WPPI Las Vegas (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) this year has been different this year from years’ past. This year I went to WPPI with a new kind of anticipation: one filled with excitement and anticipation about putting myself in a position I never have before: SPEAKING.
At this year’s tradeshow, I hosted a presentation called Lens, Lighting, Location at the Black River Imaging booth. And although I’ve conducted a few other presentations recently regarding business, it was the first time I’ve spoken about my work. I’ll be honest, I started the presentation with a lot of anxiety. WPPI is a HUGE convention, filled with lots of talent and established photographers. But once I started I really enjoyed connecting with others so passionate about their craft!
And THEN>>>>That afternoon, I processed into the large ballroom of the MGM Grand to prepare my presentation for this year’s 2014 Photographers Ignite. If you’ve never heard of it before, Photographer’s Ignite is an opportunity for a select dozen to give a 5-minute message. But the key is, you’re speaking while your slides autoadvance. I decided to craft a poem on branding which I memorized and recited aloud…..on a stage….in front of 500+ photographers. To say I was NERVOUS is an understatement!!! The experience of walking onto that stage is one I won’t forget.
I’ve had the chance to meet SO many new friends, including several film shooters also using Richard Photo Lab for developing/scanning and was happy to run into a few old friends as well. I cannot believe how incredible and fulfilling this year has been and I’m truly grateful for these opportunities. If you’re here at WPPI 2014, have fun and enjoy! And who knows…maybe we’ll run into each other here in Las Vegas!
