The History of Rangefinder Publishing: A Timeline

1952
Rangefinder debuts as a 51/2 x 81/2-inch pamphlet.

1958
Rangefinder’s first four-color cover.

1962
Rangefinder grows to its present 81/2 x 11-inch size.

1968
Rangefinder grosses enough for Hy Sheanin, at age 59, to quit his battery salesman job to focus on the publishing company full time.

1970
Steve Sheanin comes to work full time for Rangefinder.

1973
(WPA) Wedding Photographers of America, Inc.
is founded.

1978
An Advisory Board is formed, comprised of the foremost names in wedding photography.

1979
WPA becomes WPI (Wedding Photographers International).

1980
Entry fees for print competition: for members = $8.50, non-members = $12; Convention registration for members = $45, non-members = $85.

1981
WPI holds its first International Convention and Trade Show called The World of Wedding Photography Trade Show. Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, 1800 attendees, 24 exhibitors, 12 Platform speakers.

1982
Sheraton Washington Hotel, Washington, D.C., 100 exhibitors, 215 prints submitted into competition.

1983
Convention features four legendary photographers: Rocky Gunn, Tibor Horvath, Leon & Betti Kennamer.

1984
Headlining the convention are Gary Bernstein and Monte Zucker.

1985
Dean Collins tops our list of speakers.

1986
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV

1987
Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.

1988
The Wedding of the Year debuts as our first “mock” wedding with Denis Reggie shooting the pre-ceremony, sponsored by Eastman Kodak.

1989
Terry Deglau presents his workshop “The Studio of Tomorrow.”

1991
*64% of photographers work full time,
*85% of professional photography work is portrait/wedding photography,
*the average gross income for full-time photographers is $50,700.
(based on a Rangefinder survey)

1992
*85% of photographers are male,
*65% of photographers work alone
(no assistants),
*50% of photographers handle office tasks themselves.
(based on a Rangefinder survey)

1994
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA.

1995
WPI officially becomes WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International). MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, Annual golf tournament begins, 22 seminars.

1997
Sands Convention Center, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.
Rangefinder magazine, a leader in the field of professional photography, attains a readership of 50,000 monthly readers

1998
Sands Convention Center, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.

1999
36 albums and 600 prints are entered into competition
Denis Reggie wins the WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award.

2000
Rio Suite Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV.
WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award, Arnold Newman;
Seven prints achieve a perfect score of 100.

2001
14 MasterClasses are introduced for the first time.
WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award, Tony Corbell;
40 albums & 600 prints are entered, 17 judges.

2002
2002
Rf Cookbooks are launched.
30 albums, 1000 prints, 22 judges;
WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award, Bambi Cantrell.

2003
36 programs, 20 MasterClasses.
Inaugural year of WPPI PLUS.
First year at Bally’s, 1000 entries to print & album competition, 27 judges.
WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award, Jerry and Bonnie Costanza

2004
All About Schools is introduced;
WPPI Show Guide is first published with cover by Jerry Ghionis;
Hy Sheanin scholarship is established, 1st winner: JB Sallee;
2000 prints entered into competition.

2005
25th Anniversary Business Institute is introduced;
Show Guide cover by Martin Schembri,
Hy Sheanin winner Wes Kroninger;
WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award, Rick and Deborah Ferro;
WPPI redesigns its logo.

2006
Spanish Institute is introduced;
Show Guide cover by Mike Moreland;
Hy Sheanin winner Catherine Hall

2007
2700 prints & 243 albums entered
Show Guide cover by Nick Vedros;
AfterCapture magazine is launched;
First Ladies of Photography is introduced,
Hy Sheanin winner Carina Romano.
Monte Zucker Humanitarian Award premieres, Sandy Puc’ is the first winner.

2008
Show Guide cover by Kevin Jairaj;
Hy Sheanin winner Dixie Dixon;
Monte Zucker Humanitarian Award, Jeff Lubin.
Rangefinder launches its new website.
Rangefinder Publishing moves from Santa Monica to Culver City.
Rangefinder Publishing wins 3 Maggie awards.

2009
WPPI moves to the MGM Grand.
12,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors
Photographer of the Year is established, Jennifer Hudson the first winner;
Show Guide cover by Bambi Cantrell;
Hy Sheanin winner Sarah Jane Sanders;
Monte Zucker Humanitarian Award, Kevin Kubota;
WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award, Bill Hurter.
Rangefinder Publishing wins 2 Maggie awards.