...goes up on this blog. i've never been to vegas before. this was my first time. i've memorized movies like casino and oceans 11. i've watched leaving las vegas and very bad things.  21 (read the book too) and of course, the hangover. for years i've wanted to go. and i've also wanted to see what all the hype was about at WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers
International). 2 birds one stone. what a crazy place. i collected a ton of hooker ads for my brother. haha. i need to go back, that's for sure. i probably walked 9 miles and only saw 1/4 of the city. if that much. what a special place. i gave them my money. i won it back. and then gave it away again.  the house always wins. always bet on black. and so on.  :)

run that slideshow:



if you watched the slideshow, yes, i was excited to meet some of those rockstar/celebrity photographers. they have mastered marketing and getting you to buy their stuff. i appreciate what they've done and they do make beautiful images. shoutouts to: the image is found, jessica claire, amelia lyon, jasmine star, jesh de rox, matthew jordan smith and those are my favorites.  the image is found is #1. i personally think their work stands out and i like their style. i think i told them that. it was more like: YOU GUYS ARE MY FAVORITE $#*@ING PHOTOGRAPHERS EVER. I LOVE YOU GUYS. my bad. it's weird to admire their success from afar and then be standing in line for a burger next to them. i dunno. it was different. i've been reading their blogs since i was a baby photographer. there were so many awesome photographers in one building. it was a cool experience.



and jesh de rox made me cry my face off during his beloved session.  i've always loved his images. what a great speaker. i can't say that for all the WPPI panel members. haha. during one of the business platform classes, i attempted to stick a pen in my eye.



yes, that is a chocolate fountain above.

all of the platform speakers were trying to sell their CDs or DVDs or books or what have you. i fought the power and held off, otherwise i'd walk home with impulse buys. i tend to do that. the tradeshow was overwhelming.  crowded and i wanted to buy everything.



i had to go to one party and chose 'airhorns and lasers'. i didn't really have anyone to go with. my roomie wanted to go to the welcome dinner. so i went on my own and met up with phoenix mcpeek and her friend daria bishop. they only stayed for an hour, just as the dj was getting started. um, the dj was FANTASTIC (the flashdance), so i stayed.  made new friends. felt awkward by myself. whatever. i paid $50 and i was going to get my $50 worth! p.s. the wynn is a beautiful hotel. unlike the mgm, where the toilets overflow and the lady at the front desk tests your patience. oh! and the luxor was cool. i've ALWAYS wanted to go there.



they kept beating in the importance of social media during the conference, so i started using twitter again. and RANDOMLY, my cousin bianca tweeted "viva las vegas".  my little mini-me cousin was in vegas, in the mgm (same hotel) and thanks to twitter, i found her!  :)  we walked around the bellagio.
 


oh vegas. you're so expensive. but we shall meet again. and i'll be ready. below is rob van petten's photo. he was one of my instructors at CDIA. i want my photos sponsored by nikon. #justsaying. :)



more shoutouts:  cheryl colombo, josh kane, jennifer hudson, ck, marilyn nakazato and that's all i got.