WPPI just finished its best year since the pandemic, and already organizers are working hard to make 2025 even better and are offering an amazing presale ticket price. WPPI educator Jason Vinson, who has been speaking every year at WPPI since 2018, recently noted in an Fstoppers article called “WPPI is Bigger and Better Than Ever,” that “WPPI is now as good as it ever was, and getting better each year.” (Be sure to check out Vinson’s article in Fstoppers if you haven’t yet. It’s a great read!) 

Organizers made 2024 the best year yet, not by simply trying to replicate what WPPI has been, but by pushing the boundaries of what WPPI is by including more hands-on experiences that allow conference goers to grow their craft by doing as well as listening to learn. Organizers intend to ride this wave into the future by expanding on and refining WPPI 2024’s offerings to make 2025 a truly standout year.

Those astute enough to catch this wave now can nab an epic early bird WPPI presale ticket. Those early birds will get this juicy WPPI presale deal for only $79. 

WPPI 2024 – The Year of More 

Vinson calls 2024 “the year of more” for WPPI, and he’s absolutely correct. Not only were there more Photo Walks, more vendor booths on the Trade Show Floor, more people, and more amazing parties, there were also new debuts. The Icon Awards had its inaugural year, picking up where the WPPI Print Competition left off. Several mini-conferences also debuted at WPPI, including The Portrait Masters Conference, two summits – Lighting and Wedding, and a Spanish-language track.  

[Read: The Details Matter: Capturing Wedding Detail Shots]

The addition of these mini-conferences also came along with a new feature at WPPI, called the Playground, which was a hall of fully-styled shooting bays, where photographers could gain hands-on experience implementing what they learned in Summits and Photo Walks, and build their portfolios at the same time. This year, the WPPI Show Floor featured an aisle solely dedicated to shooting bays, and many vendors also incorporated shooting bays into their booths. All in all, conference goers had an unprecedented amount of opportunities to capture professional-grade portfolio images – more than ever before!  

As many conference goers have noted, it’s no coincidence that The Portrait Masters coming into the fold coincided with WPPI shifting into its current experiential-learning mindset. This type of interactive conference experience has been a hallmark of The Portrait Masters Conference experience. And along with bringing the TPM conference in, WPPI also brought in TPM’s powerhouse producers to helm WPPI, Aaron Andersen and George Varanakis. Andersen and Varanakis have brought their expansive vision into manifestation with the help of the passionate and dedicated WPPI organizing team. 

They have even more planned for 2025. 

WPPI 2025 – The Best Year Yet

Perhaps the biggest change planned for 2025 will be the greatest thing that has happened for WPPI, which is its move from the Mirage to the Rio.

Conference goers will be glad to learn that the Rio is in the final stages of a multi-year renovation, and the resort is not cutting any corners. The new pool and room designs draw inspiration from Rio de Janeiro, seven new eateries are adding diversity to dining options, and meeting spaces are also getting a face lift. All these renovations will be complete before 2025, giving conference goers an exciting, new Rio experience. 

Additionally, a main feature of the Rio, which gave some photographers pause – its location off the Strip – might turn out to be WPPI’s greatest asset for 2025. Being off the Strip means the Rio has even more locations to offer in less-crowded settings than if it was on the bustling Strip.  

The Rio’s spaciousness will increase possibilities for Photo Walks, intimate classes with photography pros, where attendees learn about specific topics while working with a fully-styled model in a complementary lighting scenarios. At past conferences, more crowded venues meant Photo Walks were often held close to each other and in public spaces. At the Rio, Photo Walks will have dedicated indoor spaces and increased outdoor options for instructors to explore. 

These expanded space possibilities, including multi-bedroom master suites, open the door to more privacy and expanded areas of education, such as Photo Walks catering to boudoir photographers and topics like bride/groom preparation. The suites will be dressed like real-life environments, leading to even better portfolio images. 

Conference goers should also prepare themselves for even more networking events, seminars, and more support for the Spanish-language track. 

Early Birds and Smart Shoppers Rejoice  

WPPI is the premiere photography conference in the world. It’s a place for a community of far-flung entrepreneurs to come together for the synergy, excitement, and expansive growth that only being in person can provide. Regular conference goers commonly describe it as “family reunion” meets “Spring Break,” and many note that the camaraderie and chance to unwind and party is just as valuable as the vast learning opportunities it offers along with the ability to try out a plethora of professional gear options and score great deals on them.

Experiencing fresh, warm air in the sunny and moderately temperate desert clime is also a big perk for winter-weary photographers. Another great draw is that, as a business trip, it’s an excellent tax write off. Even if you do intend to write off WPPI as a business expense, who doesn’t love to save a bunch, to the tune of $100+, for that matter?  

If you’re one of those smart, early bird shoppers, take advantage now on WPPI 2025 presale tickets, valued at $199, available now for only $79. 

This writer looks forward to seeing you there! 

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect a change in the expiration of this presale deal, which has now been extended beyond the previous date.

Raw Portraits

The Successful Small Photography Studio

Boundless Boudoir By Kara Marie: Discover New Possibilities and Expand Your Offerings

Words for Photographers – A Simple Guide to Unlocking Your Sales Potential

Outdoor and On-Location Photography: How To Take Amazing Portraits- Anywhere! with Nikki Closser