Best Friend Weekend in Maryland 🎉

Hey friends!

I’m writing the blog from a new state today: Maryland! Each year, my best photo friends meet in a city somewhere across the country to laugh, chat, eat good food, and spend quality time together. Past trips have been in Vegas, Nashville, San Antonio, NY, and last year was Boston. This year, we are hanging out at the Gaylord National Harbor in Maryland. It’s a gorgeous hotel (with a pretty kick-ass lightshow), and a great spot for our annual bonding time.

A little about my photo bff, JP Elario: 1) he was the best man in my wedding. 2) he is an incredible photographer from upstate NY. 3) He has a wife and a daughter who happen to love my wife and daughters. Though we text daily and facetime monthly, it’s great to get together in person. And this year is super special because our Scout and Helene have become sweet little friends! I watch them play together and suddenly my mind shoots into the future when they are teenagers running on a beach somewhere. Or maybe a bridesmaid in the other’s wedding. Okay… I’m getting a bit ahead of myself, lol.

The importance of having a close friend in your industry (and how to get your own JP)

Anyway, back to it… photographers, I urge you to get a photo bff. Not someone you’re in competition with (even friendly competition), but an actual friend where photography is one of the last things you talk about. This person will be your friend in a way others can’t because they know the industry like you do. They understand your stories about crazy groomsman or the wacky church lady. When talk does shift to work, you can bounce ideas off each other, knowing they have your best interest at heart. And if you don’t know where to find such a friend, check out the national trade shows. I met JP at WPPI in Vegas more than a decade ago. There is also ImagingUSA (which is what we are at currently), and a handful of others.

Today we played TopGolf, watched a fountain show, played at build a bear, ran around the tradeshow, laughed and talked up in the hotel suite, and went out for tableside guacamole. It was a lovely day. Here are some iphone photos + videos to prove it.

Our balcony view // peep the badge // I found an alcohol free beer at topgolf 🌟

Tyler and Scout both loved the water show. These girls are two of a kind!

These two had so much fun watching the snow fall outside. It was really coming down!

Scout had a great nap today, but ran around so hard that she was exhausted by the end of the day. I love when kids wear one another out! Happy parents lol! Also, peep her cutest boots!