Photographers from around the world congregate in Las Vegas, NV, next month to learn from the best of the best

Culver City, CA (February 9, 2010) – Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, next month Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) will feature the best professional photographers in the business during its annual convention and trade show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. On hand to teach WPPI attendees the tips and tricks to success will be more than 160 photographers including Marcus Bell, Bambi Cantrell, Tony Corbell, Jim Garner, Jerry Ghionis, Doug Gordon, Kevin Kubota, Dane Saunders, Jasmine Star and Yervant Zanazanian, just to name a few.

“Education is the key to success in everything we do in life,” said George Varanakis, WPPI’s Group Publisher and Executive Vice President. “And the goal for WPPI is to help educate photographers, both professional and those looking to enter the professional photography business. Professional photographers from all over the world come to WPPI each year to teach attendees what they know and to share their insight about how to be successful in this business. Our list of speakers and educators is unparalleled in photography topics such as wedding, portrait, fine art, nature/landscape, lighting/posing, commercial, photojournalism, Photoshop®, video, and business and marketing. And we’re so proud to have such a prestigious group of photographers dedicated to teaching during our 30th Anniversary.”

All WPPI 2010 classes, events and the trade show will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, from March 4–11, 2010. WPPI is the largest annual expo and conference in the United States for professional photographers. Each year more than 11,000 professional photographers gather in Las Vegas, NV, to learn from the best and see the latest and greatest products from the hundreds of exhibitors that participate in the trade show.

Registration for WPPI 2010 is available via its newly redesigned convention and trade show website: http://www.wppionline.com/storage/lasvegas/home.html, which also includes highlights from the 2009 convention.

Marcus Bell
Marcus Bell will take attendees on an emotive journey through the capture of a wedding story from beginning to end. Attendees learn the ins and outs from pre-wedding planning to capturing the perfect wedding, all the way through to producing the final album.

Bambi Cantrell
Internationally recognized wedding photographer Bambi Cantrell will demonstrate many of the techniques that have made her one of American Photo’s Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World. Topics to be explored will include: lighting, posing and the use of alternative light sources. Photographers will learn practical application of those techniques through live demonstrations.

Tony Corbell
Tony Corbell will lead attendees through a journey of discovering the tools necessary to maximize efficiency, both in capturing images and post-production work while enhancing images. Known throughout the world for his lighting presentations, Tony is always as informative and educational as he is fun and entertaining. Learn techniques and theories of light quality and light quantity.

Jim Garner
Jim Garner, recently named one of the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World by American Photo, will share his style and innovative techniques with attendees. Shooting for the story, not for single images, allows the photographer to deliver the finest quality work, and at the same time, maximize profitability for the studio.

Jerry Ghionis
Rated by WPPI as one of the Top Five Wedding Photographers in the World and winner of six of the last seven Wedding Album of the Year Awards, Australian pro Jerry Ghionis will help attendees breath new life into their photography and define their own style by giving them an understanding of how he defines himself and his own unique vision.

Doug Gordon
Doug Gordon will bring attendees on a complete journey toward taking their photography and business to the next level, in his straight-forward, straight from the heart, inspirational style. Photographers will be motivated, educated, challenged and entertained in a program that will completely transform the way they shoot.

Kevin Kubota
Named one of the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the world by American Photo, Kevin Kubota has grown several successful businesses—and he’ll share a few lessons with WPPI attendees. Important lessons will include: branding, marketing, creativity, sales, presentations, workflow, growing pains, time management, work/life balance, social networking and more.

Dane Saunders
For those serious about professional photography, it's critical to understand what characteristics all successful photographers share in their pursuit of making their art translate into remarkable business ventures. Don't miss this must-see workshop from Fast Track Photographer author Dane Sanders.

Jasmine Star
For photographers that don't have $20,000 set aside to market their business this year, this class may be of assistance and encourage exponential growth using basic marketing practices. Jasmine will teach attendees ways to maximize exposure, and market their brand effectively and purposefully with very little money.

Yervant Zanazanian
Yervant will share his evolution of photographic experience and how it's leading him into future phases. He'll focus on the critical techniques in marketing, capture, manipulation and output that have developed his reputation as one of the finest wedding photographers in the world.

About WPPI
Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) is an organization that serves the educational and business needs of wedding and portrait photographers. Celebrating its 30th convention anniversary in 2010, WPPI is a professional organization that exists to help member photographers by providing them with exclusive information, programs and professional services to assist with their photographic artistry and business needs. WPPI routinely supplies its members with new benefits and valuable industry information enabling them to compete effectively, especially in tough economic times. WPPI membership gives photographers the resources they need to succeed and the tools they require to build and develop a strong personal support network.

In 2009, WPPI completed its 29th annual Convention and Trade Show, drawing over 12,000 attendees and 365 exhibitors to its new convention space in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. For more information visit: www.wppionline.com.

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