{WPPI- The Schedule | Seattle Wedding Photographer}

WHOA!  What?  What is that you say?  THREE blog posts right in a row?  I told you I was back with a vengence!  I thought I’d talk a little about WPPI.  Remember a few days ago when I said that 3 years ago I was living vicariously through other photographers I looked up to and followed, on their trips to WPPI?  Ever since I saw a video that Chris [b]ecker did, interviewing people at WPPI a few years ago, I’ve dreamed of going.  For those of you who don’t know WPPI stands for Wedding & Portrait Photographers International.  It’s THE biggest trade show and convention of photographers in the world.  Every year for a week in Las Vegas, photographers flood the city.  There’s classes on just about ANYTHING and everything you could think of, parties with lots of giveaways, impromptu photo sessions set up and just amazing networking and connecting with other photographers goes on.

This will be my first year going and I don’t think I can GET anymore excited!  A friend and I were chatting last night and we were both saying that we were like young school girls again, all giddy with excitement!  There’s TONS of things that I can’t stop thinking about- my first trip to Las Vegas, my very first trip away with my husband in the almost 12 years that we’ve been married (EVER!), all the products I get to actually touch and see at the trade show, all of the photographers that I adore in practically the same place for me to socialize with….I could go on and on and on.  But one of the MOST exciting things for me about this trip is to be able to actually meet face to face with so many photographers that I’ve befriended or who have befriended me online!  What an amazing opportunity to connect with friends that I’ve been conversing with for almost 3 years on different forums, etc…..some from half way around the world!  SO exciting for me!

I thought I’d post my schedule for WPPI, so hopefully I’ll get to connect with anyone else who is going to be out there and at the same events.  There is literally SO much stuff going on that it was hard to pick and choose what I wanted to do, but since my awesome husband will be with me (this is my birthday present from January!!!) there’s stuff that we’re doing together that doesn’t have anything to do with the convention!  If you follow my blog and you’re going to be at WPPI, leave me a comment on where you’d like to meet up!  I’d LOVE to meet you!

My WPPI Schedule

Sunday March 7:

• Arrive in Las Vegas around 10pm, hang out and get settled

Monday March 8:

• Trade show in the a.m. whenever we get up
• 1pm-4pm SHOOTSAC booth! Come say hi and check out the new covers and the new hip slip!
• 6:30-8:30 Jasmine Stars Platform Class
• 8:30-9:30 WPPI Pool Party
• 10:00 Super Secret [b]school night shoot! Can’t wait!

Tuesday March 9:  This is going to be ONE busy day!

• Probably more trade show in the morning
• 2:30-6:30 Victor Sizemores desert shoot (Seriously SO excited for this and all the people I “know” going!!!
• 10pm I’ll be stopping by the PIF (Pay It Forward) Party to say hi to my friend Emma who is running the party!!!
• 11pm-1am THE [b]school PARTY!!!! I’ve been looking forward to this ALL year and THE main event I wanted to attend- yes yes I’m geeky like that!

Wednesday March 10:

• Today is a free day with Nate, we plan on going shopping, going to the SPA for a couples massage and just hanging out and having fun. Maybe we’ll see you around?
• 6pm we’ll be going to the Tournament of Kings show at the Excalibur, it’s supposed to be pretty cool!
• 10:30pm Show with Nate at the Stratosphere (DATE NIGHT!)

Thursday March 11:

• 9am-11am Photographers Ignite! This is it friends, we’ll see if all my memorizing pays off and spend 2 hours hearing from other fabulous photographers via 5 minute presentations!  I can’t wait!!!
• After the presentation we’ll be heading back home to Seattle!

So there you have it…..that’s my schedule.  OH!  Some of the booths DEFINITELY on my list to check out at the trade show are:

Shootsac, Tave, Vision Art Book, Dream Albums, WHCC, Miller’s, Mpix Pro, GNP Frame, Kimbra Studios, Totally Rad Actions, ProDPI, Hill & Usher, Triple Scoop Music, Canon, Zenfolio, Moo, Album Exposure, ProSelect, Go BEE Bags, ProPhoto, Photobiz, The Photographers Toolkit, Drop It Modern, Not So Perfect Tins, Simply Canvas, Rice Studio Supply, The Knot, Borrowlenses.com and I’m sure many many others.  These are the vendors though I want to talk to  and get to know products better because most of them above I use in some form or another.

Well that’s about it.  I hope to meet and connect with as many people as I can!!! If anything changes, I’ll update it here.  I’m looking at a few other shoots, but have to see.  Happy Friday!!!  Oh, and one last image from the Portland shoot….