As you all know by now every year I attend the annual Wedding and Portrait Photographers Convention in Las Vegas…. no really its for work…ok well and a little play 😉  WPPI (Wedding Portrait Photographers International) is held in Las Vegas during the 3rd week of February (also my wedding anniversary, sorry honey!) every year.  This is basically a week packed full of lectures and classes lead by some of the most amazing photographers in the world.  They come from all different backgrounds and experiences with different styles and perspectives.  They each speak on different things and you basically can sign up for as little or as many of these classes and lectures as you’d like.  Some are limited in the number of seats.  Some are huge ballrooms filled with people.  I am a HUGE believer that learning is something you can never get enough of.  Regardless of your “status” or your years of experience in the business.  That is why I am so passionate about photography.  I feel like their is no limit to where I can take it.  So WPPI is like my playground.  I attended various classes some as small as 50 people that I had to sign up for 5 months in advance, some I was one of a couple hundred, there was even one where I sat next to my friend Jihan as we watched the most mesmerizing images go by on a slide show presented by the amazing Joe Businik-he wowed us with emotional images captured with true passion and love.  Then in between classes you get the opportunity to roam 2 of the MGM’s largest showrooms filled with booths from every type of vendor you could possibly imagine.  I wish I took a picture of the room! I will next year I promise!  I never brought my camera into that room.  you basically walk miles and miles by the time the day is through so I try and pack light each day I’m there.  This is the room where my pocket book gets a work out and my clients reap the benefits!  This is where I met my coveted album vendor last year, my print lab, and many other vendors who provide me with the best products the industry has to offer. 

Last year I had heard the buzz around the convention about all these shoots that were going on through out Las Vegas during the convention.  I guess I wasn’t as “in the know” as I thought I was.  SO this year I was very glad to be more connected to the photography world and got wind of many of this years shoots.  Although I did end up passing on most of the “shoot outs” (as they call them) I did decided I wanted to spend time at a hands on workshop.  Shoot outs are more casual. Usually a team of people will put together a styled shoot and open it up to 20-30 photographers, each paying a couple hundred dollars and then each photographer fights for an angle that doesn’t include other photographers.  But the workshops are usually more intimate and typically run by a well known and respected photographer that typically has a huge following of photographers and the focus is on learning things from the photographer him/herself and a styled shoot where you can utilize the tips you are learning.  I chose a workshop with an amazing photographer who is based out of city near my hometown in Southern California, Mike Colon.  As I went to sign up for the workshop (only a few short hours after it was announced) I was sad to see it was already sold out!!!  Luckily for me I put myself on the waiting list and Mr. Colon decided to add another workshop to his schedule.  So I quickly jumped on the opportunity and registered.  In each workshop he only accepted 10 people.  I was thrilled to be one of those 10!! 

It was funny because the day of the workshop we had to meet in the lobby at the MGM Signature (the hotel we stayed at) and I felt like a kid in grade school again!  I was nervous… what if I wasn’t as good as the others? would I look like a fool?  do I have the right clothes on? who do I think I am going on a shoot with this amazing photographer and taking one of these coveted spots???  LOL!!! I’m such a girl!!!  Mike’s lovely assistant, Kat, (my new The Bachelor gossip pal) came around the corner and gathered us out front.  There were enough of us to fill 3 cars, lucky for me I sat in the car with Mike Colon, so myself and the three other lovely ladies who rode with us got the opportunity to ask him questions, got some insight on how he does things, how he balances life with a wife and 4 kids, but I think best of all we got to hear all about Usher’s Wedding!!! LOL …again, I’m such a girl!!! 

Here are some of the shots I took from this workshop!  There are a lot so grab some popcorn and a glass of wine!…

 Here are a few ones that I put a little more Vintage feel on…

 Couple:  Matt and Jenn
Production and Styling:  Kat Harris, Mike Colón Photographers
Dresses:  Julia Lovan Designs, Anthropoligie
Jewelry:  31 Bits
Shoes:  Madewell
Male Wardrobe:  JCrew and Matt’s own.