My experience at Imaging USA in Tampa, Florida

My photography mentor and best friend Aaron Bailey and I headed out from Gainesville to Imaging USA in Tampa, Florida yesterday. If you want to check out some fantastic architectural full screen 360 Virtual Tours you gotta check out Aaron’s web site here. Aaron is a pro photographer and specializes in real estate virtual tours and commercial architecture.

Keep in mind that I had limited time to explore the Expo. Check out Scott Kelby’s blog here if you want a detailed overview of the expo.

(Heading into Tampa – stuck in traffic)

We decided to just go for the day and visit the Expo. We really wanted to check out out the new Nikon D3 and D300 and lighting gear. I was also interested in learning more along the business side of portrait photography and what is involved in owning and maintaining a studio.

Here’s a picture of Aaron at the entrance to the Expo. We got there around 9.20 a.m. (it’s a 2 hour drive from Gainesville). I decided not to bring my DSLR because I did not want to get bogged down with a camera on my shoulder nor risk the chance of dropping it so I brought my Canon G6. Another reason for bringing a smaller camera was I did not want to stick out like a sore thumb when I took pictures of the presenters, etc. But in reality I think I stuck out even more by using this camera. I felt a bit embarrassed and did not take as many pictures as I wanted to. It’s like here I am at this phtogoraphy expo and I bring my point and shoot!!! All of the pictures were taken with my trusted Canon G6 set at 400 ISO and shutter priority at 1/30th

The first booth we headed to was Nikon to check out their new cameras. I really want a D300 and I think it is manageable by the summer. It felt really good in my hands and the one thing I noticed straight off that there are no Vari-modes…you are totally on your own!

When I first bought my D70s I really thought I would be using those Vari-modes more. But you know, I never use them. I either shoot in Aperture Priority or Manual Mode. I mostly hand hold my camera and love to shoot wide open. By the end of the year I really want the D300 along with the 17-55 2.8 and the 70-200 2.8!

Aaron almost switched over to Canon because of the full sensor. Luckily, Nikon came out just in the nick of time to keep Aaron over on the yellow and black side. Here’s a picture of Aaron lusting over the D3 – you know what they say about the size of a man’s lens (o.k…bad – but I had to get it in).

While at the Nikon Booth we met Anne Cahill who was so very kind and answered all of our questions. If you follow Scott Kelby’s blogyou will remember she was with Scott during his Hawaii shoot. Anne is a Nikon expert and a fantastic photographer as well. Little did I know at the time but she is also married to Joe McNally. Anne hooked us up with fellow Nikon expert and nature photography Bill Fortneywho let Aaron and I in on a little secret on some new Nikon glass coming out. You’ll hear more at PMA in Las Vegas. Speaking of Joe McNally, he was there too and he did an amazing presentation on his work. It was so nice to see him again after DLWS Cape Cod. I did not think he would even remember us but when he saw Aaron and I he greeted us so warmly and we talked about his new book coming out in February called The Moment it Clicks. Here is a link to a previous blog entry about Joe and his book.

From the Nikon Booth Aaron and I headed over to the Kelby Training Booth. As Scott mentioned in his blog – it was standing room only. He had a great set-up. The Kelby Training Booth sign hangs from the ceiling so you can see it from anywhere in the Expo! When Scott saw Aaron and I he was so gracious and friendly and even gave me a big hug! I told Scott that I was on a mission to buy a tripod. Remember, my New Year’s Resolution was not to buy anymore books, software, gadgets, etc. until I purchase a tripod. RC from Layer’s TV raved about the Giotto MT8350 tripod and the MH1301 head. Scott agreed with the suggestion but his tip is to spend the big bucks more on the tripod head!

Aaron and I wanted to stay for the Live Taping of Photoshop TV but we only had about 1 hour left before we had to head back home to Gainesville. Laurie Excell had mentioned the Gitzo tripod that she uses so Aaron and had to check out those. The only thing that I have to say about the Bogen Booth that had the tripods was that the sales person was not very professional. When I explained to him that I was also looking at the Giottos the first thing out of his mouth was that those are “crappy tripods made in China”! What can I say…we left. I’m not giving this guy my money with that attitude!

The expo was huge!!! I have never been to a photography expo so I had nothing to compare it to. The majority of the booths were geared towards printing and press books. Nik Software and OnOneSoftware both had booths – but small in comparison to the other booths. Since I only had about 1 hour left I just started going up and down each isle looking to the right and the left and stopping briefly on antyhing that remotely looked interesting. I could see spending 3 days just at the expo.

One of the booths of interest to me was the Amherst Media booth. They had a wide selection of photography books from photo retouching, children and wedding portraits and the business end of photography. Kate Neaverth was so helpful. I told her that I was interested in a book on how to get set up with a portrait studio and the legalities, etc. Thanks Kate for all your help. I highly recommend checking out the beautifully published books by Amherst Media here.

I also fell in love with Totally Rad Action Sets. I’m sure most professional photographers already know about this product – but if you havin’t already checked them out or tried them…you gotta head over to their web site here – They have an awesome web site with complete examples of each action. I really like how Doug created them – very intuitive and room for lots of customization.

As I continued my walk up and down the isles, I bumped into Larry Alverez from NAPP. I said…”Hey Larry, how are you”. I knew he had no idea who I was but Larry stopped and smiled and shook my hand. I reminded him that we met briefly in October at the Lightroom Workshop in Tampa. I told him how much I enjoyed the new online video subscriptions. He seemed very interested in my experiences and opionions of them. I was even surpised that he seemed geniouly interested in hearing my thoughts on some upcoming video classes  that Kelby Training is planning to release. He asked what I thoughht about a class on running a phtogoraph business. Wow, he must of read my mind…because I was just at the Amhearst Book booth looking for a book  on that same very subject! Way to go Kelby Training!

With 10 minutes to spare I hooked up with Aaron again at the Wescott Lighting Booth. Uh Oh! I know we’re in trouble now. All I see is Aaron with the sales lady and she has a pad of paper filled with items for Aaron. I tell Aaron..we’ve gotta go – he says…one more minute. I knew each minute counted for $50 more! I have to admit I was very jealous. How could I come to this expo and go home with nothing!!! I just stood there reciting my Marta silently in my head…”Don’t buy anything until I buy a tripod…Don’t buy anything until I buy a tripod”!!! -

After about 30 seconds of that and Aaron going into triple digits….I shouted out to Aaron…”Meet me at the Shootsac Booth!”. I ran as fast as I could before I changed my mind. I got there just in time. I know I said I wouldn’t but I DID!!! And it’s BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE IT! I bought a Jessica Claire Shootsacand now I have something really cool to take home to Gainesville from the expo.

It was now 1.00 p.m. and I told my daughter I would be home before she got home from school..at 2 p.m. Oops. Let’s see Tampa to Gainesville is a 2 hour drive..and it’s now 1 pm….you do the math. It was so worth it!  She gets to watch Cyberchase before doing her homework…she’s a happy camper!

It was a great car ride home! Here’s a picture I took as we were heading home from the city:

Aaron even warmed up to the Shootsac and now I think he wants one too. His new softboxes and backdrop is going to be so cool! You did the right thing buddy!!!

WARNING – REALLY COOL MUSIC TO TURN YOU ON TO!

As a special treat on the way home…Aaron shared with me some new music that he found that he really likes. It’s a electric band called Ghostland Obervatory. They are based in Austin, Texas and it’s just two guys and a synthesizer and drum kit. They are kinda like a mix of Erasure and Depeche Mode with a little bit of the The Killers. I am hooked on this band now and totally love their song Sad Sad City and Midnight Drive.  It was the perfect ending to the perfect day!