Red Rock Canyon Photo Shoot + Last Day in Vegas

My last day is already here :( I remember this time last year feeling like I was pretty much ready to leave WPPI – it was a lot to handle in one week! But I could totally stay till Thursday – so i’m sad! I’ve met some great people this year!! Everyone who went to Roberto’s Plus Class – that was an awesome 2 days, everyone in the halls and people randomly queueing up for lunch – and last night at airplanes and blazers, was so so great to meet everyone!!!

This is just a quick – and again unedited – glimpse of the red rock canyon shoot I went to. This gorgeous couple were kind of enough to trapse all the way out there with Evan and I and let us go crazy with the amaaaazing landscape. I love Vegas.

WPPI 2012 Begins!

It’s this time of the year again!!!!!! This is only my second WPPI – but I have to say having that first one behind me makes a big difference. Last year I was totally lost – trying desperately to make a friend here and there. I luckily came away with a couple of very good friends who have stuck by me this past year and kept encouraging my progress. But I mainly remember wandering around the 16,000 people feeling very much out of place! So if this is your first time- stick with it! It’s tough, and I constantly felt out of my comfort zone but I learnt a tonne and made a few great connections and a couple turned out to be really amazing!

My title is actually a little deceiving! I landed in Vegas on Tuesday! But this was for a good reason – Roberto Valenzuela’s PLUS CLASS ‘Execute With Confidence’ which was covered 2 full-on days from Thursday to Friday. As his assistant for this week I could see how absolutely crazy his schedule is! And if all the attendee’s weren’t ready to collapse after the two days – he still had meetings and events to go to while we were all sound asleep :)

You do have to excuse my straight-out-of-the-camera unedited photos but think they’re better than nothing!!! (not having my laptop with me)

I think all of the attendees will agree with me that Roberto’s class ROCKED!!! At least 10 of them were reeling to me over how much they had learnt – and having seen him speak 3 times in the past I couldn’t believe how much I personally took from it – even from a backseat. The knowledge he gave everyone was totally practical and analytical. Everyone left knowing exact ways they can improve each image they take in order to elevate their photography to the next level. He definitely pushed people out of their comfort zone and I think everyone was put on the spot more than once, which was awesome!

These are just a couple of snap shots I got throughout the two days…

This image is NOT what the attendees got – I was actually totally across the way from them, without reflectors etc and took a quick snap of our first-day models just to show you!

The weather is amazing here – I would swap chicago for desert weather any day!!

I know Plus Class’ can be a little out there for some, what with out flights/hotel/registration! But Roberto’s PLATFORM CLASS : ‘Picture Perfect Practice!’ is at Monday 8am – if you’re going to go to an early one make sure it’s monday….you know Vegas will be hitting you by the end of the week! He will be covering some similar topics that were in his Plus Class and I promise you’ll come away with some invaluable info. Just bring a coffee with you (starbucks line at the Signature is waaaaay smaller)

So yeah – I’m writing a blog post at 10.40pm on a saturday in Vegas – i’ve already got the WPPI cold (although just had a eucalyptus steam…uhmhaze) and a big day and shoot tomorrow so i’m taking netflix into my california king size bed and snuggling up with some green tea to prepare for the next few crazy nights! ahhhh!! If your here lets make sure we meet up!!!!!!!

See you tomorrow!!!!

Jacqui x

Valentine’s Gift Idea!

It’s just around the corner! And if you’re like me I always find Valentine’s gifts that much harder – Billy and I had our Valentine’s Day yesterday, due to our crazy schedules! He did awesome with my LuLuLemon present :) and we pigged out at Mia Francesca’s for dinner – highly recommended!

If I’m totally honest I haven’t been a huge fan of valentine’s – all the teddy bears, chocolates, flowers, red and pink hearts in your face! So I thought of a way to get around the hallmark hearts and make something much more personal.

The idea came pretty easy – a way to your man’s heart…food! Simply go to your favorite restaurants and get a bunch of giftcards – even the ones that aren’t chains will normally give you a gift certificate.

Stuff You Need:

• notebook
• gift cards
• pen
• paint if you wanted

Time:

• 2 hours + running around from restaurant to restaurant!

Cost:

• Depends on how many/much your gift cards are! But the notebook was only $12.99 for the three.

I arranged the gift cards in his favorite note book – moleskin – they’re awesome, and come in packs of 3.

I painted the front with acrylic paint, but you could do anything – leave it blank or write a message….

And underneath each card I wrote what he orders and what I order every time we go there.

You can customise your notebook however you want – you could say why they are you valentine or list a bunch of reasons why you love them…. I would blush if I posted too many so here’s a little glimpse of the 20 or more I wrote:

I finished it by including a gift card to a restaurant we haven’t been to yet, and saying what he would order and what I will when we go there :)

This was perfect for him because we love to eat out! But you can really do it with anything – little gift cards to his favorite stores? movie tickets? create your own date lunches/nights! Hope this helps someone out there :)

Have a great Valentine’s!

Love, Jacqui