When it comes to lighting in photography, most of us instinctively reach for soft, flattering light. We diffuse our flashes, shoot through umbrellas, and seek out cloudy days. But what if I told you that some of the most striking portraits actually come from embracing hard light?

That’s exactly what renowned photographer Roberto Valenzuela teaches in his groundbreaking new Dynamic Lighting Masterclass, now available at WPPI On Demand. Today, I’m excited to share his transformative lighting insights, which could revolutionize your portrait photography.

The Hidden Power of Hard Light

“Hard light gets a bad reputation because it’s more difficult to use. But it’s not really difficult,” Valenzuela explains. “If you have some control over your subjects, hard light is going to look ten times more dynamic, ten times more amazing.”

The secret? Intense lighting creates images with:

1. More shock value
2. Increased drama
3. Better contouring
4. Stronger visual impact

As Valenzuela notes, “People are going to look at the photo, and they can’t stop looking at it. There’s something beautiful about it because it’s not normal to see lighting like that.”

The Essential Gear Tip You Need to Know

Here’s a pro tip from Roberto that could save you hundreds of dollars: Never buy a hard light modifier without also purchasing its grid. “Hard modifiers without a grid is like a car without a steering wheel,” he warns. “If you can’t afford the grid, then don’t buy the modifier at all because it’s a waste of your money.”

Why? The grid helps control where your light falls, preventing it from spilling onto backgrounds and losing that sought-after separation between subject and environment.

The Batman and Robin Technique

But here’s where it gets really interesting. Valenzuela reveals his signature “Batman and Robin” approach to lighting:

1. Use your hard light (Batman) as the main light for your subject’s face
2. Add a softer light (Robin) to compensate and fill in the shadows

“You don’t have to,” Roberto admits, “but it works quite well to do it with two sources of light, a hard one and a medium or soft one.”

This combination creates portraits with impact while maintaining control over the overall look. The hard light provides drama and definition, while the fill light ensures you don’t lose detail in the shadows.

Beyond the Basics

Of course, this is just scratching the surface of what’s possible. In his complete Dynamic Lighting Masterclass, Roberto goes deep into:

• Precise light positioning techniques
• Advanced modifier combinations
• Creating separation with grids
• Balancing ambient light with hard light
• Movement and posing with dramatic lighting

Ready to Transform Your Photography?

While this technique alone can elevate your portrait work, it’s just one of countless insights Roberto shares in his comprehensive new course. If you’re ready to master lighting and create images that truly stand out, check out the complete Dynamic Lighting Masterclass at the WPPI On Demand Store.

You’ll learn not just how to use light, but how to shape it, control it, and bend it to your creative will. Because as Roberto shows us, sometimes the most striking images come from embracing the techniques others are afraid to try.

Learn from the World’s Best Photographers—Anytime, Anywhere

Want to learn more game-changing lighting techniques? Roberto Valenzuela’s Dynamic Lighting Masterclass is now available exclusively at the WPPI On Demand Store.

Explore Roberto’s work at RobertoValenzuela.com and @roberto_photo.

[Read: Create Spicy Photos that Enliven the Senses with Roberto Valenzuela]

The post Why Top Photographers are Embracing Hard Light (And You Should, Too) appeared first on Rangefinder.

The Icon International Photography Awards are to photographers what Wimbledon is to tennis players, says co-director, Jerry Ghionis in a recent announcement about the contest’s upcoming submission deadline of October 1^st. He and his partner and co-director Melissa Ghionis are having their second year at the helm of the new awards program, which has taken over and transformed the former WPPI Print Competition.

When comparing Icon to Wimbledon, Jerry says, “Where would tennis be without the slams?” Jerry considers photography awards competitions like Icon to be the photography industry’s version of the Grand Slam – except, he says, “You are competing with yourself, asking ‘Did I achieve a personal best?’”

Jerry encourages photographers to get “obsessed with the process and not so much with the results.” While everyone wants to get high scores, attain honors of distinction, land a coveted first, second, or third place, and especially a Grand Champion (along with all the wonderful prizes), Jerry stresses the importance of the program as an avenue for personal and industry growth, saying “It’s the way I grew up in the industry, and that’s why we want to bring this to you, as well. It’s a platform that raises the bar for photographers, and it is part of your legacy, my legacy, and the community’s legacy of lifting each other up with an incredible platform to recognize you as icons.”

How the Icon Awards Work

The first round of the Icon Awards is a digital submission process. When submitting their images, photographers are asked a series of four questions, which will place the image in the appropriate category. Each image may only be entered into one category – except for the In-Camera Artistry category, which may also be selected for one other category. Photographers are strongly encouraged to read all the rules before entering.

Each image is judged anonymously by five experts in the given genre. Subsequently, it has the opportunity to earn honors of Silver, Silver with Distinction, Gold, Gold with Distinction, and Platinum Awards. Points from the four highest scoring images count toward accreditation with Icon – Associate, Master, Double Master, Triple Master, Grand Master, and Double Grand Master. Learn all about scoring here.

Entrants are highly encouraged to select the option to receive critiques on your images, which along with being given to each photographer, are also anonymously posted in the Icon Critique Gallery. This free resource for anyone to view offers insights and guidance intended to empower the photography community to elevate their skills and artistry.

All certificates and emblems from the first round are provided as downloadables. Top ten finalists are invited to enter a print for the Icon Print Competition, which will happen live at WPPI March 16 – 20, 2025 at The Rio, in fabulous Las Vegas.

The Time to Enter is Now!

While Jerry acknowledges that some photographers feel hesitant to enter photography competitions for fear of not doing well, he strongly encourages everyone to take a chance, saying “Even if you are inexperienced, you’ve got to be at the right place at the right time to get a great image. Not only could you get a better score than what you thought . . . you can also have the possibility of being in the top ten and winning first, second, third, and grand!”

Finalists will be judged at the WPPI convention. First, second, and third place winners will receive a trophy, and there are literally thousands of dollars in prizes. Once again, a special Luminance Award will go to the image judged to make the “best use of light,” and that winner will receive $10k in Profoto gear. If you want to increase your chances to win, be sure to check out the past Winners Gallery and consider making an entry into a category with less competition.

Whether or not an image places or wins big prizes, Jerry encourages all photographers to think of entering into the Icon Awards as a “commitment to your growth” as a photographer. Through the process of striving to create your best work yet every year, in the company of other like-minded photographers, you are bound to propel yourself and your artistry to higher levels of achievement simply by virtue of making that commitment and putting in the effort to do so.

But entries to the Icon Photography Awards are closing in just a few short days, so don’t delay in getting your entries together before October 1 and submitting to the Icon Awards Program for your chance to be recognized as an icon in your field!

Read the rules. Submit to Icon. Follow Icon on Instagram and Facebook.

The post Be an Icon: Icon International Awards: Enter by October 1 appeared first on Rangefinder.

WPPI just finished its best year since the pandemic, and already organizers are working hard to make 2025 even better and are offering an amazing presale ticket price. WPPI educator Jason Vinson, who has been speaking every year at WPPI since 2018, recently noted in an Fstoppers article called “WPPI is Bigger and Better Than Ever,” that “WPPI is now as good as it ever was, and getting better each year.” (Be sure to check out Vinson’s article in Fstoppers if you haven’t yet. It’s a great read!) 

Organizers made 2024 the best year yet, not by simply trying to replicate what WPPI has been, but by pushing the boundaries of what WPPI is by including more hands-on experiences that allow conference goers to grow their craft by doing as well as listening to learn. Organizers intend to ride this wave into the future by expanding on and refining WPPI 2024’s offerings to make 2025 a truly standout year.

Those astute enough to catch this wave now can nab an epic early bird WPPI presale ticket. Those early birds will get this juicy WPPI presale deal for only $79. 

WPPI 2024 – The Year of More 

Vinson calls 2024 “the year of more” for WPPI, and he’s absolutely correct. Not only were there more Photo Walks, more vendor booths on the Trade Show Floor, more people, and more amazing parties, there were also new debuts. The Icon Awards had its inaugural year, picking up where the WPPI Print Competition left off. Several mini-conferences also debuted at WPPI, including The Portrait Masters Conference, two summits – Lighting and Wedding, and a Spanish-language track.  

[Read: The Details Matter: Capturing Wedding Detail Shots]

The addition of these mini-conferences also came along with a new feature at WPPI, called the Playground, which was a hall of fully-styled shooting bays, where photographers could gain hands-on experience implementing what they learned in Summits and Photo Walks and build their portfolios at the same time. This year, the WPPI Show Floor featured an aisle solely dedicated to shooting bays, and many vendors also incorporated shooting bays into their booths. All in all, conference goers had an unprecedented amount of opportunities to capture professional-grade portfolio images – more than ever before!  

As many conference goers have noted, it’s no coincidence that The Portrait Masters coming into the fold coincided with WPPI shifting into its current experiential-learning mindset. This type of interactive conference experience has been a hallmark of The Portrait Masters Conference experience. And along with bringing the TPM conference in, WPPI also brought in TPM’s powerhouse producers to helm WPPI, Aaron Andersen and George Varanakis. Andersen and Varanakis have brought their expansive vision into manifestation with the help of the passionate and dedicated WPPI organizing team. 

They have even more planned for 2025. 

WPPI 2025 – The Best Year Yet

Perhaps the biggest change planned for 2025 will be the greatest thing that has happened for WPPI, which is its move from the Mirage to the Rio.

Conference goers will be glad to learn that the Rio is in the final stages of a multi-year renovation, and the resort is not cutting any corners. The new pool and room designs draw inspiration from Rio de Janeiro, seven new eateries are adding diversity to dining options, and meeting spaces are also getting a face lift. All these renovations will be complete before 2025, giving conference goers an exciting, new Rio experience. 

Additionally, a main feature of the Rio, which gave some photographers pause – its location off the Strip – might turn out to be WPPI’s greatest asset for 2025. Being off the Strip means the Rio has even more locations to offer in less-crowded settings than if it was on the bustling Strip.  

The Rio’s spaciousness will increase possibilities for Photo Walks, intimate classes with photography pros, where attendees learn about specific topics while working with a fully-styled model in a complementary lighting scenario. At past conferences, more crowded venues meant Photo Walks were often held close to each other and in public spaces. At the Rio, Photo Walks will have dedicated indoor spaces and increased outdoor options for instructors to explore. 

These expanded space possibilities, including multi-bedroom master suites, open the door to more privacy and expanded areas of education, such as Photo Walks catering to boudoir photographers and topics like bride/groom preparation. The suites will be dressed like real-life environments, leading to even better portfolio images. 

Conference goers should also prepare themselves for even more networking events, seminars, and more support for the Spanish-language track. 

Early Birds and Smart Shoppers Rejoice  

WPPI is the premiere photography conference in the world. It’s a place for a community of far-flung entrepreneurs to come together for the synergy, excitement, and expansive growth that only being in person can provide. Regular conference goers commonly describe it as “family reunion” meets “Spring Break,” and many note that the camaraderie and chance to unwind and party is just as valuable as the vast learning opportunities it offers along with the ability to try out a plethora of professional gear options and score great deals on them.

Experiencing fresh, warm air in the sunny and moderately temperate desert clime is also a big perk for winter-weary photographers. Another great draw is that, as a business trip, it’s an excellent tax write off. Even if you do intend to write off WPPI as a business expense, who doesn’t love to save a bunch, to the tune of $100+, for that matter?  

If you’re one of those smart, early bird shoppers, take advantage now on WPPI 2025 presale tickets, valued at $199, available now for only $79. 

This writer looks forward to seeing you there! 

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect a change in the expiration of this presale deal, which has now been extended beyond the previous date.

Raw Portraits

The Successful Small Photography Studio

Boundless Boudoir By Kara Marie: Discover New Possibilities and Expand Your Offerings

Words for Photographers – A Simple Guide to Unlocking Your Sales Potential

Outdoor and On-Location Photography: How To Take Amazing Portraits- Anywhere! with Nikki Closser

The post SALE EXTENDED! WPPI 2025: The Best Yet at an Amazing Price  appeared first on Rangefinder.

This is it, folks. We’ve come to the end of WPPI 2024. This has truly been an epic week. I got to connect with so many amazing people from all around the world, and am so grateful to the WPPI Producing Team, all the staff, volunteers, teachers, attendees, and the Mirage for creating this wild Las Vegas magic together. It’s been a photographer’s spring break, a photographer’s playground, a photographer’s toy shop, and so much more! For Day 5 of My WPPI Diary, I’m going to look back at a couple recent events and then turn things over to some amazing fellow WPPIers, who share their insights, reflections, and gorgeous images from the week! 

Last Night’s Party 

Last night’s party was the totally radical SmugMug 80s Wrap Party with a live band playing favorite songs from the era, and the crowd danced it up. It was so fun! Check out footage from the party on WPPI’s Instagram.  

Recap of David Suh’s Keynote 

Yesterday, a large, appreciative crowd came for WPPI’s “Mystery Speaker” David Suh, who has been dubbed the “King of Posing” by CBS News and the Washington Times. David shared his own journey of stepping into his confidence in front of the camera, urging other photographers to do the same. He says that when you understand that those voices in your head telling you, “I can’t be in front of the camera. I can’t wear that,” are just limiting beliefs, you can embark on an exploration to prove those beliefs wrong.   

He encourages photographers “to see posing as more than a tool we use for clients.” He says, “See it as body language,” and “show up more as the person [you] want to be.” David says when you create space for yourself to do that, you also create space for others to do the same.  

If you resonate with David’s message, check him out on Instagram. Also, stay tuned for his first online course, which is coming soon! 

Reflections from WPPI Attendees 

First time attendee Jon Maxwell has been wanting to attend WPPI for a long time and was glad that he came this year. For him, it was invaluable to network with other photo business owners and to hear about trends in the industry. He also came with a long list of gear he wanted to try out and says, “having the ability to talk with reps and get my hands on equipment and see, just that alone made the trip worth it — being able to test everything out and figure out what I need.” 

Another first time attendee, Pallavi Sharma says, “I was completely blown away by the range of speakers and vendors!” Having attended other photo conferences, she felt WPPI was a level above the rest. She felt all the speakers were so genuinely authentic and helpful and says, “The business classes gave me a lot to think about with my pricing model and how I should value my work more than I have so far. It’s given me the confidence to take that courageous step forward to price my work correctly! I’m deeply thankful to the amazing speakers for that one thing! Thank you WPPI!”

Yuki Neo says, “This is our second year attending. My partner, John Battiloro and I come to get new business, marketing, and client services ideas. Technology moves so quickly and we need WPPI to help to keep our business abreast of industry trends. We also want to see what our competition is doing in shooting styles to compare. There is so much to learn and to employ.”

Fabiola Vázquez has been planning to come to WPPI for a long time. She says, “There are so many things to do that you don’t know where to start, and the best way was a Photo Walk with Fujifilm. I had no idea that they would lend us their equipment to try it, and I loved the camera. It was very practical but with all the functions and beautiful on the outside. Thanks to Fujifilm and WPPI for putting on this amazing event, I will definitely come back every year.”

Jess Montgomery says, “The highlight of my experience at WPPI 2024 was the opportunity to mingle with friends from diverse backgrounds worldwide. Moreover, a valuable takeaway for me was the reinforcement of the significance of transparently sharing my personal narrative, which intricately complements my creative endeavors.” She credits WPPI speaker Russel Klimas for bringing this necessity to her attention.

Ryan from Hawaii says, “Attending these conventions isn’t just about the products. It’s about networking with everyone in the industry and just sharing a common interest, which is our passion for photography. I attended representing my film lab (Yoro’s Film Lab). . . I always love connecting.”

Cobby Banks says, “WPPI is by far my favorite event of the year. It’s become sort of like a family reunion style event for a lot of photographers. I add something new to my repertoire every year from something I’ve learned in a session, but the Photo Walks are even more impressive. Everyone shares tips and tricks and the locations around Vegas are amazing.”

Kris Zurbas has been attending WPPI for eight years and says he loves talking to the vendors and also learns so much in the seminars and Photo Walks. His biggest takeaway this year is “how not to fear AI and how to actually use it as an assistant.” In one of Kristina Sherk‘s sessions he learned lots of ways “to use and incorporate AI into my work flow.” Zurbas says, “I can’t wait until next year’s WPPI already!!!!”

I feel just the same way!

Next Year’s WPPI

WPPI organizers revealed today that next year’s WPPI will be held at the Rio on March 18 – 20. Personally, I can’t wait to reconnect with old friends and meet new friends and to be blown away by all the incredible talent and passion in this industry.

If you already miss WPPI and would like to bring home something to remind you of it during the whole year, be sure to check out Photo Flash Drive’s WPPI Shop, where you can pick up cozy hoodies, snazzy t’s, drinking receptacles, hats, and more. But don’t put it off because this shop closes on March 20!

See you next time at WPPI!

Past WPPI Diary Entries

My WPPI Diary, Day 1 – Choose Adventure! 

My WPPI Diary, Day 2: Summit and Playground

My WPPI Diary, Day 3: Grand Opening of the Show Floor

My WPPI Diary, Day 4: 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography, Icon Awards & Awesome Seminars

The post My WPPI Diary, Day 5: Abundantly Beautiful and Fulfilled appeared first on Rangefinder.

WPPI is in full swing, and it’s hard to believe there’s only one day left! Seminars are packed, Photo Walks are scattered around creating beautiful images, and the Show Floor is bustling with free education and demos, one-on-one mentoring, the Icon Awards Gallery, and photographers checking out products and gear and shooting in the gorgeous Shooting Bays. Today was a big day with 30 Rising Stars announced and some awesome seminars. Let’s look a little closer at these plus the Icon Awards recap in My WPPI Diary Day 4. 

Last Night’s Party 

Last night’s party was the Icon Awards Gala, and it was quite a dressed-up affair with floor length evening gowns and sharp suits. Co-Directors Melissa and Jerry Ghionis co-hosted with assistance from Icon Grand Master Tony Hewitt. Excitement levels were high with Jerry noting “Being in this room is electric.” 

This year, the Icon Awards had 1800 entries from 39 countries and 235 finalists. All were honored in the celebration with the top three in each category, the Grand Champions, and Pro Photo Luminance Award taking home some great prizes. The Grand Award Winners were Kris Anderson, Richard Wood, Shannon Beauclair, and Mauro Cantelmi (in two categories). Alvaro Ruiz Nogues won the Pro Photo Luminance Award. Emily Pearl won the Ghionis scholarship of $18,500 in photography products and services.

Erica Manning said, “The Icon Award Ceremony was such an amazing event. All the images were absolutely incredible, and it was such an inspiration to watch the best artists in the industry be rewarded for their hard work. The judging, awards, and party were all first class. Bravo Jerry and Melissa Ghionis!!” 

Awesome Seminars 

Today was a great day for seminars!  

This morning Ashleigh Taylor gave her presentation on using online advertising to grow your business to a packed full room. She shared five mistakes that people make when running Facebook and Goodle Ads and advised photographers to “test different versions of ad copy, images, and videos to see what resonates best with your audience.” If you missed Ashleigh at WPPI, you can still learn from her about online advertising in her online courses: Get Fully Booked with Facebook Ads and Book Clients with Instagram. 

Kara Marie also gave a seminar this morning, talking about the evolution of boudoir photography. She told WPPI correspondent Angie Whitten, “My talk was called Boundless. I talked all about how amazing this industry is, how  much it has changed over the years, and what direction it should continue to go in to celebrate all of humanity and not just a narrow portion of it.” If you’d like to learn from Kara Marie, check out her online course: Boundless Boudoir. 

30 Rising Stars of Photography Announced 

This was the big day for the 50 finalists of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography to find out who made it into the coveted final 30. Caroline Tran, a 2012 Rising Star, hosted the announcement saying, “When I came to WPPI for the first time 15 years ago, I was so inspired by all the amazing artists that I met and could only dream of being up on stage with them one day. And here I am today helping celebrate these 30 Rising Stars! I hope you all find just as much inspiration from their beautiful work as I have. I can’t wait to watch what this new generation of incredible photographers does next!” 

Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography are: 

• Chirstopher Akpokodje 
• Mikalynn Amos 
• Kim Wilfriedsson 
• Mariana Barbosa 
• Brjánn Batista Bettencourt 
• Radostina Boseva 
• Tash Busta 
• Aurora Ceriani 
• Traci Edwards & William Young 
• Carlos Ferreira 
• Robin Goodlad 
• Raphaëlle Granger 
• Agata Grzaba 
• Daniela Gutierrez Herrera 
• Rune Havn 
• Autumn Jordan 
• Juliana Noelle Jumper 
• Koko King 
• Echo Kowalski 
• Mati Machner 
• Natallia Nikolaichik
• Timi Oshin
• Yana Petrova
• Sam Rose & Chris Grandy
• Anna Sauza
• Parker Selman
• Vanessa da Silva
• Valeria Velázquez Pichardo
• Marie Thibault
• Darren & Shamakia Williams

Congratulations to all our 30 Rising Stars! Like Caroline, we just can’t wait to see what you create next! 

Find out more about them in our 2024 Rising Star Winners Gallery!

Parties Tonight! 

Tonight is the Smug Mug 80s Themed Wrap Party! Ticketholders of all levels are welcome to attend. Strut your 80s best and dance the night away! 

The After Party is at Marquee Nightclub at Cosmopolitan. 

Past WPPI Diary Entries

My WPPI Diary, Day 1 – Choose Adventure! 

My WPPI Diary, Day 2: Summit and Playground

My WPPI Diary, Day 3: Grand Opening of the Show Floor

The Successful Small Photography Studio

Get Fully Booked with Facebook Ads: A Photographer’s Guide to Using Facebook Ads

Book Clients with Instagram: A Portrait Photographer’s Guide to Instagram

Kara Marie’s Boudoir Digital Posing Cards

Boundless Boudoir By Kara Marie: Discover New Possibilities and Expand Your Offerings

The post My WPPI Diary, Day 4: 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography, Icon Awards & Awesome Seminars  appeared first on Rangefinder.

Today, the Mirage is bustling with WPPI in full swing. Photo Walks are happening all around. Seminars are gearing up. And the Show Floor is popping. Let me tell you all about it in Day 3 of My WPPI Diary 

Last Night’s Parties 

I strolled into the TPM Karaoke Party a little late and sedate. Wayne the bartender encouraged me to put in a song because Karaoke isn’t about being an amazing singer, it is about having fun with your friends. The TPM crowd was most definitely living it up, and one attendee even said to me, “We should have karaoke every night!” 

On the other side of the Mirage, the Fujifilm Opening Party was banging in full Vegas style. This is a party that never disappoints. The DJ was hot and the crowd was even hotter. It was so good to get down and loose with old friends in the Capri Lounge and meet new friends at the bar after the party closed.

It’s All Happening on the WPPI Show Floor 

Today the Show Floor opened, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but it seems even better than last year. There was so much amazing gear, booths for complimentary lens and camera cleaning and tuning, and so many demos and stages. I saw people trying out new cameras, lenses, bags, lights, and tech, touching albums, learning about storytelling through photography, listening to demos and talks, and trying out the interactive Icon Awards Gallery.  

Photographers were lining up and shooting in the gorgeous Shooting Bay Lane. And TPM passholders were taking full advantage of one-on-one mentoring. I was lucky enough to catch Mitzi Starkweather in a down moment. Starkweather is Grand Champion of the recent Portrait Masters Awards and Accreditation competition in the Self-Portrait category and she’s running a Raw Portrait Shooting Bay on the Show Floor (#17). Starkweather let me know that on Thursday, she will be having no-model day to give photographers a chance to photograph each other while she offers coaching in her Raw Portraits method of portraiture.  

Starkweather says, “It’s so important for photographers to get on the other side of the camera.” Her pioneering technique of portraiture is black and white, emotive photography, and it expresses the idea that we are worthy to be photographed just as we are.

Then, I ran into Matt Stagliano and he told me that he has added raw portraiture to his studio offerings. Stagliano says he hopes other photographers will realize just how powerful this method of shooting is. He says he typically overshoots and loves the discipline of shooting for just 25 minutes in each outfit, having no retouching, and you’re done. Stagliano says clients love to hear a photographer tell them, “I want to take pictures of you just as you are” because you are beautiful, and you are enough. 

Mitzi Starkweather’s Raw Portraits booth is on the Show Floor every day from 10:30 am – 4:30 pm. 

Parties Tonight 

Tonight, it’s all about the Icon Awards Ceremony, which is open to passholders of all levels. Come in your Oscar worthy attire, or just as you are, to celebrate stunning award-winning images, and the photographers who created them.  

Past WPPI Diary Entries

My WPPI Diary, Day 1 – Choose Adventure! 

My WPPI Diary, Day 2: Summit and Playground

The post My WPPI Diary, Day 3: Grand Opening of the Show Floor  appeared first on Rangefinder.

For me, Day 2 of WPPI was all about weddings, but it began with me wondering how long have I been here? Maybe yesterday? Maybe always? I had a good night’s sleep, but like many attendees, I have the sensation of being in the midst of a beautiful dream. Every moment has been full and rich with new people, mind-opening information, and dazzling sights. Let me tell you about it in entry two of my WPPI Daily Diary. 

The Night Before 

The Portrait Masters Vegas Glam party did not disappoint! I was too dazzled by all the sequins, glitter, and gold to take photos, so please take my word that the TPM community did themselves up true to theme. The Portrait Masters Awards & Accreditation was a sweet celebration of the amazing talent in the community, and it slid right into the Silent Disco Party, a longtime favorite for conference goers.  

Across the hall, the WPPI Opening Reception was on, and the word that trickled in from party hoppers is that it was banging. I did not manage to tear myself away from the dear TPMers until the very end of the Opening Reception but had the distinction of closing it out.

I nearly got swept up in the celebratory momentum to the after party at the Marquee, but I wanted to get to the Summits in the morning, so reluctantly called it a night. I heard this morning that it was a great party over there, too, and I’m determined to make it to the club at least once this week. 

The Wedding Summit 

In the morning, I went straight to Dan O’Day’s talk on the Wedding Summit stage. O’Day is such a fun speaker. I saw him at The Portrait Masters Conference in Phoenix two years ago. He has such a unique style that belies his provocative way of seeing the world. I didn’t want to miss another download on how to see and photograph differently. 

O’Day’s talk was jam packed with tips for wedding photographers that are applicable to photographers of all stripes. He offered an insight for photographers just getting started to think about shooting “two for them, one for me.” Shooting this way enabled O’Day to capture more conventional photos that pleased his client while also stretching his creative boundaries. He posted the “one for me” images to social media to attract clients that would resonate with his unique style, and now he says that instead of getting a laundry list of shots his clients want from him he hears, “We want to see our wedding the way you see our wedding.” 

Other tips from Dan O’Day include: 

• Set a flat rate for when you travel. If you allow clients to book your accomodation and flights, you will not be happy with what you get. It’s better to a set an amount so that you can budget your year. 
• Don’t ask what the budget is. Have a set rate and stick to it. Don’t sell yourself short. You are worth it. 
• Never leave on time. Let your clients know when your time is up and that you’re going to circle around a couple more times. Do a couple loops and snap a few more pictures before you go. This creates so much good will. 
• Always say goodbye to the parents. They are usually paying for the wedding, and you want them to be happy. 
• Every person you meet is a potential marketing funnel. Be sure to let people know what you do for a living and be kind to people. You never know who will send you business. 

Back to The Playground 

I spent the rest of the afternoon in The Playground and met a variety of people at different stages in their careers all eager to learn and grow in their craft.  

Joseph Newson Jr. told me that his favorite part of WPPI so far has been The Playground. He was excited to try out so many different types of lights and lighting setups. And the variety of backdrops and diversity is skin tones was giving him great ideas for styling. Omar Rafik agreed about the tremendous value of The Playground saying, “How hard would it be to get this many different models and set ups together?” 

I also ran into Jonny Edward who is going to be running Booth Number 7 on the Show Floor when it opens tomorrow (Tuesday). Jonny will be both modeling and mentoring in his booth. He hand picked his Oliphant backdrop and is going to be offering something unique in that he’ll be changing his lighting setup throughout the day, and will give photographers the opportunity to modify the lighting when they shoot. 

Parties Tonight! 

There are two parties tonight – The Opening Night Party at Club Capri and The Portrait Masters Karaoke Party. Those who wish to get into the Fujifilm Opening Night Party are advised to arrive early. This party is notoriously fun, and it always fills up fast. Once it hits capacity, that is it. They will not let anyone else in.  

The Portrait Masters Karaoke Party is always a blast as well. And those who are not able to make it into the Fujifilm Party are welcome to come and catch the TPM vibe and join this heartfelt crew at the Karaoke Party. 

Tonight’s after party will be at JEWEL Nightclub at Aria. 

[Read: My WPPI Diary Day 1: Choose Adventure!]

The post My WPPI Diary, Day 2: Summit and Playground appeared first on Rangefinder.

Where can you get free education seminars and build your portfolio in fully-styled and professionally lit shooting bays? On the WPPI Show Floor, of course.

Along with 14 shooting bays and 80+ vendors with special show deals, WPPI also hosts multiple stages, including a podcast stage where photogrpahers can learn from leading professionals in the field on everything from lighting, shooting, posing, and cutting-edge post productions techniques. The WPPI Show Floor Experience all starts on Tuesday, March 5, and it’s completely free when you book a ticket in advance with the code: WPPIEXPO24.

Rangefinder got advance access to the WPPI Stage schedule, which we’re delighted to share with you here.

WPPI STAGE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, March 5

• 11:10am – 11:40am: Michelle Harris: 10 Min Bridal Party Portraits
• 11:50- 12:20pm: Aaron Nejera: How to Train Your AI to Batch Edit Photos
• 12:30pm – 1pm: Will Cadena: Perfecting Commercial Lighting: On-the-Go Techniques with Up to Two Lights!
• 1:10pm – 1:40pm: Michelle Harris: Rapid Getting Ready
• 2:30pm – 3:15 pm: Kelsey Johnson: Utilizing Social Media to Grow Your Business
• 3:30pm – 4pm: Lindsay Coulter: The Profit Potential of AI Editing

Wednesday, March 6

• 11:10 am – 11:40 am: Lori Poole: Albums: The Secret Weapon for Profitable Boudoir Sales
• 11:50am – 12:20pm: Jyo Bhamidipati: The Art of the Personal Project
• 12:30pm – 1pm: Marcie Reif: The Power of a Strong Workflow
• 1:10pm – 1:40 pm: Alison Carlino: The Sportrait (Session & Sales)
• 1:50 pm – 2:20 pm: Shawn Lee: Choosing the Best Storytelling Photographs for a Print Album
• 2:30pm – 3pm: Masha Zvereva: Kick Your Toxic Business Habits with HoneyBook
• ***3pm – 4:30pm: Rising Stars Winners Announcement with Caroline Tran

Thursday, March 7

• 11:10am – 11:40 am: Susan Stripling: Incorporating AI into Your Editing
• 12:30pm – 1:40 pm: March Madness Giveaway
• 1:50 pm – 2:20 pm: WPPI & Adobe Lightroom Challenge Giveaway
• 2:30pm – 3:50pm: WPPI Passport to Prize

Please note on Wednesday, Caroline Tran will be hosting the announcement of the coveted Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Photography Winners for 2024. Also, note three sessions of prize giveaways taking over the stage on Thursday. If you’re at WPPI, you are not going to want to miss it. I hear it’s going to be lots of fun and with some high value items given away in the mix!

Remember, the WPPI Stage is just one of several stages, so be sure to also check for other live education happening on the floor at booths like Nikon, Kino, and Fuji. You can view the entire Adobe Theater schedule here. Also be sure to stop by the Icon Awards booth, where judges will be critiquing select images.

And if that’s not enough education for you, consider upgrading to a full conference pass for only $99 and get access to 66+ seminars. You can also still score tickets to Photo Walks for only $149 to get personal hands on instruction from leading photography professionals. 

But don’t delay because it’s all happening right now. Get your WPPI tickets here.

The post Free Photo Education? Yes, Please! WPPI Stage and More appeared first on Rangefinder.

It was a blustery Saturday for the trip into Las Vegas for WPPI. I heard many a tale of diverted and delayed flights and very bumpy landings! My flight had an unsuccessful attempt at landing in Vegas before being diverted to Los Angeles. While sitting on the tarmac, I decided to rent a car and drive to Vegas. WPPI is about choosing your own adventure from a myriad of possibilities, and it just felt right to make a bold decision, you know? And what a great way to start my WPPI Diary!

For anyone considering the drive, I can tell you confidently that it’s a smooth and easy ride! And there is nothing quite like rolling into the bright flashing lights of Las Vegas while listening to local DJs pumping dance music. (For those who enjoy dance music, check out DJ Pandafunk! So fun!) 

Day One: The WPPI Adventure Continues on The Portrait Masters Stage 

WPPI kicked off today with The Portrait Masters Conference, happening alongside WPPI in Las Vegas for the first time. For me, this was the perfect way to begin. It felt like home room meets family reunion meets high-level motivational download of invaluable information.  

I started my day with Jeremy Cowart’s talk: A Futuristic Approach to Portraiture with No AI. Cowart is up to some interesting stuff. He’s working with a computer whiz who created generative code that edits a batch of images with different filters applied to each one all in a matter of seconds. In the following second, it generates a gallery and sends it to the clients. It’s a remarkable way to streamline editing and sales. To share the wealth, Jeremy is starting something he’s calling Free Photographers, that will help photographers free up time while making more money. If you’re interested DM him.  

Following the theme of adventure, Cowart reminds photographers, “We are discoverers” and invited the audience to expand their minds about what is possible in their workflow. He says, “Sometimes we need to see a magic trick – something we’ve never seen before – just to get our wheels spinning.” The wheels were spinning in everyone’s minds this morning as they considered how technology truly can be harnessed for more profit and more free time. 

Next, Sue Bryce took the stage to encourage photographers to step into their confidence and truly embody the photographers and successful entrepreneurs they wish to become. She laid out ten steps for confidence building that can be manifested in the eight pillars of a successful photography studio: 

1. Brand — Encompasses who you are, what you do, and why you do it. 

2. Product – How we deliver on our brands with saleable items. 

3. Money – The root of exchange. In order to make money, we have to come to terms with our issues around accepting it. 

4. Business – This takes money to the realm of equal exchange and profitability. 

5. Service and Experience – Working out how shoots look and how they feel. 

6. Systems – Creating systems creates the momentum that keeps money flowing through your studio. 

7. Marketing – An area with many subcategories. This is a major part of running a business. 

8. You – If everything else is in place, but the money isn’t flowing, it’s you who is the problem that needs to be fixed. 

Bryce encourages everyone to consider stepping into that challenging adventure of identifying how our most confident self would manifest and creating that brand now. Bryce says that it’s perfectly natural to experience imposter syndrome when stepping into a new role. She says, “The one thing that fixes imposter syndrome is mastery,” so the pathway to overcome imposter syndrome is to master your craft and your business abilities. 

Welcome to The Playground 

After lunch, The Portrait Masters Conference Group reconvened in the all-new Playground, which is a hall of shooting bays with select vendor booths. I found the Playground to be extremely pleasant to be in. It was arranged spaciously with plenty of room for photographers to queue up at each of the booths and still get around each other. I hope it will remain a fixture in TPM’s to come! 

For those who did not purchase TPM tickets, you can still experience a WPPI adventure in The Playground by getting tickets to The Wedding Masters Summit, The Lighting Masters Summit, or select Photo Walks. All three groups will have access to shooting bays in The Playground. 

Icon Awards Judging Room 

I also visited the Icon Awards Judging Room which was happening at the same time at The Portrait Masters Conference and is open to everyone who has a Show Floor Pass. The judges sat in a semi-circle the front of the hushed room as one by one the print images were brought to a lit podium before them. They took turns sharing their feedback on all the stunning images which were projected on a big screen for the room to view. Afterward, volunteers placed them in the Icon Gallery on the Show Floor.  

It’s worth noting that this year for the first time, select images in the Icon Gallery will be marked with a blue dot. These images have behind the scenes video available to watch online. Directions for how to do so will be displayed at the Icon Booth. 

Icon Awards Co-Director Melissa Ghionis became emotional near the end of the judging session, thanking everyone who has offered their time and energy and take on personal expense in order to keep this valuable community sustaining awards program running.  

Icon Awards are in their inaugural year after taking over after the WPPI Print Competition closed. May it last into perpetuity! 

Parties Tonight 

The first night of WPPI will be festive indeed and include more “Choose Your Own Adventure” with three parties and an after-hours party. First, The Portrait Masters Awards & Accreditation will celebrate — in Vegas Glam attire — the top placing images of the most recent round of competition, which was just announced last week. You can view the Winner’s Gallery here. 

This will be followed by The Silent Disco Party, which is such a great setting to dance to the music channel of your choice, or remove your headphones to chat in quiet setting with fellow photographers. 

At the same time, WPPI’s Welcome Reception will kick off in the Grand Ballroom. 

For those who want even more party, tonight’s after party will be at the Marquee Nightclub. 

I’m hoping to catch a couple z’s before party hopping tonight! I haven’t had much sleep the last two nights, but even if I don’t manage to snooze, you’ll see me out there for sure. There’s a great old saying that certainly applies in this curcumstancce, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead!” 

Tune into my WPPI Diary this week to find out how my WPPI adventure continues!

[Read: It’s Time! Get Ready for WPPI!]

The post My WPPI Diary, Day 1 – Choose Adventure!  appeared first on Rangefinder.

It’s time to pack your bags for Photographer’s Spring Break! But what should you bring? Here’s what you need to know to get ready for WPPI.

WPPI – Wedding and Portrait Photographers International – kicks off this Sunday, March 3 with The Portrait Masters Conference (TPM) in scintillating Las Vegas at the Mirage Resort. If you’re like me, right about now you’re wondering, what should I bring? And how am I going to fit it all into my suitcase? 

Well, don’t sweat it, last minute preppers. I’ve got you covered. Here’s your guide to everything you need to know to get ready for WPPI and TPM. 

Warm Up Your Printer or Save These Links 

Before we get into the physical matter we need to put into our suitcases, let’s get into what we need to know about where to go and what to wear while we’re there. 

WPPI has so much going on and often all at once. A wise method of approach is to review the schedules and make a list of what you don’t want to miss, what you’re curious about, and what you would like to attend if you have the energy. 

Personally, I like to have things on paper in front of me to refer to semi-constantly, or I can’t keep track of my own head. If you’re more modern, you might prefer a new-fangled way to track important information, like the WPPI app. Either way, here’s the links you need to make your game plan. 

• Full Agenda at a Glance 
• The Portrait Masters Schedule 
• The Portrait Masters Participant Guide 
• WPPI Class Schedule 
• Choose a Summit: Lighting Masters or Wedding Masters 
• Book Photo Walks Before They Sell Out! 
• Don’t miss David Suh’s Keynote! 
• All the Parties 
• Partner Events 
• Show Floor List of Exhibitors and Floor Plan 
• WPPI Housekeeping Details – Registration Times and Places, Emergency Numbers, Etc. 

What to Pack 

Now that you know what’s happening and where, it’s time to think about what to put in the bag. Here are my recommendations for what to pack: 

• Snacks and electrolytes. (Remember, in the desert hydration is key!) Of course, there’s always Instacart, and there are places to eat in the Mirage and all over, but it’s nice to be prepared with snacks. I also like to pack some instant meals for when introversion strikes. It might seem unwise to take up valuable suitcase space with food, but remember, you’re going to wish you had saved space for your snazzy WPPI merchandise and Show Floor deals. When you eat what you pack, you’re freeing up space on the daily. 
• A cloth bag. In case you really run out of suitcase space for the way home and want to check another bag.
• Dress in layers. It can get quite cold in the Mirage, but you might also find yourself in smaller spaces that warm up. Dress to be warm enough and also be able to shed layers. 
• Wear shoes you love to walk in because you will be doing lots of walking! 
• Special Outfits for Parties (see below).

Parties to Pack For

• The Portrait Masters Parties: Vegas Glam – black, gold, red (both nights). If you’re accredited, bring your badge! 
• Welcome Reception – Your choice 
• Opening Night Party – Something to dance in 
• Icon Awards Ceremony – Think Oscars 
• Wrap Party – 80s Costume 
• Late Night Clubbing Attire (For every night if you’ve got the mojo!) 

Top Tips from Speaker Cate Batchelor from her Blog: 

1. Reflect. Before you “choose your own adventure” at WPPI, reflect on where you are in your business and what you want to learn. Let that inform your choices for what you attend. 

2. Research and Plan. Go through the class schedule and choose your “can’t miss” classes. Plan your days around those classes. Research the instructors, so you aren’t going in blind. 

3. Be Realistic. You can’t do it all, and you also want to schedule for fun. If you have your heart set on an 8am Photo Walk or Seminar, save the late night party for another night.

4. Say Yes! Be open to meeting new people and having new experiences. In N Out Burger at 1 am? Beers after seminars? Saying yes is the pathway to new friendships. 

5. Dress Appropriately. Dress to impress for those networking moments. Wear sensible shoes and layers. 

6. Be Prepared. Have something for taking notes. Bring a portable charger for your phone, so it’s ready to take pictures of seminar slides. Bring your camera but just the essentials (for folio building). Bring something to do in your down time (like your laptop). 

7. Business Cards. You’ll need them for raffles at vendors and definitely for all those great connections you’ll be making. “Bring them and give them out like candy!” says Batchelor. 

Top Tips from Speaker Alain Martinez from his Blog: 

• Stay as close to the venue as possible so you can drop off gear and take a breather when you need it. 
• Get breakfast away from the crowd. 
• Take in some Vegas flavor. Find deals at Vegas.com. 
• Dress smart. Wear layers because sometimes you’ll be cold, and sometimes you’ll be warm. 
• Don’t miss the awards exhibits. 
• Consider planning a shoot while you’re there. (You can organize with other photographers in the Official WPPI Facebook Group or check out the Partner Events.) 

In-Depth Looks at the Many Facets of WPPI 

I’ve been covering everything you need to know to get ready for WPPI for several months now (and will be at the event doing coverage, too!). If you’ve missed my scoops thus far, find them all right here: 

• A Photo Education Supreme: WPPI 2024 Educator Highlights 
• Spotlight on the WPPI Lighting Masters Summit 
• Learn from WPPI Wedding Masters at WPPI 
• An Overflowing Cornucopia of Vendors & Exhibitors at WPPI 
• Reap the Benefits of the Icon Awards at WPPI 
• Make Life-Changing Connections at WPPI: Networking, Parties, and More 
• WPPI Secret Keynote Speaker Revealed: David Suh! 

I’m so excited to go to WPPI this year. I hope this article helps you get ready as much as it’s helped me! If you see me there, be sure to introduce yourself. I’m going to be prowling around asking about your WPPI experiences and takeaways from this year.  

If you haven’t bought your tickets to WPPI yet, it’s not too late for a last-minute decision to make a business trip that will change your life and your business for the better. Show Floor passes are still absolutely free, and a full conference pass is only $99. Get your tickets today! 

The Location Lighting Series

Outdoor and On-Location Photography: How to Create Better Portraits and Make More Money

Creative Portrait Series

The Business of Fashion Photography

The Successful Small Photography Studio

Get More Clients: Effective Marketing for Photographers

The Mindful Photographer: A Beginner’s Guide

The post It’s Time: Get Ready for WPPI and TPM!  appeared first on Rangefinder.