For the fifth time in the last five years we have been honored to have been invited to Summit with the top school and sports photographers in the country. A select group of photographers are invited by invitation only each year. The event that started 17 years ago with a small group of five or six like-minded school photographers has turned into one of the industry's leading communities for independent, volume professional photographers. This year, 33 studios were represented from across the United States. This year we were in Kansas City, where the blizzard had hit just a few days before. It was fun to see the mountains of snow!
Summit days were spent in meetings and small group breakout sessions covering different subjects. Nights were free to explore the city and all of the great choices for food and entertainment. For a group that gets together only once a year, there are close friendships formed. Each time we get together the bonds get stronger and stronger. We hit all of the hot spots from visiting KC Needlepoint, our lab, and seeing the new expansion they are adding, to eating some of the best steaks and BBQ in the country. If you are ever in Kansas City, check out some of these awesome places to eat: Gram and Dun, Country Road Ice House and Pierpont's at Union Station.
On the second night we had a dinner and awards ceremony on the top floor of our hotel. If you are ever in Kansas City we would highly recommend the Hotel Kansas City. As you can see in some of the photos, it is amazing! During the awards ceremony we were blown away to hear our names called. We were just sitting, taking it all in and celebrating the accomplishments of our peers when Bentley Photography was called and on the big screen overhead! Wow! In this group of professional photographers, this was huge. What an honor!
