For those of you who haven’t ever heard of UNITED, it’s AMAZING! It’s a 2-3 day conference for photographers, hosted by ShowIt (the website company I use), and it’s one of those game-changing sort of experiences. I always walk away with my world rocked in some way or another.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the conference this year- it was my third time attending, but my first experience as a speaker and teacher. I had the enormous privilege of sharing both during an on-stage talk, and by teaching and leading a shoot on how to photograph the First Look!

To be totally honest, I was a ball of nerves the week leading up to it all. I’d spoken at my first conference back in March with Creative At Heart, but this was my first time speaking for a group of JUST photographers, and my first time presenting to a crowd of ~250. I had visions of me tripping over my heels and tearing my tulle skirt on stage, of pulling a Aubrey from Pitch Perfect when it came time to open my mouth, etc. But someone wise once told me (I can’t remember who, just that they were wise) that if you’re nervous about speaking, you’re focused on the wrong thing.

And I was- I was too wrapped up in making myself look good, and not concerned enough with teaching something that some, if not all of the attendees needed to hear (my topic was “The Gentle No”!). Once I refocused my priorities on delivering a message that would hopefully serve to better people’s businesses and lives, it took a lot of the pressure off.

Throughout the few days in Scottsdale, I had the opportunity to listen to some of the industry’s most gifted speakers and business owners- Justin & Mary, Natalie Franke, Katelyn James, The Scobeys, Jen Olmstead, the list goes on.

Truth be told, though, my favorite times throughout the conference didn’t talk place in the main ballroom or breakout sessions- they were the late-night conversations that cut to the heart. The chats over lunch with people I’d not met before, the in-between-the-chaos talks with friends. Oh, and the cherry on top of everything? Probably the impromptu Riff Off that took place during the after-party, in which Mary acted as emcee and threw out categories such as “bad 80’s songs” and “Broadway ballads.” It. was. AMAZING. And you all will never ever see the videos from those because I don’t believe in handing over blackmail material.

Also? There was a gala dinner on Monday night, and I wore my prom dress from my senior year in high school. Dear 18-year-old-Abby: thank you so much for have classic taste in formal wear, even when the rest of your wardrobe consisted mainly of alt-rock band tees and Vans slip-ons.

Enjoy a few more images from the First Look shoot- how stunning are out models?! Our first couple, Jason & Kara, have been married for seven years now, and we kept the two of them apart until this particular moment so his reaction was genuine :). I loved having them as our models!

Thank you to Denise Karis for the first image, Southern Pines for the third image, and Laura Hernandez for the fourth image! I didn’t take my camera with me at all, except during the shoot on Sunday night. Oops!