WPPI 2009: Plus Class with Cliff Mautner
Last year was my first year attending the annual WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) convention in Las Vegas. I made many friends and learned so much that I was very eager to return this year. This year the convention was held in the middle of February and I attended for 8 looong days. Vegas is a fun city (that I’ve yet to see much of lol) but boy, 8 days wears you out!!! I learned so much and made more friends this year. I have to start this post with a shout out to my awesome roommates – Christine Tremoulet, Anne Ruthmann and Jillian Kay whom gave me many days (and nights) of laughter!
The first ‘agenda’ for WPPI was my Plus Class with Cliff Mautner which I signed up for with two good friends from last year, Kate McElwee and Zach Goodyear. I was going between who to take a class with and I’m glad that Kate and Zach helped me choose Cliff. His class was by far one of the best I have ever attended and I learned so much in two days it is unimaginable. The first day we focused on using available light, any time of the day and the second day we focused on flash and how to set up great shots during all parts of a typical wedding day. Cliff is a great teacher – probably one of the best that I have learned from – and has a great personality. So many things that always seemed beyond me just ‘clicked’ when he broke it down and explained it in layman’s terms. Any photographers out there thinking of taking a class with him should absolutely do it, he’s amazing!
The first day we got a lot of hands on experience so I’m going to show a few pics I took on Thursday. Friday we watched Cliff since there were a lot of issues with shooting indoors with the casino (boo on them!) so I don’t have much to show from that day but I promise I learned a lot 🙂
Next post… Vegas Wedding Project!
Here we are using window light for bridal portraits similar to what we would do the day of a wedding for getting ready images at a hotel.
Recognize Andy? He was our model last year for my Plus Class with Mike Colon.
This is when we went into the courtyard (which is not pretty!) to use ‘ugly’ overhead bright sun to create good bride and groom portraits. I didn’t get a lot but I do love this shot!
A blend between rim lighting and a silhouette. I kind of like it 🙂
Great shots, Corey! It was SO much fun seeing you and Kate! I only wish I wasn’t such a bum for leaving after only a few days. Next year I promise to try to stay the whole time, although Vegas may eat me alive!
these are gorgeous!
Yay! I love the shot of Andy, and the one where the woman is leaning on the other guy’s chest. It was so awesome learning how to deal with ugly light – great silhouette/rim light shot 🙂 Bring on WPPI 2010!