WPPI 2012: A Photo Recap - Northern Califoria Wedding & Portrait Photographer

A week ago today I came home from my second trip to Las Vegas for WPPI. I think I might be able to say this year's trip was better than the last. This year I knew people who I had met last year and was able to reconnect with them. I knew how the classes worked, what to do with preboarding, and if I wasn't "preboarded" I knew how early to get there so I could still get a seat. Also, I didn't overload myself with classes this time. Some days I had three classes, some days I had one. And that was okay! We got in Saturday night and stayed at the Tropicana until we left Wednesday afternoon. The first night, we were able to see Recycled Percussion, and it was a great show! Would I consider going to WPPI again next year? Absolutely. I've learned a little bit more each and every time, and the ability to connect with like minded photographers from across the states and even around the world is amazing! Here are a few of my photos taken throughout the week at shows, platform classes, just hanging around, and even a few snapshots at the end.

"let's do 52" - wk32

This past week feels like a whirlwind of events starting from last Saturday onward.  Day by day, it went from recital portraits, to second shooting in South Lake Tahoe, to smug mug meet ups, to hanging out at the post office to mail prints to clients.  Wednesday, dad and I took the day and headed out to the WPPI Road Trip in San Jose.  A mini version of the trip we took to Vegas last February, I was hoping to bring something home (in my brain) that I could bring to my business.  I'm pretty excited to say that I brought MORE than one thing home in my brain, as well as physically.  At one of the booths, I signed up for a mailing list and was able to bring this friend home with me.  A fun stuffed animal version of the "what the duck?" comic strip now resides next to my computer to keep me company while I take my new knowledge of how to speed up my editing workflow in lightroom (that means a potentially faster processing time for you clients!)

"let's do 52" - wk8

well, it's the end of the week, which means its finally time for the vegas recap! dad and i left friday about 7am for the great voyage down CA-99 through to I-15. yep, we drove the way. we arrive in vegas just after 5 or so, scoped out where to park, and then headed to our hotel to check in. friday was the opening of WPPI-U, which unfolded in to an amazing 2 day session full of information, suggestions, and images. sunday came with classes about posing, lighting, packaging, senior portraiture & topped off with the end of [b]ecker's presentation about where he has come from, and the[b]school. topped off with some panda express, and a runway show... over all a busy and productive sunday!

with doug gordon, nigel barker & jasmine star

monday's 8am came pretty rough. morning class on documentary photography (pretty much my favorite college photo course i've taken) and then it was trade show time! from 10am when the show started to about 3pm, i lapped those rooms. collecting information and samples for labs, albums, and everything in between! i was really trying to put off buying anything until day 2 of the trade show, but after going back to the kelly moore booth three times, and texting my cousin for style validation... well, i came home with a fabulous new camera bag. made sure i saw the lions for amy's benefit, and then it was time for the ever glamorous jasmine star. really, she's a true inspiration. and committed to be my t-ball wedding photographer, but that's another story ;) j* was followed by the photo newbie group dinner, and boy was the food delicious! although, i chowed down on far too many chips before hand, half of my dinner came back to the hotel with me.
before i knew it tuesday was here, and started off with an EXCELLENT presentation by jerry ghionis. all about evoking true emotions while still posing to get the shot, and about 10 more at the same time. more trade show, followed by wandering the strip down to the m&m's store (and being photographed by [b]ecker... making me wish i had cared what shirt i wore today when getting dressed) and then one last stop to say hello again to the lions (who were sleeping). last class about wedding preparation (honestly, i probably could have done without) and then it was time to head home. we left vegas about 6pm, stopped for food & gas barlow, and then finally made it home just around 3am wednesday morning.
overall, i had a blast! i wish i had put myself out there more to meet other photographers, but i was lucky enough to run in to a few familiar faces over the 5 day span. my brain is full of information, ideas, and inspiration that i cannot wait to put in to action!

WPPI - Tuesday

Alas, it has come to the final day in vegas. I'm pretty sure at this point, my itty bitty notebook is being pushed to it's capacity, and my right arm is about to fall off from writing so much! I might have to work on being a left handed photographer in case of such tragedy. I don't know how i'm going to handle the transition in to going back to school and work. But at least i'll be back to photographing some lovely ballerinas :) So without further delay, here is another trade show filled day's schedule!
8:00 - Jerry Ghionis - Weddings
10:00 - Trade Show
3:30 - John Phoenix & Lisa Catera - Wedding
Phew! Seeing all these days laid out makes me notice how much wedding related information i'll have gotten by this point. But that's okay with me! The more information I gain now, the better I can become for my future brides. :) Thanks everyone for following my crazy schedule this week! I apologize for the lack of photo updates, but believe me, they're coming soon! As well, i hope to have a "post-wppi" entry giving some visual details and excitement of the event.

WPPI - Monday

Its day four here in vegas, with one more left to go! Hard to believe the time has flown by already! and i can't believe on my days away from school, i've made myself have to be somewhere at 8am for 5 days in a row. UGH! oh well, it has been so worth it for this experience! So here is what monday is looking like for me!
8:00 - Natalie Fobes - Documentary
10:00 - Trade Show
4:00 - Jasmine Star - Untold Stories
8:00 - Newbie Professional Photographers Dinner (food and socializing. yay!)
Such a contrast in down time compared to the last few days. it gives me the whole time of the trade show to get lost in the rows and rows of whatever products people are offering. I hope to learn about some exciting new things, and hopefully figure out what i want to do with my camera bag situation. my back pack is awesome, don't get me wrong, but its so not wedding photography compatible!

WPPI - Sunday

Well today is the finishing up of the WPPI-U classes, and the start of my platform and master classes! As well, some potential meeting of other photographers :) So without futher delay, here is what sunday has in store for me!
8:00 - Doug Gordon - Conquer Today's Challenges. Take Control Now
9:30 - Joe McNally - The Language of Light
12:00 - Sal Cincotta - Wedding
2:00 - Jen Hillenga - Seniors/Business & Marketing
3:30 - becker - Wedding
7:00 - Sony Runway Show (hosted by Nigel Barker)
and there you have it!
after today, everything seems to slow down a bit without so many classes right after the other. tomorrow will bring some trade show excitement, and hopefully i won't come home with too many extras ;)

WPPI - Saturday

So i figured since i'm out and away doing mass brain filling at WPPI these next few days, i figured i'd give you a brief run down of who i'm hearing speak, and what goodness they're sharing with me! and i figure it would help me keep everything straight if i physically laid it out in order somewhere. haha
Well, to start things off last night was the "opening ceremony" so to speak of the WPPI-U program. When i was registering for WPPI-U, i was super excited to see this special program for my kind of photographer being (aka, the "newbie" category when it comes to running a business and such) and had to sign up right away. Plus, i'll get a rockin' certificate and t-shirt. i do love t-shirts :)
anyways, back to a brief about last night.
Dane Sanders kicked it off with information about how to get the best experience out of WPPI-U, as well as the rest of our photography career. Following Dane was Jerry Ghionis, who gave us a rundown of marketing strategies and how he began his career which is going on 15 plus years now! Now, on to today's line up of what is just beginning!
WPPI-U Saturday
8:00 - Tim Meyer - Light Styling & Posing
10:00 - Jason Aten - Top 10 Things for Your First Two Years
11:00 - Craig Heidermann - Business 101: Law School for Photographers
12:00 - Lunchtime!
1:00 - Julianne Kost - Lightroom 3: Step by Step Workflow
3:00 - Scott & Adina Hayne - Creating a Successful Business out of Thin Air
4:30 - Cliff Mautner - Weddings 101: Skills for Success
busy busy saturday, but it will be so worth it!
stay tuned for "let's do 52" later on this evening!