Life Lessons From Food Blogger Camp 2011
January 14, 2011 § 57 Comments
I’ve been reflecting a lot on the Food Blogger Camp I attended at the lovely Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Mexico last week. I’ve been connecting with the new friends I made and remembering the generously candid stories everyone told. And then I realized that the biggest lessons I learned from Food Blogger Camp (aside from the fact that I still really like tequila) weren’t about blogging.
Well, of course, they all apply to blogging. And, I do have pages and pages of notes on the technical and strategic aspects of blogging and food photography. But, to be honest with you, the three biggest things I took away from Food Blogger Camp apply just as well to any other vocation or avocation.
LESSON 1: KNOW, AT YOUR CORE, WHO YOU ARE.
I was intrigued by how many people had come seeking direction for their blogs (myself included). And I was equally struck by those who had figured it out; they exuded a sense of conviction about the path they’d chosen. They know that they’re meeting a need that they, uniquely, can fill. For instance, some know they want to be useful or entertaining to their readers; some know they want to delight viewers with their food images; still others know they want to publish cookbooks and were using their blogs as platforms.
In other words, these folks are operating with a sense of purpose derived from knowing, at their core, who they are and what they stand for.
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.” — Lao Tzu
LESSON 2: DO WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY.
My grandpa always told me to do what I loved and the rest would follow. Sometimes, that sounds easier said than done. But it seemed true at Food Blogger Camp. A number of people had found joy in writing about or photographing food and, as a result, had truly changed their lives. They halted the stress of working in kitchens or in tech to build blogs that became their businesses; they discovered new passions and worked (and are working) their butts off to build those passions into careers; they overcame seemingly insurmountable health problems through better food and are fired up to teach others how to do the same.
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal; instead pursue the things you love doing. Then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” – Maya Angelou
LESSON 3: BE A GOOD CITIZEN.
I was humbled by how openly my fellow bloggers taught, shared and inspired; in short, they modeled what it is to be good citizens and build community. Diane Cu of White On Rice Couple patiently taught me, shot by shot, how to adjust my shutter speed and aperture to capture this image just the way I wanted it…
…and then came up to me at lunch afterward to offer more help. Her partner, Todd Porter, geeked out with me about citrus trees and growing our own food. Carrie Vitt of Deliciously Organic schooled me on how to replace white flour and sugar with more wholesome alternatives without making it feel like a lesson (being on the beach didn’t hurt!). Robin Cherry, Elana Horwich, Diana Johnson and Susan Salzman encouraged me to combine my passions for sustainable food and education, and Nancy Singleton Hachisu — after inspiring me with her life stories — is helping me do just that. Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes somehow read me in an instant, offering this motivation:
“The only limit to what you can do is your own creativity.”
Thank you to Kerrygold Butter for sponsoring, and to the session leaders (Matt Armendariz, Elise Bauer, Diane Cu, Jaden Hair, David Lebovitz, Adam Pearson and Todd Porter) and the other participants for a life-changing experience!
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*Thanks to Carrie Vitt of Deliciously Organic for this photo. I’m glad somebody snapped me with one of my favorite drinks in hand!
Here’s a round-up of other participants’ posts:
- Food Blog Camp 2011: The Whole Enchilada (Acorns and Apples)
- Playa del Carmen, Mexico: Food Blog Camp 2010 (Adventures of an Amateur Foodie)
- Chefs Who Play With Fire and Healing Through Food & Friendship at Food Blog Camp (Awake At The Whisk) — **second post is a beautifully written, poignant dedication to the blogger’s lifelong friend; worth a read
- Oh! Mexico and Mexico Camp Part II: Chicken Chilaquiles Recipe (Bake Cupcakes)
- What I learned…Food Blogger Camp 2011 (A Communal Table)
- Food Blog Camp: Seeing the Light and The Greatest Job in the World (Confections of a Foodie Bride)
- Food Blog Camp: Hello from Mexico! (Daily Nibbles)
- Food Blog Camp Re-Cap (Deliciously Organic)
- Food Blogger Camp 2011 Grand Velas: Top Ten Things I Learned (Dianasaur Dishes)
- Food Blogger Camp Riviera Maya (Family Fresh Cooking)
- 10 Lessons Learned from Food Blog Camp 2011 (Food Woolf) — **this one gives a GREAT overview of blogging-specific lessons
- If You’re Happy and You Know it, Eat Foie Gras and Looking Back at Food Blog Camp, 2011 (FRANtastic Food) — **if you ever went to summer camp, read the first post; hilarious
- Food Blog Camp! ¡Hola! México! Part Uno (Kitchen Conundrum)
- Food Blogger Camp 2011 (Kitchen Corners)
- Food Blog Camp 2011 (Ladles and Jellyspoons)
- Food Blog Camp 2011 (Mommie Cooks!)
- Wordless Wednesday: My Kind of Camping Trip (Pinch My Salt)
- Food Blogger Camp: Molecular Gastronomy Demonstration, Food Blogger Camp Overview and When Ego Goes to Camp (The Recipe Renovator)
- Margaritas & Food Blog Camp (Sally Cameron)
- Hola from Riviera Maya (SaVUry and Sweet)
- Escape From Grand Velas (Undercover Caterer)
- Community Across the Globe: Food Blog Camp 2011 (The Urban Baker)
- Food Blog Camp-Cancun (What’s Gaby Cooking?)
Session leaders’ posts / blogs:
- Food Blogger Camp (David Lebovitz)
- Food Blog Camp 2011 in Mexico, including Pool Time! Video (Matt Bites)
- Adam Pearson, food stylist
- Simply Recipes by Elise Bauer
- Food Blog Camp 2011 (Steamy Kitchen)
- Food Blog Camp 2011 & Dancing Video (White On Rice Couple)
Food Blogger Camp photos:
- Food Blogger Camp Photos (Flickr)
Organizer and P.R. contact:
- Prose & Co. by Kate Moeller
[…] Together in Food Life Lessons from Food Blogger Camp 2011 […]
Great recipe 🙂
Thanks!
Howdy! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative
in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us
useful information to work on. You have done a
outstanding job!
Thanks Leia! Good luck with your endeavor.
Stephanie,
First time around here and I found you through Joel Runyuns site. I’m somewhat of a food and fitness lover so I look forward to checking in and reading through your posts with recipe ideas in the natural organic realm.
As for the post, I’m all about Lesson #2. If only each and every one of us sought out to do what we truly love. What a difference the world could be. A world filled with the masses seeking and following their true passions in life. Ahh, the thought of it makes me smile ear to ear!
Be good and bring the good tastin recipes!! 🙂
Patrick
Patrick,
Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m so glad that you found me via Joel’s site — Joel is quite the inspiration, right? I love your positive spirit and focus on food and being healthy. Looking forward to connecting with you more here and via Twitter.
Stephanie– Just stopped by to read about your expertience at Food Blogger Camp, and also to say that it was great to see you– in person– in DC a few weeks back. Hope all continues to be wonderful for you!
Lee- Thanks for stopping by! Camp was a great experience in so many ways; great new friends and the reason I’m pursuing what I’m pursuing now. Hope to see you again soon!
All of your reviews about this adventure make me so envious! I wish I could have gone, but it’s definitely high on my list next year. I’m so happy to hear you are continuing on your path of sustainable food + education. From what I’ve learned about you, it sounds like a marriage made in heaven. Wishing you great success!
Thanks, Elizabeth! I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement.
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Sounds like a great trip! I wish I could go, love the riviera maya.
Me too!
It looks like everyone had a great time. I should look into attending one in the future.
Karen, I’d definitely recommend going next year if you can make it!
Such a nice post and it was really nice to meet you. I wish we had spoken more. Next year for sure! It’s true that everyone was so generous and fired up to teach us all they knew. Really incredible experience!
Renee, Yes, isn’t it amazing how generous both the session leaders and participants were in sharing everything? I loved that about Food Blogger Camp. Thanks for stopping by!
Stephanie, what a lovely and thoughtful post–I think you really distilled the essence of the deeper lessons to be learned from all the other more prosaic but important blogging lessons. Especially the first lesson. I think that’s an ongoing one, to be sure. The more we can understand that, the more clarity we have in our direction. Wonderful to meet you across the table, wish there had been more time to connect. I look forward to following Together in Food. xxoo S
Sally, Thanks so much for stopping by and for your thoughtful response. I agree that knowing who you are is an ongoing journey that shifts, twists and turns, often in fun ways, throughout life. Looking forward to keeping in touch.
Love the website make over and looks like it was a great experience- thanks for sharing!
Karen, Thanks for the feedback on my site’s new design! I’d highly recommend “camp” if you can make it next year.
Todd and Diane are so helpful. I am so glad you got to know and learn so much. I went last year, and I thought going was really transformational for me and blogging. I learned so much there! You have many beautiful photos!
Stephanie, Thanks for stopping by and for your comments on my photos! Yes, Todd and Diane were extremely helpful…I’ve been shooting pictures nonstop since I returned home.
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Great recap Stephanie and some wonderful snaps! It was so great to meet you and hopefully we’ll meet up again soon at another conference. Maybe food blog camp 2012? 🙂
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What a neat opportunity to take advantage of!
I love your photos and your beautiful clean site. It looks very chic! I tried to take a photo of those salsas, they looked so pretty and graphic, but sadly failed! Thanks to Food Blogger camp I am on my way to becoming a better photographer I hope.
Angela, Thanks for stopping by and for the feedback! I just redid the site design per David, Todd and Diane’s feedback, so I’m glad you like it. Re: the salsas, I recall myself kneeling awkwardly on a ledge to get those shots. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed the camp…great write up! And your blog looks great in its new ‘digs’ : )
David, Thanks for stopping by and for your feedback on my site’s design, which is what led to the new ‘digs’!
Your warm personality really comes through in this post. It was great meeting you and hope that we can run into each other again, maybe when I’m in SF?
Sarah, Thanks for such kind words. I enjoyed your post about “escaping Grand Velas” — and those pictures of your tacos. Definitely let me know when you’re in SF; I’d love to talk more in person.
OOHH! I’m so glad that you went and had a great time. Such beautiful photographs you included in this post, and what great great lessons you share :). Thank you for sharing everything. I cannot wait to hear more about this experience! and cannot wait to see this blog continue to grow and blossom as it has over these past few months!
Mai, It’s thanks to YOU that I even knew about Food Blogger Camp! Thank you so much for suggesting it to me. I’m glad that I decided to go…great learning, great friends and great next steps.
Wow, Stephanie! Thanks for posting this. The lessons you took away from blogger camp do, indeed, inspire and apply to life.
I have missed your blogs, so I was delighted to wake up to this.
BTW, the cherry photo made my mouth water.
Mary
Mary, Love seeing your name here (thanks for coming out of lurker mode :-)). I’m glad that my blog brings joy to you!
Hi Stephanie!!
Wonderful re cap of camp! Gorgeous photo of the cherries – I can’t wait to see where you go with this blog .. I know it will be amazing!
Nancy, Thanks for stopping by and for your encouragement. I can’t wait to see where you take your blog as well.
Stephanie, thanks for this rich and inspiring post. Lovely to meet you!
Stephanie, Thanks for stopping by! I enjoyed meeting you and reading your posts about “camp” as well. Thanks for linking back to my post in your latest. Excited to see in what direction you take your blog.
I love the image you took with Diana. Great lighting and fresh feeling. Bravo!
Amber, Thanks for stopping by and for your feedback! I really enjoyed your post about healing through Food Blogger Camp. Hope to see you again soon.
Hi Stephanie! This is a lovely post. I am so glad the experience was worth it for you. You’ve summed up so well where I am with my thinking about my career and my blog. @junbelen and I were talking about it the other day. Let’s make good on meeting for lunch – perhaps the three of us. Time to cement our virtual relationship in person. How was that tequila you had for me? 🙂 It sure looks good in the photo.
Beth, Thanks for being such a loyal follower. I’m glad that my post resonated with you. Yes, let’s definitely meet in person soon. The tequila was awesome!
Stephanie, great post and amazing photos! I am very impressed. Thank you for including me. I was just asked by a friend if I want to share a bed in a community garden with her. I told her about you and that your blog (and hopefully a few phone consultations) could help us!!
I miss you, xo, elana
Elana, Thank you! I’m so excited that you’re going to start growing some of your own food. Definitely let me know how I can help. Hope to see you soon!
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I think you summed up the camp lessons extremely well. Wonderful post.
Kate, Thank you! And thanks for organizing everything so well and being fun to drink tequila with poolside!
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Steph – I so enjoyed meeting you and I know you are going to be a great source of inspiration for many years to come. Without having a lot in common, we have a lot in common and I am grateful to these 5 days in Cancun for meeting you!xx
Susan, I too am grateful for our time in Cancun and that I met you! Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your kind words. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
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Stephanie, lovely re-cap. It was wonderful meeting you at camp & I hope our paths cross again soon. It is so fun now that we are home to dissect what we learned & implement them into our blogs & lives 🙂 xo
Marla, Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I was inspired by your energy and focus and look forward to keeping in touch.