... how to survive wppi ...

Top 10 Tips for WPPI:

1. Stay hydrated!  Las Vegas is a desert climate.  So bring your chapstick and water bottles.  This will help you fight off any of the bugs that tend to circulate around at WPPI.

2. Bring your medicine cabinet!  You will pay out the nose for that advil or cold meds you may need so save yourself some pennies and pack them along.  Better safe than sorry.  Don't forget the band aids for blisters from dancing the nights away!

3. Pack your cutest COMFY shoes.  Yes, you want to look nice, we all get that, but you will do A LOT of walking.  The trade show is in two HUGE rooms.  The conference is on 3 different floors.  The food court is a half mile from the conference center.  It is 1.25 (ish) miles from the West Wing and MGM Grand to the trade show floor.  It is a half mile from the 3rd Signature tower to the conference.  You will walk.

4. Bring a notebook and pen.  You may be tempted to just bring your laptop or your smart device to take notes, but trust me... you will miss something if you are typing and looking down at your device.  Pen and paper is so much faster and you can pocket size moleskins!

5. Preboard your desired classes you know you WILL NOT skip... and still get there early.  YOU WILL WAIT IN LINE - even if it is the pre-board line.  My usual general rule is 15 min, 30 if it is a super popular speaker....

6. Do not be discouraged by the "sold-out" pre-boards.  It does not mean there are not enough spots. People will not show up, there will be spots for those who don't pre-board.  Just hop in the general boarding line.

7. Don't be afraid to hear from someone you haven't heard of before.  Some of the best teachers are those who are just quite and keep to themselves during the rest of the year.  Why, because they are so busy running their business!!  Everyone has something to teach you.

8. TALK.  That's right.  Do not be afraid to introduce yourself to others around you.  Are you a wall flower who wants to be better at communication or talking and interacting with clients??  WPPI is the place to learn it and practice being more outgoing.  There is nothing better than meeting those around you.  Year after year you will go back and before long you'll know tons of people!

9. Make a schedule and then be flexible.  If you have a class coming up but you are really getting something out of the conversation, demonstration or impromptu shoot you are at... do not feel guilty in staying and skipping your scheduled class!!  You can learn sooo much more from speaking with others sometimes!

10. Charge it!!  No, not the CC kind.  The iPhone kind.  Keep your charger on you and plug in when you can.  The MGM is a DEAD zone.  It will drain your battery quicker than you can say "new iPhone."  Along the same lines, do not rely on text messages.  If you are making plans with your friends, set a time and specific meeting place. 

Bonus #11... HAVE FUN!  It's not every day you are surrounded by like minded buddies who don't mind when you drone on about apertures, gear, lenses, clients and album companies!

** images courtesy of various photobooths, parties and conferences I've attended in the past three years**