As an Austin corporate event photographer, SXSW is always an exhilarating experience filled with innovation, creativity, and memorable encounters. I always find a few new music artists to add to my list of favorites. Among the multitude of activations, lounges, exhibits, and artists there this year, several stood out as true highlights. Here are my top picks, favorite finds, and best moments from SXSW 2024.
Reno, NV is the perfect destination for your company retreat, destination executive meeting, or corporate conference. With a wealth of large and small venues to choose from, Reno also has the bonus of offering a wealth of nightlife thanks to the casino-filled downtown, funky cultural experiences in the homegrown area of Midtown, and is perfectly located at the nation's most epic outdoor playground: Lake Tahoe. Here's an example of what the Atlantis Casino and Resort can offer your corporate event or meeting in the heart of downtown Reno.
Austin has grown significantly over the past few years, especially when it comes to the world of tech and corporations. Today, it may still be the heart of Texas, but it's also become a premier corporate event destination since its now vibrant business culture sits squarely in a town filled with fun. From live music every night to the vibrant dining scene, Austin is the perfect location to hold your next corporate event. As a commercial photographer who has been working within the Austin corporate event photography space for a decade, I've seen and worked at a wealth of Austin corporate event locations, and here are ten exceptional corporate event venues in Austin that I promise will elevate your meeting and provide you with a memorable and impactful event.
If you are a business at the forefront of tech, or at the intersection of tech and finance, it should come as no surprise that the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) stands at the epicenter of innovation as far as conferences go. It is where major electronics companies give keynotes regarding new innovation, where products are launched, and where the latest breakthroughs and futuristic concepts take center stage. Every year in January in Las Vegas, industry leaders, tech enthusiasts, and innovators and startups from around the globe gather to showcase, pitch, and network. CES demands attention to detail, precision, and professionalism. Your brand presence at CES can be highly elevated by hiring a conference event photographer, ensuring that the moments you coordinate and unveil are well documented.
I have been a traveling corporate event photographer for over a decade now, serving events such as SXSW in Austin, the NICC in Reno, CES in Las Vegas, and more. When I was hired by Bluegreen.org to photograph their Austin event, SPC Impact, they were so pleased with my deliverables that I am now their in-house event photographer. Most recently, I was thrilled to perform as a Boston event photographer for them at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport for SPC Advance, a smaller but still fascinating event by a company I love working for.
This past month I had the good fortune of working for an amazing organization and capturing their event at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin, TX. Any day that my job is capturing the dedication of organizations whose vision is to promote sustainability is a great day in my books! Thanks to my event photos, these awesome companies are able to make their movement and vision more tangible, engaging, and relatable to a broader audience.
After a poor networking experience last month left a sour taste in my mouth, I was inspired to write an entire blog post on how to network better. With some intentionality (one of my values) and a generous spirit (another one), meaningful connections are just around the corner. In this blog post, I’ll share some of my tips on how to build lasting and significant networking relationships with people in your field. Regardless of whether or not you work in the events industry, these tips are valid for everyone.
Do you love skiing? Do you have a winter birthday? If so, throwing a retro ski birthday party like my clients Kirsten and Micah did last month maybe the perfect way to celebrate. Whether you are an avid skier, a beginner, love costume parties, or simply enjoy the nostalgic charm of retro ski culture and a good reason to order a bottle or 9 of champagne and fondue, there are plenty of reasons that not only should you throw a retro ski party, but you should hire a professional Tahoe ski photographer to capture it. More from Kirsten's Retro 50th Ski Birthday Party and why you should consider professional photos of you and your friends or family skiing here!
Austin, TX is my second home and always will be. The list and enormous sheer variety of restaurants, activities, and things to do there is incredibly long but that’s where I come in: taking the time to explore Austin during SXSW 2023 is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and if you can squeeze some exploration into your downtime, you won’t regret it with these recommendations.
Feeling nervous about group events? I'm here to remind you that networking is a skill, and like all skills it’s something that can be practiced and becomes easier with said practice. It’s a great way to build new relationships, will allow you to learn about new technologies and opportunities, and ultimately, helps you build relationships. By being prepared, confident, open-minded, and following up, you can make the most of your time at SXSW and create valuable connections that will last long after the conference is over. Here is a beginner's guide to making the most of your networking opportunities at SXSW 2023.
SXSW shouldn't need an introduction, but just in case you don't know me very well (or Austin), here's the short of it: SXSW is a ridiculously large ridiculously amazing festival held annually in Austin, Texas that attracts over 400,000 attendees from across the world. Its focus is large, wide, and all-encompassing, including but not limited to, innovation, technology, music, film, health, gaming, and more. If SXSW 2023 is your first rodeo and you're planning an activation, event, or happy hour to engage and interact with your target audience, I'm here to give you a little bit of advice from a photographer's perspective, regardless of the size of your event.
Volunteering brings happiness in a number of ways, but it should also be considered an excellent avenue for professional development. The next time you're looking for a way to expand your professional development opportunities, and looking to bring some happiness into your life, consider volunteering – you just might find that it's the most rewarding experience you've ever had. Here are all the reasons why.
