WPPI 2008 is over for us and we’re both back home now. Time to catch up on some much needed sleep since we didn’t do too much of that while in Las Vegas. How could you with the tradeshow and buffets not to mention the late, late parties and hanging out with friends? We all had a blast and got some work done in between so that we can service our clients even better. Here we are at the end of tradeshow.Have you seen a million dollars before???To our old and new friends who we didn’t get to say bye to personally. We hope you had a safe trip back home and we can’t wait to meet up with you all again.

It’s that time of year again where wedding and portrait photographer from around the world all congregate to Las Vegas for the annual Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, otherwise known as WPPI. WPPI is a huge event and is akin to the superbowl of conventions for photographers. It allow us to stay up to date with the latest trends and happing in the industry. WPPI also helps us to continually measure ourselves to the highest caliber of professionals in the industry. It is a battery recharge for the creative mind and an extra jumpstart for the business side of photography. Just as important is the opportunity to network with fellow photographers, to hang out, talk shop and take our craft to the next level. All this means that our clients can put trust in our ability and desire to offer not just the best but deliver the best in our clients experience and wedding day photography. Our replies to email and phone calls will be delayed while we are at the convention from Sunday to Wednesday.

Woke up early to make the 2hr drive up to Pasadena, CA to attend it’s annual Pro Photo Expo. Hanson Fong was speaking at 8AM so we made sure to be there for that, as he is always a wealth of information when it comes to posing people – big or small – into a pleasing portrait. We find that it is important to continually learn from great photographers so that we may provide our client the best images possible.

One of the things that we got the privilege of viewing first hand is Nik Software’s recently announced Viveza Photoshop plugin. Viveza uses U Point technology that I first saw in Nikon’s NX Capture software that allow the photo editor the ability to define control points that serve to restrict and isolate color/brightness changes to specific regions of the photograph without need for creating layer mask or complex selection first. This is a huge deal and I have been waiting for the port of the technology to Photoshop. Viveza will cost $250 and is expected to ship in April. Until then, you can use NX Capture software if you want to try the technology out yourself. Canon RAW shooter will need to convert their files to JPG in order for it to work with Nikon’s software.

Friday afternoon, my photography buddy Denny and I braved Friday LA traffic to drive up to Napa Valley for the second annual OSP West user meet. It’s a long way from San Diego but it affords us photographers the opportunity to meet, network and talk shop so to speak. It was awesome to see familiar faces and meet new ones. Chris and Jen Stewart and Tana Huffman did an amazing job to help organize and keep things running smoothly. So big applause to them. Here are some photos of mine from day one doing a senior session and some off camera lighting later that night.Here’s some of VivienLoving those eyes Vivien.A couple of shots of Camille…such vibrant colors. Love it!I love this moment between Lisa and Paul.

We’re heading up to north to Napa Valley, CA for OSP West II.