Category Archives: For Photographers

This post is geared toward my fellow photographers – so if you are a client of mine and get bored, just scroll to the bottom to see the pictures or check out one of my galleries!

Last week I was lucky enough to attend my first-ever WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) tradeshow and convention in Las Vegas. Thousands of photographers from around the world gather once a year at the MGM Grand to hear leading professional photographers share their insights, swap ideas with one another, and just soak up as much information as possible. WPPI also presents an enormous tradeshow with vendors ranging from website hosting, to albums, to lenses, cameras, backdrops, you name it. I also signed up for a master class and learned how to “rock my workflow” from the lovely Khara Plicanic. By the end of the week I was completely overwhelmed, and my head was spinning! But I believe it will prove to be a pivotal moment in my photography career. I am so inspired by what I learned and was really able to define my vision for the direction I want my business to go. I’ll have lots more to share about WPPI, but first I wanted to give my version of the WPPI Survival Guide for any photogs out there who think they might make it to Vegas next year (which you totally should!):

WHERE TO STAY:  I booked my room at the West Wing in the MGM Grand. The rooms were beautiful, comfy, smoke-free, very quiet, and I would highly recommend staying there. The downside is that it is a HAUL from the West Wing down to the convention center where all the WPPI action is, and you have to walk through the length of the casino to get there (but don’t worry, you’ll pass three Starbucks on the way). The Signature at MGM Grand is closer – adjacent to the convention center – but the rooms there are more luxurious and thus more expensive.

WHAT TO WEAR:  Comfy shoes! I had read enough posts by other photographers before I went to know that comfortable shoes were a must. And I was so thankful I heeded their warnings! A few weeks ago I bought a pair of adorable Puma flats that literally saved my feet. I think I wore them the entire time I was in Vegas! With all the trips back and forth from my room to the convention center, plus all the perusing on the tradeshow floor, I would not have survived in a pair of heels. Save your stilettos for going out on the town. I would also add that comfortable clothes are a necessity too – no one is really dressed to the nines all the time. Even at the bigger events in the evening, you’ll see people wearing anything from jeans and tees to little black dresses.  Just wear what you’ll be comfortable in.

WHAT TO EAT:  This one is tricky. For one, if you’re like me and want to see as many platform classes as possible, finding time to eat is difficult. There is a food court near the convention center with sandwich-type fare, and there are plenty of sit-down restaurants in the hotel and casino. It’s all overpriced, but everything I ate was very tasty (try the tomato basil pizza at Wolfgang Puck’s). My two tips for convenient eating are: 1) Take snacks (trail mix, protein bars, etc.) so you can eat something in between speakers or while walking through the tradeshow; & 2) Order room service – it’s not any more expensive than the restaurants, the portions are huge, and they bring it to your room while you relax. The most overpriced food/drink item is bottled water, so I highly recommend carrying your own and filling it up when you can. Also, WPPI provided hors d’oeuvres at all three evening events, so you may want to hold off on a big meal until after you snag some freebies.

WHAT TO PACK:  There were a few things that I was glad I brought along. Ear plugs came in handy that first night, because I wasn’t used to the different sounds and I wanted to make sure I was well-rested for the first day of the convention. Lotion and eyedrops: between the smoky casino and the desert climate in Vegas, my eyes and skin got really dried out. Take a tote bag (a lot of tradeshow vendors give out free ones) to carry everything you’ll need for the day and avoid making the journey back to your room. And of course, plenty of notebooks, pens and business cards. I packed my laptop but there’s no wireless internet provided, so it was useless unless I was in my room. I also brought just my camera body, a 50mm, and some CF cards, but I only broke them out when I went out to explore the Vegas strip. You’ll see photogs with their cameras permanently attached to their bodies and shooting everything they see, but it kinda gets old after a while – I mean, we get it, we’re all photographers with sweet cameras.

WHAT TO SEE:  Since this was my first WPPI experience, I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I crammed in as many platform classes as I could. It was tiring, but well worth it. I also highly recommend signing up for master classes. There are a lot less people in a class, the topics are more specific, and you get the chance to really pick the photographer’s brain. I only took one this year, but plan on taking more next year. I spent my extra time walking the tradeshow aisles, which I was completely unprepared for. It was great to be able to touch and feel products like albums and equipment, but a shopping list would have been helpful. There are so many vendors present, and they all run sales and specials, so it’s hard to know where to start. Next year I’ll definitely plan out what items and equipment I’m looking for so that I don’t feel quite so overwhelmed (although I did manage to snag a gorgeous Kelly Moore bag that I can’t wait to use!). As for Vegas itself, I really didn’t leave myself enough time to experience anything Vegas-ish. I needed a couple days, either before or after WPPI, to get my party on. Maybe I’m getting old, but after getting up every day at 6am and getting back to my room at 11pm (2am at home), I was pooped. I did manage to explore the strip on the last night with some other photographers and get a few shots of Sin City. And I’ll leave you with a few: