PSW is YOUR Conference! Tell Us What You Thought.
Wow. It’s hard to believe that PSW was just two weeks ago! Here at NAPP HQ, we are already gearing up for PSW – The Western Conference in Las Vegas, Oct. 1-3, at Mandalay Bay.
Image courtesy of NAPP Member, Don Ricklin. Click the image to see his Flickr PhotoStream
This is where you come in. Photoshop World Boston was our most successful PSW yet and we want to make it even better! We are currently pouring through all your feedback slips from the event, which I’m sure will be full of helpful tips, but I need more from you: the PSW blog readers and social media users.
Boston was our first real foray into bringing the PSW experience to the web. Last year in Vegas, I think there were maybe ten people at the event using Twitter. This year, there were probably hundreds and by the time Vegas rolls around, there could even be thousands.
Social media is exploding faster than ever and we want to stay ahead of the curve if possible. The best way that I can think of in order to do that is with your help.
Give us your feedback on the social media aspect of PSW:
- What did you like?
- What didn’t you like?
- What would you have liked to see more or less of?
- Give us your POV as an attendee
- Give us your POV as a non-attendee
- Is there a SocMed tool out there that we’re not using that you think we should? If so, tell us about it and, more importantly, tell us why.
NAPP members: Photoshop World is your conference! Everyone who attends PSW is a NAPP member (did you know that non-NAPP members receive a one-year NAPP membership as part of their conference pass?) Help us make this a better experience for everyone and as an added bonus, I will randomly select one blog comment and give its author a special prize!
Thank you!
Is there going to be more information on this site soon about the Vegas show? Right now it seems that all links point to the event that has already passed and I want more info on Vegas!
Comment by Cheryl Allmon — April 8, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Yes. As soon as we finalize every last detail and make sure everything is in place (ie: established host hotel discounts, etc.) We will update the site with all the info. =)
All information (including registration) will be up and running by May for sure but I will announce on the blog and on Twitter when it’s all up.
Comment by Nancy — April 8, 2009 @ 11:01 am
[...] World Feedback Our Social Media Ninja, Nancy Masse has put up a post on the Photoshop World blog asking for feedback on the event as a whole. I would really ask that all of you go to the Photoshop [...]
Pingback by Joe on USA Today | Mercury Elite-AL Pro | PSW Feedback | Layers Magazine — April 8, 2009 @ 11:49 am
Non-attendee PoV and NAPP member.
Posting daily a brief movie of one of the free teaching sessions offered at booths would be great promotionally and be wonderfully inclusive for people unable to attend PSW.
Balliolman,
England.
Comment by Balliolman — April 8, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
Nancy, Thanks for using my image to highlight this post! It was great meeting you and so many others at PSW – Boston!
To bad I can’t make Vegas.
To busy, to expensive.
Don
Comment by Don Ricklin — April 8, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
I think PSW should consider having an online component for those who can’t afford to make it to the conference either due to budget constrictions or time limitations.
I attended a one day virtual conference in March – “Digital Marketing World: Spring 2009″ It was terrific!
I got to network with others online in the ‘lounge’ area of the conference as well as being able to attend online webinars/seminars (most were recorded) with a live Q&A section where users could submit questions. There was also a ‘trade booth’ area where you could visit sponsors, download whitepapers and other ‘goodies’ as well as enter contests.
While the event was running there were a great deal of people twittering their thoughts on the conference using the hashtag #mpworld – which added another terrific networking component to the event. I don’t think this was ‘part’ of the conference but I think next year if they could somehow integrate it into their online presence it would be terrific. People where listing their twitter user names in the lounge area so fast it was at times hard to keep up!
Another invaluable aspect of the online event is that all of the sessions were posted right after they had taken place in ‘on demand’ format – all of these sessions are available for 90 days after the event. This makes it possible to re-watch those sessions you attended in case you missed something or watch those sessions that you missed because they were happening at the same time as another session.
From what I have seen with the schedules or PSW (I have never attended) there are so many tracks going on at the same time it must be hard for users to pick just one session. This way they can get to see all of those they wish they could have.
There is a terrific blog post here which gives a great summary of the online event
http://pegmulligan.com/2009/04/02/digital-marketing-world-spring-2009-–-winning-against-the-odds/
The online conference was run by InXpo / @InXpoLive I experienced some technical difficulties (Firefox 3.0 on Mac crashing – the webinars seemed to run better on IE7, some distracting background sounds in one of the sessions) but overall felt the online environment provided was easy to use.
Hopefully something like this can be integrated into PSW so that users like myself who can’t make it to PSW can be able to experience … even if it is only a little bit … what PSW is like.
Comment by Lisa — April 8, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
Social Media Aspect:
The twitter stuff was great. I think my husband got a little annoyed at how much I kept an eye on it. I think it should be made more visible/advertised more that NAPP is on twitter and commenting on PSW so that attendees that aren’t following will know there is something more that they are missing out on. I felt a little like I was on the “inside” by following. It was fun to be at midnight madness and see some of the instructors posting along the way.
Also, encourage attendees to comment and tag PSW so that there is more community interaction (what we had was great though… just get the word out more).
Overall Conference:
I’m a HUGE fan of PSW; I have been 6 times and plan to continue to go every year. It is perhaps my favorite 4 days of the year. However, because I have been so many times, a lot of the content is rather familiar to me and I sometimes struggle to find something in a given timeslot that interests me that I haven’t already been to. I also struggle a little with finding classes that are at my level—and being able to know what level a class will be teaching based on the description. Having some sort of indication as to how advanced a class is would be greatly helpful in choosing the right class for a given session. Some of the classes that say “NEW” or “UPDATED” don’t really seem to be all that new or updated. Its a terrible feeling to sit in a class, especially when there were several classes you were debating between, and think “I already know all of this stuff”. If you can somehow address that issue by providing more information on a given class, that would really help. Sometimes the workbook is very helpful in figuring that out, but sometimes there are no notes in the workbook or the notes are not indicative of what will be covered.
I hope that helps!
Comment by Melissa — April 8, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
I really would have liked to have seen a live video stream from at least the keynote, maybe a few classes from the day too. I’m not the most technical when it comes to video, and my request may be impossible or REALLY REALLY expensive, but as a non-attender and PSW alumni, I know the excitement that goes on and it absolutely killed me not to be able to be there, and I think this would be the next best thing. With that said if it’s in Orlando next year, I’ll be one of the first ones in line for tickets. The live blogging was great, but I think it just made the anticipation and my absence even worse.:)
~Thanks!
Comment by Trenton Moore — April 8, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
Hi,
I thought the conference was solid overall. Here are some suggested areas for improvement.
Pros:
* Love the fact that it was in Boston. (How often do good tech conferences come to Boston? Not often.)
* While attending conferences in this recession are not always feasible for some, the price seemed cheaper than other tech-like conferences.
* Sessions overall were very good.
* Exhibit Floor was decent. Enjoyed some of the vendors, Kelbytraining.com and the exhibit floor seminars.
* Opening Keynote rocked.
* Kelby’s sessions were the best – - especially enjoyed the one where he did soup to nuts of photographing the model and optimizing the image. Impressive.
Cons:
* There was no designated slot for lunch. Food vendors could be used within the conference – - was starving in between sessions – - especially on exhibit hall.
* Best seminars I went to were by Scott Kelby. Could he do more of them?
* Was disappointed that Photoshop sort of took second fiddle in many ways to Light Room. A lot of confusion for old school Photoshop users to Bridge, Camera Raw and Lightroom. The consumer is getting mixed messages when the pros mention that “90% of the work should be done in Lightroom before going to Photoshop”, yet this is a Photoshop conference. Perhaps it should have been renamed. Would have liked an official statement with recommendations on options with pros and cons of each software.
* While the Photoshop book (i.e. Yellowbook) had lots of info, it was a nightmare lugging it around. How about an online resource accessible to attendees?
* Would have liked more info on hands-on training options for the recommended software (and techniques).
Thanks!
Comment by Bill — April 8, 2009 @ 10:20 pm
I’m going to echo what others have said, you need to make this available to members that cannot attend.
It is inconceivable that videos of the sessions could not be produced, either in real time or a delayed format, along with
“commercials” from the vendors which would include “show specials”.
Come on NAPP, let’s make it available to the little people.
Comment by Chauncey — April 9, 2009 @ 5:22 am
When is this conference coming to Chicago?
Comment by Ming Luo — April 9, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Chauncy, don’t fret. There’s a reason why videos are not available online and that’s b/c we’re not finished yet. =)
We still have the West Coast version of Photoshop World coming up in October so any kind of video of the classes is really not possible.
However, plans are already in the works to air the Keynote videos simultaneously on the live blog during the Western Conference.
Comment by Nancy — April 9, 2009 @ 10:01 am
so glad to have the opportunity to put in my 2 cents!
This was my second photoshop world and I really enjoyed my self – definitely ‘education overload’. Here’s a few of my favorite things , along with things I feel could be improved—
FAVES
trade show classes are a great addition
I love the inspirational classes ( Jay Maisel, Joe McNally etc)
portfolio review is a really cool highlight
IMPROVE?
how about a PDF of the workbook on a disc?
Leave blank instructor review slips by every drop box so you do NOT have to worry about carrying around the giant book for 3 days
I’d like to see some of the more ‘involved’ classes be longer – perhaps even by 30 minutes so they do not feel so rushed.
OK – here’s my biggest issue – and I do not want to come off sounding like a jerk–but I wish there were more ‘advanced’ classes. It seems that many of the available classes are geared to a wide spectrum of proficiency levels—which i COMPLETELY understand. But classes like Ben Willmoes ‘Curves’ – and Dan Margolis ‘LAB’ which tackle a single, potentially confusing topic are excellent examples. Perhaps a class JUST on the pen tool (a personal problem I have)—you get the idea. I know these classes exist, but are limited and personally i’d like to see an ‘advanced’ track or something like that, which could prevent you from sitting through – while entertaining and enlightening – a class where you kind of already know what is being covered. I have had that occur even after reading the rundown in the workbook. I always learn something no matter who I see speak, but I think trying this out could be cool!
Comment by robert norman — April 11, 2009 @ 11:44 am
Boston was the first PSW I’d attended and overall my impression was very favorable. Many of the topics were new to me, and as a new user of Lightroom I was able to pick up some solid education. Some other comments:
Getting to see Scott Kelby and watch him present after reading a number of his books was just outstanding. Even though I knew a number of the tips he presented, it was great to see him demonstrate those skills and to learn directly from him. More from Scott would definitely be appreciated.
Echoing an earlier comment, the handbook is simply too huge. I very much appreciate it now that I’m home, and during the sessions it was quite useful to be able to refer to it, but the weight is insane – even if you could break it down to smaller books by day it would significantly reduce the weight load – even a 3-ring binder where you could pull out the sections you need for each day and leave the rest in the room would be mighty helpful. My back still hurts from lugging the PSW Encyclopedia around all day.
Course ratings – some of the courses are clearly designed for newer or less experienced Photoshop/Lightroom users, and some for users with stronger/deeper skill-sets and proficiencies. A rating system of some type would have been helpful in knowing which classes to think of attending, or to narrow the field to appropriate level classes.
Course schedule and number of courses each day: In these trying economic times, the cost of attending a Conference is significant – both in actual dollars spent on the fee and the T&E, as well as lost time servicing clients. I would really like to maximize the learning in a conference like this, and I didn’t see the value in having so much free time in each day’s schedule. I can understand an hour or two each day for lunch and for visiting the vendor expo floor, but multiple hours of free time each day is not maximizing my investment. Less free time, and more classes please. More live shooting sessions, such as the lighting sessions run by Joe McNally, or the photoshoot-to-optimize sessions the Scott Kelby did, would be highly valuable.
A lunch slot in the schedule would be great, as would more food vendors in the area – the walk to the food court at the Hynes was a mighty long one, although good to stretch your legs after a few sessions. The one food vendor outside the expo hall seemed to keep very inconsistent hours – they were there sometimes, and closed and gone other times. More beverage vendors in particular would be appreciated (did you see the lines for Dunkin’ Donuts each morning?).
Finally, what happened to Canon’s booth in the Expo floor? Just a lot of empty space where they should have been… Many of the other vendors, including Wacom, onOne Software, Kelby Training, and Westcott to name a few, had great booths and were worthwhile to stop in and spend time at.
Boston was my first PSW, but I hope to make it an annual event.
Comment by Chris Bradbury — April 11, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
PSW Rocks! I have been attending since the very first one. The 4 days of creative and technical education can’t be beat. When our team comes back we are fired up!
We do have one suggestion. We have been doing more and more digital photography. A few Swimsuit lines, catalog work, using live models on occasion in the studio, and general clothing. Since we are very new, and are newbie’s to this area of photography, but not Photoshop itself, we thought it would be great if there was a class taught on how to set up your lights, hook up the laptop, and use Photoshop like the pros that do the classes. This would be such a great help, and I’m sure the class would be full! Keep up the good work- My team will see you in Vegas Baby!
Comment by Gretchen — April 11, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
Hi Nancy!
Thanks for commenting on our blog. We’d LOVE to collaborate with you as well on future Photoshop Worlds. What we wanted to show on our blog was that going to these conferences can be affordable, enriching, and incredibly beneficial for anyone looking for their creative “home”. Participating in the industry that you love is crucial to keeping up to date with trends, and it definitely provides insights you just can’t get from a book. (Although it is VERY cool to hang out with the authors…) Chris and I really wanted to document our trip to showcase what a typical PSW experience is like, and all of the things you learn along the way. We’re just two young photographers from Ohio, and we figured, if we can do it…why not others? We have so many friends / colleagues in industry that don’t attend conferences at all, so hopefully this gets our friends excited, and of course, everyone else that views our blog.
We had a great time at the conference. We documented each of the courses we took and are updating the older posts with examples of what we learned. Being an education major, I’m all about practical application.
Let me know some ideas that you may have for collaboration. We’d love to help out the organization any way we can! NAPP rules!
-Steve K.
Comment by Steve Kaufman — April 13, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
I love PSW and try to attend every year. Here are a few quick thoughts for Las Vegas:
Photo Safari – Not the canyon again. Perhaps the lake/dam via boat, downtown, pinball museum, etc. The boneyard is cool but commercial photography is frowned on. Anyway, lets go somewhere super cool.
Location – It used to be so exciting to attend PSW in different locations like San Diego or San Francisco. Las Vegas is getting a prety old. The east coast attendees always have something new and exciting to look forward to.
Party – Someplace with more room and not so loud you can’t enjoy a conversation with fellow attendees. I hear ESPN Zone was fun but I missed it.
Classes – Photoshop used with Motion, Illustrator, etc.
Again, PSW is a great event. NAPP does a fantastic job!
Comment by Karen — April 13, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
I’d like to reiterate the suggestions in previous comments — 1) Please devise a ratings system to denote the proficiency level target of each session. After 2 years of PSW, I found the content to be repetitive — fine for PSW newbies, but I left with an unsatisfied feeling.
2) There should be an option for getting the course material on-line or on a dvd. The workbook is too large and heavy to be much use — and it wastes a huge amount of paper. You can save money, be green, and provide a better reference using an electronic version.
I would like to attend PSW LV but can only justify the total expense if I am convinced that more advanced courses will be offered.
Comment by Leslie — April 14, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
Just wanted to address two of the feedback suggestions here real quick as they seem to be rather popular…
1) As much as you would all like to see the workbook in a digital format, it has been discussed but we simply cannot control the information in the workbook leaking out to the internet and seriously de-valuing the special perk that attendees get at this time if we go digital.
2) I have brought up the “difficulty level” rating system myself. It seems that it has been tried in the past with disastrous results. Bottom line… difficulty levels are pretty much subjective. What one person thought was beginner-level, another person thought was difficult-level. There were just too many unhappy people. That’s why we try to rely on the Instructor’s summary of what the class is about instead.
Keep the feedback coming and please try to address the Social Media aspects. That’s what I can control and/or change and that’s what I’m looking for.
Thanks!
=)
Nancy
Comment by Nancy — April 15, 2009 @ 11:25 am
Nancy … I’m considering attending PSW in LV this fall, but after reading the comments, I’m not sure. The two things that were mentioned repeatedly … the big book and the levels of classes … are major things for me and seemed to be dismissed by you. I have produced 14 innovation conferences so I know you can switch to digital for the book … and a book really isn’t much of a benefit if it’s not being used. I know how hard it is to herd the presenters into submitting their materials in time to go digital … but it can be done.
As a self-taught Photoshopper, I definitely don’t want to get stuck in beginning classes so I expect PSW to guide instructors in identifying the level of the classes. It’s only fair to the attendees to give us an educated guess at what levels the classes will be taught.
I hope to hear that these issues will be seriously addressed since I really look forward to attending.
Comment by Joyce Wycoff — April 16, 2009 @ 6:52 pm
I have the same question for the last three years (I attend the Las Vegas conference)as a devoted attendee. For us wedding photographers why do they insist on having the last day fall on a Saturday which is our busy day of the week? If they can not move it can NAPP at least give us a price reduction for the last day. I know there are MANY colleagues of mine that want to go but can see spending 600.00 for only two days.
Thanks!
Comment by Frank Salas — April 17, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
Hi Joyce,
Not really sure why two completely honest answers would turn you off so much.
Both issues have been heavily discussed over and over here. As it stands, Scott LIKES providing attendees with a nice, solid book of information that they can use and reference to their hearts desire. As far as it not being used. Not sure how you can say that either. Scott writes ~many~ books and people use them every day. Not only that but pirated versions of the digital work we do produce shows up on the Internet on almost a daily basis and we simply do NOT want to de-value Photoshop World that way. We all work too hard to make it an event worth attending.
And again… “difficulty levels” ~are~ subjective! Besides. You won’t be “stuck” in a beginner-level class. One of the perks of Photoshop World is that you do NOT pre-register for classes and you are free to move in-between classes as often as you like.
Sorry but I’m not sure what else I can say. If this is too much of a “deal breaker” for you, I’m sorry that you’ll be missing out on the experience. There is so much more to Photoshop World than that.
Comment by Nancy — April 20, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
This was my first PSW -Won ticket from Layers Magazine TV. Love those Guys! Now I’m hooked. I felt like a kid in a candy shop. Just wished it was longer and I had more money to spend! Can’t wait for Vegas!!!!!!
Comment by Donna Kirby — April 22, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
Hello,
This year’s Boston PSW was my first one and I had a wonderful time.
However, I feel there are some very important improvements that need to be addressed.
First of all it would be very nice to know the level of the class and have a better description of it. The workbook (could it please also be offered as a pdf?) was often a good help in figuring the level out but not always, and sometimes the book did not have notes for the classes offered.
It would be great to have a break for lunch. There was so much going on and the extra classes at the expo were very interesting and so lunch…..well by the time you realize you seriously need it, it is then too late and you are 10 minutes away from the next class!
Also, I LOVED Dan Margulis’ classes! I wish there was more classes offered like his. It would however have been nice if the classed were scheduled a bit differently. The “5 minutes to picture postcard” was a lot easier to digest for many people and it would have been helpful if it was offered before the “every file has 10 channels”.
It would also be really nice to have notes and videos online for people who could not attend or would like to see the demos again.
Again, I do realize difficulty levels are subjective, but could you please figure out some kind of a system (even is somewhat vague) because it would be VERY helpful to not waste time sitting in a class where everything being reviewed is a lot easier/harder than one can absorb. I know people can come and go as they please, but it is still not something you want to do half way through a class.
Thank you again for everything though. It was indeed a great event!
Comment by Julie K — April 24, 2009 @ 11:00 am
I’ve been checking the site frequently for Vegas conference info. I’m so ready for my second Photoshop world conference in Vegas! When can we sign up?
Comment by Erica — April 26, 2009 @ 3:22 am
We’ll be announcing registration ~very~ soon. Check back in a week. =)
Comment by Nancy — April 27, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
I’ve been to Vegas PSW twice and definitely plan to go again this year. Love it.
My suggestions – I usually leave the “phone book” in the room. Please have blank class comment slips available in each classroom. I didn’t comment on quite a few classes because I didn’t have the slip with me.
The rooms are freezing – probably beyond your control, but be sure to mention it somewhere. First year I had to go shopping for winter clothes (Vegas in September!) after the first day.
I agree with a couple other commenters on lunch break. Not much available at Mandalay Bay – half the vendors were closed.
Comment by Susan Koppel — April 27, 2009 @ 7:03 pm
I just got my layers magazine today. Hopped on Photoshop World.com to register and lo and behold I still can’t I Really Really Really do not want to miss the precon workshops!! Can we call and get on the list early?
Comment by Eileen Williamson — April 28, 2009 @ 12:08 am
How about posting clips from the sessions for example, break each hour session into 3-4 clips 15-20 minutes each and post them on the Photoshop World Blog to give people a chance to see them and to build up excitement.
Also you need to change the Vegas dates in the future, with the conference ending on Saturday with Vegas hotel prices it’s too expensive. Friday night and Sat night are too over the top for room prices while the rest of the week the prices are great for rooms in vegas. Also having one of the days being Saturday takes away from Family time. Photoshop World Vegas will be best from (Sunday precons) Mon-Wed or Monday precons (Tues-Thurs) or in a worst case situation Tues Precons Wed-Friday. I personally know over 80 people who are not going to PS World Vegas because of that, I’m sure there are more, so please fix it for future years.
Comment by Daniel — April 28, 2009 @ 2:55 am
I got my Layers magazine today. Went to look about registering, prices & stuff. Is there a way to book PSW and pay out the balance sometime before the Aug 28 deadline for earlybird savings?
Comment by Mike R — April 29, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Nancy,
I have attended 3 PSW and look forward to the next one in LV.
The instructors are always very informative and the opportunity to share ideas/network with photographers just enhances the experience.
Some thoughts:
1) LV is OK with me because the airfare and the hotel is generally less expensive that San Diego & San Francisco. While I enjoy these 2 cities (have been to both within the last year, the expense was high and the hotels were spread out from the Convention Center.) Cost is a significant issue for most of us.
2) I realize the challenge in assigning a difficulty level to each seminar. I participated in this activity for several years for an annual conference. We learned the key was insuring the Presenters’ Summaries were as complete as they could be. Even then, we were often told we were wrong. At PSW I find I learn something in every session; sometimes a better way of doing something than my current process, thus saving time or providing an alternative. I also find it useful when two very proficient presenters have different ideas on how to accomplish the same task and their rationale.
3) For us, PSW ending on Friday would probably be best, but I understand the issues in arranging for space with the hotel & convention center.
Thanks. You do a great job!
Comment by Hank — April 30, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
I went to Vegas last year and plan to go this year. I loved the workbook! It has spent this year by my side. I hope you always continue with it. I would like to purchase an extra one.
Sometimes things slide past too fast in class and it’s nice to be able to go over it back in the room or at home.
Our family vacation will be at PSW! (again).
Thena
Comment by Thena Smith — May 16, 2009 @ 10:46 pm
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