5 tips to get the most out of your WPPI! | Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV

It’s that time of year again!  The 2017 Wedding and Portrait Photography Conference & Expo (WPPI) is coming to Las Vegas February 5th to February 9th, 2017, and this is the perfect time to recharge for photographers!  WPPI is expecting to have 13,000 photographers in attendance based on the previous years – can you believe it?!  This will be my 7th year attending, and I can’t believe how time has flown by so quickly.  There are some changes this year, such as the location – in the past, WPPI has been held at MGM Grand, but now it is now moving to the Las Vegas Convention Center.  In preparation for WPPI, for those of you who are new to attending WPPI, or want to check out something new, I want to share with you 5 tips to get the most out of your WPPI – based on my previous experiences!

 

  • Watch the Live Print Judging Competition.  This is where I learned the most and where you will see what it takes to be an award winning photographer through posing, lighting, composition, printing, and storytelling.  Judges will give an accolade of excellence for any image scoring above an 80.

 

  • Get your learning on.  There are so many classes to choose from with instructors from all over the world varying in many different subjects.  According to the WPPI Online website, if you sign up for a Photo+ membership ($150 US/$200 INTL), you will get a FREE 2017 WPPI Full Platform Pass!  If you have a full Platform Pass, then you’re able to sign up for classes and have access to all the Platform classes – all this education for your membership cost!!


  • Get lost in the Trade Show.  Check out the Exhibitor list ahead of time to see who you want to visit when you’re perusing through the trade show!  Many booths will have speakers lined up, but if you’re not sure where to go, come by to Booth #655, Amber Concept, which is where I will be volunteering this year!  Here are the times for the speakers!  We also have goodies for you!!

 

  • Save your pennies and keep some costs low.  Alright, don’t laugh – but this photo above is from 2012.  I’ll have to admit, in my previous years attending WPPI when I decided to become a full time photographer, I had to go on a budget!  That meant:
    • Finding at least 2 other roommates to share a room with
    • Staying in a room with a kitchenette.  We would Uber/Lyft to the local grocery store and stock up on water, coffee, snacks, fruit, and other food for breakfast for the week.  We would also buy a pack of EmergenC because there’s so many festivities to do during WPPI, we can’t afford to get sick!  The above photo is us eating dinner, featuring Cinnamon Toast Crunch!  I can happily share we’ve upgraded since then!

    • I visited the NPS Lounge (Nikon Professional Services) to get my morning coffee 😉 AND get my cameras cleaned.
    • Can’t sign up for a Platform Pass?  Buy a Tradeshow Pass!  ($30) or find a vendor that will get you one for free!



  • Last but not least, make new friends and create new business relationships!  This is one of the best times to meet photographers from all over the world!  Bring your business cards because you’ll never know who you’re going to meet!  Meeting other photographers doesn’t mean they are your competition, they can actually be your friends and help you through those rough times when you’re editing all by yourself.  We’ve all been there and realized this can be a crazy journey – but it definitely is more fun when you have friends around.  This is also your chance to network with new vendors and even mentors that can help guide you through your photography journey.  I’m happy to share that my mentor is Scott Robert Lim!  He will be sharing his new mentoring series this year and take you all around the world with his workshops!

If you’re new to Vegas, or are looking to see what to do:

  • Take a look at the Vegas.com’s travel deals page for the best flight and hotel packages!
  • If you’re looking to do something around town, i.e. checking out a show or grabbing dinner, etc, check out the Las Vegas deals page for deals on things to do around Vegas!

Every year has been different but have amazing highlights!  Please like, comment below, and/or share if this will be helpful for you!  Feel free to drop an email to michelle@michellenicolephoto.com to say hi, and drop by Booth #655 Amber Concept!

xoxo ❤, mn
www.michellenicolephoto.com

capturing love.  revealing beauty.  sharing stories.
Michelle is fully booked for the remaining 2016 holiday portrait season.  Here is Michelle’s current destination travel schedule for 2016 and beginning of 2017:
  • Los Angeles & Southern California:
    • January 19th, 2017 to January 24th, 2017
    • February 11th, 2017 to February 15th, 2017
    • March 16th, 2017 to March 22nd 2017
  • Las Vegas:  WPPI Annual Photography Convention
    • February 2nd – February 10th, 2017
  • Kauai, Hawaii – shoots now available!
    • March 30th, 2017 to April 6th, 2017
  • Europe
    • May, 2017 – Dates TBD

Interested in getting in contact?  Or would like to book a shoot while I’m traveling?  I am accepting limited weddings, family, newborn portraits, and events for 2017.  Please e-mail me at michelle@michellenicolephoto.com and I’ll be happy to meet with you!

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