LONG OVERDUE WPPI 2011 RECAP

This is really sad. WPPI was over a month ago and I am *just now* getting around to posting about it. Does that give you the smallest clue how crazy my life is? I suppose I could have written the post during the 5 hour ride to LA immediately after WPPI, but I was toast by that time, so you get it now instead.

This was my first year at WPPI and it was an awesome, albeit a bit overwhelming experience and I did learn a few lessons.

*Get a room on the strip. Yes, I know I live in Vegas, but that 25 minute drive down to the strip each morning through construction and traffic is not worth it. Besides, it’d be like a short Mommy-cation.

*Do not wear new shoes, no matter how flat and comfy they feel in the store. You will walk and walk some more and they will no longer be comfy, they will be murder instead. Do not go for style in the least bit, tried and true casual all the way.

*Definitely volunteer for a trade show booth if the opportunity arises. My volunteer time at the Shootsac booth was the most fun I had at WPPI all week (followed closely by the Bobbi+Mike experience).

*Definitely prioritize. Perhaps it would not affect a normal person the way it did me, but do not try to do everything, it will wear you out. I ended up missing 2 classes/speakers I wanted to see, because I simply couldn’t keep going. This is another plus to having a room on the strip, you can go nap in between events.

*If they offer preboarding again in future years, do it! That was wonderful and as I overheard many say, it was a vast improvement from year prior.

*Lastly, do not be intimidated by the “big name” photographers if you aren’t one or are new on the scene. Every person that I had the privilege of meeting, big name or small were great. Real and down to earth. Remember, they all had to start somewhere too!

And now for some pictures. All taken with my P&S (Canon S90), there was no way I was lugging all my gear, all those miles.