Ned Jackson, a Boston-based wedding photographer repeatedly participates in the annual Inspire Photo Retreats event. This year, the photography conference will be held in Portland, Maine, from February 9th through the 11th.

I spoke with Ned about his repeat presence at the conference and also about his presentation this year. Learn again, from someone who keeps coming back, why Inspire Photo Retreats is a great regional conference. Here are the other Inspire Photo Retreats speakers.

I am thrilled to announce a new partnership between Tiffinbox and Inspire Photo Retreats.

After attending the annual gathering for the last three or four years, I was impressed by how and why the organizers emphasize fostering a community of photographers. Indeed, the very idea of working together came about because it was clear to me that Inspire's vision matched that of Tiffinbox; to inspire photographers by elevating their craft and business skills through education, practice and honest feedback.

What is Inspire?

Inspire is a retreat-style conference for professional wedding and portrait photographers. The conference is comprised of sessions on a variety of subjects, from business practices to shooting techniques, to artistry and personal vision. Inspire retreats are structured to enhance opportunities to foster deep relationships with other attendees, build community, and create a culture of ongoing peer-to-peer mentoring and support in our industry.

Inspire's Mission:

The Mission of Inspire is to invigorate photographers of any level with vision, ideas, and a community of support through intensive workshops focusing on vision, craft, and business.

The next Inspire Photo Retreats takes place in Portland, Maine, from February 9th through February 11th, 2015. Some of the speakers have already been announced. If you would like to submit a proposal to speak at Inspire, do so before the deadline on May 9th.

Curious to know what the Inspire Photo Retreats feel like? Check out these videos from 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

And, lastly, here is a slideshow of images by Kate McElwee, an awesome Boston wedding photographer.

What Can You Expect?

At past Inspire gatherings, I have really enjoyed speaking with the organizers and speakers who put their heart and soul into this intimate gathering. It struck me that we should record our conversations and make them available to you. So, while we are working on a slew of neat surprises between now and February 2015, I hope to part the curtain a bit through a series of co-branded interviews.

These short clips will give you a chance to better understand how you too can be a part of this inclusive annual gathering. I hope you will join me and Inspire Photo Retreats on this journey to improve your/our photography craft and photography business in a radically new way. For good measure, bookmark and visit the Inspire Photo Retreats blog as well so you don't miss anything.

Also, if you are an Inspire alum or considering attending in 2015, please sign up for my weekly newsletter in the blue box above! I have begun canvassing deep discounts on high-quality photography products and or services, just for photographers like you. Right now, the second you opt-in, you'll see a special 25% off code for Zack Arias' OneLight 2.0 lighting workshop. Look out for other such offers in your inbox!

It's perhaps one of the few times in the year when I think living in Connecticut is cool. No, really, when the Mystic Seminars are announced by Walter van Dusen, its founder, I get quite giddy. As I have mentioned in the past here and here, there are a ton of reasons you should go to this photography conference.

This year, like the last few years at Mystic Seminars, the speakers set to present are from around the world. This probably makes Mystic Seminars the only regional conference that is international in scope.

So, you are probably wondering why it's important to hear from photographers outside of the US. The simple answer is to glean a different perspective. Right around this time of the year when business grinds to a halt for some, it's easy to get stuck in the way you did things back in 2013. I've been there and done that too.

What's great about the timing of the Mystic Seminars is it's the first thing you get to do when things are slow that jolt you back into action. And, hearing from photographers who live far away from you can be just the thing your creative brain is looking for in January.

So, I highly recommend Mystic Seminars.

The early-bird discount is already in effect now though December 23rd, and you get the 3-day conference for $469. I just spoke with Walter and he is offering a special discount code (TIFFINBOX) where you can get an additional $25 off. Apparently no other discount codes exist, so thank you Walter! I hope to see some of you there.

If you do decide to go and you use the code above, would you please come back here and let me know? I don't get paid to promote the conference. I just think it is incredible value for photographers.

The first 10 of you to send me your receipt (showing me your mailing address and that you have paid for the conference) will receive Gary Vaynerchuk's new book, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How To Tell Your Story In A Noisy, Social World. Receipts may be emailed to me here – seshu AT tiffinbox dot org. There will be other goodies mailed to you as well, but you'll have to wait and see what those are.