Industry Veterans Oversee Emerald Photo Group Portfolio

Industry Veterans Oversee Emerald Photo Group Portfolio

Aaron Andersen & George Varanakis Take the Helm at WPPI 2023

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WPPI-2023-Emerald-banner

New York, NY—The Emerald Photo Group welcomed two industry veterans, Aaron Andersen and George Varanakis. They will help WPPI organizers create vibrant, educational as well as interactive experiences for exhibitors and attendees. Emerald is a leading operator of large business-to-business trade shows.

Beginning this year, Andersen assumes the role of group show director of the Photo Group. The group includes the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) Conference; Portrait Masters; and Sue Bryce Education. In addition, George Varanakis takes over as strategic advisor of the group.

“Aaron and George have decades of experience in live-event planning and expert knowledge of the inner workings of the photo industry,” said Gannon Brousseau, executive vice president, Emerald.

“We have every confidence that their expertise and knowledge of the industry will bring a fresh perspective and increased energy as they work with the WPPI and Portrait Masters teams to enhance the events to accurately reflect the passion, innovation, and creativity of the community that we serve.”

Andersen and Varanakis Join Emerald Photo Group

Both Andersen and Varanakis have created and successfully expanded in-person trade shows and conferences, as well as livestreamed events, for more than 30 years.

Moreover, Andersen, a video producer by trade, joined CreativeLive in 2012. He, Varanakis and a third partner grew that online learning center into one of the most successful livestreaming educational platforms.

George Varanakis and Aaron Anderson-Emerald PHoto group
George Varanakis and Aaron Andersen

Further, Varanakis, a true veteran of the photographic industry, was WPPI’s early coordinator. As such, he grew its attendance and exhibitor participation by more than 400% in his eight-year tenure.

In 2016, the two joined Sue Bryce to cofound Sue Bryce Education and the Portrait Masters. Both are online education platforms for photographers. Today, with 10,000+ members worldwide, they cultivate international brand growth. This also led to the first Portrait Masters Conference in 2017, which sold out in 24 hours. What’s more, the conference continues as one of the most popular interactive boutique events in the photographic industry. emerald photo group-Portrait-Masters-logo-new-2022-wbg

“Aaron and I are very excited to be working closely again with many of our former colleagues at WPPI to make these events the very best they can be and build the type of community and interactive learning experience exhibitors and attendees enjoyed prior to the pandemic,” explained Varanakis.

“My photographic heritage began with WPPI in 2003. And the knowledge base Aaron and I have amassed through other ventures places us in a unique position to create in-person events based on evolutionary learnings we’ve gleaned over the past 20 years.” emerald-phot-group-Sue-Bryce-education

Varanakis and Andersen have been consultants to Emerald since Sue Bryce Education and the Portrait Masters were acquired by Emerald in 2019. Their extensive knowledge of the photographic industry and general landscape of the trade show and conference industry will help Emerald as it seeks to raise the bar of excellence in photographic education.

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