In less than one month, Scott Kelby and his crew will head out to Vegas for Photoshop World. The conference is held twice a year: once in an “East Coast location”, and then in Las Vegas at the end of the summer. This upcoming Photoshop World will be the seventh one I have attended! (And the fact that I am now an instructor on KelbyOne is pretty cool, to top it all off!)

If you have never been to Photoshop World, you’re missing out on a whole lot of fun, photography, and (very frequent) goofiness. I put together my “Top 10” reasons that YOU should make it out to Photoshop World. Here they are in no particular order:

1. It’s more than just Photoshop.

Over the past several years, Lightroom and Photography have started to really make their way into the conference in a very big way. Sure, there is still a lot of good info on Photoshop, but the fact is that many of us are photographers and we use other software. Plus, how awesome is it to actually see LIVE photo-shoots from photographers such as Joe McNally, Scott Kelby, Joe Glyda, and more!?!

2. Spend time and learn from dozens of industry leaders and instructors

Twice a year, dozens of amazing photography instructors flock to Photoshop World with the sole purpose of teaching YOU photography, Photoshop, Lightroom, and more. It’s a great place to absorb as much information from such a large group with so much talent.

3. The Expo floor is AMAZING (and free!)

Even if you can’t make it to the classes, or are just passing through, you can get a free expo pass for the last few days of the conference! Watch demos from instructors, peruse the Peachpit bookstore, and get great discounts on gear and services.

4. Networking and socializing

I have to admit that this is one of the main reasons I go to Photoshop World nearly every year. I have made friends at Photoshop World that I have kept for years! And, I get to see them at least once a year. Also, if you do make it out to Photoshop World, don’t forget the business cards! You never know who you’re going to run into.

5. Conference-only discounts

If you make your way to the expo-floor, you’ll find a bunch of conference-only discounts and deals that you can’t get anywhere else. In the past I’ve used them to get great deals on prints and camera gear.

6. Free stuff!

When you come to Photoshop World, you are almost always going to come home with something cool. Whether it’s swag on the Expo floor, or goodies given away in a class, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll get to bring home something awesome. Plus, there are fun events (such as Midnight Madness) where you not only have the chance to play games for cool prizes, but you also get to see the instructors be about as goofy as they can possibly be. :)

7. In-Depth Workshops at a fraction of the price

If you have an extra day before the conference, you have the opportunity to sign up for a bonus workshop with some of the TOP instructors in the field at a fraction of the price it would normally cost you. Plus, you also get to spend quality time with them … have an aching question for Photoshop Guru Russel Brown? Want to know how scary it was for Joe McNally when he climbed to the top of the Empire State Building? This is a good chance to learn all about their work and see them in action! Many of these workshops are hands-on, so you won’t only be seeing them work, you will probably also be doing your own photography, too!

Click here to check out the in-depth workshops available the day before Photoshop World starts. (And, if they are already sold out, be sure to get in early next time to snag your spot!)

8. Classes for everyone!

If you take a look at the schedule page, you’ll see that there are many different types of classes for all types of photographers. And, the great thing about Photoshop World is that you don’t have to stick to any one track … you can jump from Photoshop, to Lightroom, to Wedding photography classes, and more. Another great thing is that if you find yourself in a class that you just aren’t feeling (we’ve all been there), then you can leave and join a different class.

9. The Keynote is ALWAYS special

These guys know how to put on a show. They have humor, style, maybe not too much class (kidding), but they definitely are entertaining. And, you will not only be entertained, but you will also get peeks at new products, features, or even new releases at the start of the show.

10. LIVE Photography!

I tend to learn best by watching pros do what they do best, and you get a bunch of that at Photoshop World. There is live photography in classes, on the Expo floor, and also during the pre-conference workshops.

If you want to learn more, be sure to head over to the Photoshop World website. Hope to see you there!