Stacy Pearsall is my ninth profile in a series of photographers you should have in your network.  Her program at Skip’s Summer School is on August 9.  If you can join us, terrific, but regardless, she should be in your personal Who’s Who network.  I can promise you, she’s got lots to share, lots to say and may well have the most unique background of any speaker I’ve ever heard present!

Stacy Pearsall:  After last year’s Maui Photo Festival I received call after call from friends telling me, “You have to get Stacy Pearall for next year’s summer school!”  I got so many calls I was starting to feel like the kid who just doesn’t get out much – I didn’t know who Stacy was. 

If I had never watched the video below, just based on her enthusiasm in our first phone conversation would have been enough to bring her on board.   Her story is amazing, getting her start in the Air Force as a photographer at 17.  Today, retired from the military, she’s a freelance photographer and owner of the Charleston Center for Photography.  She’s been on Oprah twice and is the only woman in history to receive Combat Photographer of the Year…TWICE!

You’ll have to decide for yourself, which of Stacy’s life lessons fits your own situation, but for me it’s about her passion for life and respect for the quest for the ultimate image.   She’s simply dedicated to all the ingredients it takes to be a photojournalist.  She did three tours of Iraq and captured thousands of images – think about the degree of understanding she has in terms of photography.  Then, think about her understanding of composition and anticipation, knowing exactly when to click the shutter.

From combat to the studio, where I found these three images – she really is doing it all.

GI000IOkipTmjGGI000GyBK8CEMFboGI000VZ78_sgb25A

You need to have Stacy in your network.  So follow her on Twitter.  Then put her blog in your favorites!  There’s also a great guest post she did  on Photofocus.com all about the power of personal projects.  And let’s not forget Facebook!

So, we’re just at the half way point of this year’s instructors/speakers for this year’s summer school.  If you’re on the fence and trying to decide, the $239 early bird only runs to the end of the month.  Remember, that includes half price for WPPI next year. If you’re going to WPPI that brings the savings down to at least $150 - (half price off the WPPI 2for1, for example).  Put that together with MGM’s $79 rate, 2for1 dining card at a whole bunch of their restaurants and the $25 dining/entertainment credit and you’ve got the biggest bang for your buck in photographic education. 

And let’s not forget what a kick Summer School has become!  There’s a reason it was the most talked about event of the summer last year.

Next up on Tuesday – good buddy Dane Sanders is in the spotlight and definitely a necessity to your network!  Have a terrific holiday weekend – see you tomorrow with some light thoughts for the weekend!