Where has the time gone? WPPI will be here in two short weeks and I, for one, am getting very excited!

WPPI GET TOGETHER DETAILS —> I was able to chat with George Varanakis the Executive Vice President of WPPI today for a few minutes and get the skinny on what was planned for Sunday Night. After his insight and suggestion, we will be getting together Sunday Night (Feb 20th) after the WPPI Fashion Show at 9:30pm.You can plan to meet in front of Rouge located in the MGM Grand. All the restaurants at MGM are closed at 10pm so we won’t get to eat dinner (I know sad!) but we will get to mingle, talk and get to know each other! If you (and friends) are planning on stopping by or trying to stop in please leave a comment and let me know! I’m really looking forward to meeting you!

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6 Tips for a Great WPPI Experience!

1. Be ready with {lots of} Business Cards! Lot’s and lot’s of business cards. I handed out and receive hundreds last year. This is a great opportunity to network, make friends and create relationships for the future. Think of the possibilities!  You could make a new photographer friend who does exactly what you do in a different state. Now you have someone to bounce ideas off of and keep accountable after all the amazing goals you’re going to be setting after WPPI!

2. Have a Notebook and Pens! Your hands will be cramping after all the notes you’ll be feverishly trying to scribble down. Make sure you don’t miss a thing by having the “write” tools for the job. Or you may just want to bring your laptop if you’re worried about that writer’s cramp I mentioned. Just remember, you’ll be walking around and standing most of the day and carrying a laptop may get heavy. I carried mine two of the 6 days I was there last year and I couldn’t wait to get back to my room and dump it at night!

3. Comfortable Shoes! As much as we all want to look stylish and fabulous and awesome… how many of us can really rock 4 inch stilettos all day long without having to be dragged to our rooms by 10pm because the blisters on your feet are rivaling your 50mm lens in size? If you’re like me and are still wanting to chance it, bring them along but make sure you have the alternatives too!

4. Have a written plan! There is going to be so much to do and see. You are about to experience inspiration overload but to be sure you don’t miss anything that you just can’t live without you’ll need to have a clear agenda and schedule to refer to often. Jump on to WPPI Online and check out the Platform Speakers Schedule. Start blocking out your trip in order of your absolute “can not miss” favorites and then fill in the holes accordingly. hint: You are going to find that two speakers you really wanted to hear just happen to be at the exact same time – they do this on purpose so as not to send thousands and thousands of eager photogs all to the same room so plan accordingly.

5. Be You! It can be tempting to want to be a little more than you are. You may be feeling like you’ve got to be the only one going to this who is brand new to the scene or not rocking a full frame or not with a social entourage or not… or not… or not. Nothing could be further from the truth!  I was shocked at how many people I talked to last year who were first time WPPI-ers, first year photographers — first a lot of stuff. You’ll feel so much better just be your wonderful self and finding people who are excited to get to know you for the fabulous you that you are!

6. Not the time to be shy! This can all be intimidating (believe me I get that) but I promise you…… promise you!! If you open yourself up and put yourself out their, great thing can happen for you! Your experience will most likely be able to be measured by how willingly and eagerly you put yourself out there. To understand what I mean, read this story about meeting Jerry Ghionis at WPPI last year.

And here’s the weather report for Las Vegas for when you go to start packing… { source }