camera? check.business cards? double-check. notebooks & pens? checkity-check. uber-comfy shoes??? triple-check on THIS one!

It's that time of year again... from March 7-14, 15,000+ photographers will be swarming MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the annual WPPI Expo. (WPPI = Wedding & Portrait Photographers International.) So if you want what happens in Vegas to STAY in Vegas, I would suggest NOT being there when we are. Cameras blazing, we're in full force, and it's a sight to be seen.

It's a LOT of fun, but it's also a fabulous learning experience, as well. Kinda like being back in college for a few days... early morning classes & late-night parties. Ha!

And it's one of the highlights of my year. This will be my 5th year in attendance.

I'm looking forward to the HUGE tradeshow, where I'll be meeting with my current vendors as well as scouting for some new ones. I'm BIG on comparison-shopping, to make sure my clients get the BEST products possible.

And of course, there are the classes. I'll always be a student at heart, so I'm excited about this, too. I'm signed up for 5 classes, and might even squeeze in one more if I can. From motivational speakers to better SEO and album design, I can't wait to soak it all up. But the class I'm looking forward to the MOST: learning how to put together stylized/themed shoots for children. Yup, that's right! I'll be offering THEMED mini-sessions VERY soon... so be sure to stay tuned for all the news on THAT one!

But for now I'm in still in the Vegas prep & planning stage. I've got my color-coded schedule printed out (yup, I'm THAT much of a dork), my new WPPI app loaded to my phone (crossing fingers it works with everyone trying to access it all at once), and just purchased my ticket to the best party EVER!

Now I just need to figure out what to wear...