Wow.. I took the red-eye flight from Vegas to Portland, ME and arrived home yesterday late morning.  I’m not sure if I don’t do well with red-eye flights, but I slept last night for almost 13 hours and could use 13 more…what an amazing experience to have as a wedding professional.  I can’t imagine how beneficial it would have been if I was actually a photographer (I’m a wedding planning and the editor of myKPW for those of you reading this blog for the first time).  I thought I would give a quick recap of my experience and show some photos of the fun we had while getting traveling, hanging out with some great friends, and just the sheer size of this convention so here it goes!

So I had the pleasure of flying out to Vegas with the emilie inc. (Maine wedding photographer)  studio manager, Erin Whelan, and the ever-so talented Maine wedding photographer, Roxanne Bedard of Roxanne Ashey Photography (both studios happen to be myKPW members). I usually fly out of Manchester, NH or Logan in Boston so Portland International Jetport was a new and very enjoyable experience for me.  Imagine to my surprise, arriving at the terminal to wait to board for JFK and I see this;  white Adirondack chairs lining the walls for people to rock to relaxation.  Now that isn’t something you see at every airport and it is just another example of how New England is full of warmth and welcoming people- right when you step off the plane!

One of the main reasons I went to WPPI this year was to meet up with the many my Kate Parker Wedding photographers that I have either met already, or have spoken to on the phone and via email but have not had the pleasure of spending any face-to-face time with.  So Monday morning, I hosted the first annual WPPI myKPW Family Reunion Breakfast in a beautiful Terrace Suite at the MGM Grand.  I loved meeting and catching up with close to 40 photographers, some who are already members and some who are interested in joining the myKPW family!  Thanks to New Hampshire wedding photographer Kendal J. Bush Photography for snapping the above shots- it’s almost comical that I met Kendal for the first time in Vegas when we BOTH live in NH…

I love seeing people for reunions!  I was so fortunate to have attended Engage! Encore 09 in Vegas this past fall and had the pleasure of meeting these fantastic vendors- Liene Stevens of Think Splendid, Garrett and Joy Nudd of Garrett Nudd Photography, and Mr. Sticky Rammel of brandy j photography.  We met over some delicious ice cream and sorbet from Haagen-Dazs at the MGM food court…what’s better than a friend/ice cream combo!?!

Probably the most educational of all the classes for me personally was from Justin and Mary Marantz of Justin and Mary-Photography (Connecticut wedding photographers).  Not only are they fabulous myKPW members, but they are just ridiculously talented and SO well branded- or shall I say love-marked?  They spoke about how to create an enviable word-of-mouth brand and believe me when I tell you, the details and care that goes into each and every one of their clients, vendors, and fellow industry photographers is astounding.

If you know anything about WPPI, you know that it isn’t ALL educational seminars and trade show booths…it might even be more known for its insane parties, like the above video demonstrates.  There was a fantastic party held at Studio 54 at the MGM Grand on Wednesday night and let me say that I have never had such a great time dancing in my life.  I will admit that I left the dance floor because it was TOO crowded for my taste.  Great DJ, super great company, and an all around fantastic evening. (Got to LOVE the iPhone video right?)

When you were actually walking the trade show floor, there were two separate convention rooms to explore. I had the pleasure of hanging out with the ladies and man of Snapshot Studio, Jennifer, Laura and Dave! I must admit that I was completely overwhelmed by all of the products offered at WPPI.  I know that as a photographer, most people coming to the trade show already had 75% of their equipment so they could filter and sift through the information.  As a non-photographer, I don’t know how photographers choose between the dozens of products available- KISS wedding books- amazing sponsor of the Studio 54 party, Queensbury Wedding Albums- they have an amazing new line of albums called Musee that they released at WPPI, Finao, Leather Craftsmen, Cypress, Graphistudio, Canon vs. Nikon, which bag to carry your equipment in- super fan of think TANK photo for bags, ps.  Then there are all the printing companies, WHCC, Mpix, Digi-Labs, and the list goes on and on.  There was Pictage, Livebooks, ShootQ, The Knot, Get Married Magazine, and the ever-so-famous Samys for all your equipment needs.

These three images are actually an attempted panoramic from the second story loft of the WHCC booth- so cool to use all that vertical space!  This gives you a great idea of just how huge this convention really is, and this is just one of two jam-packed trade show rooms!  I was really impressed with how creative some of these companies were with their booth designs- certainly different from a traditional wedding show

I waited almost all week to see this guy. There are two lions who hang out in their 5,400 square foot “habitat” in the middle of the MGM Grand.  Apparently there is a farm full of these lions and they don’t live at MGM overnight.  They are rotated and are brought in for a few hours a day.  It was just before dinner for them and we got to see the trainers feed them raw meat. They totally woke up for that and we were able to see just how large and amazing these animals are.  I have not been to a zoo in my life so seeing a lion, even through glass, and mostly sleeping, was still super thrilling for me.

Of course, leaving Las Vegas isn’t always fun but I had myKPW to return to as well as my wonderful husband, Ryan and my adorable son, Zachary.  I thought it was hilarious when I saw this sign as I boarded my plane for JFK… it should really apply though- there were plenty of things I witnessed at WPPI that I’m sure people will be keeping to themselves…:)

Zachary at bedtime waiting to hear some books read by me Seriously, how great is it that I come home to him? Thanks for reading!  KP