WPPI 2008 Recap!

It's been a week now since the crazy awesomeness that was the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) 2008 convention. I'm trying to let everything soak in. It really is information overload while you're there. But the experience and knowledge you get is so worth it! I left Las Vegas bursting with ideas and drive!

This year, I took tons of pictures so I could remember everything! I don't know about you, but my photographs have started to replace my memories - or at least they're strengthening them and staving off my age-prone amnesia. I'm so glad I did this because I met a lot of great people that I want to remember and keep in touch with! Also, I want to bottle up everything that lit a fire in my soul and challenged me to create beauty in the humdrum of our every day lives. When I feel a rainy day coming on, I'll just open up the lid (or photo folder) and let the ideas run loose! I tell ya, being there was like breathing pure oxygen. I didn't want to leave, but Jeremy said I had to. So did the security guard. ;( Why can't I stand in line for next year's convention now? lol

Our trip began with a few firsts for me - sharing a plan ride with a dog! I didn't know you could bring them along with you, but there he was! Cute, cuddly, adorable, and extremely well behaved! (The other first was an impromptu portrait session at 33,000 ft.) ^_^

This year, attendance was up around 11,000 photographers! As you can see, it made for some fun times in the mosh pit ...er, I mean, the trade show line.



Our first night there, they began with a program called, "Young Guns". The name implies 12 young pro photographers who are leading their fields with unique and awesome styles in their photography.

Here's Jose Villa. He and the other "Young Guns" decided to add some spectacle to the night by sporting cowboy boots and hats while re-enacting the "toy pop" gun fight at the WPPI corral! :)



Here are the Young Guns (from left to right): Ryan Schembri, John Solano, Mike Larson, Gene Higa, Lori Nordstrom, Jesh De Rox, David Jay, Catherine Hall, JB & DeEtte Sallee, and Jim Garner. (Check out that sweet smoke effect!)



Young Guns group pics! Yay! That right one leads me into one of the most amazing people I've ever heard speak or even met! See him in the middle? That's Mr. Jesh De Rox (pronounced "rocks").



I had the amazing privilege of meeting Jesh several times throughout the WPPI. He's an incredible person to be around - genuine, giving, super-talented and truly one of a kind!



His talk the following night focused on being yourself! We've all heard it. But has it really hit us? We all have something to give to the world and if we aren't ourselves, the world misses out on what we could contribute to it. By us all giving and sharing, we lift everyone up. That's what his newest project is about - Upward Spiral. He wants to find amazing people and give them an "innerview" (yes, inner not inter). We got the chance to watch a sneak peak of his first one with singer, Amy Seeley. It was very personal and touching. I can't wait to see more and I'd encourage you to check it out once the project goes live! (Oh yeah, we also talked about photography too. ^_^ But as artists, photography is just our medium. What we want to say with our photography is really what's important.)

Miss Amy Seeley. I've loved her songs since I first heard them play on Jesh's site. We're treated to surprise live performance during Jesh's presentation. WOW! It was so surreal and beautiful! If you have never heard her, please check out these links! She really is a gifted artist!
Amy's Website
Amy's MySpace Page

One word: Yummy! Can you believe this is what Vegas calls a 'candy apple'?



While we're on the topic of food: Le Burger Brasserie has the best chicken burgers this side of the strip!



Remember how I was raving about the trade show and the awesome albums they have? Well, I wasn't disappointed. This is Cypress's cute mini album! I know I showed a pic of it previously. But this was the first time I got to flip through one myself. When you pick it up, you just wanna say, awwwwwwe! Cypress's handmade albums and luscious fabrics are to die for! I'm so glad I'll be offering these albums this year!



This was our view from our room! Check it out! We were so high up, we could see all the way to Paris! hehe... (the Paris hotel anyway)



Sexy. Chic. Right outside the burger pub!



Besides taking away all of the good memories, tips and tricks from this year's show, we also brought home a new lens! Jeremy was kind enough to be my test model =D Seriously, this is one rockin' lens!



Thanks for looking through my pics! I hope you enjoyed them! I'd also like to wish you a Happy April Fool's Day. I tried to think of something fun I could post about today, but I'll I could come up with was making this blog EXTRA HUGE! Bwhahahahaha! April Fool's! ...no, seriously. Thanks for stopping in! Have a wonderful Tuesday everybody!

~Cheers!
Heather