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....

...@ long last...the Vegas blog

Vegas Baby!!!

haha...ok so maybe the line is a just a lil cliche...but WPPI Convention in Las Vegas was soooooo much fun! (WPPI = Wedding and Portrait Photographers International.) I am blessed enough to consider Mike Colon an incredible friend (more like a big brother), and a mentor. AND to have him consider me an assistant!!! I went under his company name and got to play assistant! I cannot wait til I get to intern for him May-August!

Ok....so the basic schedule for the week was as follows:
Sunday: Left OC --> drove to Vegas...
-got into vegas about 2:30pm...
-grabbed lunch with Mike, Kristin Renee, Ray Santana (uncleray), Roseanna, Sam and Ashley (I dont remember their last name!!! I know they live in FL!!!)
-ran a few errands around the tradeshow floor
- stopped off to make an appearance at the OSP party @ Napoleon's in Paris...

Mike went covertly to both parties...in his HAWAII hat...
-headed over to the "Super Swanky Soiree" @ the Bellagio (hosted by Sara France and a few others) Mike's "girls" got temporary tattoos...hehe. mine was an Asian character that said "love." It was gone the next day.
-went to bed around 2-ish ( I was rooming with Kristin Renee, Amy Nave, and Tiffany Aicklen on the 11th floor of the Paris!)

Our Hallway!

Monday:
-Mike spent some time at his sponser's booths....
Nikon
La-Vie Albums

haha...sign issues


Elvis is Alive!!! @ the WPPI tradeshow at least!

- Monday night he shot at the Champagne Shootout. It was fun! In the Bally's event center, the four corners of the room were packed with people watching each of the four incredible talents battling it out. The onlookers appetite's were satisfied with free ice cream!!! Every topping you could imagine! The four photographers each had a stage with a studio lighting setup and a model. with huge Apple Cinema displays and Mac Pros and all that.

Roseanna, beautifully edge lit! (if I do say so myself)


Mike teaching at the Champagne Shootout...


My new buddy Martin...the Apple guy!

-Later that night we partied it up with at Bludomain the Kingpin Suite at the Palms Hotel. Mike got some bowling tips from Gav over the phone which put him just 3 points below first place! It was an awesome suite above the strip! With a pool table, two bowling lanes, and a bar...it was jammed with people!


The Kingpin Suite @ the Palms!!


Tom Flint, David Burke, and Mike Steelman after a few at the blu party...


David Burke, Tom Flint, Danny Heinlein, Corey McNabb, and Mike Steelman...


The Photographers, Jaysun and Jos bowling.


Tuesday:
- Mike had a talk at the Nikon Booth
- then at Pictage
- again at the La-Vie booth
- he was free from about 3:30-6 (so i managed to get a nap in there!)
- there was a Pictage Party at Napoleon's in Paris, and an Apple Aperture party, AND a WPPI hospitality party (@ Bally's) that I missed cuz I was sleeping!!! Apparently I really needed a nap! O:) oops!
- a HUGE group of us had dinner at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris. Then walked around and caused trouble! : )
-after all the craziness of the day, we headed over to THEhotel to party it up with [b] and his entourage! Dane Sanders had his patented Simple Photo Booth at the party...it was a HUGE hit! Here are some Pics of my good friend Jeff LaPlante and I being silly! :)




Wednesday:
- Lexar Booth talk (3 times over!! poor guy had to repeat himself over and over and over.)

- an Apple talk
- and a Nikon talk one last time.
- that afternoon I hung out with Jeff LaPlante and his wife, Sara, and their two little ones, Cam and Paige. It was the best night of the whole week! We walked from Paris to Aladdin (to get Starbucks) and then down the Mirage to see the Volcano erupt, then to Treasure Island to see the Pirate show (which was closed because of the wind...Cam was disappointed).

The Volcano Explosion...

All week I was fortunate enough to hang out with a great group of friends that I had met at the previous workshops...TJ Cameron (with whom I didn't get to spend NEARLY enough time!), Tom Flint, David Burke, Tiffany Aicklen, Corey McNabb, Mike Steelman.

I even made a few new friends!! Geaorge from Rangefinder Magazine, Kevin Meyers, Danny Heinlein...and SOOOO many more!!

here are a few random shots...

There was a HUGE pic of me at the Nikon booth!!! (I heard rumors of one at the Epson booth too, but never saw that one.) Thanks Mike!!


It's actually a half scale replica....I didn't know that!


The Strip @ night...


The ceiling at the Bellagio (my fav hotel) was strung with these cute little balls of flowers. They were light pink (kinda hard to tell here.)


After being there several times in the last few years, I finally saw the fountains!!! :)


aaannnnddd finally a pic of me...not sure who took it...Tom Flint maybe?