Capturing the highlights of BlogHer 2007
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By Sonja Thompson
BlogHer 2007 conference
By Sonja Thompson
BlogHer 2007 conference
The first stop after arriving at my hotel in Chicago, IL, was to pick up my BlogHer 2007 name tag.
Thursday night reception for speakers
Thursday night reception for speakers
Here are the friendly faces that I met at the speaker meeting on Thursday evening. (left to right: Diane Rosenberg, Maria DiVito, Kristy Sammis, Kristin Darguzas)
Speakers unite pre-BlogHer 2007
Speakers unite pre-BlogHer 2007
The meeting on Thursday evening gave the BlogHer speakers an opportunity to meet one another and talk about some goals and guidelines of the conference.
Goodie bag table
Goodie bag table
Here’s where I picked up my BlogHer 2007 swag bag. Check out the photo gallery that reveals what’s on the inside of the BlogHer 2007 goodie bag.
BlogHer 2007 program
BlogHer 2007 program
The BlogHer 2007 program lists the conference two-day schedule and highlights the speakers.
BlogHer 2007 name tags
BlogHer 2007 name tags
With 800 registered attendees, that’s a lot of name tags….
BlogHer Welcome Session
BlogHer Welcome Session
Here’s a look at the BlogHer big screen in the Grand Ballroom at the Navy Pier in Chicago.
Men do attend BlogHer
Men do attend BlogHer
Are only women allowed at the BlogHer conference? This picture should answer that question. In fact, I believe these fellas had a lot of photo ops over the course of the BlogHer 2007 conference.
BlogHer co-founders
BlogHer co-founders
BlogHer co-founders Jory Des Jardins, Elisa Camahort, and Lisa Stone (left to right) kick off BlogHer 2007.
Speed "Dating" for BlogHers
Speed "Dating" for BlogHers
Want to learn a quick and dirty way for large audiences to get to know one another? Have them form two circles, one inside the other, and have the outside circle shift one person every minute. The BlogHer attendees were able to shake hands, exchange business cards, and give a 30-second snippet of who they were and why they were there.
Life Stages of Online Communities
Life Stages of Online Communities
The session, Life Stages of Online Communities, was offered on Day One of BlogHer 2007. During this session, speakers Jane Goldman, Betsy Aoki, Eliza Sherman, and Carol Lin discussed the life and death of online commmunities, including best practices, pitfalls, and warning signs along the way.
Speakers: Life Stages of Online Communities
Speakers: Life Stages of Online Communities
Speakers of the session Life Stages of Online Communities: Jane Goldman, EIC for several CNET Networks’ communities; Betsy Aoki, Microsoft community manager for multiple developer and end-user communities; Eliza Sherman, the original Cybergrrl and founder of Webgrrls International; and Carol Lin, former CNN anchor.
Vendor and sponsor booths
Vendor and sponsor booths
There were plenty of vendor and sponsor booths set up at BlogHer 2007. This was a great place to drop your business card for raffles and find other free stuff.
AOL Body video kiosk
AOL Body video kiosk
There were two AOL Body video kiosks set up at the BlogHer 2007 conference.
Inside the AOL Body video kiosk
Inside the AOL Body video kiosk
Here’s an inside peek at someone using the AOL Body video kiosk.
AOL Body video kiosk touch-screen technology
AOL Body video kiosk touch-screen technology
The touch-screen technology behind the AOL Body video kiosk was extremely easy to use.
AOL Body video kiosk provides easy instructions
AOL Body video kiosk provides easy instructions
Are you curious about the AOL Body video kiosk? So was I…. Check out my video experience.
Find Out Why Bloggers Care About Web Standards
Find Out Why Bloggers Care About Web Standards
In the session Find Out Why Bloggers Care About Web Standards, speakers Skye Kilaen (left) and Virginia DeBolt (right) talk about how to use Web standards and other tools to optimize blogs.
Technical Tools to Build Traffic
Technical Tools to Build Traffic
The session Technical Tools to Build Traffic was offered on Day One of BlogHer 2007. During this session, speakers Elise Bauer and Vanessa Fox talk about how to grab and keep an audience engaged, including syndication and SEO tips.
Sound staff
Sound staff
All of the speakers had microphones so that their words of wisdom were audible to the entire audience.
Technical Tools to Build Traffic attendees
Technical Tools to Build Traffic attendees
A rather large audience attended the session Technical Tools to Build Traffic on Day One at BlogHer 2007.
Blogging Workflow Tools and Tricks
Blogging Workflow Tools and Tricks
The session Blogging Workflow Tools and Tricks was the final session I attended on Day One at BlogHer 2007. Speakers Gina Trapani (left) and Barb Dybwad (right) provided great information about tools that help improve blogging efficiency and productivity.
Speakers: Blogging Workflow Tools and Tricks
Speakers: Blogging Workflow Tools and Tricks
Gina Trapani (left) and Barb Dybwad (right) were the speakers of the BlogHer 2007 session Blogging Workflow Tools and Tricks.
Cocktail party, GM
Cocktail party, GM
GM sponsored the cocktail party at the Navy Pier Rooftop Terrace on Day One of BlogHer 2007.
Cocktail party on the Rooftop Terrace
Cocktail party on the Rooftop Terrace
Bloggers mingle at the cocktail party on Day One of BlogHer 2007.
Cocktail party, Day One
Cocktail party, Day One
BlogHer is one of the few conferences that I’ve heard about that offer child care, which encourages mommy bloggers to attend.
Cocktail party mingling
Cocktail party mingling
Liz Henry, one of the speakers at BlogHer 2007, enjoys the cocktail party on the Rooftop Terrace at the Navy Pier. Also in the left top corner of this picture is Wired contributing writer Annalee Newitz.
Cocktail party BlogHers
Cocktail party BlogHers
Nelly Yusupova, CTO of Webgrrls International, Chapter Leader of NYC Webgrrls, and Founder of DigitalWoman.com, mingles at the BlogHer 2007 cocktail party on Day One.
Keynote on Day Two at BlogHer 2007
Keynote on Day Two at BlogHer 2007
BlogHer co-founder Elisa Camahort (left) introduces the keynote speakers on Day Two of BlogHer 2007 (left to right): Esther Dyson, Annalee Newitz, and Rashmi Sinha.
Keynote: What Humans Do with Artificial Intelligence
Keynote: What Humans Do with Artificial Intelligence
During the opening keynote on Day Two of BlogHer 2007, speakers (left to right) Elisa Camahort, Esther Dyson, Annalee Newitz, and Rashmi Sinha discuss the blurring of boundaries between (wo)man and machine. Since technology amplifies the best and worst of our nature, the panel talks about what women bloggers can do to drive technology development.
Keynote speakers on Day Two
Keynote speakers on Day Two
Speakers (left to right) of the morning keynote on Day Two of BlogHer 2007: Elisa Camahort, Esther Dyson, Annalee Newitz, and Rashmi Sinha
Taking Your Blog To The Next Level (A Lab Segment)
Taking Your Blog To The Next Level (A Lab Segment)
Marilyn Porter facilitated the Taking Your Blog To The Next Level session on Day Two of BlogHer 2007, where she provided information about how to customize WordPress blogging templates.
Multimedia Labs: Video
Multimedia Labs: Video
During the Multimedia Labs: Video session on Day Two at BlogHer 2007, speaker Gena Hasket discusses storyboarding.
Multimedia Labs: Lighting
Multimedia Labs: Lighting
Here are some inexpensive lighting possibilities when considering video blogging.
Hands-on lighting
Hands-on lighting
During the Multimedia Labs: Video session on Day Two at BlogHer 2007, speaker Cheryl Colan gave a hands-on demonstration of how to handle lighting.
Professional Blogging: Business Considersations
Professional Blogging: Business Considersations
Speakers (left to right) Kelly Erb, Denise Howell, Liz Gumbinner, and Nina Smith discuss copyright issues, tax implications, blogging policies, ethical concerns, and other business ramifications when making money with your blogging.
Speakers: Blogging Business Considerations
Speakers: Blogging Business Considerations
Speakers (left to right): Kelly Erb, Denise Howell, Liz Gumbinner, and Nina Smith.
Barnes & Noble book store
Barnes & Noble book store
At the Yahoo! Internet cafe, BlogHer attendees were able to relax, have a cup of expresso, and buy some books at the Barnes & Nobles booth.
Yahoo! Internet cafe
Yahoo! Internet cafe
This gentleman who served expressos, lattes, and cappuccinos at the Yahoo! Internet cafe was the friend of many, many people at BlogHer 2007.
Sonja Thompson at BlogHer 2007
Sonja Thompson at BlogHer 2007
Before the closing keynote, they provided a break… with snacks!
Closing Keynote with Elizabeth Edwards
Closing Keynote with Elizabeth Edwards
BlogHer co-founder Lisa Stone talks with Elizabeth Edwards at the closing keynote. BlogHer 2007 attendees welcomed Elizabeth with a standing ovation.
Elizabeth Edwards and Lisa Stone
Elizabeth Edwards and Lisa Stone
BlogHer co-founder Lisa Stone and Elizabeth Edwards discuss several different political topics and how her active writing is accepted by her husband John Edwards’ political campaign.
BlogHer co-founders (left to right): Elisa Camahort, Lisa Stone, and Jory Des Jardins
BlogHer co-founders (left to right): Elisa Camahort, Lisa Stone, and Jory Des Jardins
BlogHer co-founders wrap up BlogHer 2007 and invite attendees to join them at the Thank-You Cocktail Party.
Thank-You Cocktail Party
Thank-You Cocktail Party
Dove is the proud sponsor of the BlogHer 2007 Thank-You Cocktail Party at the Chicago Children’s Museum on the Navy Pier.
"Project Runway's" Chloe Dao
"Project Runway's" Chloe Dao
BlogHer attendees were encouraged to make their own fashion creations with the help of “Project Runway’s” Chloe Dao.
Sonja Thompson (left) and Chloe Dao (right)
Sonja Thompson (left) and Chloe Dao (right)
I didn’t make a fashion statement at BlogHer 2007, but I did get to meet Chloe Dao from “Project Runway.” Does that count?
Sonja Thompson (left) and Elisa Camahort (right)
Sonja Thompson (left) and Elisa Camahort (right)
The BlogHer experience wouldn’t have been complete without a picture with Elisa Camahort. Check out my pre-BlogHer 2007 interview with Elisa.
Elizabeth Edwards at BlogHer 2007
Elizabeth Edwards at BlogHer 2007
Elizabeth Edwards hung out for a bit at the Thank-You Cocktail Party at BlogHer 2007. I didn’t personally get a chance to talk to Elizabeth, but I was in reaching distance to snap this photo.
Jane Goldman (left) and Sonja Thompson (right)
Jane Goldman (left) and Sonja Thompson (right)
I was so happy to get a photo with Jane Goldman, the EIC of CNET Networks Lifestyle. Since Jane and I both work for CNET, it was kind of like running into a friend from your home town, even though we had never met before the BlogHer 2007 conference.
BlogHer 2007 "Unconference"
BlogHer 2007 "Unconference"
Kaliya Hamlin facilitated the BlogHer 2007 “Unconference,” where attendees were encouraged to talk about any topic they wanted to discuss. Attendees determined which topics they participated in.
Topics at BlogHer's "Unconference"
Topics at BlogHer's "Unconference"
Here’s a look at the discussion board, which was all attendee-generated. The two topics that I suggested and participated in were Blogging Technology and Women In IT.
