Las Vegas WPPI 2008

I am a member of Wedding and Portrait Photographer International (WPPI) which is a fast glowing organization based in Santa Monica, CA. This was my first time attending this fun convention and I had a blast. Making talented, gorgeous and generous new friends and listening to industry's most successful photographers definitely inspired and challenged me to next level.

I will be honest, I wanted to be where some of the photographers stand and I wrote it down on my journal to make myself remember this feeling. I've never wanted something so badly in my life. I am not a competitive person. I am horrible at playing games. I don't like to be on the spot light so being third place was fine with me always. But for four days that I was attending many seminars. I found myself wanting to be on the top. "Dreams are like clouds and they need to be chased"-Matthew Jordan Smith said this in his seminar which was the last seminar I attended before I left Las Vegas. I think God is really telling me to really go after my dreams this time.
I relied my business on word of mouth until now but it's time to change that. Because I really love my job and I want to be able to do this for a long time. At WPPI I saw what success brings to a photographer. It's freedom to be able to do what I want. It is not the great fortune, fame or a receiving a glamorous title of being a master photographer. It is really about having a "Freedom" to photograph what I think is beautiful and to inspire other with those images. It means to be able to help others that are in need.

Photography community is very friendly and I love that I am a party of community that are willing to give back and pay it forward. Here are few fun shots taken with very first generation Canon Elph ( I think I can all it antique camera now), a point and shoot digital camera. Colors were not great so most are converted to Sepia. Thanks for the great time everyone!

from the top left: with Maureen Ford from Boston, my facebook friend Kenny Kim, with my hubby,
with Marianne Lozano and Julie Weaver , With Tanja Lippert and Kim, With Vanessa and June, with Laurel Mcconnell and Jenna Kaworski, with Jay Goldman

with Mike Lin, Gene Higa Speaking at Young guns, with Kim, Maureen and Marianne, With Robert Evans, With Jasmine Star, With David Jay, Matthew Jordan Smith Speaking at Sony Booth, Andy speaking with Jason Kiefer of Pictage, Jules Bianchi speaking at Pictage Partner Con headliners.After attending the convention, it was time for some girl time. My good friend, Jean who is a major airline pilot flew in just to drive up to LA with me. I am so proud of her whenever I think that she is actually flying the big plane. We had so much fun trying out desserts at the buffet ( told you I was a foodie!) and I won $250 as we were leaving the Wynn hotel. I have to say she is my good luck charm.