by Kory Bumgardner
Are you standing on the edge of a decision about Texas School, weighing the cost against the benefits? I understand that hesitation more than you know. Investing in yourself, your craft, your business, your future can feel daunting. It is easier to stay where you are, to keep doing what you’ve always done. But growth rarely happens in comfort.
Let me share my story in the hope that it helps you write your own.
Many photographers are familiar with the incredible annual conference hosted by Professional Photographers of America. It is energizing, inspiring, and filled with valuable education. You can attend multiple classes, hear from industry leaders, and leave with pages of notes and fresh ideas. It is a spark.
But Texas School is something different.
Texas School is not about sampling a dozen topics in a weekend. It is about committing to one. It is immersive. It is intentional. It is transformative.
I attended Texas School for the first time in 2021. Walking into that experience, I felt like a deer in headlights. I knew only a handful of people from previous PPA events. The instructors seemed larger than life masters of their craft, standing confidently in the hallways, laughing and talking with students as if they had known them for years. I remember thinking, Do I even belong here?
And then something unexpected happened.
They welcomed me.
Not just politely. Not superficially. Genuinely.
The networking at Texas School is not transactional; it is relational. You arrive as an individual, unsure of where you fit. You leave with a tribe. The kindness in the common areas, the spontaneous conversations in the hallways, the laughter echoing through the lobby late at night, those moments become the heartbeat of the week. The people you meet do not fade into business-card memories. They become lifelong friends, accountability partners, encouragers, and collaborators.
The structure of Texas School is what sets it apart. You choose one class and commit to it for the entire week. From day one, your instructor takes you to point wherever you are in your knowledge, your fears, your goals. By the end of the week, you are somewhere entirely new. You are not just inspired; you are equipped.
There is power in depth.
When you stay with an instructor all week, trust develops. The questions get harder. The answers get more honest. You discover gaps in your business you did not know existed. You uncover strengths you did not realize were there. You learn systems, strategies, workflows, mindset shifts often in areas you did not even know you needed to grow.
The instructors are not there to impress you. They are there to elevate you.
They challenge you. They call you forward. They see potential in you that you may not yet see in yourself. And they are deeply invested in helping you build not just a business but your dream business.
And yet, as powerful as the classroom experience is, the real magic often happens outside of it.
It happens during the shared meals where strangers become friends. It happens during late-night conversations at the bar, where vulnerability replaces small talk. It happens while carpooling to an off-site class, squeezed into a backseat with photographers from different states, laughing and swapping stories about difficult clients and breakthrough sessions.
It happens while walking to lunch with someone you just met, comparing notes about what you learned that morning. It happens at the themed parties where even the most reserved attendees find themselves smiling wider than they expected.
Texas School has a perfect balance of structure and spontaneity of focused learning and joyful connection.
And yes, even if you are an introvert, there is space for you. The classroom environment provides hours of concentrated listening and thoughtful discussion. Your hotel room offers quiet moments to recharge. No one forces you to be someone you are not. Instead, you are given the freedom to engage at your own pace, while still feeling part of something larger than yourself.
When I look back at that first week in 2021, I can see clearly that it marked a turning point.
Since then, I have built some of the most meaningful friendships of my career. I have learned from instructors outside my original area of expertise teachers I might never have sought out on my own. Those unexpected lessons expanded my vision and reshaped my goals.
In many ways, my life turned 180 degrees from where I thought my photography business was headed.
Before Texas School, I had direction. After Texas School, I had clarity.
Clarity changes how you price your work. It changes how you speak to clients. It changes how you market yourself. It changes the kind of images you create and the confidence with which you create them. It changes the way you see yourself not just as someone who owns a camera, but as a professional with purpose.
The financial investment can feel significant. Travel, tuition, lodging it adds up. I remember studying the numbers and asking myself whether it was worth it.
Here is what I discovered: the return is not just financial.
Yes, the strategies and systems you learn can increase your revenue. Yes, technical growth can elevate your portfolio. Yes, business education can help you streamline and scale.
But the greater return is internal.
You invest in courage.
You invest in community.
You invest in becoming the version of yourself who no longer hesitates at opportunities.
If cost is a concern, find a roommate. Split expenses. Plan ahead. Make it work creatively. Because what you gain extends far beyond one week.
You gain a photography family.
And that family does not disappear when the weekends. Group chats continue. Critiques are shared. Wins are celebrated. Losses are supported. You find yourself surrounded by people who understand the unique pressures and joys of this industry, people who cheer for your success instead of competing against it.
That kind of environment changes you.
It makes you braver in your creativity.
It makes you smarter in your business decisions.
It makes you more generous with your knowledge.
When I first walked into Texas School, I wondered if I belonged. Now, I cannot imagine my career without it. The ripple effect of that single decision continues to shape my business, my friendships, and my confidence.
If you are on the fence, ask yourself a different question. Instead of asking, “Can I afford to go?” consider asking, “Can I afford to stay the same?”
Growth requires proximity to excellence. It requires immersion. It requires stepping into rooms that stretch you.
Texas School is one of those rooms.
You may arrive unsure. You may arrive intimidated. You may arrive alone.
But you will not leave that way.
You will leave equipped with knowledge, strengthened by relationships, and inspired by possibility. You will leave with tools for your business and memories that warm you long after the week is over. You will leave knowing that you are part of something bigger than yourself, a community committed to raising the standard of professionalism and artistry in photography.
And perhaps most importantly, you will leave believing in your dream again.
That is the Texas School effect.
Kory Bumgardner