Kris in Phoenix and Photographer of the Year

So I've been in Phoenix for the PPA's annual international photographic convention (aka Imaging USA.) There were over 7500 people from around the world taking photography and business classes, creating social contacts, and SHOPPING in the humongous trade show. It was a blast, mostly because I was there with one of my best friends and fellow photographer, Allison. The highlight of the convention for me was hearing Anne Geddes speak. I seriously felt like she was talking directly to me about issues I have been struggling with for a while. It took me a long time to get a grip on my emotions afterwards, and was a life-changing moment for me. Then, the next evening, I was bestowed with PPA's Photographer of the Year award. There were only 4 people from Utah who received this honor, and I am the only one who operates from a home-based studio. It was a pretty big deal to me, and the capstone on an amazing year.

I thought boring awards-ceremony photos would be pretty... well... boring, so I thought instead, I'd post these snapshots we took with my daughter's little camera to try out some backdrops at the trade show. We were a little loopy after two solid days of classes by this point...