Program Description Coming Soon

Renee Bowen is a Los Angeles–based photographer, certified coach, podcast host and speaker with over 20 years of experience building a high-end photography business. She holds a BA in Psychology and blends mindset, nervous system awareness, and practical AI tools to help photographers simplify their marketing, strengthen their confidence, and grow sustainable businesses without burning out. Known for her grounded, human-first approach, Renee teaches photographers how to work smarter with AI while staying aligned with their voice, values, and creativity 

Spin It or Starve: Building a Marketing Spiderweb That Catches Bookings

Marketing can make you feel like a jumping spider, you know...the ones who look all cute and cuddly and are constantly flailing their arms trying to attract attention....if this is you, this class is your intervention. Gen Z (and Gen Alpha, am I right?) don’t fall into bookings by accident; they get snagged in a web: social content, search results, AI recommendations, reviews, authority signals, and peer validation. In this course, senior photographers will learn how to spin a deliberate, modern marketing spiderweb for 2027. One that attracts the right clients and doesn’t collapse under its own weight. We’ll break down current best practices in social media, SEO, and AEO (AI search), then show you how to weave them together into a system that actually holds. No flailing. No dangling threads. Just a strategic web that builds trust, supports inclusive messaging, and will get you the kill...I mean...converts attention into consistent bookings. 

Jaimy Ellis is a senior portrait and headshot photographer based in Iowa City, Iowa, known for bold, vibrant, confidence-building imagery that actually looks like the person in front of the camera. She works primarily with high school seniors, parents, and professionals who want more than stiff, cookie-cutter photos. A graduate of Hawkeye Community College with a degree in Professional Photography (2006), she earned her PPA Master of Photography in 2017 and her Craftsman degree in 2021. With over 20 years in business, Jaimy is passionate about creating an inclusive, high-energy experience that helps people feel seen and confident. She currently serves as President of Professional Photographers of Iowa for the 2025–2026 term.

The Power of Referrals

Discover a framework that drives more referrals through connection, consistency, branding, and gratitude. Small, intentional actions create big, long-term results by delivering an unforgettable client experience and more referrals. Walk away with simple strategies you can implement to build a business clients love, trust, and happily refer. 

Rita Ann Jana is a St. Louis–based portrait photographer specializing in high school seniors, families, and military cadets. She founded her business in Wisconsin in 2013 and successfully reestablished it in New York and Missouri. Rita Ann is known for her love of bold color, striking architecture, and timeless elegance. Her work reflects her dedication to a stand-out client experience and building lasting relationships.

Your Market Isn't The Problem

This session explores why location isn’t what limits most photography businesses — and how small or rural markets can actually create real opportunity. Designed for photographers creating strong work but feeling stuck when it comes to turning that work into consistent, profitable income, attendees will learn how to build on trust, community relationships, and aligned income streams to grow sustainably without overspending on gear or chasing trends. The program will focus on practical shifts in where to invest time, how to simplify systems, and how to gain confidence in pricing and positioning — even in smaller markets.

Josh Mattox is a portrait photographer based in the Florida Panhandle and the owner of Mattox Studios. He specializes in senior portraits, heirloom family and children’s portraiture, commercial work, and high-volume photography. Mattox Studios has served its community for over 30 years, and Josh and his wife took ownership nearly a decade ago. He is passionate about building sustainable photography businesses in small markets and creating artwork that stands the test of time.

Senior Marketing: Tried and True, Advanced and New

Marketing senior portraits doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—or boring. In this high-energy, practical session, Fuller Royal breaks down the tried-and-true strategies that have filled calendars for decades, alongside fresh, innovative ideas that connect with today’s seniors and families. Attendees will walk away with clear, actionable marketing techniques they can use immediately, whether they’re refining their brand or rethinking their approach. Expect inspiration, real-world examples, and plenty of fun as you learn how to stand out, build demand, and create marketing that truly works. 

Fuller Royal is a senior photographer based in Whiteville, North Carolina, with 36 years of experience serving families, middle schoolers, and high schoolers. He specializes in senior and underclassmen portraiture, blending amazing storytelling with cutting-edge techniques to create meaningful images that resonate across generations. Fuller’s work has earned more than 50 image merits from the Professional Photographers of America, reflecting a career built on consistency, creativity, and excellence. Passionate about inspiring both clients and fellow photographers, he continues to push the art of portrait photography forward.

Creating The Senior Experience

Technology is changing the photography landscape—but it doesn’t have to threaten your business. In an era where anyone can create decent pictures, premium experiences are what set professionals apart. Curtiss Bryant teaches how to shift your focus from just delivering pretty images to creating unforgettable experiences. You’ll learn how to elevate every touchpoint—from inquiry to delivery—to increase perceived value and client satisfaction. This session will help you position your brand as more than a photographer—you’ll become an experience creator.

Curtiss Bryant is a senior portrait photographer based in Crystal River, Florida, specializing in unforgettable destination portrait experiences for high school seniors. With more than 20 years in business, he is known for blending creativity, storytelling, and exceptional client care into every session. His work has been featured in Shutter Magazine, the Senior Style Guide Hot 100, and has earned multiple image awards from Imaging, Shutterfest, and SYNC. Passionate about elevating the client experience, Curtiss is dedicated to helping young clients feel confident, celebrated, and seen through powerful, artistic portraits. 

Expansion Mode: Building a Business That Grows With Intention, Not Exhaustion

In an industry that constantly demands more, many photographers have become incredibly skilled at surviving. Pivoting, adapting, overworking, and reacting have become second nature, but survival mode was never meant to become an identity.

In this inspiring and strategy-filled talk, photographer, educator, and mentor Jennifer Denton explores what it means to move beyond burnout and into intentional expansion. Blending storytelling, practical business strategies, client experience, and sustainable systems, Jennifer shares how she evolved through industry shifts without losing authenticity, creativity, or connection in the process.

Attendees will walk away with practical tools for creating stronger client experiences, simplifying workflows, expanding opportunities, and building businesses that align with both their goals and the life they actually want to live.

Because expansion without alignment is just another form of exhaustion.

Jennifer Denton is a portrait photographer, educator, and speaker based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 20 years of experience creating thoughtful, high-touch experiences for seniors, brands, and creatives. Known for blending strategy with humanity, she teaches photographers how to evolve intentionally through client connection, sustainable systems, creativity, and aligned business growth. Jennifer’s work is rooted in the belief that success should support your life, not consume it, and that sustainable businesses are built through connection, creativity, and intentional growth.

Lighting With Purpose For Location And Media Days

On-location lighting doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. In this session, you’ll learn how to quickly set up lights on location, meter them with confidence, and achieve consistent, accurate results in any environment. We’ll walk through an efficient, repeatable workflow that saves time, reduces stress, and elevates the quality of your images. You’ll also discover why the traditional individual and group photos may no longer be enough and how adding Media Day images can instantly set you apart, gaining you new clients as well as keeping the ones you have. You’ll leave energized, empowered, and ready to light smarter, work faster, and deliver images that truly stand out.

Steve Seifried is a full-time professional photographer with a studio located in the beautiful downtown area of Fairmont, Minnesota, bringing more than 30 years of full-time industry experience. His work spans a wide range of photography, from senior portraits and high-volume sports to commercial projects. Known for efficient workflows and consistent high-quality results, Steve is passionate about creating images that make clients feel confident, proud, and excited to share their photos. His long-standing success reflects a deep commitment to craftsmanship, professionalism, and exceptional client service.

Practical Resilience Planning For Your Photography Business

Most of us prepare for the obvious failures, like a dead battery or a broken lens. But the stuff that actually hurts a photography business usually happens in the 'cracks' - a scheduling mix-up, a staffing no-show, or a data-loss scenario we didn't see coming.

In this session, Angelo McComis shares how he applies his professional experience as a technology strategist to 'bulletproof' his own business. Whether you are managing the logistics of a 1,500-player league or the high-stakes expectations of a single senior session (with Mom looking over your shoulder), you’ll learn how to build layered safeguards that keep your doors open. Beyond fear or paranoia, this session shares practical ways to spot the risks that actually matter. You’ll walk away with a straightforward framework for baking redundancy into your workflow so you can stay professional and calm when things inevitably go wrong. The goal isn’t a perfect business - it’s a resilient one that keeps moving forward even when the day doesn't go as planned.

Angelo McComis is a Columbus, Ohio-based photographer specializing in volume sports and cinematic portraiture. With over a decade of experience, Angelo has scaled his operation to handle everything from elite senior sessions to massive league picture day events with over 1,500 athletes. His portfolio includes corporate assignments and on-site photography for ESPN College GameDay activations, all defined by a signature, dramatic, cinematic style.

A dad and a technology strategist by trade, Angelo’s success is built on a 'logic meets light' philosophy. He has spent years pressure-testing workflows and processes within his own studio to ensure that working at scale never comes at the cost of artistry. Whether he’s managing a multi-camera team or a solo creative project, Angelo is known for his calm execution, technical precision, and a business that is built to thrive under pressure.

Sparking Your Creativity: Unlocking New Revenue Streams For Your Studio 

Join Lenore for an engaging workshop focused on creating new revenue streams beyond traditional sports banners and standard volume products. With more than 48 years of experience in design and photography, Lenore will share creative ideas and proven strategies for diversifying studio income through custom products and specialty offerings.

Attendees will explore products including custom-cut yard signs, team and senior parent T-shirts, oversized custom faces, in-house sublimation items, and branded products for boosters and schools. Lenore will also demonstrate how to use Lightning Cutlines to maximize efficiency and increase profitability.

This session is designed to help photographers expand beyond traditional senior and sports photography while discovering new opportunities to grow both revenue and client excitement.

Lenore Trindade is the co-owner of PictureTakers, one of Ohio’s premier photography studios since 1978. Alongside her husband, Jose, she has helped build a trusted, family-run brand known for exceptional imagery and outstanding client care. Operating from a brick-and-mortar studio and gallery, PictureTakers provides clients with a welcoming space to view and purchase custom artwork.

While Jose brings extensive technical expertise behind the camera, Lenore is known for her artistic design work and high-touch customer experience. Together with their son, Logan—who assists with on-location sessions—they create targeted marketing campaigns, offer in-house portrait printing, and produce a full line of sublimation products to serve their clients from capture to final product.

Making Money in Dance Photography

Adlifa Ford shares the technologies, systems, and workflow strategies that make high-volume dance photography both profitable and manageable. After transitioning to 100% online sales with custom ordering systems for each studio, Adlifa developed an efficient process for working with studio owners, dance teachers, parents, and dancers while delivering a smooth client experience.

This session will cover photographing large groups, action images, and individual dancers, along with organization techniques that are essential for success in volume dance photography. Drawing from more than 30 years of experience photographing some of Utah’s largest dance studios, Adlifa will also help photographers avoid common mistakes and pitfalls so they can confidently grow a profitable dance photography business.

Adilfa Ford is the Owner and President of Don Polo Photography Inc., a volume dance and fine art portrait studio serving clients for over 30 years. Known for exceptional customer service and top-tier quality, her dynamic leadership has made Don Polo Photography one of the Intermountain area’s leading portrait studios. She is a past President of the Intermountain Professional Photographers Association (IPPA), represents Utah on the PPA Council, and has served on international and ethics committees within the organization.

Born on a farm in La Luz, Venezuela, and raised by her grandparents, Adilfa named her business in honor of her grandfather, who instilled in her the values of integrity and honesty. Passionate about giving back, she has served 16 years on the Heart Gallery Committee to promote adoption through professional photography and is dedicated to educating her community on the value of professional portraits.

Do What You Do Best, Get Rid Of The Rest

Running a volume photography business does not have to mean carrying every decision, task, and problem yourself. In this practical and honest session, Amy Minshull will share how she photographs large school districts with a team by identifying the work only she should do, tackling the hard things first, and building systems that allow the right work to be delegated. Attendees will learn how to recognize their top strengths, build a support team that fits their culture, avoid becoming the bottleneck, and create a business structure that supports growth without burnout. This session is designed for business owners who want to scale with clarity, confidence, and a better way to lead.

Amy Minshull is a volume photographer based in North Platte, Nebraska, specializing in school and sports photography for large districts while operating with a small, efficient team. With 16 years in business, Amy has built her company around strong systems, practical leadership, and focusing on the work she does best. She is passionate about helping photographers simplify their operations, delegate with purpose, and build businesses that can grow without requiring them to carry it all.

Creating Images They Can’t Resist—and Sales They Can’t Say No To

Great images are only half the equation—knowing how to sell them is what changes everything. In this dynamic session, Gary Box shares how he uses lighting to create emotionally powerful portraits that elevate perceived value. He’ll also walk you through a refined sales process that consistently increases average orders by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This class is high energy, highly practical, and packed with techniques to help you attract better clients and build a more profitable studio. 

ABOUT GARY

Gary Box is an Oklahoma-based portrait photographer with 36 years of experience serving clients who value high-end, custom imagery. He specializes in senior portraits, blending masterful lighting with a luxury client experience that inspires confidence and investment. A sought-after educator, Gary has taught photographers across the United States and is widely recognized as a leader in lighting and sales. His passion lies in creating exceptional portraits that elevate both his clients and the photographers he mentors.

The Team Sports Pipeline: Turning Volume Shoots into Senior Portrait Gold

Team sports photography is a powerful gateway to long-term clients and scalable growth that can open doors to your target market – high school seniors. Let Alison show you how to book new business, efficiently organize pre/on-site/post workflows, and implement lighting set-ups that are fast, repeatable, scalable, and profitable. She will help you recognize when it’s time to scale up, how to keep employees happy, and the steps to expand. You’ll observe workflow, sales, posing, lighting, and capture as athletes go through a real photo day from check-in to capture. 

If team sports introduce trust, then the individual session deepens it. You’ll learn how to market directly to high school seniors while you have their attention. This generation craves authenticity and exclusivity. Solution? Introduce Sportraits – a session that doesn’t exist until the athlete steps into it. Sportraits are designed around one athlete, one sport, and one season of life to celebrate his/her high school career. If you’re booking the Sportraits session, you’d be crazy not to finish the job with a styled portrait session. Alison will review her Class of 2027 Collections, along with year-round marketing examples. Team sports earn the access; the personal session creates emotional ownership. Let Alison show you how it’s done!

ABOUT ALISON

Alison Carlino photographs and educates around the world. As a former master degreed elementary teacher, she can relate to students both technically and personally. 

In her 22nd year of business, she hosts multi and single day workshops on the topics of off-camera lighting, modern posing, team sports, high school seniors, and night sky photography. She is a member of and teaches/judges for WPPI, PPA/Imaging, SWPP London, PPGH, Texas School of Professional Photography, TxPPA, and SYNC Sports. Alison Faith Fine Art Photography showcases Alison’s landscape & night sky photography.

Alison is proudly sponsored by and a member of Miller’s Professional Imaging speaker team and is an ambassador for MagMod, Evoto AI, and Atmosphere Aerosol.