WPPI – Wedding & Portrait Photographers International conference in Las Vegas

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MGM Grand Hotel

And it came to pass that I did attend the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International

WPPI March 18, 2012

conference in Las Vegas. It was estimated that as many as 12,000 photographers attended this nearly biblical event celebrating all ages, sizes, and nationalities of photographers.

Crowds jockey for the best position

The conference consisted of more than five days of classes offered in three categories. Masters classes, Platform classes, and Plus classes. There were also special events, and WPPI University classes. Each of these catered to individual capabilities of the attendees from beginners all the way to experts looking to brush up on some techniques to make them more capable.

 

 Food for the Masses video 

Presented by industry heroes and leaders in wedding and portrait photography. Huge sponsors such as Nikon, Canon, and Sony made the night life exciting with live modeling demos, free food, and presentations by member photographers . Gathering at the watering hole could be found new friendships as well as the renewing of acquaintances from the past.

Classes ran from 8 AM till on average 6 PM with some starting at 7 PM going to 10 PM if you were so inclined. Most were lecture style seminars put on by successful wedding industry photographers and others were actual hands-on training. I saw little pockets of photographers, cameras in hand, trailing after women dressed in wedding dresses with bridesmaids. They stopped in various locations inside and outside of the MGM convention center. The photographer/instructor posing them for the crowd of photographers letting them try different techniques and explaining why this or that was better in that location.

I took several classes and they all were helpful, informative, and inspirational but the one I think I enjoyed the most was Zach & Jody Gray’s Engaging with the Engaged: Growing Your Business Cost-Free.

Zach & Jody Gray

Since I have a marketing as well as a technical background it all made sense to me but to some I observed, their message was new and enlightening. They spoke of everyone wanting to be important & loved and that by showing you are…important and loved through your website, blog, and social media…they will come to you as a client. Their website and blog features their clients weddings and testimonials. In addition their website has helpful tips for photographers. They do photography workshops at different venues around the states throughout the year. If you’re interested in their money making and money saving ideas go to Zach & Jody Gray’s site and sign up for a free PDF and newsletter. Maybe even sign up for a workshop or two. Tell them the old guy that sat about 80 rows back at their WPPI conference sent you.

GoingPro Bootcamp 2 or Fun in Las Vegas

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The headline read, “Michelle Celentano – Skip Cohen – Scott Bourne invite you to the GoingPro Bootcamp – February 18. 2012 – Las Vegas!”, and after reading their book I felt it was imperative I attend this workshop.

I’ve been and avid follower of Scott Bourne over the years and have admired his

Scott Bourne describing inspiration

photography skill and business savvy. And since I have photography skill but not as much photography business savvy I really wanted to hear more about what I had read in the GoingPro book direct from the horses mouth so-to-speak.

Scott opened the program on the sunny February 18th Saturday morning in Las Vegas followed up by Skip Cohen.

Skip Cohen with admiring onlooker

I had only been following Skip for a few months on Twitter but I could see right away that he and Scott truly complemented one another bringing out the best of each persons ideas and suggestions.

They introduced Michelle Celentano, a Canon Explorer of Light from Phoenix, Arizona who would also speak to us about her twenty-one years as a professional photographer. She’s been published in Rangefinder, American Photographer and Shutterbug magazine so is very experienced.

Michele Celentano

They all stressed being the best photographer you can be, showing only your best work, marketing, and using social media to grow your business. Of course the pressing of flesh, old-fashioned networking by meeting people, the importance of word-of-mouth marketing and offering pro bono help spreads your abilities to other businesses and people in your local area. Start local and expand when appropriate.

 Uniformity in your “storefront” i.e. business cards, letterhead, web site look-and-feel helps bind your logo with your company, and attending seminars like GoingPro help show others that you’re looking to improve your business acclaim and knowledge.

If there is one thing I took away from the seminar was a point Scott made in ending his presentation.

“Successful photographers inspire people to act through their beliefs, feelings, desires, purpose, and belonging.” 

So whenever you go out to photograph an event or location remember this…people buy what they believe in. Put something of you into your pictures and others who feel the same way as you do will buy your prints.

Fast shutter…er’ trigger finger

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"Lame J Alan" hits the target. Old Pueblo Gunfighters-Fastdraw practice at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch in Tucson, AZ - ISO 100, 75mm, f5.6, 1/200

Here’s a link to a fastdraw practice at Tanque Verde Guest Ranch in Tucson. Slap Leather

So have you ever wished you could pull out your camera, aim it, and snap the shutter faster? Here in the Old Pueblo known as Tucson Arizona many folks enjoy the western history of the area. After all Tombstone is only 50 miles away, you know the town that’s just too ornery to die. Down there the main street was torn up years ago and replaced with packed gravel making it great for stagecoaches and cowboy gunfights.

Buckshot Chavez- OPGunfighters President and Founder

So all over the nation cowboy fastdraw clubs have sprung up. Almost all, including Tucson’s “Old Pueblo Gunfighters”, part of the “Cowboy Fastdraw Association” dress in realistic costumes of the 1800s and shoot it out. The OPG uses real Colt 45 caliber single-action 45 pistols, replicas of 1880s Colt .45 revolvers, cowboy leather belts and holsters, and shoot wax bullets. In association with Tucson’s Old Pueblo Gunfighters, the O.K. Corral in Tombstone Arizona will host the Four Corners Cowboy Fast Draw Association Territorial Championship in April. Another picture opportunity for me.

Wax bullets, real Colt 45 shells

As you can imagine there are companies that sell cowboy clothing, chaps, boots, hats, vests, shirts, and other 1800s style clothing especially for this group of history aficionados. Part of the club rules are that you must dress the part too. All the gunfighters have pseudo-names too. So names like Rattler, Snake eye, Ranger, and my favorite…Ashley Robles, aka Little “Ashes 2 Ashes”, currently holds the 2011 Arizona State Champion in the Youth Girls division. There are even age brackets for pre-teen, young people, adults, seniors and super-seniors. The clubs stress safety first and fun second at all times. The bullets are real Colt 45 shells, but they have no

12 year old Ashes-2-Ashes is the 2011 Arizona championship shooter and straight A student

gunpowder. The bullets are wax and are propelled only by the primer. The projectile won’t kill but will hurt like heck if it hits you since it travels at about 700 feet per second and could of course put your eye out.

They contestants line up and shoot at 24″ diameter metal targets 21 feet or so down range when a light  appears at the center of the target. Everything is electronically timed to the thousandth of a second. I’ve seen people draw, aim, and shoot in less than 0.39 seconds and hit the target.

Here’s a few pictures of some of the gunfighters.

Pastor Silver Jack...Load up pardner...

So how fast can you raise your camera, aim, and fire? Or would you want to? All I know is this group of western wannabe cowboys and cowgirls are as dedicated to their sport as we are dedicated to improving our profession.

Grannie Oakley another championship gunfighter

Look them up sometime. I’m sure there’s a club near most large cities and it makes for a lot of fun, and they make for excellent subjects. Sort of like a old west time warp…and we can go back and take Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp’s photo.

The Old Pueblo Gunfighters web site is being revamped by their webmaster “Lame J. Alan” and all I can say is when he’s done, “You better like it…or else!”

Look up a gunfighter group near you for more photo opportunities. They’d love the publicity and after all…you need the practice :-)

Gallery in the Sun

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Tucson is the home of many artists. Some came to the southwest to get out of cold inclement weather and some came here as children along with their parents as they moved from job to job. The mining industry drew immigrants from all over the world. Such was the story of Ted DeGrazia.

“The son of Italian immigrants, Ettore DeGrazia was born June 14, 1909, in the Morenci mining camp of Territorial Arizona. His early childhood experiences in the ethnically diverse community evolved into a lifelong appreciation of native cultures in the Sonoran Desert and a passion to create art depicting their lives and lore…” so goes the description of ‘Ted’ DeGrazia found on the DeGrazia web site.

DeGrazia Gallery, Tucson, AZ

As you drive north on Swan road, up toward the Catalina mountains you’ll find the DeGrazia museum known as the “Gallery in the Sun.” Construction began in 1951 with the open air Mission in the Sun followed by a series of other expressionistic adobe buildings. Now the buildings and 10-acre site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The DeGrazia compound numbering over 10 buildings became a haven for aspiring artists often living at small quarters located on the property. Even today visiting artists are invited to work and show their creations to the public. I came across two such artists in January at the studio turned into a glass works.

Dan Carney and his mother Veta Carney are Art Glass artists exhibiting their delightful colorful glass at the gallery. Carney Art Glass is fused and flameworked glass. Dan has developed a talent for creating borosilicate marbles, each one a unique creation, while Veta works in dichroic glass sculptures creating everything from earrings to glass wall hangings.

Borosilicate marbles, (70 mm, f6.3, 1/60 sec, ISO 800)

As a photographer I look for different ways of looking at life just as these two artists do except I capture light on silicon in my camera. Dan and Veta capture reflections and refractions of light in their own way. I was happy to see this sort of art exhibited here where I have seen painters and clay

Dichroic glass wall hanging (60 mm, f6.3, 1/60 sec, ISO 800)

sculpture’s before. Why don’t you check out their selections on-line. You may be able to find just the piece you need…or your loved one needs. They are located at  Carney Art Glass.

Be sure to check out this gallery whenever you get the chance to come to Tucson.

Here’s a couple of unique DeGrazia inspired creations for you to ponder over.

Adobe, Cross and Bottle (20 mm, f6.3, 1/10 sec, ISO 800, HDR Efex Pro)

Fiddles

Look these over and examine your art. Does it show your passion…?