Trip to LA

The whole purpose of this trip to LA was to assist the Sue Bryce’s portrait class graduation. The first generation of graduates students! 🙂

Sue Bryce

Sue Bryce is an award-winning international portrait photographer currently based out of Los Angeles. For people who don’t know, I can tell you that she is like the Oprah of the photography world!

Sue has received many awards for her work, including Portrait Photographer of the Year 2007 and Highest Scoring Print 2008 by the New Zealand Institute Professional Photography Master National Awards, and Portrait Photographer of the Year 2011 and Highest Scoring Print 2009 by the Australian Institute Professional Photography Master National Awards, and WPPI International 2014 Premier Grand Award.

She is my idol, my mentor, and has been my inspiration for many years. Her teachings are amazing, and she doesn’t focus just on your business but in your life too, I could even consider her as my life coach!

I love that she is open, honest, and caring. She gives her students everything we need to make out lives and business successful. She doesn’t sugar coat anything, but she helps you to go through it by using her realistic teachings.

Sue Bryce is a living proof that in a competitive industry we can succeed through loving, giving, and collaborating.

Sue Bryce portrait class

For the past three months I have been part of her online 12-week Portrait Workshop. Every Tuesday we have had a live class and leave us with some homework to do.

All homework were practical. Great ideas to implement or improve our own business. All students and Sue Bryce herself were reaching out to give tips, suggestions, to help you solve a problem or even validate your work.

During week 10 Sue announced the students that would get an exclusive invitation to come to her studio for the graduation, from over more than 800 people who applied, just a few were selected. I was one of them! YAY! 🙂

A dream come true!

My first instinct was that I couldn’t go. I couldn’t afford it, it was mid-week, and the idea of finally meeting her was freezing me out; but I couldn’t bring myself to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So I had to do whatever it takes, I needed this…For myself and for my business. Even if it meant to “move mountains” to make this trip happen. And I did. I was able to book a flight using AirMiles points, and get an AirBNB sharing it with another awesome photographers, to keep costs low.

There I was, making a dream come true.

It was my first time going to Los Angeles, and it was my first time in United States by myself. I was excited and very nervous at the same time. But I was so lucky that the photographers who I was going to share my AirBNB were amazing human beings. As soon as we met, we became friends. It was instant. It was like we were knowing each other for decades!

New BBFs!

The Graduation

We had two solid days of jam-packed class with incredible and inspiring content.

From studio-tours and posing and lighting techniques, to Q&As, live shooting, business talk, and an panel discussion about legal stuff. Sue was amazing at answering absolutely any questions we had.

A surprise guest speaker was the one-and-only Rachel Brenke (TheLawTog). As a photographer and lawyer, she is the go-to to talk about contracts, releases, and any legal questions a photographer might have.

Live Shooting

We had also an entire day of live shooting! Sue Bryce was teaching and answering all the questions about posing, natural light, studio lighting, photography equipment, camera techniques, and much more.

Bucket list item checked! 😉

At the end of the first day Sue stayed after so she could meet and take pictures with all of us. Every person that walked up to her received the warmest and most sincere hug and welcome.

I don’t know if you have ever met one of your idols but I was shaking! My body was shaking, my voice was shaking.  I honestly do not even remember what I said to her, but I hope I said “Thank you!”.

Yes, I think I even cried a little bit.
Cookieeeeeeeeee!

If you want to know more about Sue Bryce, go here: http://suebryce.com/

If you’ve missed my preview blog post about my adventure in downtown Los Angeles, go here