Unbeknownst to me, one of Brayden’s classmates fathers (clear as mud?) works for a high-end American consumer retail company that sells kitchen wares, furniture and linens, as well as other housewares and home furnishings, along with a variety of specialty foods, soaps and lotions.   For privacy purposes I won’t say their name, but it rhymes with Williams Sonoma.  One of their biggest distribution centers is located here in OKC, and the several hundred employees who work there handle online and phone orders.  Once a year, at the beginning of their peak holiday season, the company holds an all-day event called “Kick Off”.  Employees are bussed up from another distribution center in Texas, the company brass flies in from California, various WS vendors bring in their new products, awards are given to employees, goody bags and prizes are passed out like candy, food samples are given, etc, all designed to get those employees excited to face the upcoming busy season, break all kinds of sales records, pumped about new products, etc.  It was actually quite a festive day, and left me insanely jealous of anyone who owns Calphalon pans or Shun knives.  And also craving chocolate croissants.

Anyway!  It was a long day …. 6 am until almost 6 pm, not counting the half hour of driving time in each direction.  But I had fun, and learned some things about event photography, I think.  In the hopes that WS calls me again next year to be their photographer, I thought perhaps I should jot down a few of my thoughts while they are still fresh, for later review.  Perhaps none of these things are earth shattering, and a few don’t even pertain to photography, but I definitely noticed:

1. Only a real man could pull off dancing in a full-blown Grinch costume and still look cool.

2. Two hundred dollar train sets make amazing raffle prizes.  And if you think that is a lot of money, you will be even more surprised to find out there are people who pay over $2000 for espresso machines.  And don’t bat an eye.

3.  Why yes, inflatable cash blow money machines really are that fun.  (not that I would know this from personal experience, but it sure looked fun.)

4.  People who do not want their pictures taken will certainly let you know, so don’t feel embarrassed to ask them.  Thankfully, most will say yes.

5. Backing up to take cruise-style-type photos of luncheon tables, around the perimeter of the dining room, is not a good idea.  Too many waiters with trays for you to back in to.

6.  Some people, naturally, seem to smile while they are talking.  And it is very easy to get good pictures of them doing a demonstration, because they are smiling and laughing and enjoying themselves, and almost constantly have a pleasant look on their face.  Some people, perhaps those that are more nervous about public speaking ….. do not.

7.  The back of the room is not only the least intrusive place to stand and take photos, it is also the place where they store the food for some presentations.  So during the presentation given by the French chef Jean-Yves Charon, you just might be lucky enough to be sitting next to the bakers rack with hundreds of his croissants on it (no, not the chocolate ones, that would have been pretty much perfect, wouldn’t it?!) and you *might* just be able to sneak a few extra into your camera bag when no one is looking.  Not that you would, of course.

8.  Presentations given by vendors from Australia are a hoot to listen to.

9.  Before the annual awards ceremony, which is pretty much the most important ten minutes of the entire day, make sure you understand exactly how to work your Speedlite External Flash, and the proper camera settings for it.

10.  Remember to PUT THE FLASH IN YOUR BAG BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE YOU MORON.**

**in my defense, I had to leave the house at 5am, and it was so early I’m probably lucky I remembered to put PANTS on, let alone grab the external flash.