I am a huge believer in continuing education and in investing in myself; so  every year or two I take a workshop – to learn and get better and to recharge my creative batteries.  I’ve been a member of NAPCP for years and have heard great things about their retreat but somehow never made it to one.. till now, that is.  My good friend Jaye from Life in Your Years used her powers of persuasion to convince me to go (having a Dessert/Champaign reception on the schedule was the final deciding factor in the decision making process) and once I was able to figure out who will take care of my children (human and canine!) the rest was easy!

The retreat was beyond amazing!  Seriously the guys from NAPCP thought of everything – from a stunning location (a Kimpton hotel in the heart of Santa Barbara) to amazing food (I think I gained 5 lbs in 4 days there!) to lots of personal touches (think wine bottles with personalized glasses and midnight snack goodie bags) to amazing swag – this retreat had it all!  I would’ve been happy with that but that was not even the best part – the speakers at the retreat were beyond amazing!  I’ve learnt so much and came back with lots of notes and ideas on how to make Live Love Laugh Photos the best photography studio in Bergen County!  And if that was not enough – I LOVED meeting super talented photographers from all over the country!  It was so wonderful to put names with faces, talk shop, share ideas and just hang out!

I did not take lots of pictures (was busy learning sunrise to sundown!) but we did go on a sunrise walk one morning and I sure was happy to have my camera with me – this place is stunning!  I’ve only been to California twice before this trip but now it is definitely on my list of places to go back to with Victor!