Corey Ann Photography | Northeast Ohio Photographer

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

Greetings from the City of Sin!!!!

So far in Vegas I’ve been having an amazing time! I have a crazy awesome room at the MGM with a view to die for of The Strip and the mountains beyond. I have the amazing company of the Photo Love Cat girls (Anne Ruthmann, Jillian Kay and Christine Tremoulet) for my roomies. I had the best mini-workshop EVER with Cliff Mautner. This image of his is brought me to tears every time it came up in his slideshow during class. I’ve never in my life been moved by an image so much. He’s amazing and so inspiring. I hear that the image did REALLY well at the competition here and I can’t wait to see just how well. Have I mentioned he’s amazing??? We didn’t get to shoot TOO much with him during the class but enough so that I’ll be able to blog some great stuff when I get home and show off some new things I learned.

Not related to Vegas, but future brides should check out the post I contributed to at Intimate Weddings for tips to look fabulous in your wedding pics.

Have a great day!

PS: Past brides… send in your Bride’s Talk!!! Deadline is 2/21!!!!

First I want to mention that my blog will be undergoing some construction in the next couple weeks so if things look wonky at times, I apologize!

Now… the post! Day two of shooting in Maui – this time around the area where the house was located at where the workshop was held. The house was in Lahaina but in the foothills of the West Maui Mountain. There was an interesting forest behind it which made for some unique pictures and the skies were really interesting that day changing light constantly. Enjoy the shots!

View from the house towards the mountain.

The class heading to the shoot location.

Mike instructs Chris and Katie on what to do next.

(L to R) Rosanna, Sommer Holden, Joanna Tano, Scarlett Lillian, Gavin Wade, Mike Colon and Erin Kline.

Crazy Maui skies.

Luke Edmonson and his monster lens.

Mike shooting Chris and Katie.

Luke shows that photographers will get into some crazy positions to get the right shot!

Shot of the houses Mike & the gang were staying at. The workshop/photog house is the one with the white peak. SUCH a great house!!

Chris and Katie were such fun!!  It was a rare (or so I’m told) overcast day in Hawaii and we shot around the amazing houses that Mike Colon and the rest of the class were staying in (I was down the street at the Hyatt Regency, more on that later!).  They aren’t married or engaged but ARE a couple so making them kiss was so much fun!  The forest area around the houses was neat but I felt awful for the classmates that managed to get caught in the thorns that seemed to come from EVERYWHERE!  Those things are evil!  I was smart and stayed on the paved road – however those that ventured in got some awesome shots.  I also go to play with Mike’s 200 2.0 lens – whoa baby!  I got to get one of those! Thanks for being such a great couple guys!!