Friday, February 20, 2009

WPPI 2009 - Viva Las Vegas!

I just got back from the big Wedding and Portrait Photographer International pow-wow in Las Vegas. It's where the people who sell stuff to photographers, the photographers themselves, and the wannabe photographers all get together and try to convince each other to buy stuff, compete for the title of most popular social butterfly, or--for newbies-- to create the illusion of actually being in the industry at all. It's quite entertaining! And of course, we all had a few drinks.

Here we are arriving at the airport. That's Jake.

this image is of Austin photographer Jake Holt attending the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International WPPI conference

He just turned, with the beginnings of a tear in his eye, and said "Viva, Las Vegas." What can you say to that?

And Mary, who just saw Wayne Newton stepping out of an Escalade limo with Kanye West. I know, it doesn't make sense when rappers fly commercial.

This is the blog of austin wedding photographer David Hill 78722, who took this image of photographer Mary Sledd at WPPI

Jake got inspired by Canon.

This image is from the trade show floor at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International conference

Cory joined us after a later flight. I found these great frozens in the basement of the MGM grand. We carried them into Puck's.

This image of three two austin 78722 wedding photographers having some frozen drinks in vegas



Below, we have two guys in arty hats enjoying Blues Traveler a little too much at the Nikon BIG Event. If I had a plastic flash diffuser for every arty hat I saw at this convention, I'd be Gary Fong. Can somebody pass me an arty hat, PLEASE?

This image is of two Dallas area photographers attending the wedding photographer conference with Blues Traveler

The view from our 1500 square foot suite at the MGM Grand.

Four austin wedding photographers 78722 stayed in this giant room at the MGM grand for WPPI, and this is our room view, you can see mountains and the statue of liberty

Whole Foods fans, this is Vegas.

Austin wedding photographer David Hill 78722 obtained party supplies and a hot lunch at this whole foods

I own some dorky camera stuff, but this dude has some brass, standing in front of the Apple booth wearing Steve Jobs' official uniform with a view camera attached to his Canon 1Ds... I'm speechless.

The black turtle neck and blue jeans wardrobe of this wedding photographer amazed David Hill due to the fact that he happened to be standing in front of the Apple Computer booth

Sometimes I wonder where my Pictage dues are going, then I see the wonderful boots on this go-go dancer at the Pictage party.

Image of a go-go dancer at the Pictage part at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International conference

The Pictage party was at the Studio 54 bar at the MGM Grand

This is the blog of austin wedding photographer David Hill 78722, who loves wedding and event photography - this image is of

This is the blog of austin wedding photographer David Hill, who loves wedding and event photography - this image is of

This is the blog of austin wedding photographer David Hill, who loves wedding and event photograhy - this image is of

I loaned Cory my SB900 so she could set the world alight with the promise of liberty for huddled masses.

This is the blog of austin wedding photographer David Hill, who loves wedding and event photograhy - this image is of

This is the blog of austin wedding photographer David Hill, who loves wedding and event photograhy - this image is of

This is the blog of austin wedding photographer David Hill, who loves wedding and event photograhy - this image is of