I'm still trying to recover from Vegas, and I'm all a-Twitter now, too! Feb 23rd | filed in: News

Getting past "you had to be there" syndrome is my #1 goal for this blog post!

WPPI was a blast, and if you're a photographer who wasn't there,
make plans for next year, because you missed out on a ton of fun and learning!

I landed in Vegas Sunday morning and met LISA at the airport.
We shared a cab to MGM, where we picked up BECCA for our brunch and Jill-e photoshoot.

Brunch at Bellagio was yummee as always, full of friendship and chit-chat,
but it was just a hint of the fun that was to be had over the course of WPPI.

After brunch, we went outside and started working on the Jill-e cover shoot.

Here are the beautiful Dana & Lisa in front of Bellagio:

Aren't they adorable?

Here are Lisa, Dana, and JILLIAN getting some silly shots that morning:


Sunday also ushered in the era of "The Hair."
No matter where I went, someone would comment on my hair.
It started in the airport with Lisa, and it didn't stop till I went to bed in San Diego
after getting home on Wednesday night (I'm not kidding).

I guess my hair must look like poopoo most of the time,
because for Vegas, I used my favorite ceramic flatiron to create some curl,
and I never stopped hearing about my hair.
My hair got more greetings than I did.

I had a choice to make:
#1: I could be flustered all week long because my hair was getting all of these comments.
#2: I could go back to my "I don't care" air-dried hair-do.
or
#3: I could embrace it, have fun with it, and take this as an opportunity to be a goofball.

I'm really good at being a total dork goofball, so I went with #3.
Brian (Mr. MeRa) said that my hair would have more friends than I ever could. He's probably right.
During this whole time, I was also debating getting started on Twitter (I've been holding out).
That's when I decided on my Twitter name: CareysHair
So, yes, I'm on Twitter now! I'm still figuring out the whole Twitter thing, but
feel free to follow CareysHair!

I used one of those "totally being a doofus" pictures on my Twitter page,
courtesy of Lisa:


Here's one more shot from Sunday with me, Dana, JILL, and Lisa:


See that cool camera strap of mine!?
I got my BLACK RAPID strap! This shoot was the first big test of that strap,
and I LOVE IT! I was afraid it would be too manly, but it's not!
I've used it at the beach for some sessions since then, too, and it's fabulous --
so much more comfortable than having a strap around my neck of my wrist!

After the Jill-e shoot, my camera went into the safe in my hotel room
and didn't come out until I left for the airport.
So, I don't have many pictures from the rest of the week,
but it sure was fun!

I was in the MPIX booth talking to folks every day,
and I got to meet up with some great friends, like JOE & JP and ladies from
last year's "Refuse to Say Cheese" workshop here in San Diego!


The tradeshows (there were TWO HUGE tradeshow rooms!) were amazing,
and full of great info, teaching, and new stuff for photographers!

I was also up late every night hanging out with friends and playing craps.
The MOST FUN was totally free, and I still laugh just thinking about it:
A group of us, including the mild-mannered mellow Shawn Reeder,
stayed up till the wee hours in the MGM food court putting on our own
Cheesy-80s-love-songs and showtunes Karaoke. It was HILARIOUS!
We rocked the house down with Air Supply, Journey, & Wicked songs!

Next year is bound to be a ton of fun & learning, plus I know there will be
some GREAT Platform Talks (wink wink), so set aside March 4-11, 2010 NOW!

~Carey