PHOTOGRAPHY | EDUCATION | COMMUNITY | NEW ENGLAND
Knowledge and networking for photographers.
D’Ann
Boal
The Heart & Technique of Creative Portraiture
Course Description – Sponsored by Miller’s & Nikon: Join Nikon Ambassador D’Ann Boal as she explores the art of creative portraiture through the lens of storytelling and light. During this presentation, D’Ann will guide you through her portrait process, from finding inspiration to creating consistent work with individual style. She’ll share insights into her techniques, including color choice, posing, composition, and emotional mood. Discover how embracing beautiful light (both natural and off-camera flash) enhances the depth and emotion of portraiture and how to use light more intentionally within your work. Walk away inspired and ready to elevate your photographic storytelling.
About D’Ann Boal: Award-winning portrait photographer and photography educator D’Ann Boal’s first photographs were of her baby son, and it wasn’t long before documenting his life turned into a hobby, then a passion, and eventually a boutique business aptly named Smitten & Swoon Photography.
D’Ann specializes in creating romantic and ethereal family images both in-studio and in the foothills of Boulder, Colorado, where the scenic landscape provides ideal locations for distinctive and personalized environmental portraits.
Her enthusiasm for teaching began with a master’s degree in education and her early career as a fifth-grade teacher. She’s now come full circle with workshops and in-person and online classes that cover imaging techniques as well as strategies for running a successful photography business.
D’Ann is a Nikon Ambassador, Profoto Ambassador, Click Community Mentor and has led retreats internationally, spoken on stages at WPPI, Imaging USA and Click Away, and has taught for Click Photo School, PPA and numerous industry retail outlets.
John
Branch IV
Masterclass: Adding Value to Your Packages with Video Content
Course Description: Video content has become one of the most requested add-ons for couples, and many photographers feel the pressure of competing with wedding content creators. But here’s the good news—you already have the skills to step into this space. In this 3-hour Masterclass, we’ll break down approachable ways to integrate video into your photography packages without overwhelming your workflow.
You’ll learn simple techniques to capture video clips during weddings, how to overcome the fear of “not being a videographer,” and practical tips for getting started with gear you likely already own. We’ll also explore how adding video content can increase the value of your packages, set you apart from other photographers, and deepen the experience you deliver for your couples.
This class is designed for photographers who want to confidently step into video, expand their offerings, and future-proof their business.
About John Branch IV: John is a Wedding Photographer, YouTube Content Creator, and educator. After 10 years of photographing weddings in the NYC and Raleigh, NC areas, John began sharing his knowledge to help elevate the skills and businesses of newer wedding photographers. As a Fujifilm X-Photographer and Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Star, John has built a reputation not only for his natural, storytelling photography style but also for his ability to teach and inspire others in the industry.
Through his YouTube channel, which has grown to an audience of over 260,000 subscribers, John creates approachable, real-world content that covers everything from wedding photography techniques to behind-the-scenes wedding day workflows, gear insights, and business strategies. His engaging and educational videos have made him a trusted voice for photographers looking to grow both creatively and professionally.
In addition to photography, John is passionate about helping photographers confidently step into video and video content creation. From photo editing workflows to adding simple, impactful video services to client offerings, he teaches photographers how to expand their skill set, build additional revenue streams, and tell more complete stories for their clients.
John’s mission is to use his years of hands-on experience to help others see that sustainable, life-changing success in photography – and beyond – is possible.
Andre
Brown
Mastering Portrait Lighting: Constant to Off-Camera Flash
Course Description: Learn how to control light with confidence in any environment. In this 90-minute class, you’ll explore how to create consistent, professional portrait lighting using both constant light and off-camera flash. You’ll see how small adjustments in light placement, power, and modifiers impact your final image. Whether you’re shooting available light portraits or building complex lighting setups, this class will help you take full control of your lighting to create bold, polished results every time.
About Andre Brown: Andre is an award-winning wedding & portrait photographer based in Atlanta, GA. His work has been featured in several notable publications and has won awards from prestigious organizations, including WPPI, IPC, The Portrait Masters & Cosmo Awards. Andre is also a speaker and educator and host of Bokeh Academy Photo Summit a 3 day immersive photography conference as well as a brand ambassador for a number of the industries leading companies such as Westcott, Nanlite, 17 Hats, Aftershoot & more.
Myrna
Daramy
Masterclass: Go From Invisible to Irresistible with SEO, DMO, and AI
Course Description: Your photography deserves to be seen. But in today’s digital landscape, visibility doesn’t happen by chance… it happens by strategy. In this 3-hour masterclass, you’ll learn about Myrna’s proven framework, Digital Media Optimization (DMO) and the art of being found by harnessing the power of SEO and AI to transform your digital footprint from invisible to irresistible. We’ll go beyond keywords and algorithms to show you how search is evolving in 2025, how to use AI without losing your authentic voice, and how to create a digital presence that attracts your dream clients.
You’ll walk away with:
- A step-by-step framework to audit and strengthen your online visibility
- Smart SEO strategies tailored to photographers and creative entrepreneurs
- AI-powered workflows that save time while keeping your brand authentic
- A personalized roadmap to show up consistently where it matters most
This isn’t theory, it’s a working session designed to help you refine, optimize, and elevate your online presence so your work gets discovered by the people who matter.
About Myrna Daramy: Myrna is the heart and brains behind Myrna & Co, your go-to destination for all things Organic Growth Marketing. With over two decades of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of marketing and technology, Myrna brings a unique blend of seasoned wisdom and vibrant creativity to the table.
As an Organic Growth Marketing Strategist, she’s on a mission to help businesses thrive in the digital realm. Whether it’s crafting ingenious digital media marketing strategies, deciphering analytics mysteries, ensuring everyone feels included in the digital conversation, or making sure your digital presence is ADA compliant – Myrna’s got you covered.
DIXIE
DIXON
How to Shoot for Brands and Magazines From Start to Finish
Course Description – Sponsored by Nikon: Step inside the world of high-impact fashion photography with Dixie Dixon, internationally renowned Nikon Ambassador and go-to visual storyteller for major brands and editorial clients alike. In this exclusive private class, Dixie takes you behind the scenes of what it really takes to land dream gigs with brands, ad agencies, and magazines—from the first concept to the final deliverables.
Dixie will guide you through her start-to-finish process of creating compelling imagery that sells, connects, and inspires. Learn how she builds a cohesive body of work that gets noticed, creates mood and motion with lighting, directs with energy (not stiff poses), and chooses gear that empowers the story—especially her go-to Nikon lenses and lighting modifiers.
But the magic doesn’t stop with the shutter click. Dixie will also dive deep into the business side of photography: how to pitch yourself to agencies and brands, how to craft a magnetic portfolio, and how to market your work authentically in a way that builds trust and opens doors.
About Dixie Dixon: Dixie is an internationally renowned fashion, lifestyle, and commercial advertising photographer and film director based out of Dallas, Texas. She travels worldwide working with brands ranging from Disney to Virgin to People and has spent the last decade bringing creative visions to life for brands, ad agencies, fashion, and commercial clients.
As a Nikon Ambassador of the United States, she brings a wildly positive energy to set that creates a one of a kind experience for her clients. Dixie’s style embodies an idealistic approach to photography and motion work with a touch of soulful realism. As a full-service production company, her team and her regularly create refreshingly upbeat campaigns for lifestyle brands, beauty companies, and high fashion advertising campaigns.
“I was excited to learn quite early in my life that if you ‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.’ -Confucius
“For me this isn’t a job, this business is a labor of love. Telling stories is one of my biggest passions. The truth is that the technical part of the job is such a small percentage of what we do. The majority of what we create involves a high level of optimism, being able to solve problems on the fly, assembling the right team of hard-working crew aka “the Dreamteam”, and most importantly diving deep into that ultimate creative vision. That is where the magic happens!!
“Ideas are everywhere but it is the ability to execute those ideas on time, on a budget, and in a beautiful way that is rare in this highly digital insta age and what drives our team to create. It is always our goal to over-deliver to our clients’ expectations all while having an amazing experience aka a lot of fun while we do it. I have made some of my best friends in this industry and love working and collaborating with talented individuals who have the same passion for what they do.”
Cait
Fletcher
Masterclass: ICONIC Wedding Photography Workshop
Course Description: This interactive masterclass will include hands-on guidance and instruction from fine art wedding photographer Cait Fletcher, whose work has been featured in Vogue, The Washington Post, The Connecticut Bride, TLC and Newsweek. Learn go-to editorial & iconic poses for when your mind draws a blank, creative approaches for the getting ready portion of the wedding day & how getting creative at the beginning of the day sets the tone for the WHOLE rest of the wedding day. Plus, learn to work with on-location details and real models and build your photography portfolio.
About Cait Fletcher: Cait began her career as a fine art wedding photographer in 2013. Her couple’s wedding days have been featured in Vogue, The Washington Post, The Connecticut Bride, TLC, and Newsweek. Cait’s style can be described as timeless, avant-garde, creative, & iconic. She shoots intentionally with each frame, ensuring each frame is worthy of hanging in her couple’s homes.
Cait has had the honor of photographing weddings throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, where she’s drawn inspiration from the different countries she’s traveled. She also draws inspiration from cinematic movies, often rewatching her favorites in different lenses of perspective when viewing, to carefully observe light, shadows, & interesting angles.
Cait Fletcher is based in Durham, Connecticut (a charming farm town well known for their annual Durham Fair) where she lives with her partner, Jason, & her hundreds of tropical plants & wildlife.
Rob
Grimm
The Portfolio Game: Unlocking Creative Assignments Through Play
Course Description: Discover a playful new way to spark your creativity. In this interactive session, you’ll use three decks of prompts—places, characters, and objects—to generate unexpected scenarios that challenge and inspire your photography. Walk away with fresh ideas, fun assignments, and a tool you can use long after the conference.
About Rob Grimm: Rob is a commercial photographer and educational instructor. He works exclusively in food and beverage photography with a specialty in glass and liquids. His bold and graphic style has been employed by a client list of international brands as long as your left arm including the likes of Jack Daniel’s, Bacardi, Woodford Reserve, Brown Forman, Kraft and Panera to name just a few.
With experience running full service studios in both Chicago and St. Louis, he has a unique perspective on the business of commercial photography. In 2014 he co-founded the company PRO EDU, an educational company that produces tutorials for every photography genre. Rob now delivers training on an international level through online video and leads a community of elite photographers around the world as they share their trade secrets to future generations of visual artists.
When Rob’s not shooting in his studio or building furniture in his workshop you can find him cooking in the kitchen, working in the yard, rowing on the lake with his team or running about town with his wife and two daughters. He also has 5 cats.
Makayla Jade
Harris
Virtual Album & Wall Art Sales: How to Attract High-Spending Clients That Crave Printed Products
Course Description – Sponsored by ASET: In today’s digital-first world, the most profitable photographers know how to stand out by offering more than files—they deliver heirlooms. This 90-minute session will show you how to attract high-spending clients who value albums and wall art, and how to transform your sales process into an elevated client experience. Whether you want to increase average sales, boost client satisfaction, or build a reputation for luxury service, you’ll learn proven strategies that consistently generate bigger profits and glowing reviews.
About Makayla Jade Harris: Makayla is the founder and CEO of ASET, the industry’s leading virtual sales agency for photographers. What began as a personal mission to create lasting heirlooms for her own family has evolved into a company that now partners with studios worldwide, transforming how photographers sell, serve, and scale through powerful post-session experiences.
A former wedding photographer turned sales strategist, Makayla has helped hundreds of creatives increase their revenue through proven consultative selling methods, high-end client experience design, and emotionally-driven product presentation. She’s known for cutting through the fluff, teaching real strategies that work, and helping photographers break through income ceilings by focusing on connection, value, and intentional business design.
She’s been recognized with awards like 40 Under 40 and Women on the Rise, and has spoken on stages for WPPI, Imaging USA, Shutterfest, Lens & Light, and more. Whether she’s training sales teams, designing curriculum, or helping creatives reclaim their time and profit, Makayla brings a blend of heart, hustle, and hard-earned wisdom to every room she steps into.
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Sam
Hurd
Video for Wedding Photographers: Adding Content Without Losing Your Mind
Course Description: Wedding clients increasingly expect video content… from Instagram reels to embedded gallery clips, but most photographers have no idea where to start without derailing their primary job. This hands-on workshop covers the gear, techniques, and workflow for capturing compelling video moments alongside your photography, plus how to package and price these add-ons profitably.
About Sam Hurd: Starting as a political news and celebrity portrait photographer in DC, Sam was instantly drawn to wedding photography as a space to promote more inventive ideas.
Sam’s focus is on photographic techniques that are deceptively simple but have the potential to transform difficult or uninspiring shooting environments into one-of-a-kind opportunities for every photo made.
LaJune
King
Stand Out On Purpose: 5 Ways to Brand Yourself So You Never Have to Compete on Price Again
Course Description: In Stand Out On Purpose, you’ll learn five intentional strategies to transform your client experience from forgettable to five-star, and brand yourself in a way that builds loyalty, trust, and value. Not just visibility.
- Use automation without losing your personal touch
- Position your brand with purpose so clients see you as a necessity, not a negotiable
- Confidently raise your prices + have the experience to match
- Build brand loyalty that leads to referrals, rebooks, and raving fans
About LaJune King: LaJune is a West Hartford, CT accomplished personal branding and family photographer, whose work goes far beyond just taking pictures. Her passion for elevating the representation of Black men, women, and people of Color in photography has made her a leading figure in the industry. LaJune’s influence extends beyond her own work, as she generously shares her expertise with other creatives, empowering them to create their own unique and unforgettable client experiences. Her commitment to uplifting and inspiring others is a testament to her character and leadership.
Ben
Lau
The 12-Point Marketing Blueprint
Course Description: Great work, clever copywriting, impeccable branding – none of it matters if no one’s watching. You don’t have a booking problem, you have a visibility problem. This 90-minute class is for anyone starting from scratch, stuck in a slow season, or just tired of feeling invisible.
You’ll learn how to:
- Build visibility from zero
- Leverage what you already have
- Find and reach the right clients
- Convert attention into actual bookings
Let’s fix the real problem: no audience = no business. Let’s show the world what you’ve got!
About Ben Lau: My first sales & marketing job came when I was eight years old, selling counterfeit water guns on a Chinatown street corner (my grandfather’s toy store was on that corner). That was 37 years ago. In that time, I’ve sold & marketed everything – from office supplies to office supplies, and even rain boots.
Over the past 16 years, I’ve been marketing & selling wedding photography in one of the most saturated marketplaces in the world: NYC. Together with my wife, we own/manage 3 award-winning wedding photography brands with our amazing team, and photograph anywhere between 100-120 weddings every single year. I’m also a donut enthusiast, a bourbon drinker, and alpaca expert :).
Meg
Loeks
Where Light Meets Narrative; Emotion in Focus: Light & Edit with Intention
Course Description – Sponsored by Miller’s: Join Meg Loeks as she reveals how she uses created light to shape mood, atmosphere, and emotion within environmental portraiture. Go behind the scenes with practical lighting setups and her favorite modifiers, crafted for everyday spaces. Attendees will also explore the power of color and its role in enhancing emotion-driven imagery. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your craft, this workshop offers the tools and insight to bring deeper storytelling to your portrait work.
Masterclass Description: In this immersive 3-hour workshop, Meg Loeks will transform the way you use light to tell stories. Through hands-on learning, you’ll discover how to shape light with simple, everyday modifiers to create portraits rich with mood and emotion. The workshop concludes with a live editing session where Meg reveals her post-processing workflow from start to finish.
About Meg Loeks: Meg is an award-winning fine art and portrait photographer whose nostalgic, story-rich work is deeply rooted in the home. She teaches both online and in-person workshops, both domestically and internationally, and is proud to serve as a Sigma Ambassador, a Profoto Legend of Light, and a 2022 Lightroom Ambassador.
Meg is also a dedicated volunteer photographer for The Gold Hope Project, a nonprofit that provides free photo sessions to families facing pediatric cancer.
Mikyla
Meckleson
Course: Activate Your Spark: Step Into Joy, Radiate Confidence, and Masterclass: Attract Magnetic Opportunities; From Hesitation to Hero Shots
Course Description: In this session, we’ll explore how to create striking, emotionally resonant wedding imagery in any environment—whether you’re working in a five-star venue, a hotel conference room, or a cluttered getting-ready space.
I’ll walk through how I assess light, make fast composition decisions, and adapt to challenging locations without sacrificing quality or style.
You’ll learn how to shift your mindset from “fixing” a space to using what’s actually there, with intention and creativity, to make something truly beautiful.
Masterclass Description: Learn to shoot restaurant dishes and spaces with confidence — even when things don’t go as planned.
In this hands-on 3-hour workshop, Mikyla Meckelson shares her process for capturing natural-light restaurant photos that stand out — with minimal gear and maximum ease. You’ll learn how to adapt on the fly, find your signature angles, and nail the four must-have shots every food photographer needs in their portfolio.
Plus, Mikyla shows how bringing a little joy and curiosity to your shoot can open doors to collaborations and opportunities you’d never expect.
About Mikyla Meckleson: Mikyla is a commercial food and beverage photographer, podcast host, business coach, and AI creative collaboration enthusiast who discovered the power of joy as a creative superpower while building the Food Photography Corner and leading food photography retreats. For the past 5 years hosting mindset workshops, she’s helped creatives move past hesitation, step into their confidence, and become magnets for opportunities — effortlessly attracting collaborations, clients, and experiences that align with their vision. Mikyla teaches how to tap into your joy, harness your energy, and streamline your work, so you can live as the main character of your own extraordinary life.
Susan
Stripling
Creating Beauty Anywhere
Course Description: In this session, we’ll explore how to create striking, emotionally resonant wedding imagery in any environment—whether you’re working in a five-star venue, a hotel conference room, or a cluttered getting-ready space. I’ll walk through how I assess light, make fast composition decisions, and adapt to challenging locations without sacrificing quality or style. You’ll learn how to shift your mindset from “fixing” a space to using what’s actually there, with intention and creativity, to make something truly beautiful.
About Susan Stripling: Susan has been photographing weddings, portraits, and theater for over twenty years.
Susan’s work has been published in Inside Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Modern Bride, Town and Country Weddings, the New York Times, New York Post, Rangerfinder, PDN, and in ads and advertorials for Nikon USA, Epson, and Canon USA.
Susan has been an educator for Photo Plus, WPPI, PPA, Mystic Seminars, Portrait Masters, and Creative Live. She has been named one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine. She is also currently a Grand Master with ICON.
She is most honored to be named an Explorer of Light by Canon USA.
Susan also the founder of The Wedding School, which strives to bring real, honest education to wedding photographers worldwide.
In her spare time, besides spending time with her incredible family, Susan is a voracious reader, lover of all horror movies, and inexplicably sleeps with the lights on.
Jonathan
Thorpe
Being Creative in a Commercial World
Course Description – Sponsored by Tamron: In this session, Jonathan breaks down how creative decision-making and practical problem-solving can help photographers achieve extraordinary results in commercial environments, without compromising a signature style built on artistry and storytelling.
About Jonathan Thorpe: Jonathan is a portrait and commercial photographer based in Washington, DC. Formally an eye doctor, he found photography on a whim, and decided to pursue it after getting published early on in his career. Since then, he’s had the pleasure of working with some of the biggest companies and personalities around, and he loves every second of it. His areas of expertise are in narrative imagery and lighting.
Jeff
Tisman
Screw ordinary. Lets make it EXTRAORDINARY!
Course Description: Elevating Ordinary: Take your standard photos of details, couple portraits, wedding party, and everything that happens on a wedding day and show by just thinking outside the box and getting to know who your couples are you can create so much more. I would take the students out and show them and then have them break into groups and fully execute them. Giving the prompts and emotion needed for these types of photos to become reality. I think it would be a really fun class, while putting them in real life situations that happen in a wedding day. Too many photographers fall into the “same wedding, different week”. I want to change that mindset and make them think and regain the passion of creativity and go above and beyond for their couples.
About Jeff Tisman: Having kick-started his career photographing rock bands 30 years ago, Jeff possesses a one-of-a-kind style. Even after documenting almost 1200 weddings he still loves going out and capturing each couples special day and is honored they have chosen him as their photographer. He specializes in both storytelling and epic portraits that aren’t just wedding photos but true representation of the couples’ personalities and who they are as a couple. He has judged several contests including Fearless Photographers, Flashmasters, Inspiration Photographs and International Wedding Photographer of the Year (IWPOTY) and serves as an ambassador for Flashmasters and MagMod.
Renowned for his mastery of off-camera flash, expert posing, and dramatic compositions, Jeff believes great photography begins with understanding what matters most to each couple. This approach allows him to create images that are both personal and artistic.
As an educator, Jeff shares innovative techniques for posing, lighting, and crafting magazine-worthy portraits in his workshops. His approachable teaching style empowers photographers to elevate their work and transform client moments into unforgettable art.
Louisa
Vilardi
Goal Setting for Professional Photographers
Course Description: This interactive workshop is designed to equip photographers with the tools and strategies necessary to achieve tangible business growth. Participants will move beyond theoretical concepts and engage in practical exercises focused on developing and implementing effective goal-setting and strategic planning.
About Louisa Vilardi: Louisa is a seasoned photographer and writer operating in the Hudson Valley (NY) with a diverse portfolio encompassing family portraits, children, branding, headshots, theater photography, and beyond. Her ability to capture genuine moments and translate them into compelling visuals has earned her recognition on platforms such as Scary Mommy, Love What Matters, and Her View From Home. She has also been published in The Arthur Miller Journal and Inspired Magazine and is the cover photographer for East Fishkill Living Magazine.
In 2024 and 2025, Louisa was named Best Portrait Photographer in the Hudson Valley by Hudson Valley Magazine. Louisa’s approach is rooted in the belief that every photograph is a story waiting to be told. She lives in Hopewell Junction, NY, where her family provides both inspiration and a constant opportunity to refine her skills.
Jason
Vinson
Content Creation for Working Photographers
Course Description: Content creation can be a full-time job! But as working photographers, it’s hard to find the time.
In this talk, I’ll walk through some strategies to create content while you work, as well as some tools and ideas that will save you time and energy.
Masterclass Description: Light is everything in photography. Without it, the most amazing moments and the most epic portraits simply fall to black. In order to use light to its fullest potential, we must first learn to see it, harness it, and bend it to our will. In this masterclass we will dive deep into seeing light and using light. We will discuss how to train your brain to look for interesting light, how to recreate that light when its gone, and how to modify that light to create something new and interesting.
About Jason Vinson: Jason is a husband, father, and wedding and documentary photographer, based out of Northwest Arkansas. He has a passion for creatively documenting real moments, as well as taking epic and unique portraits. He has been ranked as the #1 Fearless Photographer in North America and Top 3 in the World for 2021. He is also ranked as one of the Top 100 Fearless Photographers of all time. He is a multi award winning photographer through Junebug Weddings, Worlds Best Wedding Photos, ISPWP, Masters of Wedding Photography, Documentary Family Awards, and more. Jason also is an ambassador for brands such as Stella Pro Lights, Flashpoint, Magmod, Aftershoot, DreambooksPro, Holdfast, DVLOP, and more. In addition to his photography work, Jason spends countless hours educating the photography community. He has been a speaker, instructor, writer, and content creator for establishments such as WPPI, Portrait Masters, Rangefinder, PPA, Fstoppers, and many more.
Lynsey
Weatherspoon
Behind the Scenes: What it Takes to Run a Photography Business
Course Description: This 90-minute session pulls back the curtain on the business side of commercial photography. We’ll cover how to attract and retain clients, price your work, draft contracts, and manage budgets—all while balancing creativity with professionalism. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your business practices, this class will equip you with practical tools and real-world insights to help you run a sustainable, profitable photography practice.
About Lynsey Weatherspoon: Lynsey is a portrait and editorial photographer based in both Atlanta and Birmingham. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, NPR, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Time, ESPN and ESPN-owned The Undefeated. The fingerprint of heritage can be found on assignments and personal projects featuring Black Lives Matter, Gullah Geechee culture, unsung players in the Negro Baseball League, and the last of dying breed – a shoe cobbler. Her work has been exhibited at The African American Museum in Philadelphia and Photoville NYC. She is an awardee, The Lit List, 2018. Her affiliations include Diversify Photo, Authority Collective, and Women Photograph.