Jessica Del Vecchio, a portrait and wedding photographer based in Washington, D.C. is going to be leading a workshop at Inspire Photo Retreats. Her early interest in alternative photographic processes led her to learn how to create salt prints. Her workshop at the conference will enable photographers to explore photography using this fascinating approach to printing images.

Here is a small selection of images from Jessica's portfolio, some showing how the final salt prints will look after one has processed them.

Hands-on workshops like these distinguish Inspire Photo Retreats, where everyone is encouraged to roll up their sleeves and play and do something completely out of the ordinary. Jessica's workshop will be on Monday, a time when I have already signed up for another workshop, but I hope to learn more about salt prints from her when we meet in Portland, Maine.

Inspire Photo Retreats is unique gathering of photographers that takes place every year. This year, it will be at The Westin, in Portland, Maine, from February 9th through the 11th. I hope you have registered for this sold-out conference!

David Murray's long history in photojournalism inspires his wedding photography. He is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and has photographed for The New York Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

David is coming to Inspire Photo Retreats in February. The dates of the convention are February 9-11, 2015. I do hope you will take the opportunity to be there and to speak with David directly. He is a true gem of a guy and an inspiration to me and a great many photographers, not so much because of what he does so well, but who he is as a person.

As a part of this series of interviews with Inspire Photo Retreats presenters, I chatted with David at length about his journey and what his expectations have been in the past at Inspire Photo Retreats.

David and I continued to discuss this interview after we recorded it and this is a short exchange with him about our purpose in life as photographers –

ME: at the end of it all .. it is about how we saw the world, how our seeing it has influenced it (even if by a little bit). No grand ambitions but doing all that I can I suppose…

David: That is all we can do: give our take on the world. It then goes to the viewer to decide if and what they like. I write with light. The camera is just the medium that I use to describe life as I view it.

Check out some of David's work. It's not limited to weddings, as he says he just a photographer. Follow him on Instagram here. David also has an Instagram account for his wedding photography.

What is your take on your purpose in life as a photographer? Why do you pursue it? Come and discuss it all at Inspire Photo Retreats. Beyond idle chatter, you'll leave making stronger bonds with people like David, understand your business better and perhaps even become a better communicator. If you are up for all that, register now for Inspire Photo Retreats. There are only a limited number of seats left for this year and the organizers tell me that they will sell out!

Ashley & Rich Pizzuti are Boston-based wedding and lifestyle portrait photographers. They are also speakers at the next Inspire Photo Retreats conference, to be held from February 9-11th, 2015.

Like the other interviews in this series, I spoke with them about their background in this business, their presentation on why photographers should use business plans, and what they are most excited about Inspire Photo Retreats. Check out our conversation below:

Here are a few examples of their awesome photography:

If you are still on the fence, please take a look at all the speakers who will be coming to Portland. I believe speakers like Ashley & Rich and others have one mission: to inspire you to do your best work in the near year. Everybody needs that kind of motivation year-in-and-year-out. If you agree, I expect to see you at Inspire Photo Retreats in 2015! Register today.

Next up in the Inspire Interviews series is New York City based wedding photographer Spencer Lum.