapers and websites.

     Of course, once I retired from the Navy in 2011, I needed guidance on who I was as a photographer. I had to discover everything I wasn't taught as a military photojournalist. On top of that, I had to learn business, marketing, sales, and budgeting. If you ask my wife, I still need to figure out budgeting fully.

     All of the images I started to create after joining the PPA in 2010 have improved each year and become more consistent as I refine my style and discover who I am as a photographer. I purposefully attend as many classes as I can fit in during IMAGING USA because if I am going to travel to a conference, I am going to suck up as much information as possible and then bring it home and start incorporating changes into my photographic style and business model.

     One thing I can say is that no perfect system was created for all photographers. However, learning from many great photographers taught me how to develop and design a system that works for me. Like a business plan, I am constantly reevaluating and modifying my model to help improve my business and the quality of my work for clients. I will never stop learning because learning is lifelong, and there is always something new for me to understand.

     To all of my photographer friends, please join me at IMAGING USA 2025! It's the perfect opportunity to level up your skills, make new friends, and get inspired. Trust me, your future self will thank you.

     And to my wonderful and soon-to-be clients, get ready for some seriously amazing photos! What new techniques and ideas will I be learning? They're all for you. Why not book a session with Swartz Portraits for later in February or March? You'll be among the first to experience the results of my IMAGING USA adventure!

     Remember, investing in continuous education isn't just about me – it's about delivering your absolute best. Your trust in my skills means the world to me, and I'm committed to exceeding your expectations with every click of my camera.

     To my potential and past clients, let's make 2025 an unforgettable year for Senior Portraits. We are excited to start booking our 2026 high school seniors from Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. I can't wait to bring new ideas and help you tell your story! Don't miss out—head to www.swartzportraits.com now to book your session. Let's create some magic together!

P.S.

Check out https://imagingusa.com/ for all the conference details for my photographer friends. Trust me, you won't regret it! And if you have photographer friends who might be interested, please share this blog with them. The more, the merrier!