WPPI...

Las Vegas.

Just that phrase conjures up so many different reactions in people. "Sin-city." Casinos. Nightclubs. Bars. Parties. Big Hotels. Entertainment. Brainlessness.

However, Vegas, to me, means thousands of colors, unique backdrops, and exciting opportunities for photo-taking, and learning...AKA...WPPI. Wedding Portrait Photographers International. Thousands of our closest wedding and portrait photography friends descend on "The Strip" every year for a convention that lends itself to making contacts, listening to the greats give their tips and tricks in seminars, and seeking out newest, most exciting equipment. Unless you're a photo nerd, you'd probably be rather unexcited. To those of us who make up the afore mentioned "nerd" catergory this convention is our Mecca. Annually, there is a pull that turns us toward Vegas and pushes us in that directions. Place, train or automobile, we get there any way we can, from all over the world. This year, it was especially exciting to see all the friends I've made over the past few years!Thanks to Facebook, I get to keep up with just about everyone, but for geographical reasons, it's impossible to see everyone!

Katee Grace and I headed to the desert from the OC Sunday evening (the 15th), and pulled into our hotel 4 hours later. After unloading our 18 bags (ok, not really 18 maybe like 5), we headed to the MGM to figure out the lay of the WPPI land. Let me tell you...that was absolutely the longest hallway I have ever walked. And we did so like 10 times a day! I definitely got my workout! We went back to the room, and chatted a bit about weddings, and life, and work. Going to bed on the early side was a perfect call. We were both already so tired.

We got up early, headed to the registration counter, picked up our badges, and then worked our way to David Jay's lecture. He and Ron Dawson talked about using video in marketing. Zach made his way over to Vegas to hang out, and roam the trade show floor with us for a day or so. We also had the chance to model for an awesome group of photographers from all over the country!

I was wonderful to make new friends, and see some old ones! :) Here are some images I snagged from some other people's blogs/facebook...etc...of Zach and me.

Photos Courtesy of Josh Newton, Amanda Suanne, Janelle Bosko, Dylan Mayer, Leslie Roark, Cait Elizabeth, Jacob Preedin, and I think I covered everyone's I put on here....

...real quickly...check this!

i dont have time to enter much...just really excited about these new pics! Gav and I modeled again for a Mike Colón workshop. these are the first pics ive had the chance to see...and i LOVE them!!

Taken by Kansas photographer Jeff Wendling of T&J Studios

Here's their blog...BLOG

but...click here to see a SLIDESHOW of the pics. there are some of all 3 couples taken over the course of a couple days. what do you think?

...and thus it begins...

This week, while I was at Mike Colon's 4 day workshop, I constantly heard "blog this" and "blogging is the key to success...." and on and on and on about blogging. I've tried several times to get the blogging ball rolling, but I never seem to be able to keep up the task! I decide I'm going to be excited about it, and blog for a few days straight, then get bored. Go Figure. I'm not usually one to become easily tiredsome of a task, even something as simple as washing the dishes can keep me entertained. When it comes to writing about myself though...it grows old very, very quickly. So, despite my consistent inconsistencies in previous blogging attempts, I hereby announce the new birth of "afterthoughts!" :)

And thus begins my new addiction!

Mike Colon is an amazing person. I truely look up to him in many ways. First...his faith. He is so grounded in God. It amazes me that he can be so successful, and at the same time so family oriented, and Godly. Second....his photography is awesome. He manages to capture the essence of the joyful celebration that defines a wedding day! hehe. Thanks Mike for being an inspiration!

All you guys that I met at the workshop... Mike Steelman, Craig Davis and Andy Peterson, Tom Flint, MIchael Norwood , Melissa Rich, Tiffany Aicklen, Jose Gonzales, Dave and Bridgette Burke, Bob Sender, Priscilla O'Sullivan, Corey McNabb, and Danielle.

These guys all have awesome work, and are now wonderful friends that are not "competition" more of an encouragement really.

Within 3 days I managed to be in the ocean in a wedding dress, sit in a red F430 (Ferrari for any non-car people out there), and jump in a pool, in the rain, in a wedding dress...ALL while the aforementioned photographers were documenting my every move! hahaha. It was quite the week! Here is some of the proof of these adventures!




© Corey McNabb



© Melissa Rich


© Thomas Flint


© Thomas Flint



© Thomas Flint


© Tiffany Aicklen


©Mike Steelman

ooo...i forgot to mention the bird earlier!!! :) His name is Harley...isn't he great?

ok, thats all for now, but I'll write more later today!