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....

...

As off and on as I have been with blogging lately, I have really good intentions! Promise! In the next few posts, I'm going to highlight life in the last couple weeks. It's definitely been a whirlwind!

First up, Valentine's Day!

February 14th and I have never really been great friends. I'm not really a fan of the Hallmark Holiday, simply because I never had a REAL valentine, or someone who would actually do something on Valentine's! That is, until last year! Last Valentines Day, Zach planned a perfect day, and I really didn't think it could get much better. This year, however, I had not just a Zach, but a FIANCÉ Zach...so, of course it was better! We headed out in the early afternoon, and he surprised me with a trip up to Pasadena. We walked around, had dinner at a wonderful Italian place, perused in and out of shops, and went to see a late movie. It was a perfect day of relaxing, romance, and just being us! Thank You Zach!!

(there is a photo, but it's definitely still on my p/s...oops!)

Scattergories! :)

Rules: It's harder than it looks! Copy to your own note, erase my answers, enter yours, and randomly tag 10 people (including me) And publish it. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real...nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.
Have Fun!!

1. What is your name: Brittany

2. A four Letter Word: Blog

3. A boy's Name: Benjamin

4. A girl's Name: Bella

5. An occupation: Bug-ologist (ok, so thats an entomologist... O:) )

6. A color: Brilliant Blues

7. Something you wear: Burgundy Ballet Flats

8. A food: Broiled salmon with Buerre Blanc sauce

9. Something found in the bathroom: Bubble Bath

10. A place: Belize

11. A reason for being late: Bicyclist was Bombarded By Bees...

12. Something you shout: Boo-ya!

13. A movie title: Babar

14. Something you drink: Bellini

15. A musical group: Backstreet Boys

16. An animal: Bigmouth Buffalo Fish

17. A street name: Brittany (for real!!! its in placentia!

18. A type of car: Blue Bugatti Veyron

19. Something scary: Boogie-Man

20. Ice cream flavor: Blackberry Cabernet...yum

Las Vegas!!

Hi all!!! I'm Las Vegas for the WPPI convention and tradeshow! If you're here...give me a shout! If not, I wish you were! :) I'm so looking forward to an awesome week of hanging out with wonderful friends, and making new ones!

Off to bed for a good night's sleep before the craziness begins! Sweet dreams!

Mom and me...a day of adventure

Saturday, I had the privilege of spending all day with my mom! We headed up to Santa Barbara for a day of bonding. The drive up was wonderful! The mountains we could see from the 57 were stunningly covered in snow, surrounded by a halo of clouds, and bathed in yummy golden sunlight! We hit rain in LA, but by the time we made it to SB, the sun was shining, and the air was clear and cool.


La-La land in the rain!
I think this is part of an art museum....anyone know for sure?
"OLLYWOO!!!!" (anyone remember what show that is from?)
We grabbed Panino, and stopped at Katee Grace Clay's new apartment in Santa Barbara. She is in an old Victorian Style house about 2 minutes from downtown with a few other girls from Reality Carp. The architectural details are awesome! Here are just a few I snapped while eating my sandwich, picnic style on her floor.



One of those gorgeous flowering pear trees.
After lunch, we headed up to David Jay's Freedom house to get in on a few minutes of his Freedom & Slumber workshop. These workshops are an awesome way to connect with other photographers from around the world, as well to learn from one of the best photographers, and businessmen in the industry! When we walked in, DJ was in the middle of a lecture, but stopped it anyway, and introduced me to the group. I ended up having the opportunity to model for them, and we spent the rest of the day hanging out, and learning about each other! Thanks guys for an awesome day!

This is the breathtaking view that my dear friend gets to wake up to daily...pretty insane!
DJ's house was one of the houses on his street that DIDN'T burn in the Tea Fire a few months ago. Thank God! This is the front entrance of what was one of his neighbors homes...(the house in the background was a different property)
Luckily, I brought my camera, and had the chance to shoot a few myself!
Amarillo's own Justin Wesbrooks...
Miss Kristin Renée...
hehe....Mom wasn't too thrilled that people were taking her picture. But she's so pretty! And I kinda "neglected" to warn her that anyone in sight is fair game for photogs.... O:) It was really fun to have her there! She hasn't ever been at a workshop with me, or really seen me model, so it was great!
Miss Ashley Stephen...A new SB local (as of 3 weeks) by way of Georgia!
The infamous DJ... :)
Kristin again


Ahmet Z. Ayyildiz...
Ashley...
The reflection of the blue sky and thunderclouds made awesome colors and reflections on ocean...




The guys shooting us girls...too cute! Troy Grover, Ahmet, DJ, Justin, and Mark Dong
Some lady painting the gorgeous scene in front of her

Josh Newton...ALWAYS on his phone...lol

The wall behind the VW dealership....such sweet textures!