My Experience at WPPI Expo 2026 in Las Vegas

A second trip to WPPI, a lot of strong seminars, mixed feelings about the venue, and some time to enjoy Vegas with my son

This year was my second time attending WPPI in Las Vegas, and overall, I’m glad I went.

Like last time, the seminars were the biggest reason I attended. That’s always the highlight for me. I’m not really the type to go out there for photo walks or live shooting experiences. I shoot a lot already. I practice lighting, composition, and creative work on my own time and at my own pace. What helps me most at conferences like this is the classroom setting — hearing from experienced photographers and educators, learning about business, marketing, systems, and finding ideas I can take home and apply in my own way.

This trip was a little different from my first time at WPPI in 2023. Some parts were still great. Some parts felt a little more underwhelming. I enjoyed the learning side of it very much, but I had mixed feelings about the venue, the expo, and the overall feel compared to the last time I attended.

Still, it was a good trip.

It also gave me something else I appreciated: the chance to experience Las Vegas with my son, who came with me on this trip. He’s also my associate photographer and videographer, so it was good to travel together, learn together, and take in the city a little bit outside of the conference itself.

This post is a full recap of the trip from start to finish.

Flying Out of New Orleans: Saturday Night Travel

We left New Orleans on a late-night flight to Las Vegas.

It was me and my son, and since this was his first time in Vegas, we decided to fly in early enough to have a little personal time before the conference really got going. We landed about an hour before midnight, so by the time we got to the Rio and got checked in, it was already pretty late.

Check-in wasn’t terrible, but it did take about 30 minutes. There were a lot of people arriving around the same time, which made sense with the conference about to begin.

Once we got to the room, we got settled in and just tried to get ourselves together for the next day.

This was my fourth time in Las Vegas, but my son’s first, so I wanted to make sure he got to see more than just a convention space and a hotel room.

Sunday: A Vegas Day Before the Conference

Since Sunday was more of a personal day for us, we kept it open and used it to explore.

That morning, we got up and went to Walgreens near the Rio to pick up some food and room snacks so we wouldn’t have to keep scrambling to find something every time we got hungry. It was a little overpriced, but that’s pretty normal for a trip like this. We were in Vegas, we were there for the conference, and it made things easier.

After that, we spent a little time just walking around the Rio to see what it was like. There wasn’t too much going on yet, and while there were definitely some WPPI attendees around, Sunday was still mostly quiet for us.

One of the first things we did was check out the KISS mini golf attraction. That was actually pretty fun. It had this dark neon glow, blacklight kind of atmosphere that made it stand out. Just something casual and different to do before the conference started.

From there, we made our way to Fremont Street.

Instead of catching an Uber, we decided to take the bus. I believe the bus pass was around $8 for 24 hours, which made it worth it for us. The trip itself took about 45 minutes because we had to transfer and wait on another bus coming from the airport route, but once we got there, it was worth it.

Fremont Street is always a different kind of Vegas experience compared to the Strip. It feels more raw, more active, more open, and a little more unpredictable. The giant overhead canopy screen is one of the coolest visual features in the city. It stretches for blocks and gives the whole place a different energy. There were street performers everywhere — dancers, entertainers, showgirls, gymnasts, and all kinds of people just doing their thing and keeping the area alive.

It was my son’s first time seeing that, and I enjoyed getting to show it to him.

We stopped and got something to eat over there too. I honestly can’t remember the name of the place now, but I remember the food being really good. Fremont Street definitely gave us more energy and more to look at than the area around the hotel.

After Fremont, we caught the bus back and got off near Caesars Palace. From there, we walked across to the Bellagio to check out the fountain show. That’s one of those Vegas things that still holds up every time. Simple, iconic, and worth seeing whether it’s your first trip or your fourth.

At that point, we considered catching the bus again, but instead we decided to just walk back to the Rio. It was roughly three-quarters of a mile from the Bellagio area, and while it wasn’t awful, it was definitely tiring after a long day.

By the time we got back to the hotel, got showered, and settled in, we were more than ready to rest and prepare for Monday.

Monday: A Full Day of Seminars and the Best Part of WPPI

Monday was really the start of the conference for me, and it was a full day from beginning to end.

This is the part of WPPI I enjoy the most.

Like I said earlier, I’m not there for photo walks. I don’t go mainly for live shoots. I’m not really attending conferences to practice shooting. I do enough of that already. What I want from a conference is information — business information, marketing ideas, workflow ideas, perspective, tools, and strong teaching from people who actually know how to communicate what they do.

Monday gave me exactly that.

9:00 AM — Susan Stripling

Find a Frame: Essential Composition Skills Every Wedding Photographer Needs

The first seminar I attended was Susan Stripling’s class on composition.

She was a really good teacher. Clear, experienced, and easy to follow.

Even when a topic is something I’m already somewhat familiar with, I still appreciate hearing another photographer’s perspective on it, especially someone who has spent years doing high-level work. Composition is one of those subjects that never really becomes irrelevant. You can always refine it. You can always become more intentional with how you frame, how you simplify, and how you direct the eye through an image.

That class gave me some solid reminders and a few useful takeaways. It was a good way to start the day.

11:00 AM — John Branch

AI Tools Everyone Should Be Using Now, Not Later

Next was John Branch, and that was one of the sessions I was especially looking forward to.

I’ve followed John for a long time, especially through YouTube, and I’ve learned a lot from him over the years when it comes to wedding photography, business, and how to think more strategically about the industry. So even though some of the information in this seminar was stuff I was already familiar with or already applying, it was still good to hear him speak in person.

That matters.

Sometimes it’s not just about hearing brand new information. Sometimes it’s about hearing solid information from someone you trust, presented in a way that helps reaffirm what you’re already doing and maybe sharpens how you apply it.

That’s what this class did for me.

AI is obviously becoming a much bigger part of business and creative work, and John did a good job of making the conversation feel practical instead of gimmicky. That’s important, because I’m not interested in trends just for the sake of trends. I want tools that actually help.

Third Seminar — Jessica Whitaker

YouTube for Photographers and the Evergreen Marketing Platform You’re Overlooking

This was another really strong seminar.

Jessica Whitaker had a great personality — very bubbly, very engaging, and easy to listen to. More importantly, she had useful information.

I’ve been using YouTube for close to 17 years now, so I’m definitely not new to the platform. I understand the basics. I understand posting. I understand audience building at a surface level. But there’s a big difference between being familiar with a platform and really understanding how to use it intentionally for business.

That was the value of this class.

Jessica brought a practical, strategic perspective to YouTube that I found really helpful. She gave me some ideas that I know I’ll be applying in my own business. It wasn’t just theory. It was useful.

As somebody who already uses YouTube, that was encouraging because it made me feel like I don’t need to reinvent the wheel. I just need to use the platform more effectively.

Evening Seminar — Gary Hughes

Headshots That Sell: Profitable Strategies for Photographers

Gary Hughes is always a speaker people look forward to, and this seminar was no exception.

What I liked about this class was that it wasn’t just about taking a basic headshot and moving on. He talked about ways to create more variety in a session — different looks, different lighting, different perspectives — and how that can naturally turn a standard headshot session into a branding session with more value.

That part stood out to me.

It was a good reminder that sometimes the difference between a basic session and a more profitable session is not always a huge overhaul. Sometimes it’s just learning how to see more opportunities inside the same shoot and present them properly.

By the end of Monday, I felt like I had gotten exactly what I came for: a full day of learning from strong speakers.

That’s always the best part of WPPI for me.

Not the photo walks. Not the staged activities. Not the extra fluff. The seminars.

That’s where I get the most value.

Thoughts on the Rio

Before I get into Tuesday, I have to be honest about the host hotel.

I stayed at the Rio, and I was not a big fan.

The room felt dated. The furniture looked old, and the room smelled like smoke. It just didn’t feel fresh or particularly comfortable. It wasn’t the worst place I’ve stayed, but it definitely wasn’t ideal.

More than that, the location was one of the biggest drawbacks for me.

The Rio is away from the Strip and away from most of what people enjoy about Vegas. That makes a difference. When you’re staying on the Strip, you have easier access to food, entertainment, walking traffic, and just a better overall Vegas experience. At the Rio, things felt more isolated. Food options around the hotel weren’t very good, and unless you were planning to stay put, you had to commute to most places.

I understand why conference planners make venue decisions based on cost and logistics. I’m sure budget plays a big role. But from an attendee experience standpoint, I really wish the conference was at a Strip property or at least closer to the center of things.

That alone changes the feel of the trip.

When I attended in 2023, I stayed at the Flamingo while the conference was at the Mirage, and that whole setup felt much better. Even if you weren’t at the exact host property, everything was still right there. It was easier, more connected, and honestly just more fun.

At the Rio, everything felt a little more separated.

Tuesday: Missing the Keynote, Walking the Expo, and Comparing It to 2023

Tuesday started a little slower for me.

I missed Annie Leibovitz’s keynote and book signing because I slept in.

Honestly, I was just tired.

The previous day had been packed, and Sunday had already been a lot of walking. Between Fremont Street, the Bellagio, the hotel, and everything else, I had logged around 30,000 steps. After travel and a full Monday of seminars, my body was just done. So I missed the keynote.

Once I got up and got something to eat, I headed to the expo floor.

This was one area where I really noticed a difference compared to 2023.

Back in 2023, when WPPI was at the Mirage, the expo felt exciting. It felt fuller, more open, more polished, and more like a major event. There were more vendors, more giveaways, more energy, and a better flow to the floor.

This year at the Rio, it just did not feel the same.

It seemed like there were fewer vendors overall, fewer giveaways, and less energy. The layout felt more broken up. It didn’t feel as open or inviting, and strangely enough, even with fewer vendors, it still felt crowded in the wrong way. It felt harder to move through some areas and harder to really take your time at some of the bigger booths.

That was disappointing.

I still found some value in the expo, though.

I had a good conversation with AfterShoot, spent time at the Sony booth since I’m a Sony shooter, got a really cool fanny pack and got to test some lenses and talk with representatives there. I also stopped by booths from companies and brands I already use or pay attention to, like Godox, ZNO, DNP and Viltrox. I checked out a few photo booth related things too, since that’s still part of what I do.

Seeing those companies in person is always useful. Even when the expo itself doesn’t feel as strong overall, it’s still nice to be able to ask questions directly, handle gear, and have conversations with reps and vendors face to face.

But if I’m being honest, the expo was not one of the high points of the trip for me this year.

Usually I could easily spend two days really enjoying that part of the conference. This time, it just didn’t pull me in the same way.

After that, I didn’t do much Tuesday night. I was tired, went back to the room, got something to eat, and called it a day.

Wednesday: My Favorite Seminar, More Strong Classes, and a Night Out

Wednesday was another full day, and probably my favorite overall from a seminar standpoint.

9:00 AM — Ben Hartley

Seven Ways to Use AI to Get More Clients

This was probably my favorite session of the entire trip.

Ben Hartley’s seminar was extremely helpful.

He shared a lot of tools that I know I’ll actually use, and that matters more than just hearing interesting ideas. I want practical things I can take home and apply. He also gave access to the full seminar materials through a QR code so we could go back and review everything later, which I thought was a great touch.

That made the class even more useful because it meant I didn’t have to scramble trying to capture every point in real time. I could stay present, listen, and know I’d be able to revisit the details later.

Out of all the classes I attended, this was one of the most immediately valuable for me.

After that, I went back to the room for a bit, chilled out, and later walked through the expo again just to see if there was anything I missed.

At this point, this was my third photography conference overall, between WPPI and PPA, so some of the expo experience felt familiar. There’s always some overlap year to year. That’s normal. Still, it was nice to walk around, be in the environment, and check out the gear and brands.

Afternoon Seminar — Miles Witt Boyer

Develop Your Signature Style in Wedding Photography

This class was emotional in a way I didn’t fully expect.

Miles Witt Boyer had a story and perspective that really resonated with me. What stood out was the way he framed photography not just as image-making, but as memory-making and storytelling.

That really aligned with how I already see photography.

For me, photography has never been only about making something look good. Of course I care about quality, composition, and lighting. But at the core of it, I care about recording people’s lives well. I care about preserving real moments and telling a story honestly.

That seminar was reaffirming.

It reminded me why I shoot the way I shoot and why I care so much about storytelling in the first place.

Evening Seminar — Summer Grace

Build Your Business with Social Media and Real Connection

Summer Grace was another speaker who impressed me.

She gave us a lot of useful tools and prompts that could actually help in business, especially around social media. That’s something all of us have to deal with now whether we like it or not. Social media is a real part of this industry, and learning how to use it better matters.

What I appreciated about this session was that it connected social media back to actual human connection, not just posting for the sake of posting.

That’s where the value is.

Wednesday ended up being one of the strongest days of the trip. Three good classes, some time on the expo floor, and a full evening afterward.

Wednesday Night: The Wrap Party and Hakkasan at MGM Grand

That evening, my son and I attended a little bit of the wrap party and then went to Hakkasan at the MGM Grand.

That was a fun change of pace.

It was packed, crowded, loud, and definitely had the full nightclub energy. The music was good, and even though it felt a little small once you were inside with all the people, it was still a good time. Vegas is Vegas, and if you’re going to be there, it’s nice to step outside the conference mindset for a little while and actually enjoy the city too.

We stayed out until around midnight, then headed back.

Once we got to the room, we started packing up everything we weren’t going to need the next day because we had a red-eye flight out Thursday night at 11:59 PM to get back to New Orleans.

Thursday: One Last Day on the Strip

Thursday was checkout day.

We got breakfast, finished packing, and took all our bags down to the bell desk since checkout was at 11:00 AM. That freed us up to spend the rest of the day out before heading to the airport.

Our plan was simple: spend the day on the Strip.

So that’s what we did.

We walked through malls, shopping areas, resorts, and different sections of the Strip, covering a lot of ground before the day was over. It was one more chance for my son to see Las Vegas properly and for us to take in some of the city outside of the conference.

That part of the trip mattered to me too.

A conference trip doesn’t always have to be nonstop conference activity. Sometimes it’s good to balance the work side with just being present in the place you traveled to.

By that evening, we headed back to the Rio, grabbed our bags, caught an Uber to the airport, waited a couple of hours, and then flew home.

And that was the trip.

My Overall Take on WPPI 2026

Looking back on the trip as a whole, I’d say this:

The seminars were absolutely the best part.

That has been true for me before, and it was true again this year.

The speakers are what make the conference worthwhile. I came away with real ideas, new tools, useful reminders, and a stronger sense of what I want to apply in my own business. That alone made the trip worthwhile.

The photo walks and shooting activities still aren’t really my thing, and that’s okay. I know what I go there for. I go for education, business insight, marketing strategy, and hearing from photographers whose stories and paths feel relatable.

A lot of the speakers feel like people I can actually see pieces of myself in — people who built something over time, found their own way, and learned how to turn creative skill into a real business. That’s valuable to me.

At the same time, I do think this conference needs some changes.

The Rio was not my favorite venue. The hotel itself felt dated, the room had that old smoke smell, and the location just made the whole conference feel less connected to the city. Being away from the Strip changes the experience more than people might realize.

The expo also felt weaker than it did in 2023. Maybe that’s because 2023 was my first WPPI and everything felt new. That could be part of it. But even accounting for that, this year still felt different. Less full. Less polished. Less engaging. Not bad, just not the same.

Networking also felt a little off this time.

That part surprised me.

I expected there to be more natural conversation and more easy opportunities to connect with people. In 2023, that happened more organically for us. This time, it felt harder. Maybe it was the venue, maybe it was the crowd, maybe it was just how the event flowed this year. I don’t know. I’m sure there were plenty of people networking successfully. For us, it just didn’t happen the same way.

That’s not really a complaint as much as an observation.

Even with all that, I’m still glad I went.

This trip gave me good information, some useful perspective, a chance to spend time in Vegas with my son, and a reminder of what I actually value most at these conferences. For me, it’s the speakers. It’s the teaching. It’s hearing practical ideas from people who know what they’re talking about.

That part still delivered.

As for whether I’d go back soon, probably not.

At least not in the near future.

I’d be a lot more motivated to return if the venue changed or if the overall expo experience improved. Right now, I could see myself going again maybe in 2028 or 2029, but I’d want to see what changes between now and then.

That’s one thing I’ve appreciated about PPA too — moving the event to different cities gives it a different energy year to year. I went to Nashville this year for PPA, and that’ll be its own separate blog post when I get around to writing it.

But as far as WPPI 2026 goes, that’s my honest take:

Strong speakers.

Useful seminars.

A weaker venue.

A less exciting expo than 2023.

Still a worthwhile trip.

And sometimes that’s enough.

Final Thoughts

WPPI 2026 may not have hit me the way 2023 did, but it still gave me something useful.

It reminded me that I still enjoy learning. I still enjoy sitting in a room, listening to experienced people break down what they know, and taking those ideas home to apply them at my own pace. That’s what keeps conferences valuable to me.

I don’t need every part of the event to be amazing for the trip to matter.

If the seminars are strong, the speakers are real, and I leave with even a few ideas I can put into practice, then the trip did its job.

And on top of that, I got to experience Vegas again, show my son some parts of the city for the first time, and turn the trip into something more than just a conference schedule.

That made it worth it.