We recently returned from Scottsdale, Arizona, where we were the official event photographers of the National Eczema Expo 2019 Annual Meeting. This is the second year we’ve been asked to cover the conference, which was three full days of keynote sessions, panel presentations, exhibitors, a kids’ camp, pool parties, and more.

The National Eczema Association is the leading resource for 30 million Americans who have eczema, which causes the skin to become red, itchy, and sometimes inflamed. Though eczema is common and often mild, it can become very severe and difficult to manage.

Through the annual EXPO, the NEA brings together a community of medical researchers, patient advocates, medical providers, patients, and their families to educate, encourage, and create a safe space for unhiding eczema.

The EXPO greeted the 400 registered attendees with spritzers, plenty of EXPO swag, a fantastic view of the 27-acre resort against a backdrop of the McDowell Mountains, and educational seminars by some of the industry’s leading doctors.

On the exhibitor floor, attendees could meet with medical teams working on the latest treatment for eczema and check out some of the newer therapies, including acupuncture sessions and massage. Of course, to keep the fun going between the support group sessions and the breakout meetings, they threw in a photo booth for those family and friend group shots.

Multi-day conferences can take their toll on our bodies, so to keep things on the healthier side, the EXPO offered allergen-free snacks, early morning yoga, water aerobic classes, spa treatments, and plenty of time to check out the 10 swimming pools, high-speed waterslide, and 45 waterfalls.

While the adults attended seminars and breakout sessions, the kids got to hang out at EXPO camp, where the little ones had a chance to check out the wildlife, and their older siblings took part in vision boarding, skin care tutorials, and question-and-answer sessions with medical experts.

The last night was the closing bash, where it was time to play dress-up, grab a cocktail, and get on the dance floor to show off some moves. As event photographers, we’re big fans of DJ mixes, disco lights, and dancing and love to get right into the middle of the mix to capture the energy.

This year’s theme was #unhideECZEMA which emphasizes body positivity and helped to create a space where attendees were able to share their experiences living with eczema and how it has affected their lives. This was an empowering, kid-friendly, educational, and fun conference to photograph, and we’re looking forward to photographing the event next year in Orlando!