I first heard of this conference when I was scrolling through Instagram a few months ago. Glanced at it and said oh this isn’t a conference for me because I saw no one who looked like me from the photos of past conferences. Then I saw John Branch (I follow him on YouTube) say he was going to be teaching a class, and I thought, well, it can’t be too bad if he is a speaker. I also follow another photographer who is a speaker, and she is also black. I still said nah….I’m good. As a black person, especially in this political climate, I have to be very careful of spaces where we aren’t attending in decent numbers. Then I saw it again on my threads, someone mentioned it, and I said you know what…I think I’m going to go. Sometimes I have to show up in spaces where I’m the only black person there, and I have to just pray about it and just do it if I want to learn and not stay stuck. So I took the plunge and bought a ticket and boom….I’m ready to tell my story of what it’s like to attend the Reset Conference as a Black photographer.
The conference was AMAZING!
Now y’all know I don’t sugarcoat anything, so buckle up because we have a lot of things to cover. First, it was in Chattanooga, TN. I’ve been there a few times, and I thought well, it’s a short drive from Atlanta why not? That was also a great deciding factor. I also wanted to sharpen my skills in some areas. I don’t know it all, and I am always willing to learn. It didn’t cost me much to attend (price was 600, hotel was almost free with points, no planes, etc) so I thought sometimes you have to invest in yourself and I’m so glad I did.
The conference was held at the Reed Hotel (I didn’t get one picture either), and the setup was easy to follow. I didn’t stay there because I had points from Westin, so I wanted to use those but it was within walking distance. Everyone was nice, and I didn’t feel out of place. Now I didn’t mingle or go to any parties, but I attended all the classes, talked to a few other photographers, and I got to do a styled shoot. I talked to another photographer who was there and she said sometimes you will be the only black person in the room. Show up anyway! I took that motto with me for the entire few days of the conference.
Some of my favorite classes that I took were from
John – he talked about offering small videos for your clients while taking the photo. This is something I do now.
Ashley – she shot live and showed us how she works with one light. I thought this class was the best because I’m a hands-on learner. She showed us what she did and how she did it. I went home and bought a light.
Emily – she showed us how to be a creative director, and with my degree in marketing, I got some clarity on how I can use my degree (finally)
There were some other great classes that I attended, but those 3 were my favorite. I have notes, I have new knowledge, and I walked away knowing that I got my money’s worth.
As black photographers, we have to show up in spaces where everyone may not look like us, but we still have a common goal. To capture a photo and have it stand still. Sharing a common goal makes us band together more and get to know others despite whatever other differences we may have. Side note I think that’s what is wrong with a lot of what’s wrong in America. We may not like certain things or people, but we are all human, and we should respect that above all else.
Did I feel out of place? Yes, but I still showed up, and I wish more of us would do that. Now don’t be dumb and think shat won’t go down because sometimes it does, but know how to move in way that is safe for you. Here are some other takeaways
- Brand photography, look into it.
- Senior photographers make a lot of money
- Have an emergency bag as a photographer. I need one
- Lights make a world of difference. I was always saying why do people carry strobe lights outside when it’s already light outside and baby….after this conference, I said ohhh I see the light….literally.
- I held the DJ Osmo pocket thingy and I liked it but I decided to buy lights instead. I’m not a YouTuber or a video person but if you are…get that.
- I learned that I don’t have to be scared of harsh sunlight
- styling makes a huge difference. Now you can’t tell black people what to wear to a photoshoot, I don’t think that will fly with us, but it makes a huge difference. Sometimes the photo isn’t the problem, it’s what you are wearing
- Speaking of wear, wear light colors when doing a photoshoot. White, cream, etc. Nothing dark.
- Offer more than just photos
- Do model calls to help build your portfolio, especially during down seasons.
Overall, I learned that I need a strobe light that was my biggest takeaway. The next Conference is at the beach. I don’t know if I will attend that one since it’s far out, but I do know that if you are looking to attend and you are a person of color, it is a safe space. Check it out for yourself!
I am so mad that I didn’t get photos of the hotel….it is bothering me lol
