The experience you will have in Vegas while at WPPI…………is only what YOU allow it to be. Having been to Vegas last year for the same conference, we knew what to expect, we knew which parties were happening at what times and although we still crammed alot into each day this year- we intended it to be much more laid back this year. Since we arrived several days before the conference began, we took that time to go out and see a few things we missed last year.
It’s easy to get caught up in the “Vegas” lifestyle and if I’m being completely honest, WPPI can be alot like a grown up version of college. There are parties almost every night thrown by the industries hottest vendors and all the “cool kids” wait in line in their skimpy clothing and high heels waiting to get in the doors. There’s always that one drunk girl who is hanging all over the married men and one guy who thinks he’s OH SO FUNNY when he’s drunk….and then there’s the rest of us! LOL Because I value my sleep way to much (trust me, I NEED my sleep) we stayed out really late a handful of times and hung out with my online friends (that I got to meet for the first time in person in Vegas) at the parties. But the other nights, we ended up heading back to the hotel at a reasonable time (I’m a Mom, it’s just not the same anymore!!). I had an amazing opportunity to shoot with Justin & Mary and I wasn’t going to throw it away by missing my alarm or being hung over! The few times we did stay out, we had a fantastic time!
I have been a member of the [b] School since 2008. The [b] School is a huge reason why I am where I am today in my business. It’s a community of “Photographers Helping Photographers”. [B]ecker started it to help photographers start, succeed and stay in business. So far so good! They are going on their 4th year. I’ve met some of my closest friends through that forum…. and if not from the forum, from the parties being thrown during WPPI. It’s actually were Greg and I met Aric last year! WHCC picked up the tab on all the drinks at this year’s [b] School party at Dos Camino’s in the Palazzo. It had a very relaxed atmosphere where we could sit and talk with everyone but get up an dance if we wanted to. I left my camera in my Kelly Moore bag (yes I lugged that sucker all over the place) but I managed to snap a few photos-it was pretty dark in there! Snap Shot Studio was their with their photo booth-I can’t pass up a photo booth!!
