This week, I am headed to Atlanta to leading a master session called Beautiful Blogging at Type A Parent Conference. It is my first time attending this conference and I am thrilled. I love speaking and sharing with others, especially when it comes to photography and storytelling. Anyone who knows me well knows I can talk and I always have a story.
Life is built around stories.
We tell them.
We listen to them.
We make them up.
When it comes to photography, I love good lighting and pictures that tell a story or leave me wanting to learn more about the artist or the pictures. Have you ever gone to an exhibition and watched the progression of a story through photography? It is fascinating when an artist can do that with their work and you experience it the way they intended. As an art major in college, my senior project was to create an exhibition with the rest of the graduating seniors. I had no idea until I had to plan an exhibit how important the flow of the exhibit is to the overall experience of viewing the art. It makes a huge difference.
I see public speaking the same way. If you have organized your talk well, the audience will follow your flow and arrive at the end of your talk satisfied and inspired. At least, that is how I like to feel after I have invested time listening to a speaker.
A good speaker makes the talk about the listener.
Have you experienced a speaker who connects with you in a roomful of people? It seems like what they are saying was meant just for you. That kind of speaking is soul speaking. It is what I strive for when I have the opportunity and privilege to share my voice. It is what I hope to do when I share this Saturday.
I am looking forward to seeing friends I have not seen in well over a year and finally meeting many I have only ever encountered online. This is what I love the most about attending conferences. I love making connections and meeting my kindred spirits. I am looking forward to that most of all. For those of you attending the conference, I will see you there and if you are not, no worries. Soon, my friend, we will met. I declare it to be so.
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You totally connected in that room! I was serious when I later told you how much I enjoyed your session and it kept me engaged the entire time - a huge feat in the afternoon. I was cracking up and on the edge of my seat wondering what you would say/do next. One of my favorite sessions of the conference for sure. Thanks for sharing with us!
Sarah! Thank you so much for saying that. I am glad my session was useful. It is always my goal when I speak.