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The best Resets happen at the beach.

Join us March 3-5 in Panama City Beach, Florida for the annual Reset Conference for photographers!

register here!

hurry! Limited spots available

Holly’s take: A veteran attending the Reset Conference

I was recently talking with a friend about my experiences at Reset, and felt compelled to share as a “veteran” photographer. I’m now in my 18th year of business, and I have attended ALL 10 Resets (Panama City Beach will be my 11th!). Full disclosure: I am on the Reset staff, but I would attend even if I wasn’t!

(I’m the one in orange!) 😀

Recently a friend and I were talking about who Reset is for, and it really is for photographers at all stages of their careers. People tend to expect conferences like Reset to be for mostly new photographer, and while it is great for people just starting their photography journeys, it’s so much more than that.

The past few years, Kellie & Rebekah have conducted exit surveys following the conference and found (as we assumed) that a very high percentage of our attendees have been in business for more than 5 years, and several more than 10 years (like me!). And there are many reasons why I keep coming back.

  1. Community. You’ll hear this word thrown around in Reset Conference discussions often. And it’s not a gimmick… it’s legit. Most Resets (with the exception of Waco) have been held at hotels catered to spontaneous groups gathering to hang out, share their knowledge, and discuss the ins and outs of running a photography business. Kellie & Rebekah look to reserve locations that have lots of cozy nooks, seating areas, bars, and restaurants that lend themselves to this kind of gathering. Panama City Beach will be no exception — and we’re so excited to live the Resort life at this year’s conference!
  2. Technical education. You want to learn a new skill? Maybe you want to learn a new technique to offer your clients? Or maybe you could never quite grasp a photography trend that you want to master. You’ll find all kinds of practical application education at Reset from photographers of all genres.
  3. Insprational content. Sometimes it’s good to just get fired up, you know? Getting that spark of renewed interest and sense of purpose in my personal life and in my business is always a good thing. The Reset speakers (no matter the topic) always leave me inspired to make microadjustments in my business, put my nose to the ground, and get to work!
Redhead on the left!

4. Renewed sense of excitement about my business. New ideas, challenges, and actionable tips are takeaways I get from every Reset Conference. I take pages of notes and then highlight a few things that I want to implement right away. Then every once in a while I go back and review my notes and see what ideas I had forgotten and then make a plan to implement longer-term strategies and changes. Reset always leaves me with the hunger to do more and remember why I started in this industry and my business in the first place.

5. Vendor expo. Who doesn’t like to shop?! But seriously… I love chatting with software company reps for things I already use, but I also learning about new ones on the market. And then of course the tangible items — camera straps, albums, lenses, accessories, clothing, lighting, etc. It’s always nice to actually put my hands on equipment and photo products to get a feel for them for my clients and off the internet.

6. Travel with friends. This goes without saying, but getting to travel around the country with my photography buddies is one of my favorite parts. We’ve flown, road-tripped, shared rooms, done makeup & hair together, talked business, worked out, gone swimming, shared many meals, and had lots of laughs over the years! I’m so looking forward to the beach location with friends!

Curious what locations we’ve been to over the years? Here’s a quick rundown (possibly slightly out of order) 😉

Champaign, IL

Champaign, IL

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis, IN

Louisville, KY

Lexington, KY

Waco, TX

Lexington, KY

Chattanooga, TN

Grand Rapids, MI

Panama City Beach, FL

Sooo… who’s coming to meet us in PCB?! I’ll be at the registration table on Sunday evening and Monday morning, and you can catch me in the main room/classrooms both days and hanging around the hotel for the styled shoot/mentorships day. I’d love to meet you! AND, if you are coming to Reset solo, come find me and I’ll make sure you aren’t alone for meals and hangouts!

Holly Birch Smith is a business & brand photographer based in east central Illinois. She collects lobsters, loves socks, and has a slight obsession with iced & hot tea. She’s owned Holly Birch Photography for more than 17 years and has worked with many local & national businesses and brands. She enjoys helping both small and large businesses with their product, website, and social media photo needs. She lives in Mahomet with her husband Aaron, their children Max & Hadley, Rottweiler Roscoe and cats, Lucy & Moo.

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Sometimes you just need to escape to the beach.

White sand. Emerald waters. Lounging by the pool with poolside service. Palm trees and ocean waves. Oh...and incredible education, too!

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Register today for a few unforgettable days spent at the beach in Florida! We can't wait to see you in PCB!

register here!

hurry! Limited spots available

Helping photographers to love their businesses and thrive in their personal lives.