Las Vegas, NV—Held February 25 through March 1, WPPI 2019 is located at its all-inclusive and community-oriented home in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. WPPI specializes in the creative and business aspects of wedding and portrait photography and filmmaking.
Professional, amateur and emerging wedding and portrait photographers, as well as filmmakers, attend the Wedding & Portrait Photography International Conference & Expo to network, learn new techniques from industry leaders and build relationships. In addition, they experience new products, gear and solutions from the world’s top photo suppliers, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Epson, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron and many others.
Moreover, the biggest wedding and portrait photography show in the country, WPPI offers an affordable education program that features leading photography instructors from around the world. In addition, it offers more than 175 portrait and wedding photography classes, with training in a wide range of photographic subjects.
Furthermore, WPPI combines educational seminars with a major industry trade show and networking events—all designed around a friendly, fun environment. 
While exploring the show floor, you can touch, test and also compare the latest products, as well as discover new trends and solutions. In addition, you can take advantage of some amazing deals and offers on photo equipment and accessories.
Not only does WPPI’s show floor feature the latest cameras, lenses, printers, accessories and services from the best photography brand names, but it also hosts special events and presentations. And they are all offered to spark creativity and help you take your skills to the next level. In addition, you can augment your portfolio at shooting bays featuring live models.
A Sample of WPPI 2019 Education Sessions
Enhance your educational experience at WPPI by purchasing an All Access Pass and attending an in-depth Plus class, intensive Master class or a Platform class. Moreover, you can get hands-on training from top photographers and filmmakers on professionally led Photo Walks.
Here is a sample of the Platform, Plus and Master classes as well as Photo Walks you can attend to help you advance your skills and grow your business.
Platform Classes
A Platform class is a 90-minute, theater-style session that prepares you for everything from becoming a better photographer to running a more successful and profitable business. Learning tracks include Boudoir, Business & Marketing, Inspirational/Motivational, Lighting & Posing, Maternity/Newborn, Photo Booth, Portrait, Sports/Action, Technical & Design, Wedding, and Workflow.
A Platform Pass provides access to more than 40 Platform classes. Platform classes are offered to Platform Pass and All Access Pass holders on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure entrance into your choices.
February 26, 2019, 12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.: Room, Islander Ballroom 1
PC06: From Wedding Videographer to Wedding Filmmaker
Brandon Rice
Learn how to take wedding videos up a notch to create cinematic wedding films. With more than 16 years of filmmaking experience, Rice explains the parallels between narrative films and wedding films and why story-driven content will take your work and business to the next level.
February 27, 8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.: Islander Ballroom D
PC17: The Tips, Tricks and Tools You Need to Succeed on Social with Video
Sally Sargood
Video is the easiest, most effective way to connect with your audience on social media. You don’t need to be a professional videographer or learn complicated editing programs to create eye-catching videos.
In this session, Sargood shares the latest trends in video that drive action on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. She also dives deeper into Instagram as an emerging platform for video marketing. Find out how and what to shoot to ensure results. Plus, learn how to save time and be more effective when creating marketing videos.
February 27, 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.: Islander Ballroom E
PC25: Illustrative & Creative Storytelling
Richard Wood
Wood takes you through a journey of creativity to awaken the artist in you and also give you the tools for creative thinking within photography and storytelling. Moreover, he explains strategies to open up your visual imagination to give you the courage to step outside the box and infuse your work with purpose and vision. In addition, live exercises help you obtain your own creative vision. He also covers the secrets to an award-winning image, providing you a set of powerful tools for your next awards submissions.
February 28, 8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.: Islander Ballroom E
PC27: Power of Print
Pete Wright, Canon USA
Join Pete Wright as he explains what’s needed to create a successful business model for printing in a photography business. He covers the technical aspects of understanding ICC profiles, calibration and using the right file types for printing. He also discusses the artistic elements of selecting the right paper and prepping an image for printing. In addition, you’ll learn unique ways to bring additional income into your studio through printing your own work.
February 28, 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.: South Pacific E
PC36: From Studio to Wedding
Susan Stripling
Studio lighting and lighting a wedding are different, right? Wrong! The techniques Stripling uses in the studio are the same techniques she uses to cover a wedding. From strobes to speedlights, video lights to reflectors, the tools are universal and the principles the same. In this comprehensive class, she takes you through simple studio setups for lighting as well as shows how they translate to weddings. Portraits, family formal images, toasts, first dances—they will all be easier after this class.
Plus Classes
A Plus class is a one-day, intimate and intensive learning experience limited to 25 participants. There are two formats for Plus classes. 1) You experience classroom learning through a two-hour presentation followed by hands-on training out of the classroom on a photo walk. 2) You remain in the classroom for the duration of the class. Furthermore, the time for both formats is six hours, including a lunch break. All sessions are taught by a world-class photography instructor. Plus classes are included with the All Access Pass. Pass holders register for Plus classes on a first-come, first-served basis.
February 26, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.: Coral C
PLUS03: Multiple Realities of Location Lighting
Pierre Stephenson
Learn how to master location lighting and change the perceived reality of an image through different lighting scenarios. Stephenson photographs every setup multiple ways with different lighting options. You learn firsthand how each version controls an image’s mood, focus and story. Then practice hands-on to improve control of location lighting through deliberate use of those lighting options, techniques and tools.
The class explores: matching lighting to your intent; off-camera flash and monolights on location; how to modify light; the power of key shifting; additive and subtractive lighting; effective use of reflectors and gobos; inverse square law; contrast considerations; feathering; natural light modifiers; using the sun; short and broad lighting; visible vs. invisible light; shadow line transition rates; and thinking like a commercial photographer vs. shooting like a photojournalist to find a happy median.
February 27, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.: Coral C
PLUS06: Speed Up Your Workflow
Kelly Brown
Join Kelly Brown of Little Pieces Photography for a demonstration on how to photograph a newborn session with a live model. Learn how to speed up your session workflow and get maximum results by transitioning a baby smoothly and confidently from pose to pose. She also shows the perfect camera angles as well as lighting and composition for each pose, then takes you step by step through her editing process.
February 27, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.: Coral A
PLUS04: A Grand Masters Vision from Capture to Print
Rocco Ancora
Join WPPI and AIPP Grand Master Rocco, who has printed and edited 10 WPPI 16×20 Grand Awards and 65+ first, second and third place 16×20 Print Awards. Learn his process of taking an image from capture through to editing and the final print. The class includes a live shoot with models, followed by editing workflows in Lightroom and Photoshop and the mechanics of printing and paper selection. Ancora also demystifies color management and monitor calibration. Whether printing yourself or through a lab, this class is for you. Please bring a camera and lenses for the shooting component and a laptop (and charger) loaded with Lightroom and Photoshop for the postproduction section.
Master Classes
A Master class is a focused two-hour, hands-on session limited to 50 participants. Providing a detailed learning experience, the Master class tracks cover a wide variety of photography and filmmaking topics. Master classes are included with the All Access Pass. Pass holders register on a first-come, first-served basis.
February 26, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Tradewinds D
MC04: How to Run a Successful Destination Wedding Photography Business
Kenny Kim
With 13 years of shooting destination weddings, Kim shares his treasure trove of insights about how to run a profitable destination wedding photography studio. He offers tips on booking your first client; how to factor in travel costs; strategies to price your packages; getting your work published; building and maintaining relationships with clients/vendors; and utilizing social media to attract new clients. You also learn practical tips on how to travel with your gear.
February 26, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Tradewinds A
MC01: Optimize Your Video for YouTube & Facebook
Douglas Spotted Eagle
YouTube and Facebook, the new Broadcast Centrals, provide a huge opportunity for traditional and nontraditional broadcasters. However, both recompress video uploads, and this can cause a significant loss in quality. Knowing how to best edit and deliver for YouTube and Facebook assures the least (if any) quality loss in uploaded videos.
Spotted Eagle, founder and instructor of Sundance Media Group, covers best practices for editing, graphics and encoding for the best possible image output for these two websites. He also discusses the use of metadata to drive the most traffic and provide analytics to better understand your viewers.
February 26, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.: Tradewinds B
MC08: The Art of Selling Wedding Albums
Scott Johnson
Do you struggle to sell wedding albums? Do you often find it hard to up-sell after the vows have been said? If your answer is “yes,” then this class is for you. Having photographed weddings in the tough UK market for more than 13 years, Johnson shares his secrets of success. He explains how to get into the couple’s heads and how he nearly doubles his initial spend on album upgrades and up-selling long after the wedding.
February 27, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Tradewinds E
MC17: Shooting for Story
Charley Voorhis
Sponsored by Tamron, this class dissects Voorhis’s workflow and approach to storytelling through film. He discusses how to get to the heart of a story and showcase a story in a visually impactful manner. He goes into detail about shot-listing a scene, coordinating a shoot’s logistics and directing a crew. You learn why people connect to certain stories and how filmmakers can highlight those aspects. Enjoy lecture-style lessons and small-group discussions to dive into what it takes to tell stories, interact with subjects and release films. Handouts outline key storytelling and filmmaking information so you can continue to explore storytelling through film.
February 27, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Tradewinds B
MC14: Mastering Wedding Photojournalism
Nacho Mora and Vinny LaBella
These two international award-winning wedding photographers take you through the essentials of wedding photojournalism. They teach you how to learn wedding PJ from A to Z and tell a story for your clients with stunning “authentic moment” images. They also offer advanced techniques and tips to become a storyteller.
February 28, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Tradewinds C
MC32: A Pinch of Salt: The Key Ingredients to Food Photography
Christian Lalonde
Food photography is one of the most popular styles of commercial photography. Never has so much importance been put on the culture surrounding what goes into food. Join Lalonde for a look into what it takes to create an enticing series of images that tease the viewers’ taste buds and wow your client. He shares his knowledge from 20+ years as a food photographer, as well as his skills and experience working with some of the best food and prop stylists. You learn about the gear required, the lighting, the styles and the environment of a food shoot.
March 1, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Tradewinds A
MC49: The Business of Headshots
Gary Hughes
Join one of the industry’s foremost headshot photographers as he shares the secrets of how he and his wife/partner, Julie Hughes, have created a thriving photography business by working an underserved market. Learn marketing and pricing strategies as well as some of the techniques Hughes uses to create his signature images. For beginner to expert, this program educates and also equips attendees to take advantage of this exploding market.
WPPI 2019 Photo Walks
WPPI Photo Walks are exclusive, 90-minute shootouts limited to 12 people. Each one focuses on teaching participants to sharpen their observation and composition skills. Furthermore, they demonstrate the leader’s unique skill set, including off-camera lighting, posing, gear and lens selection. Photo Walks are also included with the All Access Pass. Pass holders register for Photo Walks on a first-come, first-served basis. All Photo Walks begin in Mariners B.
February 26, 3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
PW18: Engagement and Wedding Posing
Michelle Harris
In this Photo Walk, you learn how to make your clients feel comfortable and confident in front of your lens. Harris explains her seven foundation poses for couples as well as several variations.
February 27, 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
PW41: Street Fashion Photo Walk
Joe Edelman, Olympus Visionary
During this Photo Walk you learn techniques to create dynamic street fashion shots as well as portraits in almost any location. Edelman shows how to find interesting backgrounds, identify great natural light and use reflectors to enhance the natural light. He also shares how to utilize lenses and aperture to control backgrounds; how to interact with and direct subjects; as well as some simple posing tips for full length and portrait style compositions.
February 28, 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
PW61: Experience Shooting Mirrorless Cameras
Matthew Kemmetmueller
Learn why Kemmetmueller left the comfort of shooting with DSLRs and moved his entire studio and staff to mirrorless camera technology. This class provides hands-on work with the latest Sony cameras and lenses. Moreover, both the Sony 7 III and 7R III cameras are available to experiment with video, stills, flash and constant lighting. All you need to bring is an SD card.
March 1, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
David Hakamaki
PW78: Crush Your Next Senior Session
Join Hakamaki, owner of Cutting Edge Photography, as he demonstrates how to photograph a senior session to up your game. Hakamaki is nationally recognized for his stunning work with seniors, including creative lighting, posing and location selection. Bring a camera to photograph a senior model as well as get some great portfolio images. Learn posing that both parents and teens will be amazed by, as well as how to set them up for buying. This session has limited space, so sign up early.
