PART 1 - WPPI Vegas 2011 Overview!

Hey! So I just recently got back from WPPI (a photography conference) held in Las Vegas! This was my first time to attend and it was a lot of fun! I got to learn from some of the best in the biz and grow as a photographer as well as meet some pretty amazing people! There were classes held everyday and a HUGE trade show! I think overall there were about 16,000 photographers in attendance! CRAZY BIG! :) So, What is one to do when she comes home from a mega conference feeling overwhelmed with tons of new information and way to many options and few images to post because she spent all her time in class?! Well, I have reviewed my notes a couple of times since being back home and I have a plan!

I will be posting a new set of goals at the beginning of every month! Since it's a bit past the beginning of this month I will go ahead and give em to you!

~ MARCH 2011 GOALS ~ 

~ Lose 5 lbs (just started doing pilates and I love it...GOODBYE 5 lbs!) 

~ Create a website & blog...something that reflects me and my style...I am excited to start this process!

~ Post at least 1 blog a week :)

It's a short list but it's a full list! Definitely things I need to accomplish before I can move forward with my business! Back to WPPI! 

Below are some quick notes from some of my favorite classes!

B E C K E R 

BECKER is a wedding photographer and head of the [b] school. He is a very funny guy with a lot of great information and an awesome photographer! 

ABC's of Success

ATTITUDE - people skills are more important than photography skills/ more important to me personal than professional (to a certain extent)

BRANDING - Once of your most valuable assists as a photographer...BE CONSISTENT! Your brand lives in the consumers mind and what they think really matters! You need to figure out what sets you apart, what makes you special/unique/a standout? FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT! :)

CONNECTIONS - be it with clients, vendors, or competition...get to know these people! Find 4-5 friends in town and trade referrals! This is a simple process just get out there and get to know the people in your community!

BASIC SUCCESS FORMULA - Take AWESOME photos! Develop YOUR brand! Deliver an EXPERIENCE! Cultivate RELATIONSHIPS! :)

L I N D S A Y  A D L E R

LINDSAY ADLER Is an AMAZING fashion and wedding photographer from NYC. Seriously check out her stuff! I LOVED her class! Definitely learned a lot but I real liked her style of photography...she is super creative and I had a great time learning from her! She enjoys teaching and she has class notes on her blog so for all you fellow photographers out there seriously check out her link!

Her class was about lighting and posing...she talked about natural vs artificial light and all the edges possibilities of posing! She had "SHOOTING" tips and "BUSINESS" tips so here we go!

SHOOTING TIPS

Try shooting up or down on your subject...not just straight on!

Shoot WIDE OPEN!

FULL LENGTH - shoot from the ground up

Try Unusual ANGLES - don't be afraid to move around...take risks!

Vary EYE CONTACT (smile/no smile/eyes at camera vs away from it)

Framing - VOYEUR(shoot through things)

SILHOUETTE - create interesting poses, graphic shapes, strong profiles, etc.

BUSINESS TIPS

ANALYZE your audience - What do you want to say? Who do you want to say it to? How and when can you get their attention?

Marketing COLLABORATION - Find vendors to market with!

Target the Gatekeeper - If you are a wedding photographer make nice with the wedding and event planners...they are watching and interacting with you and they could possibly recommend you to future clients of theirs! 

Utilize SOCIAL NETWORKING - Update your blog and Facebook and twitter, etc. Your blog is an extention of you as a person and as a photographer and your style...it's your branded identity and you need to keep it updated and keep putting your brand out in the world! Hold competitions, team up with vendors, do give aways, etc. Keep the local community buzzing about you! Create targeted ads via a Facebook...make it work for you!

Be EXCLUSIVE - Charge what you are worth! Market to high end clients if that is the type of clientele you wish to have. Comfort your clients...Pamper them! Off UNIQUE products and services...do the little things! Remember your verbiage in your packaging and when speaking with your client. Instead of a "viewing" ask them to set up an appointment for their image investment consultation! 

J A M I E  S C H U L T Z

JAMIE SCHULTZ is an AWESOME PORTRAIT photographer and graphic designer from Wisconsin! Her class was also on my list of favorites! She spoke about where to make investments in your business and where to hold back! It's not about the props you have, the many blankets you own, or the little newborn hats that you've spent hundreds on! It's not about all your expensive equipments or the fact that you are doing "everything right" according to the numerous other photographers you've spoken with...This business is not about YOU...IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CLIENT! EXCEEDING THE CLIENTS EXPECTATIONS IS YOUR GOAL! How do we do that? Well, we figure out what they want!

GIVE YOUR CLIENTS A VOICE

Give them a questionnaire - What Things Are Most Important To You?

What type of photographs do you want? Child, Siblings, Family, Interacting, All of the above?

What type of displays do you like? Wall arrangements, 8x10, Wall portrait, Album, Canvas, etc?

What products interest you? Digital, Gift prints, Wall portraits, Collages, Cards, etc?

Do you prefer - Black and White, Color, or Both?

She starts every session with this questionnaire knowing that in the end the client will be happy! She is giving them EXACTLY what they ask for! How smart and awesome is that!?

J E S S I E  P A V L I C S

JESSIE PAVLICS is one of the top BOUDOIR photographers in Doug Gordon's studio...She is all about FLOW POSING which is totally genius! 

FLOW POSING allows you to refine your images in camera, shoot fast therefore giving you more opportunity for more poses which means more profit for you! It's is a a fairly easy process to use once you go through it a couple of times! She went through about 20 poses in an hour and ended up with some really amazing shots and everything goes so smooth because she already knows what's going to happen next. BOUDOIR is a progression and usually every room has the same 3 things a CHAIR/SOFA, BED, and CURTAINS. GO IN WITH A PLAN...Planning gives you CONFIDENCE and YOUR confidence inspires your client! :)

This concludes part one of WPPI VEGAS 2011! Part 2 will be posted later this week! It is 15 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS from Buzzworthy success!

Below are a few images from the STRIP!                                          

Went URBAN OUTFITTERS! LOVE that store! :)

WELCOME TO PARIS!

No seriously, welcome to PARIS!