WPPI Las Vegas 2011 | San Diego Photographer

I know, It’s been almost a month since WPPI, and here I am just blogging about it! I’m a little late, but after we got back from the convention there was an entire overhaul of the way I do everything. We were so excited to go to this convention. A – the classes, labs, speeches, and all the other things we didn’t even know we needed or wanted to learn. And B) Because it’s the first trip my sister and I have ever taken together, just us – unrelated to family trips.

We drove down on Saturday, for our Vegas Shootout.

Here’s a few fun shots while we were…

Getting ready for the shoot.

One must always stretch…

This is why we stretch.

There was one shot I so wanted to get, and it required getting all the way down. I kept trying to find an angle to get it, without laying down in the dust. It was not sand. It was not dirt. It was dust. And I was covered in it when I got up. Thank you to Courtney Clarke for grabbing this great shot of us!!!

But, I got the image I wanted. And, despite the dust that stuck with me for the following 3 days, it was well worth it.

After the shoot, we made it back to the hotel and agreed to meet back at Diego’s for dinner. so yum. I could eat Enchiliada’s every night. Or ravioli. Or sushi. Ok, I’m done. One of those three. But after the afternoon of shooting, the enchilada’s were so yummy, and it was so awesome to be able to talk shop with new friends in person. Not on facebook, or email, a live person!!

We made a few new friends at the shoot. From left to right, Richelle Dante, Courtney Clarke, Leah Lund Harvey, me, and of course Indica Photography.

The next day Nigel Barker was hosting a fashion show. We weren’t sure if we wanted to go, seeing as it was going to be crazy crowded – but we went along and it was really cool to see Nigel work in person. Not to mention the feel of the room. All these photographers, all in one spot. All here for one thing. Well, mostly.

We took advantage and got our own snapshot

I was most excited to see Jasmine Star talk. I watch her videos, read her blog, and follow her on facebook. But, this was in person, live. Telling her story. It gave me that extra  push to go ahead and do all the things I was just thinking about doing. I just needed that push. The go ahead to start posting so much more on my blog, and incorporate my own life into my photography business. Simple, yes, but I hadn’t done it yet. I was holding back. But, after her speak Julia and I went to grab something to eat and couldn’t stop talking about it. We were both so motivated. All these stories from our lives we could share with our clients online.

I’ll be posting way more here. A mix of shoots and my life. Because, when I look at someone’s site, I go directly to their site. I want to know their story. How they got where they are, and their personality. So, more to come on, well, me!

After her talk Julia turned and asked ‘do you want to get a picture with Jasmine’

me ‘I don’t know, I don’t want to bombard her’

we sat for about another 30 seconds before a crowd began to surround her and Julia said ‘let’s go’

me ‘ok’

I was so nervous.

Now, I know. She’s just a person. A human being.

But, she’s a celebrity to me

I’m not one to get crazy around celebrities or people I look up to, but…I do get nervousAnd I was shaking! ha

When it came time for us, I said hello and introduced myself and Julia. With a crowd of people around us staring at her, her focus remains on the person speaking in front of her.

She’s totally in tune.

I told her that she had just answered a question on one of her shooting star segments, a week or two before.

Her reply? ‘Shut up!?”  hahaha, So Jasmine.

I was so glad to be able to meet Jasmine on this trip and hear her story. Regardless of how fearful I look, I was actually really excited

WPPI was such a great learning experience. It was some reaffirmation and a lot of amazing new products from the trade-show.

Before we headed out on Tuesday, we were able to meet up with the one person I wanted to meet;

 

My future wedding photographer.

 

I’ve been following  Ashleigh Jayne for a while now (go check her out – I don’t have any pictures to post here as I didn’t tell her I was posting this ). I emailed her a last year to tell her I loved her work and I really wanted her as my wedding photographer in 2o12. I wanted to make sure we could have her and her husband there, they’re an amazing and creative team. Her images are gorgeous, so crisp, light, and just a touch of color. They are simply beautiful images.

We’ll book her as soon as we are engaged.

Yes, we’re not even engaged yet and I’m contacting a wedding photographer

But, I like to plan. I even have the venue picked out

Her bridals are amazing. and they’re images that make you feel something. And that’s what photography is, to me – images that make you feel something. You know you’ve made it when you can make someone you don’t know, get all teary over wedding photos that aren’t even theirs!  Hopefully we can stop in Baton Rouge one day to get our engagement pictures done in the next year. There are so many awesome locations she shoots at!

We were able to say a quick hello before we grabbed our pizza and hit the road.

I was so so glad we did, as this would be the only opportunity to meet before, well….before! So, all in all it was a great success and I can’t wait until next year! (for a few reasons)