My IN[FOCUS] Experience

[Ed Ballart]

I just wanted to touch on my experience at IN[FOCUS] this week because I feel that the organizers of this event deserve major props.

As some of you know, I am brand-spanking new to the wedding industry. I have experience but, I'm a new business owner and primary shooter. Getting the funds together to attend this event was not easy but, I figured the timing was just too perfect to pass this opportunity up.

I walked into IN[FOCUS] with many expectations. I expected to meet some new people, learn a thing or two and maybe make my mind up on what gear I'm buying. I walked away with so much more. I expected to confront egos and "superstars" and instead was welcomed with the smiling faces and helpful advice from those I respect and admire.

The organization of the event was near flawless. Sure, some presentations ran a little long but, nobody seemed to mind. I loved the fact that there were no two seminars running consecutively, giving us the opportunity to attend every single one. I loved that there was a shuttle service one night so that we could enjoy downtown Austin. The free breakfasts, snacks, buffet dinner, door prizes and drink tickets didn't go unnoticed either and infocusvideoevent.net just seems like icing on the cake. It truly felt like a community of creative professionals coming together to better the industry as a whole.

Special thanks
To Kaipo, Todd, Andy, Jeff, John, Lenny and Mike for being my go-to crew.
To Jones for being the first guy to introduce himself to me.
To Ray Roman and Joe Simon for tips on gear and short-form edit.
To Bill Gaff for piquing my interest in interviews.
To Steve Moses for being hilarious and
To Stillmotion for being major team players.

I know I'm rambling a bit here but, I feel that this is an event that needs to become an annual one. So, those who went, tell everyone about how awesome it was and, those who couldn't make it, express some interest so that we can do this again in 2011.

I'm not entirely sure who all of the organizers of IN[FOCUS] Austin were but, thank you. I'm far more prepared now than I could've been otherwise.

-Ed

[Andrew Sorlie]

Hey Ed - I second what you had to say here. InFocus has changed our business for the better. Can't wait to put all of this into practice. Jones for president.

[Laura Randall]

Hi Ed! Glad to hear you had such a great experience!! I really wish I could have been there but just had too much going on here this week. Obviously it was a huge leap of faith for Terry, Chris and Don to continue on with Julian's vision and it sounds like it went off superbly and I'm so grateful for that! I'm sure Julian was watching over Terry all week and letting her know how proud he was. God knows we all miss him...but obviously his generous spirit was all around. If it's meant to become an annual event, I certainly hope I'll be able to make it next time! Thanks for sharing your experience and I'm thrilled to know our industry did a great job welcoming you!

[Danny O'Neill]

I sooooo wanted to goto this.

If it is annual then were saving up for the next one.

[Kaipo Schwab]

Ed, I couldn't have said that any better. I've no doubt you're going to be leading your own seminar one day.

Glad to be on your go-to team

Kaipo

[Chad Nickle]

Would have been cool to have you there, Danny You missed the flaming dr pepper shots...

[Danny O'Neill]

What!!! Nooo, I love Dr Pepper... but flaming?

[Chad Nickle]

Ask John Moon for the video

[Joey Mathews]

It was so great to meet so many of the people that inspire our work. It was a huge turnout and Jones and team did it up top-notch. Can't wait for the next chapter of InFocus. I went thinking I would hang out and help a few people with questions, but I got my head rocked with so much amazing information. Needless to say, I love what I do and can't wait to kick it up a notch!

[David Samelman]

I have to agree that InFocus was a huge success. Kudos to Terry, Don, Jones and Julian (of course). It was cool meeting new people especially those in this thread (Chad, Ed, Joey and Kaipo). I was surprised how many people from New York we met. Austin is a fun city. I'd estimate there were almost fifty of us who stormed whatever the name of that bar was on Tuesday night. That girl who just got engaged never knew what hit her. Too funny.

[John Miller]

Ed - it was great to meet you, and all the rest of the people I met in Austin - it has been a truly inspiring week for me. I'm looking forward to following all of our progress as we begin to apply the massive amounts of information we took away from IN[FOCUS].

Thanks to everyone for being so open, so interested, and so helpful. I look forward to drinking more flaming cocktails with you next year.

[John Moon]

Ask John Moon for the video

That was very cool. We are in Chicago filming a wedding but will try and get that up asap. Afterwards I played back the 5D footage for the bartender and he kept saying "that is freakin awewome" and wanted to see it again.

[Cristina Valdivieso]

It was great to meet you Ed! Jon and I had a blast Great to meet new friends and get together with all of our old friends
Danny ~ You were missed