Turn after turn. Curve after curve. We ascended the hills in Santa Barbara. Destination—- Freedom House.

A house in the clouds, a bachelor pad in essence, a revelation in truth. The last night at UNITED we were invited to David Jay’s home in the clouds. A multi-level structire that over looks a city of sparkling lights and equally stunning mountains. During the day it looks as if you are floating on a cloud, at night…simply dancing in the stars.

Nearly 200 of the worlds greatest, best, most talented and giving photographers were under one roof. Wine in their hands. Hope in their hearts and knowledge in their minds. I walked in, LITERALLY hushing the voice in my head that said, ‘You don’t belong here…your a nobody. You don’t deserve to be sitting on the couch next to Matt Kennedy…Drinking wine with Kevin Hall, Trevor Dayley and Zack Gray. There is no way you can be breathing the same air as Justin and Mary, Promise Tangeman, or basically any other soul in that room. Your just Kaitlin…a very pink obsessed photographer from Cape May, NJ.”

With a deep breathe, a stumble down the steps, I walked in the Freedom House in the hills, up in the stars, and I found myself caught in the moment. These are the moments I dreamed about. These are the moments I will never soon forget. These are the moments that I will look back on and know changed my life.

UNITED 2013 WAS NOT JUST A PHOTOGRAPHY CONFERENCE PEOPLE, IT WAS PERMISSION TO BE UNIQUE AND FREE. I found myself an equal. I found my place amongst the stars of photography and the stars in the hills. I was caught in the moment…a priceless, amazing string of moments. Thank you UNITED 2013 and SHOWIT Studs, Speakers, Mentors…you changed my life and so many others this past week! Can’t wait for next year!

xoxo,

Kaitlin Noel