We are planning on attending WPPI this year, and as we look at the website, etc. there is A LOT that goes on there.

We want to get the most out of this but not get overwhelmed.

Any tips from those of you who have been there before? What to do, what not to do, etc.

Thanks!!

WPPI is overwhelming - that's that. Unless you get about half of what you could out of it, it's going to truck you over.

Here's our course of attack:

We're going to look at each day's schedule, figure out who we would probably learn the most from (I will give you my suggestions on PM or IM later mark but not on here) then we're going to attempt to do everything possible. We will attend the Business Institute - an all day thing with LaCour and a lot of other photographers. Then we're going to attend every platform or class that will help us. We will go to the tradeshow at least 2 of the 3 days if not all 3 - that's where you'll find a LOT of people during the day. At night we'll have an OSP Get together, DWC's cocktail "five hour" and whatever social things we can squeeze in.

Is that insane? It's overwhelming yes. But if you don't do it, you have to wait another whole year for WPPI! Take the best notes possible and don't worry about the info itself. Just write - when you get home, boil down your notes to the things you're most interested in doing and go for it! Make an action plan for your business - things you want to do things you wanted to remember - whatever works.

A lot of people try to take it a lot less hardcore than that and that's cool - but they are going to have to read OSP later on to see what we're all doing now. The more you see, the less you miss, the happier you will be AFTER WPPI. Now, if you're going to Vegas cuz you want to see Vegas, do Vegas, go to the tradeshow and hit DJ's platform - well then go for it.

Why are you going? That will answer your question.

I am going and soooooooooo excited. This will be my first year. Matt, I am overwhelmed looking at all the speakers.
Why am I going???
Learn to market my business and get more clients........
Get some new ideas for Childrens Portraiture........(may be harder to find since it is wedding geared)
I would say tho that the marketing aspect it top priority for me.
Any recommendations??
Oh and yes, wanna take take that awesome class on RAW

I've been to a lot of conferences, not just WPPI, and here are things that help me get the most out of them:

stay at the conference hotel
take at least one day long class that you pre-register for
get on the guest list for parties (Pictage, for instance)
go to all the social get togethers you can
allow time to visit the tradeshow more than once
introduce yourself to everyone you meet
keep business cards in your nametag-holder
make plans to hook up with people - for lunch, coffee, workshops, dinner, etc
make a list of your top 1 or two goals.
attend workshop sessions that address those goals.
if a workshop isn't going well or you're just not interested, it's okay to leave and go to another one (just don't sit in the front row if you think you might do this)

have fun! we're hoping to go this year too

Enna

OH yes! She's NOT kidding. Last year we stayed down the strip thinking we'd save money by walking a couple blocks. Our feet have still not recovered. Walking was HORRIBLE and it is at least 10 times farther away than you think.

STAY AT THE CONFERENCE HOTEL!!!

Great list Enna!!

Were going again and it's DAILY in my mind what I'm about to experiance AGAIN! You will come back soooooo fired up to shoot it's not even funny!
Another good thing to do (to add to the already awesome list) is mingle with your current vendors! They love it when you come by their booth and say hi. Sometimes you can even get some "goodies" from them

The tradeshow just rocks but be prepared to spend some money!!! I plan on getting a few new lenses, a new body, frames, etc this year.... ca-ching!!

Some advice.... I have a huge pet peeve that this year I am not going to let bother me (too much I hope). I can't stand it when I am sitting in a course and you have everybody and their mother snapping pics of the speakers screen everytime he/she changes to a new screen. Last year was just terrible with the amount of people doing it. TAKE NOTES and don't be like those other ametures!

On a side note - one way that WPPI changed our lifes is when we took the session last year with RICK & DEBORAH LYNN FERRO. Our children photography just blew up after that and it toally got us through the wedding off season. So, I suggest taking some courses that may "push you" a bit.