It Is That Time Again | WPPI

Yes folks, in just a couple short weeks we will meet again in the great city of Las Vegas for the yearly WPPI convention.   If you have been before you know it is a great time full of learning, networking, photographing, and having fun!   We photographers defiantly know how to have fun!  To overview last year, my first year, I will start of with saying I ended up going at last minute.  Nothing like putting myself out there and taking a risk.   I had thought about going but didn’t think I was “advanced” enough to take anything away from the experience.  I thought everything was going to be way beyond where I was at.  I also didn’t really know anyone.   I met a lovely girl named Melissa at a Minneapolis get-together that was also debating and I told her I needed a roommate and would love to go with her.  I convinced her and we hopped on a plane together to go to Vegas (my first time).  Shortly before our trip another girl who I barely knew needed another roommate last minute because her roommate could no longer go.  That is where Laura steps in and we had three great ladies staying together at none other than the Hooters Hotel!  So for all you new people that just want to go, and don’t care where you stay, just that it’s cheap…stay here!  It is right across the street from MGM and way cheaper.  The rooms are very clean and I felt very comfortable in the hotel!!  I was so happy that we stayed there.

I never regretted my choice to go to WPPI.  I learned so much, but I also created some very important connections with other photographers who I would now consider my friends as well as reconnecting with some I had not seen for a while.  I also opened up a few great opportunities for myself just by, again, putting myself out there.  The biggest event and most attended I would say is the trade show.  This baby takes up not one but two convention floors.  If you thought you were done with the one room, out there is still another room to tackle!  You can spend well over two days going through booth after booth of great information.  You might also run into some great photographers a long the way that you have wanted to meet or maybe wanted to learn more from.  Many of the booths have a schedule of events where throughout the day they will have various speakers, who are not always photographers, that will talk about anything under the sun related to this industry.  If you are smart you can get a list of these schedules since often times they will have small sheets available with the schedule on it and then plan out your day around that schedule depending on who you are interested in hearing from.  Remember these are always free to anyone attending the trade show!  You can get a lot of useful tips just from being on the trade show floor.  I would also recommend printing out a map of both trade show rooms and highlighting each booth that you want to get to and writing their name in the box so you know who to look for!  Some booths you can easily skip over because either they don’t apply to your type of photography or it is just something that you are not interested in, but if you don’t have a thought out plan you can very easily get stuck going to these booths and take up a lot of your valuable time.  Also beware that every booth is going to want to scan your badge and then they might drag you into their talk about their product.  If it is really something you are interested in then that might be okay.  You will get a lot of e-mail message from those vendors later.  But you also don’t have time to talk to everyone.  So kindly say thanks, but no thanks if it just isn’t worth your time.  However, you will find a lot of booths that are of interest for you and you will be given a lot of brochures, books, dvds, samples, and other various things to look at so bring a medium sized bag that is slim so you can slip those paper products in the bag and into your suitcase.  Make sure you sort through the ones you can toss so you don’t go over the 50 pound weight limit.  Believe me you will get a lot of stuff!  You can even plan to bring a flat rate USPS box to ship everything back home to you.  Lastly if you are attending the trade show watch for special contests and games that the vendors might play for your chance to win prizes.  Here is one that I am participating in so if you see me say HI!

In my experience last year I cannot tell you if the classes that are offered to full registration are beneficial since I chose not to attend those classes, however, I can tell you that I was kept plenty busy and learned a TON without going to a single class.  There is so much going on during WPPI such as workshops, classes, and networking events that other professionals host that you can learn so much without taking a single class.  I also feel like I learn more in a smaller setting with people that I can really interact with.  There are a lot of people in a single room listening to one photographer all coming out with the same ideas.  I am sure the classes are great and can help a lot of people, but last year I decided to invest in other means of learning.  I am actually planning to attend some of the classes this year since I was able to get a free registration, but I don’t feel like I would be getting anything less from my experience if I decided not to go to them.  It is all up to each person.  So last year I did get involved with a couple planned photoshoots.  There are some that are held right on the strip, some in downtown, some out in the desert, some at night, and some at sunrise!  You will be able to have the opportunity to photograph in conditions that you are not used to and get feedback and encouragement from others around you.  It really helped me get creative and I was so inspired working along side the rest of the groups that I was with.  Here are some photos that I took last year.

The last thing I want to talk about and the most important is the networking opportunity that you will have while attending WPPI.  Last year I went to the Blu Domain Party, the [b] party, and the Pictage party at Studio 54, I participated in two or three various photo shoots, and shared dinner with some great people.  At the trade show I also met some people who I have followed in the photography/blog world.  If you see someone that you know in this industry don’t be afraid to say HI!  I remember seeing some artists that I “blog stalked” and loved their work.  I saw some of them while walking the trade show floor and gathered up the courage to walk up to them and introduce myself.  I know how everyone feels so stupid to say I follow your blog.  Yes I am a “blog stalker”!  But everyone is so real, nice, and won’t run away if you just want to say hi!  In the end we are all on the same level, no one is better than someone else.  You might feel your heart drop into your stomach and get all sweaty and nervous and maybe forget what you are going to say.  You might even make yourself look stupid, but don’t worry just do it!  Get out there and say hi to someone!  You have no idea where it will lead.  At the parties that I went to I had the opportunity to meet so many great people.  At the Blu Party I reconnected with the Love Affair gals and they were more than happy to share a dance with me on the dance floor.  I spent some time with my Minnesota friends and had a blast!  I also got to see other photographers such as Jessica Claire, the Lyons, The Image is Found, Bobbi (bobbi+mike), and Heather Cole.  One of my most beneficial and, I would almost say, greatest opportunity was at the [b] party.  I was nervous about going because none of my friends wanted to go.  I ended up having to take a cab to the hotel alone and walk into this party without knowing ANYONE!!  I think some people could tell I was nervous and didn’t know anyone because someone immediately came up to me and said hi!  As the night went on I ended up meeting a few people from Minneapolis, but the best was meeting a couple people from Oklahoma City!!  I knew that I would be moving down to Oklahoma the following fall and it felt so good that I had some connections down there.  These were people that were totally willing to get to know me, connect me with other photographers in Oklahoma, and genuinely wanted to help me!  I have been able to connect with them now that I am in Oklahoma and will soon be able to get into a group of creative individuals here in OK.  So go say hi to people, go out to dinner with people, go to a party alone and push yourself to meet people that you don’t know!  You will meet some of the most amazing people from around the world and might even meet someone who might change your life!

Blu Domain Party

Bobbi from bobbi+mike

Love Affair Gals minus one

My lovely roommates!

Ra Sushi on one of our last nights!  I will be there again this year!

I hope this post has helped those who are new to going to WPPI or even those who are veterans!  It isn’t for everyone, but it is good for people to realize that there are so many opportunities depending on how much you want to or can invest in your experience.  I think everyone has the opportunity to go home with more than when they came!  If you have questions about it, let me know!  And if you are lucky, maybe you will get to meet this dude: