WPPI 2008
I don't even know where to begin. As you can see it has taken me a few days to post and I still have not recovered. This was my first time attending the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) Convention and let me tell you it is an experience like no other. I am on total sensory overload right now. Nick and I both came back completely inspired and I am excited about some of the things we have in store for the future. I say we because without him I couldn't do this. I learned so much while we were there from some great photographers. Two people that really stood out to me and really inspired me while I was there where David Jay and Kevin Kubota. Kevin was smart, funny and aside from being a Nikon Legend Behind the Lens he has the coolest shirts ever. I have almost all his products and he could come out with a new and improved potato sack and I would buy it. Why? Because everything that has his name on it is well thought out, makes life easier and workflow more efficient so I know that I would be getting the best potato sack on the market. I thought Kevin wins the award for kick ass marketing though. He actually had a live super hero walking the showroom floor. If you know his actions you know what I am talking about. I must have past him about 4 or five times and each time thought "that is GENIUS!" Who isn't going to pay attention to a guy wearing tights and a cape? David Jay was amazing as well. He was just so sincere in his passion for what he is doing and was so well spoken. He was so calm and collected, spoke clearly and slowly like he had been doing this his whole life. When he answered questions after the platform class he looked at you as if you were the only one in the room and let me tell you we were NOT the only ones. There were people backed up like the 405 waiting to talk to him. I am really looking forward to Showit Sites! Its going to give photographers the power to design and create their own websites! No more templates! Nick and I have already been brain storming and have some really cool ideas, but I have so many questions so if anyone knows David Jay personally can you ask him to email me? LOL The overall experience of WPPI is something you cant quite wrap your head around unless you are there. Its overwhelming and exhausting but so worth it. Heres a few things I learned from this experience and my to do list for next year. - Wear sneakers (forget about the pedicure you got the day before and throw on some socks and sneakers) I had a cute pedi but I didn't give a crap at the end of the day. - Sign up for Master Classes, and more workshops. - Do not take my camera unless taking a workshop where I need it or unless I have purchased a point and shoot by then (can you believe we dont have a point and shoot?) I did not take a single picture! I can't imagine what I would have taken a picture of? The Kubota super hero maybe? - Plan a meet up with photog friends BEFORE the convention. I missed out on seeing some friends I was hoping to run into. -Walk away from the roulette table when we are $400 up ughhhhh! Anyways it was a great experience and I was so excited to meet some new people. This is a great industry and I am so happy to have a small part in it.