Monday, March 9, 2009

WPPI 2009 in Vegas: Part I

In February I went met up with my mom in Vegas for a convention known as WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International), to spend some time with her and play. And to meet Miss Dumpling of course! I called Mr. Avocado each nice bursting with excitement about all of the new things I was seeing and learning.

I'll admit this first post is slightly gratuitous, a chance to show you some of my favorite shots from my week in Vegas, and give you an idea what I was doing when I wasn't at the convention.

After entirely too many hours at the airport (canceled flight, no seats on stand-by, etc) I was very happy to check in to our vintage film inspired hotel room. There is just something about old Hollywood that always leaves me sighing.

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That night I met up with fellow bee Miss Dumpling! She is gorgeous and funny and awesomely self-depreciating. Incredibly easy to fall head-over-heels in love with. Don't you love those kind of people?

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I woke up the next morning to take a picture of the view, and realized it was of Hooters and the airport. Nice.

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The wedding blogger in me couldn't get enough of the topiaries in the lobby.

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Look at that leaf covered ball in the background. I think it's totally DIY-doable. Don't you?

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This is my favorite shot from the trip, and currently my desktop background. Aren't the clouds in the background amazing?

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There are photographers EVERYWHERE in Vegas during this convention. This lady gave me the idea to carry around my own little Polish dwarf and take pictures whenever I visit a new place. I'm really excited about this new project!

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I was attempting to spend the least amount possible while on this trip (haha, what a joke), so I ordered cheap Chinese, ate half, and then had the other half the next day for lunch. I was so sick of eating out after that week. If you are honeymooning in Vegas, budget for food. There are lots of great places, but if you are staying on the Strip most of the restaurants are really pricy.

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Who writes these fortunes? I could do so much better than this. The casinos should get in on this and slip in papers that say things like "26 is your lucky number today". I bet they would see an increase in reckless gambling involving the number 26 if they did.

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They were giving out free Coke. I don't drink Coke so I didn't get any.

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I crossed over the bridge and went inside New York New York. It was dark, dirty, and smelly. Is this what the real city is like?

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My mom and I went and got $90 sushi. Whoops. Good thing we had 2-for-1 coupons from the convention.

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'I played with the Blue Men!

JK, they are wax. Tricked you though for a second.

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Along with great places to eat and some of the best shows anywhere, Vegas has a lot of really great shopping. We saw lots of signs for 40-70% off and such at some of the higher end boutiques that are trying to get through the downturn.

While my mom was shopping at Banana, I took a second to see how I would look with one of those hot and trendy headbands you see all over the place right now. What do you think? I just worry I'll look back on it in 10 years and think "What an idiot!"

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I went out to eat with Miss Dumpling again on something like the third day I was there. These posts are not exactly going to be in order, more like, topical.

If you visit the Bellagio, look up when you enter the lobby. Isn't this incredible?

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Miss D informed me that the Bellagio has a room decorated according to the different season or holidays. It was Chinese New Year themed when we were there.

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I've never wanted to rub the tummy of a plant before this.

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Gah! Cutest ever! Quick, someone have a Panda bear themed wedding.

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Dumpling and Avocado. BFF.

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A fountain of chocolate in the Bellagio. It's like something straight out of Willy Wonka.

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Quite possibly one of the best sandwhiches ever. I think they sugared the top of this croissant.

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Dumpling let me eat some of her crepe. She is both gorgeous and kind. And skinny. And has a slight Southern accent. She is basically as cute as those panda bears I showed you earlier.

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We hurried outside to watch the famous Bellagio fountain show. I ended up liking the lights reflecting on the water almost as much as I liked the fountains themselves.

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Pretty, but I still think I need to go to Paris someday to compare.

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Vegas is dirty and full of naked girls and smoke (all things I don't really like). But when you are standing at the railing waiting for the water show, it's easy to see why so many people fall in love with this city.

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Future posts will be a little bit more educational, with pictures of some of my very favorite photographer bloggers sprinkled throughout!

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