This week is all about weddings and portraits, thanks to Andrew attending the WPPI (Weddings and Portrait Photographers International) tradeshow in Las Vegas this week. With around 11,000 photographers in attendance, row after row of tradeshow exhibits, and photographers scrambling to get a seat in some of the best training sessions around, it’s turning out to be quite the event.

If you are attending WPPI, or plan on attending any other tradeshow or seminar this year, what can you do to make sure you take back to your studio the most important nuggets? What can you do to make sure you get your money’s worth out of your training? Take a look at these suggestions.

1. Attend everything you can. If you’ve paid the attendance fees, and especially if you’ve traveled and have airfare/hotel/car expenses, it’s important to take in as much as you can. Sit down with the schedule and plan out every day.

2. Work through the expo as early as possible. Visit every booth, or at least the booths that have interest and relevance to your business. Collect literature, business cards and any deals or show specials that they are offering. Then sort through the content back in your hotel room. If you have no interest, throw it away at the hotel – no need bringing it home. If you have an interest in purchasing as a show special, make a special pile and spend a day or so thinking about it. Reserve the last day for revisiting booths you want to take advantage of offers. Also tuck a flat rate shipping box into your luggage already pre-stamped. Fill it with your literature, and drop it off at the front desk. They’ll be happy to put it into the mail, and you won’t have to tote it through the airport.
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