Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) has added a series of seminars, dedicated to the craft of wedding videography, to their annual Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, taking place from February 27 to March 6. The new series is a collaborative effort involving WPPI Director of Education and Membership Jason Groupp and top industry cinematographers, such as Vincent Laforet. “Each year we’ve seen an increase in wedding and event filmmakers joining our conference,” explains Groupp. “WPPI: Filmmaking is a program specifically designed for wedding and event filmmakers.”
Editor's Note: This post was written by Justin Dise
I had the chance to talk with Joe Simon and Kevin Shahinian—two of the filmmakers who will be presenting at this year’s event. Both were eager to express their excitement about the new program. “I've been going to WPPI for years, but as an event filmmaker there were not many platforms for us to attend,” says Simon. “Last year I spoke with Jason Groupp and, together with a few other filmmakers, we were able to help them put together the filmmaking track for this year’s show. I'm really excited to be a part of it… this is going to be the biggest wedding filmmaking event of the year!”
The series will serve as a creative outlet for filmmakers specializing in weddings and special events, something the industry has needed. “In recent years, attendance at our industry's largest conferences has averaged 150-200 filmmakers, waning considerably from nearly 2,000-3,000 filmmakers not many years ago,” explains Shahinian. “The majority of these events are organized by videographers, in their spare time, without the support of an independent organization or widespread public relations effort beyond the industry's small online communities. With the strength of Emerald Expo, Rangefinder publications, and the high turnout of the photography industry, WPPI offers a level of heightened legitimacy and public relations reach that hopefully leads to raising public awareness and the perceived value of our craft across all markets.”
Images from Joe Simon's Instagram
WPPI: Filmmaking will focus on new techniques and technologies for delivering creative and high-quality results to clients. Perhaps, most importantly, it serves as a venue for wedding photographers and filmmakers to come together in large numbers to support the craft through education and networking. Vendor participants at the show will include Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic’s Lumix division, with video and filmmaking hardware, software, and accessories on display from March 3-5. Whether you’re a seasoned wedding filmmaker, or a photographer looking to expand your knowledge of the video-production side of weddings, WPPI: Filmmaking is something you won’t want to miss! Sign up below to take in the exciting new program.
SPECIAL PROMO!
When you sign up for the show, use the following promo code, which will grant you a full confrence pass to WPPI 2014 for $119.00: WPPI95G
Concept Filmmaking - Monday, March 3, 4:00 p.m.
Presented by Kevin Shahinian, and geared toward filmmakers of all skill levels who, at one time or another, have ever been asked by a client to do something "extra"—for filmmakers who envision enhancing their films with additional storytelling elements. Anything, from a quick day-of directed bride and groom session to a full-blown scripted production created before the wedding, and everything in between, the class will cover a full range of topics to help filmmakers push the creative standard, from sales, marketing, and earning a sizeable budget, to practical solutions that will greatly aid in the execution of ideas.
Stories from the Road - Monday, March 3, 6:30 p.m.
Joe Simon shares his journey through filmmaking, changing trends, his successes and failures, as well as his secrets to creating captivating wedding films.
Event Cinema Workshop - Sunday, March 2, 2014, 9:00 a.m.
Joe Simon and Kevin Shahinian will be presenting an eight-hour instructional intensive for professional and aspiring event filmmakers of all skill levels, at Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, on Sunday, March 2, 2014. This B&H-sponsored, comprehensive full-day course includes a complete range of essential curriculum, fundamental filmmaking techniques, and proprietary business acumen presented in a highly exclusive learning environment, sure to help take your event filmmaking skills and your business to dazzling new dimensions.
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