Industry News


What Can You Expect at WPPI 2020? Some Exciting Changes Ahead of the Show

October 7, 2019

By Arlene Evans

Photo © Sandra Coan

I’m not sure where this year has gone (doesn’t everyone say that?) but we’re officially into fall and WPPI is only five months away! And we have PHOTOPLUS to look forward to at the end of this month (October 25 to 27).

With October comes the schedule for WPPI 2020 and we’re so excited to give you access to the awesome speakers and curriculum that we’ve put together. It was an arduous process as we had over 500 course submissions for 160 classes, and each one must be reviewed for content, relevancy and the speaker’s ability to connect and deliver ideas and actionable concepts. We also wanted to make sure to include new instructors in the lineup, so you’ll be hearing more in the coming months about the 40 new speakers debuting classes in 2020. We’re very excited!

When choosing speakers, the WPPI team was also very aware of the survey results received after the 2019 show, and we listened to your comments and complaints. Because of your suggestions, we are going back to our previous pricing structure with a Conference Platform Pass and à la carte Intensive (formerly PLUS), Master Class and Photo Walk pricing. The good news is that your Conference Platform Pass will include 54 Platform Classes (including three Spanish language classes, a Spanish Photo Walk and two panels), three evening events, three days of the trade show and two days of judging access to the WPPI Annual Print, Album and Filmmaking competitions. We also know how inconvenient it was to get over to the Excalibur to observe the judging, so it’s being moved to the Mandalay Bay and will be right in the middle of everything happening there! 

You also requested more business classes to help you with the challenges you face, whether it’s pricing, social media or in-person sales. We’re going to cover those topics and many more in 12 Platform and 12 Master Classes. Lighting and posing classes are also popular, especially when they deal with natural light, off-camera flash, creative lighting with one light or multiple lights, and posing for both wedding and portrait images. With 8 Platform, 11 Master Class and 16 Photo Walks to choose from, you’ll come away with new techniques and creative ideas to light even the most difficult situations.

To keep up with the latest in photography trends, you’ll be able to discover more about drones in two Platform Classes. And the Filmmaking and Video track will offer six Platform, four Master Classes and six Photo Walks to hone your video skills and think about enhancing your product offerings to your clients. The W in WPPI stands for Wedding and will be represented with six Platform Classes, seven Master Classes and 11 Photo Walks, and the always-important Post Production and Workflow track will include four Platform Classes and six Master Classes. 

I’m excited to talk more about our new instructors and topics in future articles, so stay tuned!

As many of you know, I have spent the last 15 years working in photography education, and I feel it’s so important to offer photographers the opportunity to learn and expand their creativity while still having the skills to earn a living and do what they love. At the Portrait Masters Conference in Phoenix last month, I was honored to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the conference founders (and my friends) George Varanakis and Sue Bryce. To be given an honor like this is truly humbling, and I want to thank all of you for your kind words and support.

I also want to acknowledge the loss that the photography community and the world experienced with the passing of fashion photography legend Peter Lindbergh on September 3rd. He was a true icon and hero to all photographers as he elevated the art of capturing the beauty in all women. The joy he communicated in each image changed the face of fashion photography, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude for the legacy he left us. He will be missed (as will Robert Frank—considered one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century— who, sadly, passed away just a week later, on September 9th). 

Arlene Evans is the WPPI conference producer. Email her your feedback or topics you want addressed in upcoming issues at arlene.evans@emeraldexpo.com. 

Related: 10 Questions for Arlene Evans, WPPI’s New Conference Producer and Thoughtful Community Builder

Highlights from WPPI 2019: The Emotions, Awards and New Education