the [b] school blog

February 2009 archive view all recent posts

Feb. 28, 2009 - What's Happening

Hey all you Arizona photographers. I am going to be coming out to the Phoenix area for Spring training the weekend of March 20-22nd. I am planning a little [ b ] School GTG for Friday the 20th at around 6pm at AZ88 in Scottsdale. Leave a comment below if you'd like to join us. Also if anyone has a Pheonix area wedding on March 21st and would like me to be your second shooter join the "Shoot with [ b ]" club and add you details to that thread.

Feb. 26, 2009 - Misc

Last week I hosted the 9th Annual [ b ] Party in Las Vegas at the Real World Suite at the Palms Casino and Resort. It was a smashing success and I wanted to thank everyone who came. I also want to thank my parents, my office manager Kathleen and her husband Travis for doing all the shopping and preparation so that I could just be a host and have fun. And lastly I want to thank our wonderful sponsors for helping with the bar tab and the room: WHCC, PickPic, The Boudoir Divas, Kiss Wedding Books, The Modern Portrait Workshops, Revolution Imaging & Design, Ben Harrison In Design Templates & Hip Slip.

By the way, what happens in Vegas, ends up on my blog as per usual!

Can you guess who's nipples these belong to? Hint

Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Mike & Julie Colon with the Leather Craftsmen crew.

Melissa Koehler & Cathy Crawley. I have no comment on where Cathy's right hand is in the last photo.

Dale Benfield & Merideth & Robert & Kathleen Trenske

Brian Khang and his fiance Helen. (Also check out my pimp chalice that Gene Higa Bedazzled for me!!!!):

Riz Crescini is a [ b ] Schooler from Japan and Cathy flew in from Australia.

The chocolate fountain was a big hit.

The WHCC & PickPic peeps

Kenny Kim is quite popular with the ladies as per usual!

Regis already has his Christmas card taken care of in February:

Check out the album of Facebook for more images. The rest of the images will be available via bpartyvegas.com next week and you can redeem your free print courtesy of WHCC.

Feb. 24, 2009 - Misc

This is a 3 part post... VERY IMPORTANT!!! It will take you less than 4 minutes to watch both videos and enter our drawing for a chance to win $1,000:

Please watch this short clip of Seth Godin, author of Tribes (among many other amazing books) and then my reply below:

And now a short response from yours truly:

And lastly...

In case you missed our postcard in Vegas, we are offering a free PDF on "How to get other photographers to rave about you and get you jobs" and entering you into a drawing for a chance to win $1,000. The deadline is this Saturday, February 28th at midnight PST. There is no obligation... all you have to do is enter your valid email address, and I assume if you are reading this blog on a regular basis, we already have your email address anyway so just click below:

Also, this is an important message for us at the [ b ] School and an idea we are passionate about spreading. Please share this on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc...

Feb. 23, 2009 - Misc

Host Your Videos on SmugMug

Party photos will be up tomorrow, Headshot photos will be up later this week.

Feb. 20, 2009 - Misc

Wow, that Richard Esposito guy is fast. i just got home from Vegas late last night and I've barely unpacked, let alone downloaded any of my cards. He already posted a cool video on his blog with a little Vegas recap. I'll have my stuff posted sometime next week, so just stay tuned to the blog/Facebook/Twitter for updates. In the mean time, check out his fun little video:

Feb. 14, 2009 - Featured Members

This is for all of you folks who couldn't make it to WPPI this year, and I don't want y'all to feel left out.

Just hours after I arrived in Las Vegas, Kevin Swan from Kiss Wedding Books was kind enough to stop by my hotel suite for a little chat. We talked mostly about branding, but covered quite a few topics in this 25 minute, unedited conversation. I am stoked that Kevin is a member of the [ b ] School.

Please forgive the camera work and lighting... my video crew doesn't get in until Sunday. Also, it's a huge file and you might want to let it load for a minute or two before starting to watch it.

More videos will be posted inside of the [ b ] School once we get back from the convention... we'd love to have you join us.

Feb. 13, 2009 - Misc

Hey all,

Make sure you turn your device updates on to follow your friends in Vegas. I'll be posting updates during the trade show and letting people know what booth I am at. The first one to find me and show me the updated tweet will get a free "[b]log stalker" t-shirt.

Follow me:

Feb. 9, 2009 - Misc

Hey all, I am so stoked for WPPI this year. Some of you are already out there, and most will be arriving in the next few days. I just wanted to give everyone a heads up about where I'll be and what I've got going on, and also some tips for getting the most out of the convention. Plus I'll share a few of my favorite dining spots in town.

Here's my tentative schedule. Did you notice the word tentative?:

Friday, February 13th

"Early Bird Special" GTG - For those of us who are in town early, we are trying to get some folks together for a little food and fun. Tentative plans are in this thread (sorry this link didn't work in the email blast. oops... my bad!). Exact time and location TBD... but I am leaning towards 7pm at the Pink Taco at the Hard Rock (only a 5 minute cab ride from the MGM) follow me on Twitter for updates.

10pm-ish- Poker at the Hard Rock Poker Lounge.

Saturday the 14th

I'm busy... don't bother me! ;-)

Sunday the 15th

Sleeping in after a long night of poker I'm sure!

2pm, Watching some of the print judging.

6pm, WPPI Welcome reception.

9pm. Photographers Poker tournament at the Rio, $80

Monday the 16th

10:30-2pm- Walking the convention floor with my video crew.

2pm- Visiting the Show it Sites suite.

An afternoon full of party prep!

9pm- the 9th Annual [ b ] Party (SOLD OUT)

Tuesday the 17th

12-1pm. I'll be hanging at the Shootsac booth to answer questions, and meet people. Checking out the new HIP SLIP.

2:30, Neon Boneyard shoot with [ b ] Schoolers - so excited! BBQ to follow.

I'm not sure what's going on later Tuesday night??

Wednesday the 18th

10:30- Headshot shoot. On the Strip near the corner of Tropicana Avenue, under the walkway to New York, New York. Look for a bunch of people with cameras standing around.

2:30-4:30 Jessica Claire's platform presentation. She's giving away lots of cool stuff. See the trailer below.

No plans as of yet after Jessica's talk. Lemme know what's up! Poker? OK!

Thursday the 19th

9am... bright and early... Joe Photo's closing program. Trailer below.

After Joe's presentation, there's talk of getting together for an informal lunch somewhere and also a possible shoot? Keep in touch via Twitter and/or the [ b ] School Vegas/WPPI Club.

Here's a sneak peak about what Jessica will be talking about:

Here's a little preview of what Joe Photo has in store:

Other things you might want to know about:

There are two spots left for a photo shoot on Friday, 2/13 (that's like tomorrow) 12-5pm
Nelson Ghost Town with four models (1 couple, 2 single females)
Transportation Provided. Leaving the MGM grand at noon, shooting from 1-4, back at the MGM by 5.
$50 per photographer covers transportation, model fees and entrance fees to Nelson.
Email Molly at molly at mthreestudio.com to be included. A paypal invoice will be sent for advance payment.

_____

[ b ] School member Jason Aten is hosting an intimate workshop on using Apple's Aperture. It's only $25 and limited to 16 people per session. It also includes 60 Aperture Album Design Templates. Check it out.

_____

Another [ b ] Schooler, Lawrence Kent has a service to help make custom fonts for your Show it Site. It's called Focused Color and everything is 50% off through the end of WPPI (2-19-09)

_____

Other important tips for WPPI:

Comfortable shoes!

Lots of water.

Don't be a lush!

Sore throat lozenges. I'm already losing my voice.

Never split 10's while playing blackjack.

Don't even think about check raising me!

If you see Skip... avoid eye contact at all costs. ;-)

If you see Mike Colon, say "Hi DJ!"

If you see DJ, say "aren't you Mike Colon?"

Here are a few of my favorite dining establishments in Las Vegas. Unfortunately I am not very familiar with the MGM. I haven't stayed there in years.

Fine Dining, super fancy or just a lot of $$$$$:

Mix. On top of THEhotel. In a word... magnificent!
Tao. At the Venetian. The Kobe sirloin is to die for
Aureole. Mandalay Bay. The largest wine selection in town.
Daniel Boulud. The Wynn. Uber fancy.
Le Circue: Bellagio.
Wazuzu: Encore. I had $28 fried rice there for lunch last month. So good.
Carnevino. Palazzo. Bring the Amex or a pile of cash.

Steak Houses:

Prime. Bellagio. Top of the line!
Charlie Palmer, Four Seasons (inside the Mandalay Bay)
N9NE: The Palms
Cut. Palazzo.
Gallagers. NY NY (Right across from the MGM)
Stripsteak. Mandalay Bay
Also the Rum Jungle at the Mandalay Bay is a Brazillain style meat on a stick place before it turns into a nightclub.
Stack. The Mirage. kind of a different kind of steak house. Not super expensive, but I liked it a lot.
Of course there's also Ruth Chris, Smith & Wolinski and Mortons, but you can go to those chains any time.

Sushi lovers should check out Sushi Roku at Caesars or Nobu at the hard Rock.

Casual dining/Good lunch spots:

BLT Burger. Mirage. So awesome. I got a PB&J shake there once and it was incredible.
Dos Caminos. Palazzo. Thee best guacamole. Eclectic Mexican.
Spago at the caesar's Forum Shops. best people watching in town.
Olives. Bellagio
Fix at the Bellagio is awesome for late night dining. The Kobe sliders are dee-lish!
The Pink Taco. Hard Rock

If you've got a favorite Vegas restaurant, please leave it in the comments below.

And lastly, if you see me and want to say hi, please do so. I say it every year, but so many people email me after WPPI saying that they saw me, but they were too shy to come introduce themselves. That's lame. Don't be shy! I'd love to meet you.

Feb. 9, 2009 - Attitude

Paul is a [ b ] School member who shot his first wedding before I was even born. He uploaded a nice video inside of the Classroom to share some of his thoughts on how he's been able to consistently book weddings throughout the years. Here's a little trailer:

Feb. 8, 2009 - Misc

If you are headed to Vegas next week for WPPI, but are just attending the tradeshow and not the convention, you can at least get a Free WPPI Tradeshow Pass courtesy of Tony Bisson from Laguna Albums.

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2010:
January February March April May June July August

2009:
January February March April May June July August September October November December

2008:
January February March April May June July August September October November December

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