Inspired and motivated – that's what happens when you spend five days with recognized leaders within the photography industry. This April the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) held their annual conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I was there.
In addition to a number of informative workshops, I chose to attend training sessions with Roberto Valenzuela and Kevin Jairaj. The choice was not an easy one, as the line-up of presenters was long and impressive. My only regret was when each session ended!
Roberto Valenzuela is a Beverly Hills based photographer with over 50 international print competition accolades from Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), a three-time International first-place winner, a 2011 Grace Ormonde Platinum List Photographer, named as one of the world's top wedding photographers in 2009 by Junebug Weddings (one of the most influential wedding blogs in the industry), serves as a judge for the largest wedding photography and wedding album competitions in the world and is the author of Picture Perfect Balance and Picture Perfect Posing. Charismatic, engaging and oh so talented!
International award-winning wedding and portrait photographer, Kevin Jairaj from Dallas, introduced me to a whole new world of lighting possibilities. Kevin is one of a select group of photographers in the world to hold the Double Master Title from WPPI. His work has been published in countless books and magazines such as Photo District News, American Photo, Rangefinder, USA Today, and Destination Weddings. His destination wedding clients have taken him around the world and he was commissioned by USA Today to take portraits of key members of the USA Summer and Winter Olympic Teams. Kevin emits a contagious energy as he shares his techniques for the dramatic use of lighting and colour.
These experts shared tips on how to relax the most reluctant subjects, achieve flattering results with the most subtle shifts in position and light every shot no matter what the conditions. Now it's time to apply all these phenomenal concepts and include them in your Marilyn Warren Photography experience!
Winnipeg Airport – goodbye conference, hello exciting new photography season!