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Today, 08:01 PM
Latest News
Pinned 2013 WPS "Roots" Workshop Registration...
DATE: August 4th - 6th, 2013
TIME: 9am until ?
LOCATION: The Carolina Inn - Chapel Hill, NC
COST: $225 {early bird - 10 available}, $275 {standard}, $325 {Day of}, $150 {students*}.
REGISTRATION LINK: 2013 WPS Roots Workshop Registration
(You MUST be a WPS member to sign up)
The WPS is honored to open up the 2013 Roots Workshop Registration page! As always, we've got a few early bird tickets available. We've undergone a major overhaul of the workshop this year. Of course, it's now a workshop format. This is not only a name change but an entire mentality change of such a great educational opportunity. Instead of 3 days of speakers talking "at" you, we're going hands on and not only will there be educational speaking, there will be plenty of hands on experience, working directly with speakers and other talented photographers. We're creating individual shooting areas to use both during the speakers talks and during "free" time. We are providing lighting gear for these shooting areas so you'll have a wonderful opportunity to work with different lighting setups - both traditional and unorthodox.
Read more about the 2013 WPS Roots workshop here.
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Pinned What is the WPS?
Welcome to The Wedding & Portrait Society (WPS)!
Welcome to The Wedding & Portrait Society (WPS). We're a network of professional wedding & portrait photographers who come together to collaborate on photographic ideas, thoughts, and information in an attempts to elevate the artistic, technical, and business standards of the wedding photographic community. Membership in the WPS offers many professional & personal growth opportunities via monthly educational meetings, networking, critiques, and general camaraderie during such gatherings. WPS meetings, forums, blog submissions, & web pages are open to any and all professional wedding photographers throughout the world.
The WPS's origins date back to 2005, when Raleigh, NC wedding photographer Christobal Perez organized quarterly photography meetings in an effort to help build relationships, share knowledge amongst peers, and help create a competitive, yet supportive photographic community. The spirit of Christobal's movement has grown exponentially since that time and has since evolved into the WPS (which became official in 2009) with the further support of other local photographers & Brian Mullins. Leaders & members of the WPS donate their time to organize topic discussions with guest speakers, collaborate on ideas and offer guidance, all without compensation.
Membership
To join the WPS, you need to meet the following minimum criteria:
- Actively pursuing business as a professional wedding and/or portrait photographer (or aspiring to be a professional wedding and/or portrait photographer).
- A professional photography website showing your current work.
- Willingness to share your knowledge with others (we don't ask for state secrets but a general willingness to be open and help others when possible).
There are two levels of membership in the WPS; aspiring and professional.
Application
To officially become a member of the WPS please first read the FAQ then register here.
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Pinned WPS Image Competition
2013 WPS Competition Specifications:
1st quarter competition will be announced soon. The competition software is going under a complete overhaul and we expect completion before April 1st. We will still have 4 competitions for 2013. We appreciate your patience and look forward to unveiling the new competition software!
Please read the rules below BEFORE submitting your image.
Click here to submit your image. Each category submission is subject to a small fee.. Additional details and pricing information are on the submissions page or on our Image Competition FAQ page.
The winner will be announced at the NACE/ISES/TBA/WPS Annual Holiday party on December 4th, 2012 at the Garden on Millbrook in Raleigh, NC.
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Critsey Rowe & Thomas Geist
Speaker: Critsey Rowe & Thomas Geist
Topic: The "complete" guide to portraits & lighting
Date: August 6th, 2013
www.coutureboudoir.com
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Tyler Wirken
Speaker: Tyler Wirken
Topic: Pure Photojournalism
Date: August 4th, 2013
Website- wirkenphoto.com
Recent work- wirkenblog.com
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Joseph Victor Stefanchik (JVS)
Speaker: Joseph Victor Stefanchik (JVS)
Topic: Lighting on the run
Date: August 4th, 2013
http://jvscreative.com
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Worst Nightmares and an amazing story!
For those that don't know, the WPS grew out of a local "get-together" of photographers who would talk, share and help each other out. Trying to get a group of photographers together is easy enough when it's the same photographers month after month, right? How about when the market explodes with new talent and there is no centralized system, group or resources for them to call on for questions, advice or, worst of all, emergencies.
How many of you, when you first started, had the forethought to have a contact list of photographers with you, in case of emergencies? Probably not too many. I'm not talking about a week before the wedding, we are talking a day before, or the day of. One of our members just went thru this and, let me say, I was amazed at how quickly the WPS community proved it's worth. Here is the message that went out:
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My Love Letter to the WPS
As some of you know, on Friday March 31st I was on my way to Pinehurst to attend a rehearsal and get set up for a wedding on Saturday. A few miles from the venue, the car in front of me slammed on the brakes suddenly to avoid hitting the truck in front of it turning left on a hidden driveway. With little room to stop, I slammed on the brakes and swerved on to the shoulder to avoid a collision. I hit a tree going 45 miles an hour, causing a level three butterfly fracture of my right femur, a broken left thumb, and numerous other bangs and scratches requiring stitches (oh and a lovely burn on my neck from the seatbelt). You can only imagine the thoughts that ran through my head as i lay on the side of the road, was put in the ambulance, and rolled swiftly through the doors of Moore Regional Hospital. And second only to calling my husband, I was thinking of all of you.
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It's Looking Like Mac's Now Need Vaccin...
Just this past weekend, I was alerted by my biz credit card company of some suspicious activity on my account. Upon looking into it further with the CS rep, someone had indeed went on a shopping spree in Charlotte on Swank Photo Studio'sexpense to the tune of $700+. In this day and age I'm thankful that my bank caught it in time and suspended my account. Yes, it's totally annoying when you're trying to use your account and it declines, but in this case I'm grateful.
So upon learning of charges to the Finish Line, Harris Teeter, WalMart, BP, and Maurices Hair & Braid World(no! I do not wear a weave!), I took it upon myself to resort to wise old Yoda, (A.K.A. Google) to do some further investigation of my own to learn how this can happen since I'm exclusively using my card as a swipe only or for online purchases with Verified Security, duh, and plus I have a trusty steed known as Mac. I'm impervious, right?
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You are filthy!
The wonderful staff at Southeastern Camera is donating their time on August 14th, 2012 from 10:30am – 1:30pm to professionally clean your cameras while you enjoy the WPS convention! This is typically a paid service but Southeastern Camera has been a huge supporter of us so we are very proud to have them at the convention with us.
All you need to do is sign up and drop your camera off to them (make sure you go back by to pick it up).
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Renee McCardell
WPS Chapter Leader
- Renee is our latest chapter leader heading up the Greensboro chapter with her Husband Jonathan. Renee & Jonathan spoke at the 2012 WPS convention and are thrilled to bring everything the WPS exemplifies to the triad area! Welcome Renee and Jonathan!!
- Joined: 25-July 11
- Total Posts: 3
- Last Post: 16 June 2013 - 12:21 PM
- Last Active: Today, 01:24 PM
- Website URL:
http://www.mccardellstudios.com
Ambitious HS photographer looking to assist for experience...
Posted by Gary Allen - Yesterday, 11:50 AM
hello fellow wps'ers:
I dont normally do this, but I have an energetic young customer at Southeastern Camera, Kat Taylor, who is a high school/college age photographer in Wilmington for the summer looking to work for, or assist a wedding photographer. She is looking for experience mostly, so would be very cheap if not free for some photographer to get a little help this summer.
her email is katiekat456@gmail.com and her phone number is (910) 904-0506. She would love to hear from somebody. Not sure how experienced she is, but she seems focused on photography!
thanks,
Gary
Read More...
New Member - Lehigh Valley PA
Posted by ClayToporski - Jun 11 2013 05:29 PM
Hello Everyone!
Wanted to thank you for accepting my membership. I got into wedding photography about 5-6 years ago and I work part time doing wedding photography and full time in internet marketing for an auto group.
I am always looking to get better at what I do and look forward to trying to exchange information. Hopefully, I can provide some good insight into trying to market yourself online better and I can get some great photography tips in return. 
Duke Gardens do they check membership still?
Posted by Diane McKinney - Jun 09 2013 12:22 PM
Quick question... I have always had a membership to shoot at Duke Gardens but I haven't shot there in the last 2 years or so unless it was a wedding. And I NEVER shoot on the weekends due to all the people. But I have a maternity shoot and she can't drive too far from home so I am trying to decide what is better UNC or Duke Gardens. Are they asking for proof of membership? Even if I paid there would be no way to get it done today. Any info is much appreciated.
Need answer today...
Hello from Pa.
Posted by Scott Morris - May 19 2013 11:58 AM
Hello everyone!
Thanks for having me. I'm from the wonderful Lehigh Valley in Pa. My wife Kristi and I are in our 11th. year shooting weddings from local to Pittsburgh to the Chesapeake. I think my quest for a kinder, nicer forum has ended.
Hello from Charlotte NC
Posted by CritseyRowe - Jun 03 2013 02:33 PM
WPS newbie! It has been a long time since I have been a newbie. I was a DWF member for many years and love being able to share and learn from others. I have been a professional photographer for over 12 years and am based out of Charlotte NC. I shoot weddings and boudoir. I would be hard pressed to pick which I love the most, both hold a special place in my heart. I feel like I have two sets of photography friends, those that know I shoot weddings and those that know I shoot boudoir. Sometimes they are surprised when I mention shooting one or the other.
I am married to Thomas Geist (Zee German - for any past DWF members). He is also a photographer and we actually met over 7 years ago at a DWF convention during WPPI in Vegas. He is a plethora of knowledge not only in photography but it seems like everything, he is so smart! I am blessed to have such an amazing husband.
I hope to connect with some old friends here and make many new ones.
Hello From Durham
Posted by Kelly Martin - Jun 04 2013 10:09 PM
Hello everyone! I'm Kelly, a wedding photographer in Durham, NC. I've been in the industry for a few years now but I'm just getting out and meeting others I'd love to meet some new people and find new ways to get involved here. Looking forward to meeting many of you! Thank you!
And a hello, from Lancaster, PA
Posted by Rita Wiebner - May 30 2013 08:41 AM
Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to take a moment and say hi. My name is Rita and I am the wife half of the husband/wife team The Wiebners, based in Lancaster, PA. Joel (my husband) and I have been photographing weddings for over 10 years, and while we were pretty active in forums and such about 5 years ago, we had taken a long break since then. I am ready to start sharing and being a part of the community again! We have missed making connections and learning from other photographers. I hope to have some fun on here, learn, and offer any advice I can to anyone who will listen. Thanks!
Critsey Rowe & Thomas Geist
Posted by Brian Mullins - May 30 2013 12:50 AM
Critsey Rowe of Couture Boudoir® has been at the forefront of the growing Boudoir Photography genre for many years. She is the best selling the author of "Boudoir Photography- The Complete Guide To Shooting Intimate Portraits", Available on Amazon and in bookstores. Critsey teaches boudoir workshops and seminars across the nation and abroad. She has been a guest speaker about her Couture Boudoir® brand on The Wedding Planning Audiocast on iTunes, Convention speaker for DWF at Imaging USA, Convention speaker for WPPI's Road Trip, speaker for Pictage Users Group and has been featured on The Perfect Pose and many other online resources.
Critsey's work has been published in many popular magazines, including Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Today's Bride, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons, You and Your Wedding London, The Bride's Book, Weddings Unveiled, The Knot, Carolina Bride and Queen City Weddings.
She has been a featured photographer on Platinum Weddings and several times on My Fair Wedding with David Tutera on the WE Channel.
Critsey was recently featured in Popular Photography Magazine about her Couture Boudoir brand.
See more of her work
www.coutureboudoir.com
http://instagram.com/coutureboudoir
http://pinterest.com/couture_boudoir/
https://www.facebook.../Coutureboudoir
Critsey Rowe of Couture Boudoir will be speaking about Boudoir and Beauty Portraiture. Critsey will help define your pricing for sessions, add on services, upgrades and selling techniques. She will also talk about style and brand building to help you make the most money in your market and how to appeal to the right clientele. While shooting she will demonstrate posing and lighting techniques that may be used in any portrait style genre.
Thomas Geist will be talking about the 3 holy laws of lighting and pulling out a few tricks from the gear bag.
Click here to view the article
Tyler Wirken
Posted by Christobal - May 29 2013 11:32 PM
Tyler’s passion for documentary photography was ignited 15 years ago during his short but very influential time working as a newspaper photographer.It was during this time he discovered the world of true documentary photography and the power a true moment can posses. He then took his experience as a photojournalist and applied it to wedding photography in 2002 when he started Wirken Photography. 10 years later he now runs the business with his wife Pam in Kansas City, Missouri where he documents 25 weddings a year as well as filling his time traveling teaching his way of documentary wedding photography as part of his own Wirkshop Series and the Foundation Workshop. Tyler was also recently awarded one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine for 2013.
Want to see Tyler speak? Click here to sign up for the Roots workshop!
Click here to view the article
Joseph Victor Stefanchik (JVS)
Posted by Brian Mullins - May 27 2013 09:22 AM
(JVS) is a documentary and editorial photographer based in Metro DC. He lives and breathes photography. His passion for teaching began in 2004 and to this day loves sharing his 15+ years of experience with other photographers. Examples of his work can viewed at http://jvscreative.com
My three favorite things in life are capturing genuine moments, creating dynamic portraits, and my wife. If I had to choose a fourth... it would be Snuffer's Cheddar Fries. I've been fortunate to win a few awards including the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for International Photojournalism as well as being named a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
I live just outside of Washington, DC in Alexandria, VA with my wife Anne and our two kiddos, Chloe and Nero (Yorkipoo & Miniature White Poodle).
Want to see JVS speak? Click here to sign up for the Roots workshop!
Click here to view the article
