UPDATE: Photobooth Fun
Just bunch of us photog friends having fun in the booth. We don’t often get to be on the other side of the camera. It’s obvious as to why when you look at these photos. 
David Burke gets the award for most creative faces. Good times!
END UPDATE
Good Times!
Finally these are some random photos taken through out the week. I love WPPI. It’s like attending a wedding for photographers. It’s a time where we get reconnected with our old friends and it’s also a great place to meet new ones. There’s so much going on and so many people to meet it gets little chaotic at times but overall it’s a blast. I’ve learned to master texting using my phone because I must’ve have gotten 500+ texts like (‘what you doing’, ‘where are u’, ‘where we eating?’ ‘where’s the party?’, etc.).
This was my second year attending this convention and this year’s felt much different that last year. Last year I came here alone feeling like fish out of water – a fish in a pond trying to swim in the ocean of bigger school of fish. I felt like I had gotten to know more people over the years and my self-confidence as a photographer grew. I had a great time helping out Bob & Dawn at their workshop, covering Young Guns for WPPI, doing an engagement session with my good friends Shane & Erin and just chilling with new and old friends.
I’m so thankful that I came this year and can’t wait for next year’s. Until then here are some photos from this week. I sized them a bit smaller so that it doesn’t eat up all your bandwidth. Thanks everyone – much love and see you next year!
Bonjour monsieur, bienvenue to Paris!
Bob “The Gollum” Davis: “But Smeagal waaaaannnnttttzzzz it…”
I have no idea what the theme of this pose was. Me, Shane, Bob, Uncle Ray and Uncle “I’m choking” Mike
I did the best I could to sharpen this blurry photo. I should start a website called “blurryphotos.com” and post all the blurry photos taken of me…any ways, here’s one with my good friend Jesh!
Uncle Ray was posing for a photo when some random pretty gal walked up to him and gave him a big wet one on the cheek… Just kidding, that’s actually Uncle Ray’s wife Anna.
I met Peter Eng from NY at the Vegas Love Story workshop.
Ran into David Wittig and his girlfriend Nancy and their friend Kelly.
My two new friends from Indy…Morgan & Allie Matters. Hands off ladies!
Talk about small world. I ran into Samantha Mao, Angie Lee & Pauline Lee in front of the $777 dollar burger restaurant. Scary thing – before meeting them, Pauline saw all these photographers and said: “I bet we’ll probably see Kenny here.” Lo and behold, I show up. Weird huh? It was so good to see them though.
Gustavo & Jennifer Muntz. They came to IL last month to shoot a wedding. Gustavo and I will hook up in SF in two weeks. can’t wait!
I think this might be the first dog to ever buy an album from GraphiStudio. He was very interested in this particular style…
Mike & Julie adoring Brook Todd’s baby…
She’s so cute!
Chillin’ with DJ & ever popular Jasmine Star!
Bobbi & her friend. I met Bobbi at the Indy PUG last year. She was so sweet. She even sent me a Christmas card this year!
My photo of Mike Colón made it to a full-page ad in the WPPI magazine this year. I don’t know who’s more happier – me or my new friends from Vegas Love Story?! Thanks Pictage & Mike!
Ran into Nathan Vang – met him at Mike’s previous workshop!
Morgan giving two-thumbs up for meeting Jasmine
Marc Weisberg, DJ & Mike Colón at the Pictage booth… what a trio!
Uncle Ray trying to dodge my lens! David Burke has the best photo faces! (Erin & Armin are getting freaked out by all this!)
More and more people started gathering throughout the talk…
Mike being silly…
I love Tomas Flint. I get to shoot weddings with these two fun folks in the future. Can’t wait!
I think my arms are getting bigger. You want some of this?!
Even Morgan’s arms are bigger than Kubota’s Action Man…
We ran into Gary Fong chillin’ out at his booth
Having late breakfast with the gang – front L to R: Kenny Nakai, Shane Melenbacker, Julie Morris. back L to R: David Burke, Geoff Johnson, Erin Melenbacker, Me & Joey Bowles
THe famous Bellagio watershow…
Scott & the other Pictage Staff member…
Gary working hard at Boda Bag booth! Some how I bonded with him right away. Must be the hair…
A bunch of us got together and ate at the Bellagio Buffet. One of the best buffet’s ever! Good times!
Michelle Kersten from GraphiStudio – I was so happy to see her again. We had so much fun touring with Bob & Mike last month!
I was sandwiched between two great photographers: Terrell Lloyd (Canon’s explorer of light & SF 49er’s official photographer) & Brook Todd (voted top 10 wedding photographer by American Photo). I love how these guys are so down to earth and easy to talk to.
The ever-famous Jessica Strickland from Indy! This was my first time meeting her but we’ve been stalking each other’s blogs. We became friends right away.
Denis Reggie & Joe Buissink – two icons in wedding photography speaking at the Pictage booth…
Paul Rogers (DJ’s video guy) from Kansas, me & DJ
I met Brian and his assistant Kara in Hartford, CT last month. It was great to see them again!
Julie wanted to pick on Mike. By the way big props to her for hanging out with me during the tradeshow. She not only carried my stuff but took alot of these photos for me. Thanks Julie!
Mike sure knows how to draw an audience…. Here’s Mike speaking at the Lexar booth…
Allie & Morgan just earned some cool points for sporting my KK shirts…I have only few more of these left before they are sold out. Let me know if you want to order one.
Check out David Escalante’s new tattoo(s)…
I think we have one thing in common – we’ve all be connected by Mike Colón – now we are all buddies! (L to R): Alex Rodriguez, me, David Escalante, Shane Melenbacker, & Ray Santana.
Adam Miasik from Toronto, Canada. He shot a wedding with Mike & Uncle Ray up there few months back.
Uncle Ray’s wife Anna – she’s so cool to hang out with!
Julie & I posed for this photo right behind Mike while he was speaking at the Lexar booth. I wonder if he’s distracted?
Marc Weisberg – a photo guru from Newport Beach showing me some love!
Rockstar photographers – Corey McNabb, Nathan & Amber Holritz! Check out their workshop – coming to a city near you!
Dane Sanders having fun at the Pictage booth…
Kenny Nakai getting some love from Uncle Ray…he’s not used to this obvious…
I, on the other hand, am very used to it. Maybe too much…
Ran into Vergil sporting my shirt – thanks bro!
Ran into Scott Robert Lim – check out some of his workshops – he holds them all around the world!
Here’s Sara France. She’s one of the fortunate ones to be sponsored by Apple. Way cool!
Here’s Mike snapping for a quick photo with the staff at La-Vie album company. Mike is a superstar amongst Japanese photographers…
Here’s Mike speaking at N.I.L.M.D.T.S. (Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep) foundation. They are a great organization that he’s proud to support…
All the great staff members at the GraphiStudio!
DJ always draws a crowd. Here he’s swarmed by fans after one of his lectures…
Ran into couple of Seattle’s best – Jane Kim & Grace Kim! I don’t know where their hubbies were but it was good to see them!
Julie and I both took a fun photo session with these two models. Mine turned out hideous. Julie looks much better so I will just post this one do your eyes a favor and not most mine…
Here’s Mike talking to a potential La-Vie customer…
Here’s Yoshi – the director of La-Vie trying to be goofy like Mike.
I was so happy to see Mike’s two boys at the trade show. Here’s me squeezing Logan while he’s trying to break free…
Aidan, Mike’s oldest son, took my camera and started having his own photoshoot session – he knows how to work the audience!
More photos by Aidan…
Then he got bored and decided to tickle his little brother…
I love this family!
Ran into the KISS album guys – Kevin Swan & Shaun Austin…
Got to chill with Gary for a bit. Gary’s wife Melissa hooked me up with one of Gary’s shirts. Thanks guys!
Here’s Dane, Jessica, & Melissa hanging out at the Livebooks booth…
Here’s a model that was working at the Canon booth – I loved the lighting there so I took some photos of her from the side.
Here’s Bob giving his lecture at the Canon booth. Seats filled up immediately!
Dawn, Dane & Bob. I love these guys. I’m so glad I have people I can look up to in this industry!
Dawn, Joe Photo & Bob before the award ceremony. I have to agree that Joe knows how to dress to impress!
Scott Robert Lim & his crew!
Shane Melenbacker, Kevin Meyer & Geoff Johnson (in the back being goofy are Erin & Julie )
Chillin’ with one of Aussie’s best: Ryan Schembri. You have to go check out his work. It will knock your socks off.
Gary and Jim from Boda Bag giving me some love. I love it.
I couldn’t help but to take this photo on our way back from Vegas. This photo shows how exhausted we were from
this trip.
And finally – I giggled when I glanced over to my right and saw this man sleeping. I think he might be on his third tri-semester. Wonder if it’s a boy or girl?
Thanks for reading all this guys! Hope you had fun and I have few days off before I start my travel again. Happy Easter everyone!
