When a life changing event happens to you, sometimes you need to let it sit for a week to evaluate what really happened. I spent the past week getting my life back in order after being gone for a week, and letting my WPPI experience settle and percolate. My experience in Las Vegas was life changing for sure. I came to WPPI with scepticism because I wasn’t sure if the investment of time away from my wife, time away from my kids, and the financial costs would be worth it. I’ve been wanting to go for the past three years because I knew it would help me be the best wedding photographer that I could be, but I was fearful of all the sacrifices necessary to attend. I must say that not only were the sacrifices worth it, but I came out a better person and a better photographer because of it.
Print Competition
The first event that I attended was a print competition, and immediately I knew that I should have submitted a few images. My work was on par with many of the photographers there and I will absolutely submit some images next year. I sat and watched the imagery presented and was awed at what I saw. The life changing moment there happened when I heard a photographer named Jesh Derox talk about some images. His critiques were insightful and genuine and I learned so much about what makes a beautiful image in a very short time from him. I later thanked him and introduced myself and found him to be a genuine person.
Platform Classes
The platform classes that were offered varied widely from posing techniques, business techniques, to wedding photography tips and tricks. Every class that I attended had something to offer and I soaked it all in. I learned all about wedding album designs from Joe Photo and Jerry Ghionis, posing and lighting techniques from Doug Gordon, and some amazing business techniques from Lori Nordstrom. This blog post would be a mile long if I included the details from these sessions, but I can tell you that my photography and my love for this craft improved significantly from these sessions.
Marcus Bell
By Tuesday morning I was beginning to question the value that I was receiving for the trip and wondering if I had made the right decision. Then came Marcus Bell, a wedding photographer from Australia that spoke about the emotive journey of the Wedding day. He spoke about love, romance, and the emotions and how it is our responsibility to record those moments. Up till that point I was listening to all of the business techniques and posing techniques and was beginning to think that this wedding photography industry was no different than manufacturing or a production line. I was thinking that there has to be an emotional reason why we do this. The emotional side of a wedding is why I do it and why I invest an entire day of my life capturing these moments for my clients. Being in the moment and feeling it is why I began wedding photography in the first place, and Marcus validated my concerns with his emotional imagery and the way he experiences the moments during a wedding. Here’s a photo of me with the man that changed my life and made me a better wedding photographer, Marcus Bell.
Meeting Photographers
One of the best parts of WPPI was meeting other photographers and sharing ideas and experiences. I met so many amazing people that listing them here would be difficult. I must say that the people I met inspired me, helped me, and made me become a better photographer and person. I value these new relationships and will enjoy following their blogs and meeting them again next year at WPPI (oh yes I must go again.)
Looking to the future
I captured this last image on my last day in Vegas when I took time for myself on a photo walk, and I think it represents me looking into the future. I’m so very excited for this upcoming wedding season and all of the amazing people that I have the complete privileged of photographing. I can’t wait to be there when they say “I do” and be there when they dance together for the first time as husband and wife. I can’t wait to meet the grandmas, the grandpas, uncles and aunts, the families, and all of the people that are important to my brides and grooms. This wedding season is going to be amazing and life changing. WPPI changed my life for ever, and I’m looking forward to utilizing the knowledge gained this year. Stay tuned for the ride, it’s gonna be a whole lot of fun.
