What is Inspire? Inspire is real. So real that it hits you in the gut, turns you on your head and you’re thankful for it. It’s one of those events that forces you to think about what you’re doing as a photographer and why you’re doing it. Inspire is community. A community so tight-knit that being brutally honest is the standard, not the exception.  It’s a family that supports each other through the darkest of times and celebrates triumphs from the rooftops.

George and I have been blessed to be a part of this community since 2013. In February, we, along with Melanie, rejoined the community in Portland, ME for a three-day conference. As is the standard this winter, it was snowing when we traveled up the hill to the Westin Portland Harborview. We found ourselves behind a license plate that read, “MFPHOTO” and knew immediately we were in the right place. Upon arrival, we saw a few familiar faces before we went off to our full-day workshops. George participated in a course with Dave Jackson and I was with Doug Levy. Both are photographers we truly admire. It’s not just their work that we appreciate though – it’s their willingness to share their knowledge with anyone who’s hungry for it.

If there’s one thing I really appreciate about Inspire, it is the diversity of the group. Rarely do I encounter people from so many different walks of life in one place. What’s even more amazing is how we all embrace and learn from each other. Our individual experiences make a stronger whole. This year, that diversity was presented in a very unique way called PechaKucha (PechaKucha.org) (20images x 20seconds). We were honored to have eight photographers share their personal work with us the first night of Inspire. The photographers shared everything from underwater photography to chronicling a sister’s life and death to a building fire. These stories and images allowed us to see beyond a pretty portfolio and gave the photographers an opportunity to share their souls. They allowed themselves to be vulnerable and we’re all better for it.

For the first time this year, I was given the opportunity to be a mentor rather than a mentee. I met with three other photographers to discuss their businesses and direction they were going. I’m really not sure who learned more – me or them. I just know I’m richer because of the experience.

We were also given the opportunity to introduce our Inspire community to Flashy Finds, our newest venture here at Black Thumb Studio. I mean, who better than 200+ photographers to be the first to set eyes on hand-made and reclaimed products made from vintage cameras and parts. We were thankful for all the amazing feedback we received and excited to share our passion with everyone there. Follow us on Instagram @flashyfinds to keep up with our latest creations.

The rest of our time at Inspire 2015 flew by. We’re now counting down to Inspire 2016. If you’re a photographer looking for a local conference that challenges you both technically and professionally or you would simply like to work on a puzzle with friends, come to Inspire 2016 in Newport, RI. Just prepare to get real.

Here’s some candids and not-so-candids we snapped while at the conference: