Over the next few months there will be a trade show for just about any type of imaging work you do, whether you make signs, print or specify large format graphics, screen print, engrave or specialize in photography and photographic output. Moreover, all of the trade shows listed below offer continuing education and seminars on how to use your skills and capabilities to expand into other markets…

WPPI, Feb. 17-24, Las Vegas: Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) will host its annual trade show and conference at the MGM Grand Hotel this year with more than 300 exhibitors and 75 speakers covering the full gamut of photography from capture to print and beyond. LexJet will live blog from the event with the latest news and items of interest from the show. Also, look for regular updates and show specials from LexJet reps Justin Craft and Michael Clementi at twitter.com/LexJet. Stay tuned here at blog.lexjet.com for more details on our Where’s Waldo (Craft/Clementi) and the special prizes and promotions available if you find them on the floor during the show as we get closer to WPPI.

FESPA Americas, Feb. 24-26, Orlando: FESPA, well known in Europe for its giant graphics trade shows, will come to America for the first time this year. Events at FESPA Americas include: Global Business Forum, Wide Format Print Shop Live!, Screen Masters Workshop, Digital Textile Conference, Wrap Cup Masters, Digital Debate at the Innovation Theater and more. Register online and you’ll get a free pass to the show.

The NBM Show, March 24-26, Austin, Texas: The NBM Show is an excellent venue to learn more about your graphics specialty and sample related markets, like screen printing and apparel decoration, engraving and vehicle graphics. The expanded education conference with more than 60 seminars begins Wednesday, March 23. The Austin show is the first NBM Show of the year, which will also travel to Indianapolis (June 9-11), Long Beach (Aug. 11-13) and Baltimore (Sept. 8-10).

ISA International Sign Exposition, April 28-30, Las Vegas: This annual giant expo produced by the International Sign Association may be a harbinger of the beginnings of an economic recovery as ISA reports that the number of exhibitors and pre-registered attendees is up sharply this year. The expo will feature 75 courses in business management, technical requirements and industry trends, as well as a number of special events, such as The American Wrap Star Contest (a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy will be given away in a sweepstakes drawing), a New Product Showcase and a Green Product Showcase.