Our Countdown To WPPI – Brandy’s Choices For Classes

We’ve got all the info on all the speakers, all the parties, and all the essential non-WPPI stuff that you need to see!

We’re breaking it down into what to do at the convention, who to see, where to go – and then we’ve got a whole lot of other stuff to do in Vegas while you are down there!

I will admit that I am not really a class-goer when it comes to WPPI. I love Vegas and I get distracted really easily. I’ve actually only ever seen a handful of speakers and what I’ve seen has been hit and miss, to be honest. I’ve seen some speakers that were really inspiring, and some that didn’t seem to share anything that wasn’t common sense. I’ve also tended to be attracted to seeing the “rockstars” of photography, going for the name instead of the topic of the presentation.

This year is going to be really different. For the first time ever, I went through the classes and made myself a schedule. BUT, guess what I did? I covered up the name and photo of the speaker and ONLY looked at the class description. I chose the classes that sounded like something I could use, or that sounded interesting. I’m really excited to see these speakers because I know that I’m going to get a lot out of what I’m hearing instead of just being impressed by the fame of the photographer. And remember that EVERY photographer speaking is a rockstar in their own right or they wouldn’t be asked to speak at WPPI!

Unfortunately, some of the classes are scheduled at the same time. (and at 8am. OUCH!) So I’m going to discuss with some friends and see if maybe we can hit different classes and compare notes after. If any readers are interested too, please let me know!

SATURDAY

I get into town on Friday night, because I am dying to watch the print competition judging. Whether you’ve entered anything or not, I’ve always heard that this is the place where you will absolutely learn the most, hands down. I’ve always brought my husband down for the weekend before WPPI in the past and had fun with him before the convention started. This year though I really want to see the judging, so no husband for me, but still plenty of fun!

SUNDAY

Print competition again and then I’m hoping to see:

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. / RM# 313-316
Doug Gordon — Posing is Back and It’s this Year’s Black

Come with Doug Gordon as he brings you on a complete journey toward taking your photography and business to the next level, in his straight-forward, straight from the heart, inspirational style.
You will be motivated, educated, challenged and entertained in a program that will completely transform the way you shoot. If you love speakers who are motivational and very funny, come to this class. Come because people learn best when they are laughing; because they need a motivational message; and because they need to have fun while they learn. Learn how to take immediate action and create momentum toward becoming the photographer you want to be. What better environment is there to learn than while on the fly working outside-the-box. See unconventional, unique, edgy, glamorous poses right before your eyes.

There’s a natural magic you need to learn to capture and shoot like two photographers, a main and second shooter.

MONDAY

Ok, so I made a little exception in my rockstar philosophy because I just love Jasmine Star. But I also really want to learn more about Lightroom, so I am torn. There’s another Lightroom class on Tuesday, so I might make it work.

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. / RM# 318
Bruce Dorn — The Moving Portrait: HD Video for Still Photographers
The newest hybrid VDSLR cameras offer an unprecedented opportunity. Portrait photographers can now capture both still photographs and HD video in a single session all while using a familiar camera system. This virgin territory is largely unexplored as many still shooters are in the intimidated by the unfamiliar workflow. Join Canon Explorer of Light Bruce Dorn as he shares tips, tools and techniques for exploring this emerging trend. Bruce is a member of the Directors Guild of America and brings 25 years of Hollywood experience to the table. Creative capture techniques will be heavily emphasized in this platform session.

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / RM# 306-307
Blake Discher — Smart Web SEO Means More Bookings
Do you know what good search engine results mean for your business? How do you direct clients to your site? Is your website getting buyers to stop and take notice? Blake Discher combines his Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expertise with his successful photo business savvy in this head-spinning session. Do not miss this chance to learn how to market your business with both on-page and off-page SEO techniques. Blake talks candidly about what your website needs to make it work for you.

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / RM# 319-320
Jasmine Star — Ghetto Fabulous Marketing
Wait, what?! You don’t have $20,000 set aside to market your business this year? Well, then, this class may be of assistance and encourage exponential growth using basic marketing practices. Come learn ways to maximize exposure and market your brand effectively and purposefully with very little money (can you say ghetto fabulous?!) by leveraging your most valuable asset: YOU.

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / RM# 301-302
Art Suwansang — Lightroom 2: Development Module Creative Fast Track
The Lightroom Development Module is at the core of our image-processing engine. This program will build on the fundamentals stating with the basic-adjustments palettes and scale up to the creative use of the various adjustments. Come learn how to create magic within Lightroom and be inspired by how much and how fast you can transform your images from ordinary to extraordinary. Using learned knowledge of effective presets, change an image into a stunning black-and-white, quickly enhance an image in 10 seconds, perform sky enrichment, use the localize editing as a eye enhancer, soften skin, retouch basic blemishes retouching and many more. This is definitely a session not to be missed.

TUESDAY

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. / RM# 318
Jim Divitale — The Perfect Exposure: Mastering The Composite Image
In this fast-paced two-hour program, Jim will share his creative compositing techniques on merging images to create the perfect exposure. Topics include the start- -to-finish formula in creating the fine art composite montage, bracketing exposures for Merge to HDR, exposing and stitching the perfect panoramic, and creating multi-image extended depth of field.

2:30pm – 6:30pm
Victor Sizemore Mentor Session - http://vcsmentorsession.eventbrite.com/
A fabulously styled mentor shoot with wedding photographer Victor Sizemore in a dry lake bed. I’m not a wedding photographer, nor do I have any plans to be one. But I love learning new things, and I love love love taking photographs of beautiful people in fabulous places. I can’t wait for this. Which now means that I cannot attend:

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. / RM# 313-316
Julieanne Kost — Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Discover the power of Adobe’s latest incarnation of Adobe Lightroom as Julieanne Kost reveals the robust new features of the next generation of image management and editing software. This action-packed session will give you the deluxe tour through new tools, powerful updated features, and product enhancements enabling you to quickly get up to speed to take advantage of the most current technology. From the novice to the seasoned expert, everyone has something to learn from this class!

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. / RM# 310
Dane Sanders — Anatomy of a Creative
If you’re serious about professional photography, it’s critical to understand what characteristics all successful creatives share in their pursuit of making their art translate into remarkable business ventures. It turns out it’s simpler and more imitable than most think. Don’t miss this must-see workshop from Fast Track Photographer author Dane Sanders.

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / RM# 310
Kay Eskridge — And for Dessert. . . A Little Eye Candy
Kay Eskridge is taking advantage of slower economic times and reconnecting with an untapped market—boudoir photography. Creating a separate division of her studio, CelebrateSexy, is providing her a financially rewarding revenue stream and an experience her clients can’t stop talking about. How’d she do it? This program will take you through the process, show you how to market it, how to sell it and how to create a place where sexy is not defined by age, shape or size. If you’re interested in bringing a little ‘sexy’ back into your studio this program is perfect for you.

WEDNESDAY

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. / RM# 301-302
Blair Phillips — Break the Mold: Eclectic Elegance
“Eclectic elegance” has been used to describe Blair Phillips’ style. Unusual settings, found in typical places, set Blair’s images apart while mixing eclectic lighting and poses equals trademarked success. Allow him to share effective lighting techniques for blood-pumping results and learn how he creates atypical portraits in less than perfect situations—while still maintaining consistent, salable images that set you apart and re-define the word “different.” Blair has a young team that strives for fresh ideas—be inspired to break the mold for a more fashionable tomorrow.

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. / RM# 312 + 317
Arthur Rainville & Jennifer Hudson — A Handmade, Heartfelt Life
AFFAIRS OF THE HEART: Join resident “heartist,” Arthur Levi Rainville, for a tender look into a world of heart stories. Arthur will share how he can translate the love into genuine income in these challenging times. Believing that in this high tech world we all still crave high touch, Arthur will lead us on a natural journey of sensitive portrayals perfect for brides and grooms, families and all women of affection. These two new-age artisans will offer insights into a world craving unique offerings in a never-ending challenge to retain our craftsmanship. Come be inspired and re-energized by these two creative visionaries.

A HANDMADE LIFE: Jennifer Hudson, WPPI’s first-ever International Photographer of the Year, will share her magical creative process—her inspirations, secrets to the successes of her emotional fine art portraits, and the Photoshop techniques that enhance them. She will offer glimpses into her whimsical life, liveliness for your creative soul, and innovative ideas she has invented in a quest to offer her clients artistic, personal handmade products; all a charming, informative, and inspiring culmination of the handmade life.

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. / RM# 304-305
Susan Beard, Leah MacDonald, Julia Lehman-McTigue – PARTNERS IN CRIME
Creating great relationships is the key to a successful business. Building upon this business model has allowed us to expand our primary business, Susan Beard Design Photography, in many unusual directions using other companies products and services.

Look at your business… are you creating new and exciting products for your clients each year? Are you expanding your creativity to affect the bottom line? We will show you how to create many companies under one umbrella.

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. / RM# 319-320
Matt Mendelsohn and Greg Gibson — Now It’s Personal: Taking Time Away From Weddings To Pursue Meaningful Projects
Join former USA Today photographer and photo editor Matt Mendelsohn and two-time Pulitzer-prize winner Greg Gibson as they describe the personal work that has given them new perspective on their careers as photojournalists and wedding photographers. For Mendelsohn, it was an offhand remark from a makeup artist at a wedding that led to a yearlong project that has reinvigorated his photographic passion. From Gibson, learn how his exotic travels deep into Brazil have recharged his batteries. You won’t look at wedding photography the same after this platform.

THURSDAY

I’m going to say it. While there is an amazing list of speakers for this, and I love the concept of Ignite – I’m really disappointed that I don’t see many photographers who are not big, huge names in wedding/portrait photography right now. There was an open call for proposals so I will assume that these photogs put in the best ideas (I didn’t submit anything in case you think I’m just being a Bitter Betty) but I was way more excited about this when I thought there was going to be a collection of regular, just-like-me photogs.

9:00am-11:00am
Photographers Ignite - http://photographersignite.com/
What can you learn in just 5 minutes? Photographers Ignite is the closing program of WPPI 2010. Be there Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 9am – 11am and check out the 20 HOT presentations. Come join the fun whether you’re a speaker or just coming to take it all in!
What is Photographers Ignite? I’m glad you asked!
From Wikipedia: Ignite is a style of presentation where participants are given five minutes to speak on a subject accompanied by 20 slides. Each slide is displayed for 15 seconds, and slides are automatically advanced. The first Ignite was held in 2006 in Seattle, Washington, and was sponsored by O’Reilly Media and MAKE magazine.
Photographers Ignite is all about Photography!

So that’s what I’ve scheduled so far, not to mention all the awesome tradeshow speakers that I can see while walking the tradeshow floor. I am SUPER excited for this year’s WPPI and hope to learn a lot – and learn things that will be beneficial to both my business and myself as a photographer. If you decide to check out any of the above classes, please come sit with me, I’d love to meet you!