Recent I attended the Wedding Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) convention in Las Vegas. I had a amazing time.  I learned a lot of good things that I know will help me continue to move my business to the next level and provide a higher quality of service to my clients. I was also happy to run into some friends of mine from school there as well. Being my second year attending this event, I knew what I wanted my focus to be and I think I accomplished that. I’m excited to start putting into action the things I learned.  I think its so important as a photographer to continue to educate yourself.  In photography there is always room to grow and improve your craft.  My clients will love me for it.

Vegas as a city is very interesting to me. It’s not for everyone and I think I fit in that “everyone” group, but it does have a buzz about it.  You either love  it or you don’t.  Anyway, here are a few images I took while I was there.

Got off the plane…

Made it to my room at the MGM Grand.  They upgraded me to the “Grande Poobah” suite ( Not sure if that was the name but I felt like the Grande Poobah!)

I had an amazing view of the Vegas Strip every morning.

Another view from my window of the New York New York. ( I stayed there last year.)

Arrived at WPPI…

Listened to and learned from some amazing speakers…

Socialized with many talented photographers.

Missed my little girl an awful lot :0(.  Got a really big hug when I made it home.

“Sweet Baton Rouge, my Baton Rouge.” Its a place with so much culture and history. I was born and raised there.

I love it.

I went home for Thanksgiving and thought I would (to some degree) document in pictures my hometown. I want to share with my daughter a little something about me. I wish cameras were more available when my parents were growing up. I would love to see how things were in their time. This was a very fun and sad venture. Some of the places I visited I could see myself there again so many years ago. I could smell my kindergarten classroom and feel the cool air inside of Winbush’s corner store across from my elementary school. I could see myself, a little kid, running across the school grounds at recess. It brought back some really wonderful memories. Some I wish I could relive for just a day. Oh well. I have some great stories to tell her when she’s older.

This is just the beginning. I hope to add to this collection of images each time I go back. I’ll also continue documenting Gloucester, UK, my wife’s hometown. Stay tuned for some of those images.

“When I wake up in the morning and I feel the gentle breeze.
And there’s apple blossoms blooming everywhere
I hear the birds singing to each other in the trees
And I smell the pretty fragrance in the air

When it’s apple blossom time in Iowa,
And the grass is sprinkled with morning dew,
When it’s apple blossom time in Iowa
I’ll know the sweetest blossom, dear, is you.”
– from Apple Blossom Time In Iowa

I loved my stay in Davenport, Iowa. It was not near long enough. It’s charm, its beauty, the people and its promise draws you in. I could get use to it. I hope to be able to return someday but in the meantime I have the memories.

A view of downtown Davenport, IA from within the Skywalk.

I wanted to share with you a few images from our trip to England.  Its always good to see my wife’s stomping grounds.  I love learning about the culture in Europe.  We had a really good time and I came back refreshed and ready to go.  Rachel had a blast as well (although you wouldn’t know it by looking at the image below  (Trust me).  Can’t wait to go back.

Gloucester Cathedral

Rachel having fun at Buckingham Palace

Palace Guard

Looking up an elevator shaft (Creative Abstract)

Westminster Abbey

London Phone Booths

The London Eye

The Old and The New

Parliament