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John DeMato Blog

Welcome to the Deliver Magic blog, where experts who speak, coach, train, consult, and write books will find actionable insights to elevate their personal brands through visual storytelling. From strategy tips and branding photography to live event coverage and storytelling techniques, discover step-by-step guides designed to help you align what you say with how you show up in photos. Get ready to unlock the magic behind creating a cohesive visual identity that drives engagement, builds credibility, and inspires your audience. #DeliverMagic

Works with friends...

 

It’s always better when you get to work with your friends.

Recently, while attending NSA Influence in Denver, I had the chance to capture an off-site keynote in Vail with my friend, Jess Pettitt.

Now, normally, the thought of leaving one event to shoot another—especially with a 2-hour commute each way—is not exactly high on my to-do list. It’s a pain in the ass, quite frankly.

But for Jess? I didn’t hesitate to say yes.

She’s not just a client; she’s someone I genuinely enjoy spending time with.

So, instead of seeing it as work, I saw it as an opportunity to combine a little road trip adventure with the bonus of creating some amazing keynote photos for her image portfolio.

As we drove, we had time to catch up, talk about life, and share meaningful conversations - you know, friend shit. :)

And I got to see the absolute beauty of the Rocky Mountains up close, which only made the trip that much more special.

But make no mistake, once it was time to capture those keynote moments, the photographer hat was secured tightly on my head and we were ready to go.

She had a 45-minute slot, shorter than the usual keynote slot, so I had to work twice as fast to get as much variety of her presenting as possible.

I made sure to hit all the angles, focusing on those dynamic, impactful shots that capture the energy, passion and personality of the way she communicates her unique and important message.

In the end, the results were magic!

Moments like these remind me why I’m so grateful to be part of such an amazing community, where work feels less like work and more like creating something meaningful with friends.

Who’s better than me, right?