Classes
Union Station provides the perfect backdrop for hands-on learning and spacious classrooms for lecture and live demo classes.
With over 100 classes, there’s something here for everyone!
How do I register for a class?
You will be able to select classes IN THE SHUTTERFEST APP two weeks before the event (first come, first serve). READ THE FAQ and/or monitor the private Facebook group for more details.
SF25 Class Lineup
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Specialty: Business, Lighting, Posing across seniors, corporate, and boudoir as well as Personal branding in and outside of the photography industry.
#BossBabe: Create Badass Business Portraits Fast with Flow Posing
Speaker: Cara Jonas (Website) (Social Media)
Are you ready to elevate your women’s business portraits from bland to scroll-stopping? Step into our high-energy, no-nonsense, hands on class where you’ll discover the secrets to creating badass women’s business portraits fast. This isn’t your grandma’s photography class—it’s designed for photographers who want to kick ass and take names in the business world.
In this hands on class you’ll learn:
Posing Techniques That Flatter Every Body Type: Because every #bossbabe deserves to look and feel her best.
Rapid-Fire Posing Flow: Maximize your session time and capture a stunning variety of images in minutes.
Creating Epic, Scroll-Stopping Images: Say goodbye to boring business portraits. Learn how to infuse personality and power into every shot, making your images pop off the screen and demand attention.
Are you ready to walk away with the skills to create Instagram-worthy portraits that will set you apart in the competitive world of women’s business photography? Don’t miss out! This class will help you become the photographer every #bossbabe dreams of working with.
Bring your camera, we will be photographing several setups during this class.
$tory $elling
Speaker: Fernando Ordonez (Website) (Social Media)
In this class, you will learn the secrets to skyrocketing album sales and increasing substantial profits for your business.
You’ll learn the art of selling albums from the beginning to the end. I’ll show you how to shoot and select your images to tell your client’s story, how to design your album in just minutes, and how to present your work to create a professional but personal experience for your client.
If you want to make top-tier products and get the most bang for your buck, join me and make your business boom.
10 Insider Secrets for Wedding Day Success
Speaker: Jen Stitt (Website) (Social Media)
What if you knew the secret to success before you even picked up your camera on the wedding day? Whether you’re dreaming of going full-time or just aiming to create unforgettable memories on the weekends, Jen is here to spill all the details from her 15+ years in the wedding business.
Whether you’re envisioning grand weddings every weekend or intimate sunset ceremonies by the shore, it’s not just about taking breathtaking photos (though, of course, there’s plenty of that!) – it’s about setting up your business for success. Fall in love with wedding days by becoming an unforgettable storyteller by shedding the unnecessary stress and embracing the true heart and soul of the wedding day. During her class, Jen will deep dive into these golden secrets which are a critical part of her wedding workflow and happy newlyweds.
Here’s what we will cover
1. Ten game-changing secrets tailored for the big day.
2. Navigating stress—turning potential headaches into creative adrenaline!
3. An up-close and personal Q&A session with an award-winning wedding whisperer.
4. BONUS: The MUST-CAPTURE photo list you’ll regret missing (and no, the first kiss isn’t on this must-have list!)
3 Point Lighting is for Suckers: Crafting Cinematic Interview Lighting
Speaker: Jordan Taylor Bunch (Website) (Social Media)
Say goodbye to boring interview setups! “3 Point Lighting is for Suckers” is your ticket to mastering high-end cinematic interview lighting. Learn how to create visually stunning interviews that look like they belong in a top-tier documentary, not your typical 3-point lighting setup. We’ll cover advanced techniques, creative approaches, and practical tips to make your interviews stand out. Whether you’re shooting a corporate video or a personal story, this class will equip you with the skills to produce professional, polished, and captivating interview footage.
5 Tools to Change Your Life – Post Session Workflow
Speaker: Jen Stitt (Website) (Social Media)
Ready to dominate your post-session workflow? Whether the mere thought of post-session work sends shivers down your spine or you’re simply hunting for some genius time-saving hacks, this course has got you covered. Get ready to learn the tactical steps and nifty tricks that will not only make your post-production tools more effective but also leaves you more time to spend doing what you love most, taking pictures, creating content, and drinking mai tais on the beach.
Jen brings her powerhouse mix of tech savvy, AI wonders, and creative flair, all designed to leave your clients amazed at lightning-fast turn around.
Here is what you will walk away with:
1. Simple steps to establishing a consistent post-production workflow
2. Software, Technology, and Programs to ease workload
3. Tips for establishing better work/life balance
4. How to implement AI into your existing post-production workflow
A Gym Life
Speaker: Zsa'nee Gaines (Website) (Social Media)
Let’s jump into the dynamic world of gym photography – it’s more than just flexing muscles; it’s a versatile tool with a touch of fun and sexiness!
Capturing those moments of dedication, sweat, and transformation is like giving yourself a visual high-five for pursuing those health and fitness goals. Fitness clients love to photograph their achievements making this a huge market for increasing your client base.
On social media platforms like Instagram, gym photography stands out. It’s not just about flaunting fitness routines; it’s about boosting brands, cultivating careers, and sparking inspiration. These images aren’t mere scrolls on your feed; they’re potent marketing instruments. Have you ever scrolled through Instagram and been captivated by those motivating workout shots? Suddenly, you’re eager to hit the gym or get your hands on the latest fitness gear. That’s the best part of gym photography at play! Whether it’s showcasing top-notch facilities, exceptional services, or killer workouts, these pics exert a magnetic pull on fitness enthusiasts.
And here’s the kicker – for photography clients, gym photography isn’t just about business; it’s about forging personal connections too. By capturing the essence of dedication and transformation, gym photos can attract both business prospects and personal clients, elevating your photography game, their business marketing and your clients journey all at the same time.
We will discuss posing and lighting. You will need to have a base understanding of how to work your camera.
Bring your gear, this is a hands-on class that I will walk everyone through.
A Moment in Time: Couple’s Portraits
Speaker: Zsa'nee Gaines (Website) (Social Media)
MOMENT BY MOMENT – TOUCH BY TOUCH
Have you ever found yourself lost in a cherished memory, reliving the way someone special looked at you, embraced you, or touched you? These moments linger in our minds, bringing smiles and warmth whenever we think back to them.
Think about those moments you revisit time and again. The ones that, no matter how much time has passed, always evoke a certain smile or a unique feeling within you. These are the moments we want to capture and preserve through photography.
In this class, I will teach you how to capture intimate couple’s portraits that emphasize touch and emotion. By focusing on cropping into the most special moments, you can create images that consistently bring about a tingle in the spine, a smile on the face, or a sparked memory for your clients. Don’t underestimate the power of the lips, the hands, the waist with the combination of a touch.
This is not the average couples portrait where you will see their full bodies, holding hands or hugging. This is very intimate and detailed with clothes on.
We will explore techniques to zoom in on the details that make these moments unforgettable. From the gentle touch of hands to the subtle embracing of love and affection, these detailed, cropped angles will help you capture the essence of intimate connections.
With the right approach, every photograph will tell a story, evoke emotions, and become cherished thoughts and memories for your clients.
Join me in this journey to master the art of intimate couple’s portraits, and learn how to create images that will be treasured for years to come.
We will discuss posing and evoking expressions. You will need to have a base understanding of how to work your camera.
Bring your gear, this is a hands-on class that I will walk everyone through.
A Shitillion Tips to Higher Sales
Speaker: Jenn Lewis (Website) (Social Media)
It’s time to get serious about your business, kids. You’ve been stuck for a long time and you’re not quite sure how to take the next step. You’ve been shoot and burning or maybe you switched to in person sales, but you’re not making the kind of money you need to make it all worth it. You’re starting to realize that you’re not as profitable as you thought you were, and you’re tired. You’re tired of missing out on your own life for the little bit of money you make. You’re tired of panicking when you think you might have to replace a computer or a camera because you don’t have the extra money. You’re burning out and you need a step by step guide to help you make real money.
In this class, Jenn will teach you the principles of successful sales and why they work. You’ll learn to overcome the obstacles you’ve been running into and the methods she uses to maintain her $5600+ sales average. Jenn specializes in high school seniors, but her methods work for any portrait genre. You already know how to take pretty photos… now let’s make some money with them.
Absolutely Tube-riffic
Speaker: Heather Larkin (Website) (Social Media)
Tube lights and panels have gotten so much better over the last few years.. Enough that you can use them as a portable main light? Absolutely. Learn how to set up and light with Nanlite Pavotubes in multiple sizes to create a key studio look, then we’ll change it up and work with the tubes as rim and side lighting and change colors to mimic gels. One light, so many results.
Advanced Posing and Lighting for Maternity Portraits
Speaker: Andre Brown (Website) (Social Media)
This class is designed for photographers looking to elevate their maternity portrait skills. We’ll cover advanced posing techniques to add fashion flair and to make your images more impactful. We’ll also explore lighting setups utilizing both flash and constant light, learning how to craft images that standout images from your competition.
AI In Your Studio!
Speaker: Scott Detweiler (Website) (Social Media)
Artificial Intelligence has landed in the middle of the imaging world and is currently having a significant impact. However, this massive shift in technology doesn’t have to be negative. In fact, it can be tremendously positive and open the doors to sales you would not have had. Let’s explore how this technology can open new doors, from larger wall-art commissions to building fantastic virtual sets. It isn’t going away, so let’s master it! In this 2 hour tutorial, we will learn how these systems work and how to get the most out of them.
Specialty: Artificial Intelligence Digital Marketing, Wedding Videography, and Commercial Videography
AI Secrets for Business Success
Speaker: Josh and Jen Thompson (Website) (Social Media)
Unlock the potential of AI with our comprehensive program, designed to provide you with practical, hands-on knowledge for seamless integration into your operations.
Learn effective prompting techniques to communicate with AI models and achieve optimal results. Create and deploy custom GPTs tailored to your specific needs, solving unique challenges easily.
Explore various AI tools, including automation software to streamline tasks, photo creation tools for enhanced marketing, and voice cloning technology to personalize customer interactions. Each lesson offers practical applications, ensuring immediate implementation and results.
The journey begins with an introduction to AI in business, building a solid foundation. You’ll then dive into mastering prompting techniques through real-life scenarios. Step-by-step guidance will help you build custom GPTs that address your business’s specific needs. The exploration of AI tools covers automation, photo creation, and voice cloning, preparing you to harness their full potential.
Ideal for entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers, this program requires no prior AI experience—just a willingness to learn and innovate.
Join us and transform your business with cutting-edge AI solutions!
All About ON Camera Flash
Speaker: Vanessa Joy (Website) (Social Media)
Off-camera flash isn’t all the rage anymore. Learn just how much you can do while keeping your flash mounted on your hot shoe. You MUST bring your own flash to this class!
Learn how to:
– Bounce flash
– Drag the shutter
– Get that trendy direct-flash look
– Shape light to flatter your subject
– Use gels to change the photo’s vibe
All About That B-Roll
Speaker: Abbie Gowin (Website) (Social Media)
Come dip your toe into the world of video and discover just how simple (and fun!) it can be. B-roll is an amazing way to set your business apart and provide a valuable add-on that your clients will love. In this class, you will learn:
-The best settings for a cinematic look
-Types of movement
-Posing and composition
-Prompts for your clients
-How to utilize different gear
-How to think through creating a story
REQUIRED for this class: At least one camera body and lens, Understanding the exposure triangle, knowing how to change your ISO/shutter speed/f-stop, and knowing how to put your camera on video mode. You will also need cards large enough to store the short video files – I recommend 128GB or several 65GB. This lesson is best for those at the intermediate and advanced technical levels.
(Please feel free to reach out and ask me questions before sign-ups if you’re unsure. I want everyone to feel comfortable and get the most out of this lesson!)
OPTIONAL: Gear for stability (neck strap, mono or tripod, gimbal), 35mm or 50mm lens
Approaching the wedding day with a technical eye without losing sight on storytelling
Speaker: Esteban Gil (Website) (Social Media)
We have all heard the same mindless advice:
“ In order for you to find clients, you have to pick a style”
“ You’re either a light and airy photographer or a moody photographer”
“ Make sure your instagram is cohesive and follows a certain aesthetic”
Tired of following the rules? Ever feel like you couldn’t be yourself at a wedding? Does social media keep you from posting things you love because they don’t adhere to your aesthetic? If you have ever felt this way, I invite you to Step into my world of wedding photography where Range and versatility reigns supreme.
Don’t limit yourself to one style or approach. Learn how to use OCF efficiently while still putting an emphasis on storytelling.
In this class, I will cover:
– Being motivated by the fear of being average and how this approach has dramatically changed my work for the best.
– Equipment matters: The range of cameras/focal lengths I use for creating both art and storytelling.
– Using OCF to create ART- OCF techniques that will make your work stand out!
– Photograph your weddings like an Artist, Not an instagrammer: Light and airy? Moody? Why not both? Screw what the industry tells you.
– Photograph your weddings for your couples, Not a couple of blogs.
– Learn the importance of prioritizing the story over the details.
The best wedding photographers in the world not only know how to create art in tricky lighting conditions. They also know how to capture moments and be the best storytellers. In this class, I will show you how to excel at both!
ART OF A THRIVING CONSULTATION
Speaker: Stephen Johnson (Website) (Social Media)
Selling starts before the first click. Setting yourself up for success is critical to consistent sales averages. We start building rapport with a client from the first interaction to break down barriers before we start the shoot.
How are you preparing them in advance for the shoot?
How do we get them involved:
• Examples of what we say
• Hedging off objections on a call
• Mock Consultation – what a consultation looks like
• Building a Script – work through what you would say
Artistic Body Glitter Portraits
Speaker: Zsa'nee Gaines (Website) (Social Media)
This is a time to experiment and explore.
Decorate your client with glitter in just the right places and amount to highlight their natural beauty. Glitter on their faces, shoulders, and collarbones adds a touch of fantasy and excitement to their portraits while combining the right body poses.
This class is for photographers who want to combine artistic expression with tasteful sensuality. You will develop new photography skills and learn to enhance your subjects’ beauty with a bit of sparkle.
Perfect for those looking to explore the blend of beauty and art, this class offers a creative and sexy experience without showing everything. This can be used for your Boudoir clients that want to show lots of skin as well as the client that only wants to share a little.
We will discuss posing and lighting. You will need to have a base understanding of how to work your camera.
Bring your gear, this is a hands-on class that I will walk everyone through.
Automate and Dominate: Modern Marketing for 2025 and Beyond
Speaker: Michael Anthony (Website) (Social Media)
Ready to supercharge your photography business? Join me, Michael Anthony, for an advanced, no-holds-barred dive into the world of modern marketing. In “”Automate and Dominate: Modern Marketing for 2025 and Beyond,”” we’ll explore the latest strategies that are reshaping the industry. Get ready to master automation, harness the power of SMS marketing, and discover cutting-edge techniques that will put you ahead of the curve. This class isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s for those who are ready to embrace the future and take their business to new heights. We are going to be talking tech, relationships, and more. This course is for ALL TYPES of photographers. Whether you are a portrait photographer, wedding photographer, or boudoir photographer, we will give you a roadmap to success. If you’re serious about staying competitive and thriving in the fast-paced world of photography, this is the course for you!
Award-Winning Child Portraiture: Live Demonstration & Editing Masterclass
Speaker: Chris Fritchie (Website) (Social Media)
Join us for an exclusive live demonstration revealing the techniques behind our award-winning child portraits, celebrated for two consecutive years by the Texas Professional Photographers Association. This masterclass showcases our timeless, traditional methods that every photographer must know, from the initial shoot to the final edit. Elevate your craft with insights into creating stunning, professional-quality images that captivate and stand the test of time.
Bare Bones to Badass: The 2 Hour Challenge
Speaker: Bethany Ellen (Website) (Social Media)
Think you have what it takes to develop a full concept on the fly? Put your mind where your mouth is in this intense hands-on 2 hour challenge. Work in small groups with a few choice items of wardrobe, props, and materials. In the fastest two hours of your life, expect to create, shoot, edit, and showcase your artwork with a same day slideshow!
Bring your camera + editing equipment. You WILL be required to shoot AND edit as a part of this challenge!
BDSM – Boudoir Digital Social Marketing
Speaker: Ayla Quellhorst (Website) (Social Media)
We will start this class by looking at outfits and what the Q Team looks for in shots to make them safe to use for social media ads. We will look at several images from our marketing bank and explain what does and does not work. We will also evaluate if any changes can be made with cropping or graphic design to make the images pass. 48 hours prior to class students will find a dropbox link in the discussion board on the app where they can submit 5 images to be reviewed in class. You must be present in class for us to review them. We will explain why they would or would not pass the AI system meta uses to evaluate your images.
We will also be diving into all the tools our team uses to easily craft our ads including graphics and copy. We will look at what should be covered in your campaign emails and SMS marketing. We will walk you through creating an easy lead from ad in meta.
When you leave this class, you will have everything you need to capture marketing images, draft campaign assets, set up a campaign automation and hit the ground running with your own social media ad campaign!
Beauty & Boudoir Lighting Techniques // Hard Light, Soft Light, and Everything In Between
Speaker: Sal Cincotta (Website) (Social Media)
Want to grow your beauty/boudoir business? YOU must stand out. Your WORK must stand out. And in our industry, lighting will make an instant impact on your portfolio. In this class, Sal will demonstrate several lighting techniques to work with a multitude of clients and body types. You will leave this class inspired and armed with new lighting techniques and tips that you can put into practice immediately.
Behavioral Science For Photographers
Speaker: Ayla Quellhorst (Website) (Social Media)
The human brain is an amazing machine that guides our choices daily. In this class we will explore multiple behavioral science studies and how we can use the findings from these to make changes in our business.
Studies like one done by Steve Martin in 2012 at Columbia University who worked with the NHS in Britain to try to solve a no-show problem with medical appointments. They found that humans want to be consistent with their past self, but to tap into that people need to have some participation in it. So by having people write down their next medical appointment date and time on a piece of paper they were able to get an 18% drop in no-shows!
So how can photographers tap into this? The Q Team has adjusted their consultation calls to go over key points of the booking contract before the call ends. Specifically explaining the cancellation and re-scheduling fee. The client is responding that they understand, and it makes sense why they have those fees. By doing this the client is buying into those policies. In turn, the studio has seen a drop in the number of re-scheduled and canceled sessions. The clients who are rescheduling or canceling are paying the fees with less pushback.
Together we explore more studies and psychological biases to evaluate how we can take advantage of them to make small, simple changes in our photography businesses. These changes will help you win more clients and sell more. This isn’t rocket science. It’s brain science and easier to navigate than you think!
Beyond Shutter Drag | Next Level Creative Exposures In Camera
Speaker: Seth Miranda (Website) (Social Media)
This class is great for those looking to level up but also for those ready to expand beyond the basics of exposures and understand how different light sources effect our images. Learn how one press of the shutter can get you more than one type of exposure by using lighting of all types mixed together. More importantly learn WHY and HOW all these effects happen so you can apply them where and when you see fit. Go beyond just using slow shutter for gimmicks but how to apply it to optimize certain situations. Learn how to balance flash with constant lighting and even wild effects with random light sources you can find from a dollar store. This demo goes from practical techniques for multiple images, shutter drags, ghosting techniques and more to work with motion all the way to wild stylized flares, streaks and other things to make your images dynamic to jump out at the viewer. While these techniques are nothing new it’s important to understand how they actually work as a fundamental foundation for elevating your images.
Black and White Portraits are sooooo easy…
Speaker: Gary Hill (Website) (Social Media)
So, you take a portrait, looks great in colour but, you think – this will make a kick ass black and white! But does it really? Often the things that make a nice soft colour portrait are the ones that make it look dull and flat in monochrome. So, why not learn the aspects in the planning, lighting and shooting stage that mean that your portrait will look good in colour and totally ping in black and white. You will go away knowing what does in fact make a great mono portrait from background choice, styling and considerations before post production. Hands on for you to try.
Blogging 101 for Photographers
Speaker: Myrna Daramy (Website) (Social Media)
Back by Popular Demand!
Wonder if blogging is worth it or not for your photography business? With #AllTheThings that you have to manage when it comes to digital marketing (social media, google ads, SEO, reviews, etc.) I understand how tacking on one more time-consuming task can seem daunting.
In this session, we will discuss the importance of blogging and how it can impact your business. In addition, we will also review the making of a solid blog post that will change your blogging game and attract more clients.
Still wondering if this session is for you? Just read what an SF24 attendee had to say about it: ALL photographers need to know what Myrna’s teaching!
Bold & Colorful Lighting Crash Course
Speaker: Kelsey Freeman (Website) (Social Media)
Set yourself apart from the other local photographers in your area and WOW your clients with bold lighting, pops of color, and intentional lighting setups. This course will dive into the world of gel lighting, projectors, and multi-light setups.
Boring Location Tactics – Unlock the potential!
Speaker: Raph Nogal (Website) (Social Media)
Not shooting in a castle this week? No problem! I’ll show you tonnes of ways to tackle that boring room or location. We will be using flash, natural light, found objects, gimmicky gimmicks, and anything else we can get our hands on. Come along as we analyze and see the possibilities, and think outside the box to go from dull to exciting and bring life to your photos… so that you can come away feeling confident to tackle any location!
Specialty: Boudoir, Emotive Portraits, Post Production, Social Media, Marketing, Email Marketing, Digital Products
Boudoir : Mastering posing through Body Language
Speaker: Jasmin Jade (Website) (Social Media)
Come on a transformative journey into flow posing with boudoir photographer Jasmin Jade. With over a decade of experience capturing women through her lens, Jasmin’s techniques infuse photographs with emotion, authenticity, and dynamic movement. This class is designed for both novice and seasoned photographers, offering an opportunity to refine skills and develop a unique style.
Course Highlights:
The 7-Step Posing System: Master the art of seamlessly transitioning between poses, eliminating awkward moments. Learn how to generate fresh pose ideas and enter a creative flow, guided by your clients’ body language.
Harnessing Body Language in Posing: Utilize your subjects’ natural body language to create images full of authentic resonance.
Crafting a Narrative: Discover how to infuse emotion and movement into your photos, capturing genuine expressions and natural story telling poses, even from reserved clients. Unlock powerful posing techniques to boost your clients’ confidence and reveal their true selves.
Target Audience:
This course is geared to photographers from intermediate to advanced aiming to refine and expand their approach.
Boudoir on a Budget: Creative Hacks for Stunning Shots without Breaking the Bank
Speaker: Margo Franklyn (Website) (Social Media)
Who says you need fancy equipment to capture breathtaking boudoir shots? In this session, we will demonstrate budget-friendly tips, tricks, and DIY hacks for achieving professional-quality results on a shoestring budget.