The WPPI 2017 Convention in Las Vegas is coming up very soon – like, sooner than ever, actually, as it is scheduled for February 5th-9th this year!
There are a whole lot of reasons to love this convention – but one big one?? Professional photographers and filmmakers travel in from all over the world to attend it each and every year. Last year, there were more than 50 countries represented at this one convention! And I believe the lines of who is from where blends as perfectly as it should when you live on a planet where we are all so much more the same than we are different.
I have been a very active part of WPPI for 12 years now (which is kinda crazy to think about), and in that time I have made very dear friends on a number of continents who I get to keep in touch with all year long and then go spend some meaningful time with every year we all return to Vegas.
This year I have 3 full passes to give away for this year’s WPPI 2017 conference. So if you want to spontaneously get yourself to Vegas OR you want to upgrade your expo-only pass, I hope I can help you out here! In light of everything going on this time of year, we could all use some uplifting news. To enter, just post something – anything – about how you have used your photography to help others in these comments, or on social media (just tag me) and why it was worth it to you – and I will choose 3 from there right away!
The WPPI 2017 Online Live Print, Album & Filmmaking Competition kicks off on February 5th, and I am looking forward to judging it again this year, a full two day (and night) event. Big props to Jerry Ghionis Melissa Ghionis and Jason Groupp on working hard to make this behemoth endeavor happen time and time again.There’s really so much more to it than most would even guess. If you plan on making it to WPPI, definitely stop by and watch some of the print competition live. Amazing (free) education on how to view, compose, light, shoot, and print images.
My platform talk is on Wednesday, February 8th at 4:00pm – and I’m doing live shoots, presentations and meet & greets with Nikon, Nations Photo Lab, and Adorama. All details are listed in the agenda below, so I hope I see you at one of the events. Huge kudos to Imagely for not only being our website provider and host of choice (!!) but for also sponsoring my Platform talk, as well. I’ll also have a ton of rather generous giveaways that we’ll be handing out at my platform, worth thousands of dollars, so show up & claim yours 🙂
We will also be doing the WPPI 2017 Fun Run Tuesday morning, in support of Beautiful Together – bring your sneakers! And some lungs to refill with clean outside air.
I’ll even get an opportunity to share more about our work with Beautiful Together at the kick off program for WPPI Monday morning.
And the WPPI Awards Show! I’m co-hosting it again, alongside Jerry Ghionis, should be quite a production this year, again.
I really hope to see so many of you there. As a matter of fact, I have 3 full passes to give away for this year’s conference. So if you want to spontaneously get yourself to Vegas OR you want to upgrade your expo-only pass, I hope I can help you out here! In light of everything going on this time of year, we could all use some uplifting news. To enter, just post something – anything – about how you have used your photography to help others in the comments, and why it was worth it to you – and I will choose 3 from there!
Sunday & Monday, February 5th – 6th ALL DAY AND QUITE POSSIBLY WELL INTO THE NIGHT
I have the honor to be one of 40 judges from all over the world on the panel for the Live Print, Album, & Filmmaking Judging. Full Platform Passholders are welcome to come and watch the process, and I certainly hope you do because it can be rather enlightening for image makers to see how a panel of international print competition judges break down the components of an image for award placement. There’s so much you can take from this experience back into your everyday shooting. It’s really an extraordinary educational experience.
Monday, February 6
8:30am – 10am:
I will be jumping away from judging in order to give a short and sweet presentation about the projects and funds we are working on with Beautiful Together and to quickly share how others can get involved or do similar work on their own, at the Opening Ceremony with hosts Jacqueline Tobin, Jason Groupp, & Jose Villa.
Always grateful for the heartfelt support from WPPI and Lauren Wendle for our work supporting children waiting for families
Tuesday – February 7 6:30am WPPI Fun Run to support Beautiful Together
Thanks to Erin Costa and Yesenia Bocanegra for helping out at last year’s Fun Run – and for this shot!
This year, we will head out from the Westgate/Las Vegas Convention Center and walk/jog/run to the beautiful Bellagio Fountains before then circling back. Last year, we’d run to the Las Vegas sign – and then a few people grabbed taxis back. So, basically, it’s rather casual: can make your own distance here. We just hope you also like the WPPI Vegas Fun Run T-shirt, with 100% of the proceeds going back to Beautiful Together’s work supporting children waiting for families.
The WPPI Event Description: The Fun Run will be approximately 4 miles and is open to everyone no matter what the pace. The run will start at the Las Vegas Convention Center and proceed to the strip where we will take in the sights. We will take a team photo at the Bellagio where the proof of your efforts will be displayed for all on the WPPI social media channels, and then head back to The Westgate Hotel, nice and easy! T-Shirts will be available for purchase, and all proceeds go to Beautiful Together.
After the run, and for the rest of the duration of the WPPI Expo, we will be selling all these T-shirts (and hats!) at the WPPI Membership booth – come on by, say hi, pick up something you love – and wear your heart on your sleeve 🙂
Note: If you can’t be at WPPI in Vegas, you can always order something directly from our shop and have it mailed to you!
Tuesday – February 7
10:45 – 11:15: Live shoot at the Adorama Booth. We will be creating little stylized sets at the Adorama booth, and I will be doing live shoots each morning from 10:45am – 11:15am. Come on by and say hello!
Tuesday – February 7
2:00 – 2:30pm
Presentation and Live shoot at the Nikon Booth. Here is the very impressive full Nikon presentation schedule for the entirety of the show. They really have some incredibly educational and inspirational speakers this year, and I’m honored to share the stage with them.
And definitely note the new addition of a LIVESTREAM on Wednesday!
Tuesday – February 7
3:00 – 5:00: Filming new episodes of the reDefine show! Here’s a fun image from last year with Luke and David Edmonson.
Wednesday – February 8
10:45 – 11:15: Live shoot at the Adorama Booth, Day 2! We will be creating little stylized sets at the Adorama booth, and I will be doing live shoots each morning from 10:45am – 11:15am. Come on by and say hello!
(Ironically, here’s a shot from last year with two photography experts, Daniel Norton and Jeff Snyder, and it happens to be a highly scrappy photograph of all three of us.)
Wednesday – February 8
11:45 – 12:15: Livestreamed Presentation and Live Shoot at Nikon Theater. If you want to watch the livestream remotely, my talk is at 11:45am PST. You can check it out here.
Wednesday – February 8
4:00pm – 5:30: My platform talk!! This BRAND NEW talk with brand new BTS video footage is one of my favorite presentations built yet. It is called: Simplify Your Business and Shooting Style
This program is heavily focused on not just giving an overview of how to simplify the way you work and the way you shoot to maximize your effort, referrals and actual quality of life, but I ALSO share quite detailed, specific steps that really help calm the pace and stress involved in this work – giving you more opportunity to experience more joy and FUN in your work and life. I also built another brand new Animoto video for this year’s program, as well!
There’s no way to pre-register for Platform talks this year, but here’s where my talk with be at the Las Vegas Convention Center:
This is my 12th Platform presentation at WPPI, and I have never delivered the same program twice at this convention. Always a little nerve-wracking to start in a room like this…
And see how quickly it gets to this.
Thursday – February 9
10:45 – 11:15: Last live shoot at the Adorama Booth!
I will also be spending a lot of time at the Nations Photo Lab booth. I’m thrilled that they will be showcasing some new pieces of mine at the Expo AND at my Platform talk. If you are ever looking for great sales and promo codes for Nations Photo Lab, check in on this page on our website often. We try to get new seriously money-saving codes each new month, although it may take a few days into the new month to have them ready to share!
Thursday – February 9
12:30pm – 3:00pm: Filming even MORE new episodes of the reDefine show for AdoramaTV. Fun BTS shot from last year with Kenna Klosterman, Lead Host (and Awesome Person) of Creative Live.
Thursday – February 9
8:00 pm: Hosting the WPPI Awards Show with (fellow Nikon Ambassador) Jerry Ghionis!
A few images from last year show how this vibrant awards show, created to celebrate the top image makers to compete at WPPI from around the world, can also be quite entertaining, as well.
Jerry and I spent quite some time putting together a spoof video to kick off the show and really had a lot of rather goofy fun with the entire program.
Friday – February 9
Collapse.
Aaaand … that’s it!
SO looking forward to seeing many, many, many of you at The WPPI 2017 Convention next week 🙂
We’ve had a few rough years personally so we understand the importance of giving back. We speak at our daughters school for career day and as part of her performing arts program. To share with kids that you can follow dreams.
We are also brainstorming ways to give to cancer patients
As we lost my mom in 2012 and Emma’s mom is fighting through it right now
Hi Josh,
So sorry you’ve had a rough few years. Glad that you have turned it around as an inspiration to help others!
We loved all of the responses so much that we went back to WPPI and asked for more passes to give away! Could you contact me at studio(at)tamaralackey(dot)com so I can get you your pass?? 🙂
-Sarah (Tamara’s studio director)
Business is Very slow for me in the winter months here on MN, so last year I decided to donate my photography services to 4 nonprofits who are doing work I care about. I made new friends, was able to provide something of value to folks who really needed it, and gained some confidence along the way! It was such an overwhelmingly positive experience that I am actively seeking out nonprofits to work with this year as well. I would LOVE to go to the conference!
Brenda, that is so great! It’s amazing how volunteering can make such an impact on your life and your business. 🙂
We loved all of the responses so much that we went back to WPPI and asked for more passes to give away! Could you contact me at studio(at)tamaralackey(dot)com so I can get you your pass?? 🙂
-Sarah (Tamara’s studio director)
Last year I offered portrait mini-sessions and 100% of the proceeds benefited the JDRF ($200/family x 12 families), which is searching for a cure for diabetes. Because I shot for love, and not money, the benefit was time behind the camera and a lot of money in search of a cure.
Wow! What a great donation!
We loved all of the responses so much that we went back to WPPI and asked for more passes to give away! Could you contact me at studio(at)tamaralackey(dot)com so I can get you your pass?? 🙂
-Sarah (Tamara’s studio director)
How kind of you to share free passes to WPPI!
There are so many ways I’ve found to use photography to help others. One that I do most frequently, is being the one who creates and shares photos of outings with friends. To professional photographers, this may not seem like much, but to others, it’s a real gift to have those memories. On a deeper level of giving through photography, I am currently working on a project for Cody, the twenty-year-old son of one of my closest friends. The thing is, that friend passed away, just over a year ago, leaving Cody without the family support that many young couples have in the planning and financing of their wedding.
My small part is offering my time and skills freely, to create photographs for Cody and his fiancé to remember this important and happy time in their lives. In fact, today, I am editing images from their engagement session that was photographed in a place on the California coast, where Cody, his dad and I used to explore the beaches and bluffs together. Next, will be their San Francisco wedding, later this Spring!
So great that you can give hims such a meaningful gift!
We loved all of the responses so much that we went back to WPPI and asked for more passes to give away! Could you contact me at studio(at)tamaralackey(dot)com so I can get you your pass?? 🙂
-Sarah (Tamara’s studio director)
Absolutely love what you are doing through Beautiful Together! I love being able to give back through photography. I’ve offered free services and photography with many local organizations. One local group, creates dream rooms for children who have serious/critical health issues that keep them home/room bound. I’ve also had the pleasure to volunteer with the wonderful NILMDTS organization.
I believe we have a responsibility to share our gifts!
Dream rooms sounds like such a fun thing to volunteer for!!
We loved all of the responses so much that we went back to WPPI and asked for more passes to give away! Could you contact me at studio(at)tamaralackey(dot)com so I can get you your pass?? 🙂
-Sarah (Tamara’s studio director)
Thank you for this contest! I appreciate it and would like to share with you my thoughts on the following… I have used my photography to help others in different ways… one of my favorite photography jobs is taking photos for funerals. Funerals are though and since I’m okay with the passing of the loved ones, I put my passion in to help the families out with their obituaries, photographic handouts and photos of the services so its less stressful and they can enjoy the celebration of life of the ones they loved and reunite with those they haven’t seen in a long time. Its so worth helping others because it brings much warmth to my heart that I can help. That I can create a photographic story for the family to remember of their loved ones celebration of his or her life.
I’m a mother now to a three year old and would truly love to learn more photography knowledge. I can really use the knowledge to uplift me back to where I left off and help me get motivated. Knowledge is power and bringing back my photographic skills will bring warmth to my heart again… I’d like to share my skills with my daughter and come back to what I enjoy the most! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your passes! Wow, there are so many photographers giving back which is truly inspiring.
I try to live each day being kind to others and helping those in need should a situation present itself. This carries over into everything I do including my photography. That is why I carry a “fix anything” kit on photo shoots..including tissues for those happy moments, mints, duct tape (MacGyveresque situations), safety pins, blotter paper, etc. If I can fix an unexpected problem that arises, it allows those around me to continue celebrating and enjoying their special moment. Life it truly too short and helping people remember the magical moments is important.
Thank you for considering me.
Thank you for sharing these passes, what an incredible opportunity for someone to attend this. Photography has been a journey for me partly because I have been such an introvert my whole life and photographing people has really broke that shell and has given me the opportunity to provide families memories that will last a lifetime. Now my youngest son and niece have been interested in photography and I have been mentoring them for a while and it is so much fun watching them grow. And it’s also cool that my kid thinks that moms job is awesome and wants to do it some day full time. I photograph a lot of families that don’t an opportunity to get photos done at little to no cost and it is incredible to see their faces when the final images come back and how much they appreciate me. My heart is full every time!! I love photography and all the experiences it has provided me. Thank you for the consideration.
It’s wonderful that you are able to give the gift of photographs to those who otherwise may not be able to afford it!
We loved all of the responses so much that we went back to WPPI and asked for more passes to give away! Could you contact me at studio(at)tamaralackey(dot)com so I can get you your pass?? 🙂
-Sarah (Tamara’s studio director)
This is so awesome!!!
I take portraits of Women and their children.
????
I decide to join on a local Facebook page that help to all kinds of people need and Im always there for those who can’t afford a photographer on their “SPECIAL DAY”…. a lot of people tagged me when this kind of “need” comes because they know I’ll be there…
(Every time worth it)
We loved all of the responses so much that we went back to WPPI and asked for more passes to give away! Could you contact me at studio(at)tamaralackey(dot)com so I can get you your pass?? 🙂
-Sarah (Tamara’s studio director)
Wow! Thank you for the chance to upgrade my WPPI expo pass to the full platform pass!
I am a photographer as well as a realtor…When someone buys or sells a home I do a complementary photo session. I know it seems so basic but the families are always so surprised and happy to get a chance to capture such a big moment in their lives. These moments pass by so fast so I am happy I get the chance to save this moment for them. I remember you talking about the value of the family portrait in a past WPPI key note and it has always stuck with me. I now always make sure whether in my photography business or real estate biz to take a moment to capture a meaningful family portrait.
I love reading how everyone uses their photographic skills to help people in need! Thank you for all that you do! Looking forward to learning more at WPPI!
Hey There! My name is Shawnna Santistevan and I plan on attending WPPI for the first year! I saw your tweet about needing kid models and I plan on bringing my starry-eyed blonde 9 year old daughter with me! Please feel free to contact me as soon as possible if you are interested! Thanks so much 🙂 719-696-5869
Luckily I’m in vegas and I’m already planning to attend the Expo 😀
Over the years I have had the pleasure of donating to a variety of non-profit events supporting women, and survivors of domestic violence and rape, Deaf and disabled, cancer patients, etc. But the most profound experience thus far was this past December when I did the Help Portrait event. I have done this event in previous years but in 2016 I decided to bring my 4-year-old daughter with me. Giving back is always a great experience but giving my daughter the opportunity to give back was the most fulfilling of all. She was able to get hands-on experience using photography to help the less fortunate; bringing smiles to those around her. When she wasn’t shooting on my DSLR, she was running the photo booth!
Here is a link to some of the pictures from the event.
https://www.facebook.com/Rachel.H.Farner/media_set?set=a.10154640425705149.1073741869.559565148&type=3
So many great causes! And so great you can share the experience with your daughter!
We loved all of the responses so much that we went back to WPPI and asked for more passes to give away! Could you contact me at studio(at)tamaralackey(dot)com so I can get you your pass?? 🙂
-Sarah (Tamara’s studio director)
Hi there,
Thanks for the opportunity to upgrade my WPPI pass! This is my first year going 🙂
I volunteer a lot of my time with my photography to a dog rescue shelter Eve’s Sanctuary here in NYC. They’re an amazing non profit organization that go into kill shelters, hoarders homes, horrific puppy mills and all sorts of places i’d never be able to survive and rescue these dogs in Indiana and then vet/spay/neuter them before bringing them to NYC to help find loving homes.
I get to photograph these little pumpkins to help their chances of finding their new furrever homes and bring every one love!
I love being able to give back because I feel my rescue pups have brought so much to me 🙂
Thank YOU for bringing so much help, love and hope to so many children around the world
xo
meredith
My first year going and I’d love to have a full platform pass!
My firm belief is that we as photographers should do everything we can to help others, donate our time and talent.
I offer free sessions for families and children occasionally as well as always happy to volunteer for charities even dog shelters –
the more we are able to do, the better place the world will be.
Thank you! ~