WPPI 2010 - Party In The USA

Here is my WPPI 2010 experience in a nutshell:

  • Enjoyed flying Southwest Airlines
  • The Signature at MGM is fantastic
  • Having 5 roomies was amazing - I love those guys/gals!
  • Splitting food costs with roomies was one of the BEST ideas - highly recommended
  • Should have bought more groceries at VONS - definitely more beer
  • Party In The USA is the best song EVER
  • The MGM Grand is HUMONGOUS! Should have worn my running shoes more often.
  • Scheduling classes before arriving at WPPI was super helpful
  • Budgeting for food and gear saved me from being overwhelmed
  • Should have done more photo shoots
  • I LOVE JASMINE STAR - JD is a stud
  • Honored to have met Jamie Delaine
  • Should have said hi to The Becker (walked by him like 5 times)
  • Sarah Petty, Mike Colon, and Dennis Reggie are SUPER TALL
  • FINALLY met Christine Tremoulet - wish we could have hung out more :'(
  • It was great seeing Dane Sanders again - the world needs more guys like him
  • Kenny Kim is a major connector and stud
  • Bambi Cantrell is a posing DIVA!
  • Have to get a photo booth
  • Love Collages.net even more - Abbey rocks!
  • Should have slept more - had more quiet time to reflect
  • Pictage knows how to throw a party!!!
  • David Jay and Mike Larson are amazing photogs and spiritual leaders
  • Met a ton of fantastic people
  • I have major iPhone envy
  • WPPI 2011 - I want to go to there!

→ Here are a few pics to help me remember all that took place at WPPI: [gallery columns="1" size="large"]

There is so much more that I could write about. But it would probably bore you. Plus, I still need to write it all down and make sure that I don't forget all of the great stories and business ideas that I learned. One thing I can share with 100% confidence: I love the wedding/portrait industry! I am so glad I made it to WPPI.

Rock On! info@ottorascon.com | my portfolio | facebook | twitter | 773.430.4785

By The Way: I should have remembered to bring my point-and-shoot camera. I could have captured a lot more of my experience at WPPI. Lesson learned.

Free To Succeed Tour


I had the privilege to attend David Jay's "Free To Succeed" tour last night thanks to my friend and fellow wedding shooter Ray Pryor. Ray called me up the other day and asked if I would be interested in attending. He told me that David Jay and Jasmine Star would be speaking and would be talking about the wedding photography business. I was sold... especially after hearing that Jasmine Star would be there. Man, that fired me up! I love her work and her blog. I go there everyday for inspiration and to see what she is up to. You can only imagine how excited I was to see her in person. She is even cooler than what I had imagined, and even prettier in person. That girl has it going on. One day I hope to be as cool and pretty as she is...

I learned so much at this seminar. My head is still spinning with ideas. I am very appreciative to both David and Jasmine for their openness and honesty. I really took to heart when David said that "we are here to serve our clients". That is so true, and that is something that I strive to do with every wedding that I shoot. Where would we be without our clients? They drive us to excel and to get better and to continue learning.

So my many, many, many thanks to David Jay and to Jasmine Star for sharing such great insights and precious nuggets of information. I also wanted to thank my friend and fellow Rock Star photog Veronica Hinojosa for hanging with me and for taking the photos of me and DJ and Jasmine. Rock on!!!