2019 EDUCATION

MAIN STAGE PRESENTATIONS

One thing that defines our unique portrait photography conference is you never have to choose which classes to take or tracks to follow. You have the opportunity to see every main stage presentation. In our community, we sit together and learn together. We also bring in studio owners who are in the trenches with active busy studios, just like you. Our uncommon stage design is different from all other conferences. With state of the art sound and video, there is not a bad seat in the house. Listed below are the talented photographers who will be on the main stage at SYNC 2019.

DAVID BECKHAM

DAVID BECKHAM PHOTOGRAPHY
Pickerington, Ohio

BIO: After pursuing two other careers and enjoying them tremendously, I decided it was time to follow a life-long passion of portrait photography. I started relearning in the late nineties and began David Beckham Photography and set up a basement studio. My goal was to be just like the pioneers of senior photography, Kent Smith and Larry Peters, but cheaper. I had visions of growing to tremendous proportions. Well that dream never happened. As soon as I developed my own fashion based style, my own Senior Model Program, and my own way of using OCF did I make an impact. I opened my studio in 2008 and have seen 15-25% growth every year since. In 2012 I changed to only offering Senior and Fashion photography and my best sales ever. My work has been published in many national magazines over the last year and I have a TOP 10 photo in the 2016 PPA ‘s Grand Imaging Awards in the Senior category. Senior Style Guide has chosen my work three years in a row for their coveted Hot 100 list. During the summer of 2017 I was honored to be able to speak at an event honored the Top 100 Studios in the country. I speak and teach at multiple PPA events, SYNC, Shutterfest 16, 17, and 18. I also lead “Everything Senior Workshops” from my studio and on location 4-6 times a year.

PROGRAM: Coming Soon

David Beckham Photography

MEGAN DIPIERO

Megan DiPiero Photography
Fort Myers, Florida

BIO: Megan DiPiero is an award-winning portrait photographer and Top 100 Elite Mastermind industry influencer. Every year Megan helps thousands of photographers find passion and profit through the coaching she shares in “Rise to the Top! with Megan DiPiero”—a Facebook community 8,000 strong—as well as her workshops and guided mastermind groups. Out of her modest home studio, she’s built a powerful boutique brand which provides a consistent six-figure salary for her family of four. Megan’s mission is to elevate photographers and help them achieve the recognition and success they deserve.

PROGRAM: Coming Soon

Megan DiPiero Photography

Kay Eskridge

Kay Eskridge
Phoenix, AZ

BIO: Combining her passion for photography and her love of people, Kay Eskridge’s studio, Images by Kay & Co. has earned a sterling reputation for high-quality lifestyle portraiture. Kay takes great pride in not only the imagery she creates but also the high level of customer service she provides. Specializing as a lifestyle portrait artist, Kay’s clientele has come to rely on her to capture images from all of life’s special events, from maternity to newborns, tots to ‘tweens’, High School Seniors to summer family vacations and even intimate images captured through the CelebrateSexy division of her studio. Her focus on relationships, creative approach to portraiture, unique perspective on customer service and clear vision about business has provided her with much success doing something she loves. Kay is a member and Past President of the Arizona Professional Photography Association and is one of Kodak-Alaris’ Approved Speakers. She is a PPA Certified, a Master-Photographic Craftsman and holds numerous awards, including the National Award, the Arizona Photographer of the Year, the Kodak Gallery Elite Award, the Phoenix Portrait Photographer of the Year, and the Arizona Illustrative Photographer of the Year.

Program: Coming Soon

Images By Kay

MARISA MILLER and SARAH DICKEY

Focal Point
Farmington, Michigan

SPONSORED BY: H&H Color Lab

BIO: Marisa Miller and Sarah Dickey, along with owner, Michele Jakacki run the largest multi-purpose studio in the Detroit Metro area, Focal Point Studio of Photography. They pride themselves in maintaining a boutique experience while catering to a high volume clientele. The business started in 1973 in a 300 sq. foot booking office, shooting on location families and children. They now occupy a 10,000 sq. ft. studio and a 5,000 sq. ft. studio located in two quaint and popular towns in Michigan. Focal Point’s larger studio is also home to their retouching artists and lab. The studio attributes it’s success to staying ahead of the trends, serving repeat loyal clients and making their studio an environment that keeps a long-term amazing support staff. They are admired for their work in senior portraits, families, babies, athletes, and dancers. In addition, they service over 30 major corporate accounts on an annual basis. The entire crew at Focal Point challenges themselves in every aspect of the business from effective marketing campaigns, to beautiful portraits, to good old-fashioned customer service.

PROGRAM: Coming Soon

FOCAL POINT

Jenn Lewis

JENN LEWIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Clemmons, NC

SPONSORED BY: Miller's Professional Imaging

BIO: Jenn is an award-winning portrait photographer based in Clemmons, North Carolina who concentrates on seniors and headshots. She began her photography business 11 years ago as a “mom with a camera”. With a determined work ethic and tenacious personality, she grew her part-time business from her living room to her full-time 1600 square foot studio while multiplying her sales average by 10. She is an army of one, but her ADHD helps her to multitask like a BOSS.

Jenn loves this relationship-based business. She lives to attend conferences where she has learned great business practices like combining good sales techniques and a great experience all while taking killer photos. But the networking (which usually takes place at the bar) might just be her favorite part.

Jenn is easily recognized by her crazy curly hair, which has been rumored to give her superpowers in her sales room. She enjoys road trips, long walks on the beach, and pink Starbursts.

PROGRAM: Coming Soon

Jenn Lewis Photography

CARLA LYNN

CARLA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY
Murfreesboro, TN

SPONSORED BY: Miller's Professional Imaging

BIO: Carla Lynn is a senior portrait photographer committed to giving her seniors an experience that leaves them feeling empowered. She operates a successful studio in Murfreesboro, TN where she provides high-end artwork and sells custom albums to more than half of her clients.

PROGRAM: SEE IT DIFFERENTLY. SENIORS. LIFE. EVERYTHING.

Carla Lynn Photography

NATE PETERSON

NATE PETERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
New Richmond, Wisconsin

SPONSORED BY: WHCC

BIO: As a child, Nate Peterson was constantly doodling, never knowing this artistic talent would shape his career path. Formally trained in graphic design and visual communications, Nate then added photography to the mix and with the introduction of the digital camera, fell in love with the craft.

Since then, he’s been on a life-changing, nation-wide crash course, training with the leaders of the industry through PPA and state and local affiliates, WPPI, SYNC, and more, with the goal of becoming the premiere portrait artist in his area. Nate’s career has skyrocketed and with that, the expansion of his studio's personalized services, professional abilities and boutique product options.

Today, NP Design & Photography specializes in contemporary high school Senior portraits, sentimental family portraits, commercial product photography and edgy sports images, based on the belief that a portrait is an artistic expression of its subject. The studio is known for creating the “Grand Experience” in which high school seniors are treated to an all-inclusive session experience bundled with a custom designed album as the base package. Outside of his studio, Nate strives to help others find their photographic paths and stays active as a member of the American Society of Photographers, the Twin Cities PPA where he serves as a 2017 Board Vice President, the Wisconsin PPA and the Iowa PPA.

Nate, and his wife, Teresa, live in a newly remodeled portion of their commercial studio building, reverse engineering the “home-studio" to the “studio-home.” The studio is in New Richmond, WI and serves clientele from the surrounding area, including the Twin Cities metro area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. Nate is a PPA Master Photographer (M.Photog) and Certified Professional Photographer (CPP). He believes these degrees are a large part of his success in marketing his abilities to his clientele.

PROGRAM: HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ALL-INCLUSIVE ALBUM-BASED EXPERIENCE

During this class, you’ll hear the unique way in which Nate Peterson and his team raised their Senior sales averages with results that will blow you away. Nate shares the details of his studio’s Grand Experience package that includes a three-hour session, hair, makeup and a beautifully detailed Senior album. Nate will go over his approach with pre-qualified clients, boosted sales averages and a focus on products clients want to purchase. You will learn all about the different ways to make Senior Portraits engaging and exciting, telling each unique story and creating a milestone experience for your clients. Nate and his team have done the legwork so benefit from their experience and discover how you too can boost your Senior business in ways you never imagined!

NP Design Photography

JESSICA ROBERTSON

Jessica Robertson Photography
Ashland, Virginia

SPONSORED BY: Richmond Professional Lab

BIO: Jessica Robertson created Jessica Robertson Photographic Artistry over 15 years ago and currently serves the Richmond, Virginia area from her 3000 square foot retail space in Ashland. With the support of her team, Robin and Karen, Jessica personally photographs over 200 seniors each year. She also photographs families, children, pets, and headshots. These additional 100 sessions a year create a full circle of life studio based upon relationships.

The studio’s authentic imagery reflects their commitment to timeless, creative, memorable, unique, and storytelling portraiture. In an age of digital manipulation, filters and flash drives, Jessica handcrafts her images with light and detailed retouching. This dedication to quality and consistency results in superior printed portraits which hang in her clients’ homes and are handed down from generation to generation.

Because of her commitment to her photographic style and her pragmatic business philosophy, Jessica has established a reputation as the premier senior portrait photographer in her area.

While Jessica strives to create artistic and consistent high-quality imagery, she recognizes how critical it is to stay focused on the fact that her art is a business. This has always been a crucial aspect of her success. Although the photography market is ever changing, she has been able to increase her gross sales and profit margin consistently each year. Jessica creates imagery that stands the test of time and forges relationships with her clients that withstand fluctuations in the economy. Jessica holds a degree in Art with a Concentration in Photography from Guilford College. Jessica has earned her PPA Masters of Photography, VPPA Associate Fellow of Photography, and VPPA Fellow of Photography degrees. And in January of 2018, Jessica also received her PPA Master Craftsman degree. Since Jessica started competing in PPA’s national print competition, her work has been included in the esteemed Loan Collection seven times and she has been recognized as Professional Photographer of the Year five out of the six years she has participated. Through her professional affiliations and print competitions, Jessica strives to constantly improve her skills.

Her professional life is balanced with being married to her husband John and raising their two girls Grace, age 6, and Jaclyn, age 2. A full and busy life for sure! She is grateful for her family and for her ability to build and maintain a sustainable business based on her passion for photography.

PROGRAM: Coming Soon

Jessica Robertson Photography

VICKI TAUFER

Vicki Taufer
Morton, IL

SPONSORED BY: WHCC

BIO: Jed and Vicki Taufer have been involved in the photography industry for almost 20 years. They co-founded their studio, V Gallery, in Morton, IL in 1998. With a focus on artistic portraiture, Vicki specializes in photographing people, pets, and commercial shoots. V Gallery has been everything from a small home-based studio, to a large storefront with multiple employees, and everything in between. Vicki has a passion for people. Her journey with a camera has taken her and Jed around the world. They have been recognized internationally through their teaching, awards, and publications. Vicki’s goal is a healthy work/life balance. At work, she focuses on photography, marketing, and sales. Jed’s focus is technology, workflow, and educating other photographers. Over the last several years, Jed and Vicki have also had the opportunity to work for their favorite lab, White House Custom Colour.

PROGRAM: Coming Soon

V Gallery

2019 JUMP STARTS

Jump Starts are a great way to add incredible educational value to your SYNC registration. The Jump Start classes are a mix of classroom style and small group workshops for all levels of photographers. The 2019 Jump Start instructors are listed below.

What you need to know

• All Jump Starts are on Friday, March 1, 2019, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Full SYNC event registration is required
• Additional fees are required for each Jump Start class
• Space is limited for each Jump Start class (see below for class sizes)
• No refunds for Jump Start classes

JUMPSTART ONE - DAN FRIEVALT - $129
Class size: 50

JUMP START TWO - MICHAEL AND MELIA WINSLETT - $129
Class size: 50

CLASS THREE - SANDRA PEARCE - $129
Class size: 25

DAN FRIEVALT

Frievalt Photography
De Pere, WI

BIO: Coming Soon

PROGRAM: Coming Soon

Frievalt Photography

Michael & Melia Winslett

Michael & Melia Seniors
Carrollton, GA

BIO: Known for their seemingly paradoxical sense of fun and passion for excellence, Michael and Melia have built their senior brand around meticulously crafted lighting, luxury finished artwork, and creating an authentic and uplifting experience for their seniors. They launched Michael&Melia Seniors in 2011 after Michael’s many years in the creative industry, from video direction and production to web design, photography, and live show production. With heart and soul in every M&M collaboration, laughter is bound to happen when you’re around this duo- they might even suddenly burst into song (both are musicians) or simply trip and fall (oops).

PROGRAM: Coming Soon

Michael & Melia Seniors

SANDRA PEARCE

Sandra Pearce Photography
Okeechobee, FL

Program: The Art of Painting in Photoshop

Painting in Photoshop is an alternative for you to paint beautiful art pieces rather than attempting to learn a new program. I took many classes from the best Coral Painting instructors in the business. When I did find time to pen and actually paint in Painter, I found I had forgotten most of what I had been taught. Photoshop is where we feel comfortable and are familiar with the tools. The learning curve is drastically decreased. I decided to teach myself to pain using what I knew and loved Photoshop.

You will learn:

• How to paint with the airbrush

• The mixer brush and how it works

• Painting Modes

• Extracting images for painting composites

• Finacial aspects of adding art line to your business

Sandra Pearce Photography

2019 OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

SYNC provides a wide variety of additional educational opportunities at our conference and trade show. The speakers and events listed below happen in the evenings or during trade show hours. You can pick and choose the topics you are interested in.

SYNC SPORTS STADIUM - DETAILS COMING SOON

HANG OUT ONE - DETAILS COMING SOON

HANG OUT TWO - DETAILS COMING SOON

HANG OUT THREE - DETAILS COMING SOON

SYNC LOUNGE - DETAILS COMING SOON