We’ve always known I’ve had a big head, so this image on the cover of The Austin Chronicle SXSW 2009 edition, suits me quite nicely, no?

The photographer, Sandy Carson, couldn’t have put me more at ease. What a totally laid back, approachable guy. "I sure hope you can expense this glass of wine," I said as I raised it to him. "It’s a prop and all, right?" We talked photography equipment and passion, then he left to go photograph Bill Cosby. How awesome.

Though back in the day when I was living in New York, photographing red carpet events, covering premieres and all that, it wasn’t nearly as glamorous as it sounds. As a female photographer on the carpet, you have to bring your little fold up step stool so you can see over all the men and their flashes. Though usually, I arrived early to get a spot up front, and the female actresses and heirs would laugh as I told them to ignore the men and save their best pose for me. And that’s just what they did.

But at the end of the night, what I enjoyed most was connecting with just one person at a party, hearing her story and about what motivated her out of her "sweatpants alternative" to come mingle for the night. Then I’d go home to color correct and tag images, walk my dog, then collapse in bed as my dog missed the paper and crapped on my floor.

As a self-promotional aside, if you’re coming to SXSW and are around on Tuesday, March 17, from 5-6 pm, I’ll be on a panel speaking about turning blogs into books. And, I’ll be drinking. Come play!