At the end of June I had the honor of attending the Disney Social Media Moms On-The-Road event in Phoenix, AZ. I literally got on a plane on our way home from family vacation and turned around to go home 48 hours later. Talk about a whirlwind, but talk about fun! Maria Bailey and her teams always puts on such great events.

When I walked into the conference room, I had NO idea what to expect. I was a little overwhelmed at first. I've been to tons of conferences, but nothing like this. I could just give you the day in photos so you can see how much fun it was, but here are some other highlights and things I learned, too. I really loved the session on mobile photography. As a photographer, it's nice to be reminded that I can get that shot with my iPhone and don't need my gear everywhere I go.

What’s new and fun at Disney Parks

It was awesome hearing Michele Himmelberg, Disneyland Public Relations Director, talk about what's new at the parks. She told us about a study indicating that play matters for kids, which we probably already knew, but is great to be reminded! Play matters for development and healthy kids, at any age. Another great reminder for busy moms: It's important to spend quality time with your kids.

This year Disney Parks celebrated the 50th anniversary of It's a Small World. Did you know that TIME Magazine reported that this is the most played song in the music history with an estimated 50 million plays? Incredible!

Once of the new features that my girls are going to ADORE while we are at Disneyland next week: Frozen characters at Fantastyland. They are going to be pumped!

Disney Parks Social Media: Behind The Scenes

Disneyland Social Media Director Erin Glover talked a little about what goes on behind the scenes in social media for Disneyland. They manage the main Twitter handle for Disneyland, as well as all of the speciality handles they use. Breaking news is first posted on DisneyParksBlog.com and then pushed out to Twitter and Facebook. There is a lot of sharing across all of the Disney channels. When guests posts great photos, they sometimes get pushed out to the Disney feeds, as well. So keep posting your amazing #DisneySide adventure photos!

In terms of content development work, about 10% is public Disney Parks Blog Post content. The remaining 90% comes from content planning, gathering, publishing, syndication, and analytics. Work on front end gives you content for months to come. When putting together posts, think: “How can I maximize this work? I how can I make it last for weeks and months?”

The Disney SM team uses Google Docs for team sharing and their editorial calendar. All of that work requires extreme organization and excellent communication. They use an editorial calendar key for organization and communication

Erin told us to, “Write, write, write. Find your voice. Find that thing that makes you special. What stories can you tell that no one else can?” At Disney they want to tell the stories that they can tell that no one else can. “I challenge you to ask that question of yourself. You each have a unique POV and story to tell.”

Disney parks is stories through the cast members; people who love where they work and love what they do. They don't get paid extra to promote the park and create content. They do it because the love it. Disney uses video to take readers to places they can’t go.

The Solution Side of Motherhood

Lori Lorenz is the Senior Director of Direct Print Services at HP. Lori talked to us about being moms and capturing memories and moments. Milestones are important, and so is recording memories. Moms solve a problem in a very creative way; we’re creative problem solvers. We want to capture and communicate memories using creative solutions. Lori talked about how HP printers have a creative side: greeting cards, etc. HP's Two Smiles offers card creation and gift card printed onto a photo. And you can schedule printables to print on their own! What time save that would be if every time your child wanted to color or do an activity, a fresh sheet was on the printer ready and waiting for them?! Another time saver: HP Instant Ink: ink subscription program…ink is shipped to your house based on your printer’s stats. Thanks, Lori! We also got a great packet of printable cards, with the first one printed for us!

Capturing Magical Memories…A Focus on Mobile Photography

Tracey Clark talked to us about mobile photography…what we shoot with an iPhone or other camera phone. Every picture is important, every photo is worth a thousands words. Tracey said, “You can’t shoot what you can’t see. You have to learn to see the world before you can shoot it in your way. You're the only one who sees the world from your perspective.” This is so true, our perspectives are all different, from photography to writing…we are all different people with different perspectives. See the world around you, notice the details

Key Messages from Tracey

Contemplation: Be deliberate…In your every day life, in your photography. Observation, Contemplation, Creativity. Make every step count. Mobile photography means there’s no baggage…literally. Now we’re all equal. We've leveled the playing field.

Creative tools: Your canvas, the light, your subject, your vision. Every picture can be a masterpiece. There is no photography without light. Once you start noticing the light, you won't ever stop. Don’t ever underestimate the power of light and how it can be a creative tool for you

There is magic in the everyday moments. There is magic to be found in the most mundane things. Your vision, your intention, your way of looking at the world is part of your tool kit.

Snap out of snapshot mode

Snapshot mode is not putting any thinking into what you are shooting; not putting any extra into it.

How to get out of snapshot mode:

Challenge yourself to capture the unexpected: curious and mysterious. Find the fresh perspective, move your subject, move your body. Elevate the everyday: take an everyday moment and lift it up a little bit in a new way, in a way that makes you happy. It’s the everyday moments that you forget, not the milestones. Shoot more of the mundane and everyday moments. Make your own magic!

Re-Inventing Your Brand

Nadine Bubeck spoke to us about re-inventing your brand. Nadine's words of advice? Dress the part. Walk like you are going somewhere. Here are her 10 tips for success:

10 tips for success:

What are you trying accomplish, create a list of goals
Manifest and write things done; put it out in the university
Never burn your bridges , you may need people in your past
Don’t say no to publicity whether its big or small
Take pride in yourself, set an example for ourselves
Learn to love public speaking and the camera
Have tough skin; don’t take rejection so personally
Be a shameless self-promoter
Take risks
Be proud

FUN

We're all a little mad here…

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My DIsneySide

Me and my roomie (and new friend!) Camille

Selfie with Grumpy Cat

I posed with Grumpy Cat

I met Grumpy Cat

Wishing on a Star

In addition to making new friends and learning, it's great to know that I know stand a shot at getting chosen to attend the coveted DisneySMMoms Conference next year. Wishing on a star!

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Jana

Jana Seitzer is a full-time mom to 4 amazing kids, wife, writer, photographer, marketer, designer, and social media maven. She loves to travel all over the world—solo and with her family—and tell stories about her travel adventures, adventures that often involve a glass of wine or whisky.