WPPI 2008 Photos - Party Time!

Since most event photographers work weekends it is most entertaining when a bunch of us get together and have a chance to let loose. Think about it...
Wedding photographers are always around a party; always hearing dance music and rarely having the chance to dance. I didn't go to any super dance party's but I did get a chance to go out.

After a couple seminar's on Sunday afternoon I went with a friend to see the Cirque du Soleil show Mystere. Wow! I didn't know people could do such extreme maneuvers with their bodies! No pictures allowed in the theater! So I snapped a quick non flash image at the end of the show (see image below). If you go to Vegas don't miss out on seeing one of these shows; its worth the pricey ticket!

Tuesday night I went to a small party hosted by Richard Photo Lab out of LA. They are a smaller custom lab that does high quality work. My friend Jen and I met Jose Villa; an awesome film photographer. Really nice guy too!

Wednesday was party night! First there was the WPPI Awards Ceremony. See picture below of Jen and I looking oh so cool (but please forgive the point and shoot quality). We didn't bring any crystal awards home this year, but I will be working even harder this season to get rock star images for next years competitions.

After the awards a few of my friends and I were in the mood to dance. So we went to a few different places until we found a neat little Irish Pub called Nine Irish Men at NYNY hotel. There was a live band playing and it was a great time!!

By Thursday it was time to fly back home. So I'm back at work putting into practice some of the great inspiration I received at WPPI!

WPPI 2008 - Las Vegas, NV

This was the third year in a row that I attended the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographer's International) convention in Las Vegas. Every year I still learn something new and have a ton of fun!

As a small photography business owner there are many different hats that we need to wear these days. Besides photography we have to know at least a little about Photoshop, slideshow software, websites, sales, advertising, marketing, bookkeeping, and newsletters (haven't gotten to that yet). At the convention there are always new suggestions or softwares to assist in making these daily tasks easier.

This year I found a new editing software that I like by Nik software. It should stream line certain types of touch ups and special effects I apply to some images. I also picked up some great tips from Doug Gordon's seminar on how to make picture time "poses" flow more naturally.

This year I left the real cameras at home and took only a point n shoot so please forgive the poor image quality! Thanks to diet Pepsi for keeping me awake!

Stay tune tomorrow to hear about all the fun we had and see the goofy pictures!!!

The Pouting Child!

Like I said in my previous post; I think my nephews are cute even when they are in the middle of a solo drama production. Avin had lost his temper and found himself writing the same "I will not.." phrase 10 times (big job for a 5 year old). After he was done he started pouting and sought out isolation.
I couldn't resist the temptation to document the event!

Family Portraits Surprise, AZ

My sister and her ever so cute kids live in Surprise Arizona near Phoenix. So I travel out once or twice a year to visit the whole lot of them at once.

There are two things we always do while I am there. One is go to the park cause that gives my sister some quiet time. Two is to take lots of pictures! I think they are the most adorable things on the planet; even when they are throwing a fit.

Usually it is more fun for me to take the pictures than for them to have their picture taken. I guess boys don't like to get cleaned up and have their hair done! Oh, the torture I put them through! LOL! So this year I shot most of my pictures on the go and at the park.

Poppy Ridge Golf Course Wedding - Livermore, CA

Chris and Kristina were married at the beginning of March at Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore. They have known each other since elementary school. Isn't that cute!

This was my first time working at Poppy Ridge. The views were phenomenal! The outside architecture of the club also makes for a great picture back drop. Everywhere I turned there was another perfect place to take pictures! It was a great place to work and the staff were all very friendly.

It was a little chilly outside that day and the wind was definitely blowing. But we used the wind to our advantage; allowing it to add movement to some of the images. Everything was in one location so it gave us plenty of time to take pictures without keeping everyone else waiting too long.

At the reception I had a side of veggies and mash potatoes and it was all yummy. The cake was picture pretty and looked well made but I didn't try any. I'm on a low sugar diet! DJ Rob from Amos Productions had everyone grooving on the dance floor well into the evening. I'm sure everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Baby Portrait Session in Los Altos, CA

This little guy is so cute! He doesn't care for the indoor studio much though. So I was only able to get a few good images before he had enough of the flashing studio lights. That's okay. I will photograph him again soon but outdoor next time. Stay tuned for more images...

Toddler and Family Portraits

I photographed Autumn and Andy's wedding a couple years back at Hayes Mansion. It was a perfect outdoor wedding day.
Recently, when their daughter turned one they called for a portrait session. These are a few of my favorite images from the shoot.