This Week in Photo · Alex Lindsay, Frederick Van Johnson

455: A WPPI 2016 Round Up

March 11, 2016·1 hr 19 min·5 clips

Scott Bourne reveals the 12-year obsession behind his most downloaded photo, 'Cranes in the Fire Mist'.

This Week in Photo episode 455 is a live roundup from the 2016 Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) conference in Las Vegas. Host Frederick Van Johnson is joined by wedding photographer and TWIP Weddings host Bruce Clark, photographers Craig Colvin and Sarah France, PhotoJoseph, and TWIP founder Scott Bourne. The panel discusses trends, business challenges, and the state of the wedding photography industry observed at the event. The massive scale of WPPI includes platform classes, master classes, photo walks, and a large expo floor with numerous vendors. Bruce Clark notes a noticeable pushback against purely digital delivery and a renewed emphasis on tangible prints and albums, with more printing and album companies present than in previous years. Sarah France observes that many conference talks focused on inspiration rather than hard technical steps, though attendees seemed to crave more actionable advice. Joseph Linashki warns new photographers against impulse-buying software or services at the show due to the overwhelming options and potential for wasted money. Scott Bourne highlights the increased diversity of attendees, particularly more women, compared to earlier WPPI events. He is passionate about the special emphasis on printing at this year's conference, including a dedicated track and new, more affordable printer technology like a $1,300 Canon model. The conversation explores the generational divide between photographers who value archival prints and those in the "Instagram generation" who may view images as more disposable. Sarah France discusses the challenge of educating clients on the difference between professional lab prints and consumer options like Walgreens or Costco. A significant portion of the discussion centers on business models, specifically whether to include physical products like albums in packages or charge separately. Scott Bourne argues that the traditional model of charging per square inch for prints creates a negative reinforcement against buying larger prints. The panel debates how to compete with low-cost alternatives, like a relative with a camera, with Sarah France emphasizing trust, reliability, and the risk of lost images. Bruce Clark mentions photographer Jerry Ghionis's humorous analogy comparing online training to adult entertainment: fun to watch, but better in person. The tone is conversational and collegial, featuring friendly banter among industry peers who share a mix of veteran and newer perspectives. The style is an informal, roundtable discussion that blends observational reporting from the conference floor with deeper industry analysis. This episode would appeal to wedding and portrait photographers, especially those interested in business trends, client relations, and the debate over digital versus physical deliverables. Listeners seeking highly technical gear reviews or a structured narrative might find it less engaging, as the conversation meanders through various industry topics.

As heard by us

A grounded WPPI roundup about pricing, value, and the business realities of wedding photography.

TWIP’s WPPI roundup settles into a useful talk about what photographers are actually selling, how clients choose between digital files and albums, and how pricing shifts change who can compete at different levels.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want a live WPPI roundup that goes straight to the wedding-photography business.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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