Rangefinder Magazine
March 2005

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WPPI Spotlight

WPPI 2005 is just around the corner. Here are some last minute things to think about:

Accommodations
If you waited until the last minute to make your hotel reservations, you already know there’s a lot going on this time of year. The biggest room block we’ve ever had at Bally’s is already partially sold out, but there might still be good news. Call (877) 584-6787, USA Hosts. They’ve done a great job on finding overflow rooms, many within walking distance of Bally’s!

WPPI Trade Show
The WPPI Trade Show is the largest professional photographic trade show in the country with 240 exhibitors this year.

Here are some pre-show tips:

1) Take a few minutes to analyze your business before you get to Las Vegas. Where do you need the most help? It might be in new hardware, album design software, or even your insurance plan. When you pick up your badge or register at the show, you’ll get the WPPI Show Guide. The guide has a complete directory, broken down by product category and manufacturer, to help you find the exhibitors you need to see most.

2) Walk the show, aisle by aisle the first day. It’s a big show and you want to have a solid overview of everything being offered by the exhibitors this year.

3) Bring a compact camera with you. Here’s the opportunity almost every attendee misses. It’s about publicity in your hometown paper. When you’re meeting with the staff of any exhibitor, get a picture of yourself on the trade show floor. Then, once you’re back from the show, write up a short press release, e.g., “John Doe Attends International Photography Convention.” Throw in a sentence or two about where you were, who’s in the picture and close with a sentence about your studio. For example, “John Doe is the founder of Doe Photography, specializing in family portraiture at 333 Main St. and so forth.” Publicity doesn’t happen by accident.

4) Along with knowing what products you want to see, do the same with the speakers you’d like to hear. We’ve expanded seating capacity at all of our platform programs, but it will still be busy. Don’t wait until the last minute to decide which programs you want to attend.

Got a question? Stop by the WPPI Booth, and the WPPI staff will do its very best to get you the answer.