When I made the announcement about my new NAPP Evangelist position, I promised you “9 Days of NAPP” including giveaways (see bottom of post). Let’s begin with my NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) story.
When I bought my Nikon D80–my first DSLR–I was filled with the adrenaline rush and quest for knowledge that accompany such things. I casually mentioned an article I’d read at Digital Photography School about shooting your best friend’s wedding to my sister, who then replied, “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask you. . .” You can imagine the rest. She asked me photograph her wedding, held a mere two months after purchasing the camera.
The more I researched wedding photography, the more nervous and frightened I became. Phrases like “a photographer’s most difficult job” and “there are no second chances” were everywhere. Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Books, Volumes 1 and 2
I have a small web design business, so at this point most of my experience in Photoshop involved graphics or working with stock photography, requiring minimal image adjustments. I drove four hours and attended Ben Willmore’s Photoshop CS3 for Photographer’s one-day seminar tour (my first NAPP event) in Nashville the week before the wedding.
I walked into that conference room assuming I was the dregs of the Photoshop pool of talent there, expecting a crowd of uber-cool twenty-something professionals that hopefully wouldn’t notice the forty-something self-taught mother-of-eight sitting in their midst. Inadequate doesn’t begin to describe my feelings.
What I found were real people. Nice people. People who “ooohed” and “aaahed” (because Ben inspires that kind of reaction) right along with me. In the lunch line I talked with a couple of older professional photographers who were just nice, ordinary folks who didn’t look down their noses at me.
The afternoon session started with an explanation about NAPP and its membership benefits. By the end of the day I was hooked and joined for two years with an educational discount as a homeschooler.
If you’re a blogger, you understand how wonderful it feels spending time with other bloggers, people who share your interests and passions, ones that aren’t necessarily common to your friends and family. That’s how NAPP makes me feel. As I told my husband, “I’ve found my people!”
NAPP educates me. It encourages me. It’s members are my friends, people like A.J. Woods and Firgs, whose keyboards I’m not worthy to clean.
In the other “9 Days of NAPP” I’ll introduce you to some of the people, sites, and perks that make NAPP what it is, an organization that truly embodies the slogan “Where Everyone Learns Photoshop.”
Related posts:
9 Days of NAPP Day 2: NAPP on Twitter
9 Days of NAPP Day 3: Matt Kloskowski and the Lightroom Killer Tips Blog
9 Days of NAPP Day 4: KelbyTraining LIVE
9 Days of NAPP Day 5: NAPP Members’ Website
9 Days of NAPP Day 6: Corey Barker and Planet Photoshop
9 Days of NAPP Day 7: Scott Kelby
9 Days of NAPP Day 8: Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photo Walk
9 Days of NAPP Day 9: LIVE from Photoshop World!
I’m a NAPP Evangelist!
Share your NAPP story for a chance to win the giveaways!
Are you a new NAPP member? Old member? Thinking of joining? Never heard of it until now? Leave it in comments!
Tweet something like Join @DawnMHSH for “9 Days of NAPP” at http://twurl.nl/4edvud for a second chance and leave a separate comment, letting me know.
Facebook it for another entry (leave a comment).
Subscribe to my feed for a fourth chance (leave a comment).
Blog it (and I will be ever-so-grateful!) for another chance.
There will be three giveaways at the conclusion of the “9 Days of NAPP” post series, with winners selected from the comments on all nine posts. Thanks for joining me, and good luck!
I know what you mean. NAPP = my people too. Been a member for 6 years or so I think. Can’t imaging life without.
Dawn,
How do you get the educators discount for NAPP? I have been considering joining but did not know they had this discount.
Twittered and Facebooked.
I am a new NAPP member but have known about them for awhile. I used to recommended for people to join NAPP for a long time but was never a member myself. There was always something else to spend money on like school tuition, text books, mortgage, food, etc. Three or four weeks ago I finally joined. I wrote a blog post about what NAPP membership can do for people. Feel free to read up on it here: http://www.tkrphoto.com/2009/05/my-take-on-napp-membership/
Terry
Eileen, if you have any trouble through the website you can call it in to customer service. Be sure and give them promo code DAWN for the bonus DVD. I joined for 2 years because the discount was just so good.
Hey Dawn,
I know, I know, I keep hearing the wonders of NAPP, but just haven’t joined. Just one of those things. Of course, now with my honey starting a business of his own, that also limits my discretionary income a bit. For now. But I would TOTALLY love to be a NAPP member. I so want to learn to become a better photographer.
Thanks for sharing!
Dianne
Diannes last blog post..Want to Learn Latin? For Free?
I tweeted! And will retweet . . . in a little bit. 😀
Diannes last blog post..Want to Learn Latin? For Free?
And I already subscribe to your feed. So I can’t really subscribe again. 😀
I have been a NAPP member for two years. I love NAPP! I tell everyone it is the best website for tutorials – particularly Photoshop and you get discounts to wonderful seminars, books, etc. The Photoshop User magazine is always a treat and worth the subscription price all by itself. I cannot think of any other organization that offers more bang for the buck!
Hello there. This article is interesting.
I ordered Scott’s Delby books 1&2 one week ago, found a great deal on the package @ bookfinder.com, BTW.
NAPP sure looks interesting, anyway I “tweeted” about it on my “tweet” account..
🙂
It looks like Photoshop seminar’s kind of never seem to come to Texas ! 🙁
Can’t wait for tomorrow’s article. !
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1446367418&ref=nf
I am getting used to the D200, really good camera !
My best friend bought me a year’s membership for my birthday. I am ashamed to say I haven’t done much with it yet. I am looking forward to 8 more days.
sharons last blog post..[flowers] boo-kay
No sweetie, the dregs would be ME.
“I walked into that conference room assuming I was the dregs of the Photoshop pool of talent there, expecting a crowd of uber-cool twenty-something professionals that hopefully wouldn’t notice the forty-something self-taught mother-of-eight sitting in their midst. Inadequate doesn’t begin to describe my feelings.”
Love it. You are so talented. Give yourself a break! 😉
sprittibees last blog post..Foto Friday: L is for Little Mama
I did all those things on day 2… so did I miss out on day 1? Or should I do it all again? LOL I’m confused.
sprittibees last blog post..Foto Friday: L is for Little Mama
Tweeted you! I told my story in your last NAPP post. Meant every word, too. 😉
Darcy @ GraphicallyDesigning.coms last blog post..Graphically Designing; making the blogosphere beautiful.
Twittered and Facebooked– haven’t blogged it yet but hope to soon.
I had never heard of NAPP before… it sounds like it’s worth checking out!
Marshas last blog post..It’s not goodbye
I honestly don’t know anything about NAPP. I know about that adrenaline rush to learn though. I just purchased my first SLR and I love, love, love Photoshop but still feel like I only now the names of the tools and not really how to use them effectively.
I am so happy for you. I tweeted this and I follow your blog.
Beth @ Pages of Our Lifes last blog post..Missing ‘n’ Photoshop Actions
I have so far to go and so much to learn. Having a NAPP membership would be fabulous! 🙂
Diannes last blog post..Mystery Bulb
i know i have a lot to learn.
chickadees last blog post..We made it to Virginia
I love, love NAPP – been a member for 2 years and can’t think of a better resource or group of resources available. . .
You are my first interaction with NAPP 🙂 I’ve heard of it before but thought it was too expensive at the time. Looking forward to learning more about the organization and the people 🙂
Lisa B @ simply Hiss last blog post..Another Mother of the Year Moment
I’ve considered joining NAPP for some time, but don’t really have the money unfortunately.. But would love to win a membership that would be awsome!
I also twittered about your contest 🙂
Sorry wrote the wrong email address – here’s the right one.. Thanks for giving us the chance to win 😉
I just tweeted about your contest. I would love to win a NAPP membership!
Here’s my tweet… Marcie_HWant to win a chance to win a NAPP membership? Of course you do! Join @DawnMHSH for “9 Days of NAPP” at http://twurl.nl/4edvud
I have heard of NAPP because it is advertised in Outdoor Photography but I have never joined. It would be amazing! Thanks for the chance.
Just popping in to say that I’m really trying to win the NAPP membership. I’ve wanted to join for a while now, and just haven’t had the money to do so. I’m just discovering my obsession with Photoshop and really want to do more with it! Thanks for doing the contest!
I went to Photoshop WOrld in Boston back in March and was so bitten by the bug that I went out and bought a D-90! I love it!
Join National Association of Photoshop Professionals Evangelist @DawnMHSH for “9 Days of NAPP” http://bit.ly/bXDvF #photog #NAPP #photoshop
This comment was originally posted on Twitter by @pheraghty
I have just subscribed to the “My Home Sweet Home” RSS feed.
Please enter me in the contest, I’d love a NAPP membershiP!
I have just caught on to the Photoshop bug.
I am glad that I am a member. It would be nice to win an addon subscription, bit I would rather win a book by Scott Kelby.
I don’t understand that you cannot find a feed at my website.
Have been looking into NAPP, knowing I need to do it for a while. It would be a huge bonus to get it as a freebie and two autographed books to go along with!
Tweeted the contest @WillCAboutThat.
You don’t know how I am identifying with you! I have been “playing” with my Pentax DSLR and have read and reread the info on NAPP for a year now. We have a Ben Willmore’s Photography for CS4 full day class here in Seattle THIS Friday! I’ve been on the fence – should I spend the money? Should I use the money for NAPP instead? It’s kind of like the chicken and the egg… LOL LOL I would LOVE to win the NAPP subscription! (I subscribed to your feed and I fanned on Facebook)
I am painfully slow with Photoshop. I have found several useful tutorials, but would love to have access to the wealth of knowledge at NAPP.
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You rock! thanks for the contest running! Glad i met u on twitter! 😉 I’m not a NAPP member yet, so hope i win!