Classes

Throwing light on a subject isn’t enough. If you want portraits with depth, mood, and impact, you’ve got to know how to shape it.

Thanks to today’s constant lights, it’s easier than ever to create professional, dramatic results without the guesswork.

In this live demo, I’ll take you behind the scenes as I build portraits one light at a time. You’ll see how each step changes the look, feel, and emotion of the image and how to use light intentionally instead of accidentally.

We’ll start simple with one light and build layer by layer, shaping mood and look with every adjustment. This isn’t about playing safe, it’s is about bold choices that will level up your lighting and create work that commands attention. Time to get to work!

Who says you need a full set of lights to create powerful, dramatic portraits? One Light is all that you need, you’ll learn how to master portrait photography using just one light — and still produce striking, high-impact images and fine art portraits.

This course is designed for photographers who want to unlock the full creative potential of a single light source .

You’ll discover how to shape light for mood, drama, and emotion using shadows, angles, and the power of just one light.

We’ll dive into techniques like posing, composing and light direction in order to create badass portraits and how to control contrast, background separation, and skin tones with precision.

You’ll walk away knowing how to set up fast, shoot smart, and create portraits that truly stand out — with just one light and a bit of vision.

Who wrote the book on sexy? What determines sexy? Sexy isn’t a checklist. Sexy is in the eye of the beholder and your client. Let me show how I use 1 light to BRING OUT THE SEXY in my clients. Simple and yet evoking. The kind of light that reveals just enough. Your image should make you want to light the dark spaces with your mind. This is a minimal approach with a maximum outcome. There is no right or wrong – It’s about the beauty your client feels and the connection you make with your light. I will walk you through my setup and my thought process—how I see, how I decide, and how I create. All with one light.

Bring your gear, this is a hands-on class that I will walk everyone through.
Lens range suggestion 24-70m.
All are welcome. Please have knowledge of how to operate your camera. This is not a technical class.

New to newborn photography? This is where the magic begins! In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to wrap safely and beautifully step by step. Every attendee gets practice time with a posing doll so you can master those snug and cozy wraps. Then, we’ll dive into posing in props, creating timeless images parents will treasure. If you’ve ever felt nervous about handling newborns or want to take your wrapping to the next level, this class will leave you confident, inspired, and ready to wow your clients.

*Attendees will be provided with practice wraps and posing dolls to learn wrapping techniques. Please bring a 35mm or 50mm lens. We will be using Westcott lights and triggers.

When timelines melt, you still need variety that books. In this photowalk, Michelle builds eight distinct wedding portraits in two minutes using one lens, a portable light, and a few pocket sized creative tools. See how to direct with confidence, pivot compositions in seconds, and flip from clean daylight to dramatic night looks without breaking the flow.

You will learn:
• A repeatable two minute posing and direction flow for any couple
• Rapid composition pivots and micro location scouting to multiply variety
• Smart lighting moves for smooth day to night transitions
• Creative accents using small tools for reflections, sparkle, and motion
• Timeline control and communication that keeps the team moving

Bring:
Your camera and favorite zoom or prime lens.

Photography is your passion – but that paycheck still comes from your 9-5. That’s not a weakness; it’s your leverage point. This session is for photographers who want real profit and sustainable growth right now – without quitting their job, burning out, or compromising their artistic vision.

Forget the “quit your job tomorrow” fantasy. This is about proven systems, practical templates, and a clear 90-day roadmap that actually works.

Seven years ago, I was exactly where you are – juggling a full-time job while moonlighting as a photographer for over a year. I made every mistake in the book because no one told me there was a better way. Now I’m sharing the exact blueprint that transformed my side hustle into a thriving premium brand.

What you’ll walk away with:
– Time-blocking mastery: A proven weekly schedule framework that protects your energy while maximizing creative output
– 90-day profit acceleration plan: Step-by-step roadmap to double your photography revenue without sacrificing your day job stability
– Automation essentials: Streamlined systems for inquiry-to-delivery that run seamlessly while you’re in meetings or commuting

This session will tackle the real challenges head-on and give you tools that start working immediately. No fluff, no theory – just battle-tested strategies from someone who’s been in your shoes.

If you’re here reading this, you’re not ordinary. You’re ready to rise up and build something extraordinary – one strategic plan, one focused week, one decisive win at a time.

Photographers face the unique challenge of perfecting their craft and effectively marketing their work to stand out in a saturated market. I want to empower photographers with marketing strategies that will help them thrive in this industry.
3 biggest takeaways:
–  Marketing goes beyond social media
– Some marketing tactics like model calls and collabs can be very profitable
– Implementing your marketing efforts can be fun yet effective and impactful

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.

Becoming a full time content creator can take many years of trial and error. I know because I went through it myself! In this unique class, you’ll learn the secrets that I’ve picked up from being a content creator for over 25 years. This is a one time opportunity as I will never share this information at a conference ever again!

Step into the future of business with a program built to make AI work for you. This isn’t theory it’s hands on, practical training that shows you exactly how to integrate AI into your day to day operations.

You’ll master prompting techniques to get the best possible results from AI models and build custom GPTs tailored to your unique challenges. We’ll walk through powerful tools from task automation software that saves hours, to photo creation for marketing, to voice cloning for personalized customer experiences.

Designed for entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers, this program requires zero prior AI experience just an open mind and a drive to innovate.
Walk away ready to transform your business with AI solutions that actually make a difference.

ChatGPT can’t market your business if it doesn’t understand your clients or your voice. In this session, you’ll set up an AI project that does, so it can help you create marketing that actually works.

We’ll start by building a custom client persona and brand voice file for ChatGPT or Claude. Then you’ll put them to work, creating real assets for your business: a lead magnet, a short email series, and a content engine you can keep using for months.

You’ll learn how to research strategic topics to uncover what your audience is thinking, map those ideas across your customer journey, and turn them into blogs, social media posts, and emails that connect.

You’ll leave with marketing content you can put to use right away, a prompt library tailored to your brand, and a repeatable process you can run whenever you need fresh ideas.

Bring your laptop so you can build alongside us and leave with work you can use immediately.

In this hands-on workshop, photographers and creatives will learn how to integrate AI into their photography and design workflow without losing their personal vision. We’ll cover how to build strong AI prompts, generate unique concepts, and merge them with real photography for editorial, branding, and client projects. Attendees will walk away with the skills to create compelling AI-assisted images, refine their storytelling, and elevate their business with next-level visuals.

Bring your laptop or tablet for live practice, no prior AI experience required, just a creative eye and willingness to experiment.

Are You an Artist? Or is it Just a Fkng Job?

What does that even mean?

Somewhere along the way, this thing we love—this thing we poured our heart into—started to feel like… a job. Like something we have to do instead of something we GET to do.

Does that ever feel like you?

A lot of photographers start out passionate and driven. But over time, the spark fades. You start to wonder: Am I actually happy if this is just about making money?

Or is it more important to create the work you want, and work with the people you want?

In this class, I’m going to share how—after 30 years and over 1,200 weddings—I still absolutely love documenting weddings. And more than anything, it’s the relationships I build with my couples that keep me going. That’s where the magic happens.

Step into the frame and unlock a new layer of creativity. If the thought of being both photographer and model makes you want to back out, you’re in the right place… this is where growth (and magic) happens!

In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to execute self-portraits that help place you in your clients’ position and also provide a creative release. You will be guided through practical techniques for camera setup, lighting, styling, and posing, then show you how to infuse those portraits with personal storytelling and creative flair.

This is your chance to practice live during the session, experiment with different approaches and leave with images that are both portfolio-worthy and deeply personal. Whether you want to refine your skills, spark new inspiration, or simply see yourself through your own lens, this is the opportunity to gain and practice the tools and guidance to create self-portraits that truly resonate.

Step beyond the basics and discover the magic of freezing motion, controlling ambient light, and creating dramatic portraits—all with High-Speed Sync (HSS). This beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop builds on the approachable teaching style of From Fear to Flash, guiding you through the fundamentals of HSS and its powerful creative possibilities.

After a short group demonstration, you’ll rotate through multiple shooting stations with a variety of models, practicing techniques like balancing bright daylight with flash, isolating your subject with shallow depth of field, and shaping light for bold, cinematic portraits. You’ll gain the confidence to not only use HSS in challenging lighting but to wield it as a creative tool for storytelling and style.

By the end of this session, you’ll leave with new skills, images for your portfolio, and the inspiration to push your photography beyond the ordinary.

BEGINNERS: THIS IS THE CLASS FOR YOU! In this Lecture, I will be covering the basics of photography composition to help you look for certain elements that contribute to a strong image, as well as the Exposure Triangle and how that plays into your camera settings. I will be setting aside plenty of time for questions and open discussion. My goal is for you to leave this class with a newfound confidence to go out and create something beautiful!

In this course attendees will learn how to properly balance ambient lighting with off camera flash in order to take advantage of environmental portraits on-location. Often times photographers don’t know how to correctly expose for their ambient lighting as well as understand the focus of their portrait whether it be highlighting the scenery in the background or capturing fast moving subjects. The goal is for every attendee to leave this class understanding the focus of their portrait which will influence the camera settings in order to properly expose their ambient lighting with off camera flash. Attendees will need a camera and off camera flash light for this class.

You don’t need a truckload of gear to create jaw-dropping wedding images. In this live demo, Gary + Kim will walk you through how to use one or two off-camera flashes to craft dynamic, dramatic portraits during every stage of a wedding day. From getting-ready rooms to couples portraits, ceremonies to receptions, and even night portraits, you’ll see exactly how one (or two) lights can elevate your storytelling while keeping you fast, efficient, and flexible. We’ll cover quick and portable modifiers, flash placements, and camera settings in real-time so you can see the “before” and “after” come alive on screen. This session is designed to prove that simplicity can still deliver epic, scroll-stopping imagery.

Ready to stop guessing and start making data-driven decisions in your photography business? In this hands-on lecture, we’ll dig into the Google Sheets systems that keep my business organized, profitable, and growing year after year. I’ll walk you through three spreadsheets I use daily:

1. Session Tracking: See at a glance how many sessions you’ve booked, what they’ve brought in, and your average sale.
2. Marketing Tracking: Measure the success of every promotion by tracking leads, calls, ad spend, and results.
3. Strategic Planning: Build your annual growth roadmap with clear, actionable goals.

You’ll get access to my spreadsheet templates and start creating your own tracking system right in class. This is a working lecture—bring your laptop and have Google Sheets ready to go. If you’re serious about building a business that runs on facts, not feelings, this is where it starts.

You’ve heard the horror stories—clients ghosting after the shoot, copyright battles over images, chargebacks months after a wedding. But what if you could avoid those legal disasters before they ever hit your inbox?

In this session, attorney and former photographer Paige Griffith of The Legal Paige breaks down the most common legal mistakes photographers make when running their business and how to proactively fix them. From weak contracts and vague cancellation policies to missing copyright clauses and unclear second shooter agreements, you’ll learn how to tighten your legal foundation with confidence.

And we won’t just talk about contracts. We’ll look at a few real ones together on stage so you can see exactly what needs to change, how to draft your clauses better, and how to protect yourself while still creating a positive client experience.

Actionable Takeaways:
– Learn the top 5 legal red flags photographers miss in their contracts
– Understand how to reword your most important contract clauses for clarity and protection
– Get real-time legal insight as we workshop sample contracts live
– Walk away with an immediate checklist to review and revise your own agreements

This isn’t just a legal lecture, it’s a behind-the-scenes legal audit that will change the way you run your photography business!

Take your studio lighting from good to unforgettable. In this advanced, hands-on class, we will break down complex lighting setups and show you how to use them with purpose to create portraits that truly connect. You will learn how to control every aspect of light, from subtle feathering to intentional shadow placement, so your images have depth, dimension, and drama. We will explore multi-light setups, creative modifier choices, and techniques for sculpting your subject in a way that elevates your final image. Whether you are aiming for a bold, fashion-inspired look or a refined fine art style, you will leave with the knowledge and confidence to build impactful portraits that stand out in any portfolio.

When I first started my photography business, I didn’t have the budget for high-end lights or a full studio. What I did have was a budget strobe, an umbrella, and a reflector, and a love for photography and making people look their best. With those simple tools, I built a headshot portfolio that attracted business professionals and actors—and it became the foundation of my career.

In this hands-on class, I’ll show you how to do the same. You’ll learn how to create professional-quality headshots with minimal gear, photograph real models, and walk away with portfolio-ready images. We’ll also cover the people side of headshots—because sometimes you’ll have just five minutes with a busy executive, while other times you’ll spend an hour with an actor.

To make this training real, you’ll be timed while photographing models, practicing how to work under pressure, connect quickly, and still deliver a great image. This also ensures every participant leaves with amazing shots for their own portfolio.

By the end, you’ll know how to:
Light and shoot professional business and actor headshots with one strobe, an umbrella, and a reflector.
Pose and direct clients for natural, confident expressions.
Adjust your approach when you have five minutes with a corporate client vs. an hour with an actor.
Connect with clients quickly so you get the best image possible, every time.
Set up fast, work efficiently, and deliver results that clients will pay for—without expensive gear.

What to Bring:
Camera & lens (85mm prime or longer — ideally a 70–200mm)
Trigger for strobes (if you have one)
Notebook for lighting setups & posing notes
This class is designed for beginners to headshot photography who want to start booking clients in the business or acting world. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have the gear to compete,” this class will prove that you do.

Black & White portraits straight from your camera—portraits that feel sexy, moody, and full of emotion

This class is all about tapping into that timeless, freeing vibe that only black & white can give you. When you strip away color, you strip away distractions. What’s left? Mood. A story. A feeling.

I want you to let the shadows, the highlights, the contrast—speak to you. I want you to create based on what you feel in the moment, not what a book tells you to do.

You’ll learn how to capture black & white portraits in-camera, no computer conversions needed. Just you, your eye, your subject, and the power of light and shadow.

Bring your gear, this is a hands-on class that I will walk everyone through.
Lens range suggestion 24-70m, 70-200m.

All are welcome. Please have knowledge of how to operate your camera. This is not a technical class.

Still wondering if blogging is worth your time? Spoiler alert: it is when you do it right. Back by popular demand and better than ever, this 2.0 version of an SF-favorite session will take a deeper dive into how to become a better blogger and blog like a pro. Blogging is one of the most overlooked tools in a photographer’s digital toolkit, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to improve your SEO, attract your dream clients, and build long-term visibility. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to:

– Generate blog topic ideas your clients are actually searching for
– Structure a post for maximum SEO impact
– Use AI tools (the right way!) to speed up your process without sounding robotic
– Build a realistic blogging schedule that works for your business
– Turn blog traffic into inquiries and bookings Whether you’ve never blogged before, or you’ve fallen off the content wagon, this session will give you the tools and confidence to finally blog with purpose and consistency.

Ever scroll past a photo and think, “Wait—how did they do that?” This is that class.

Join us for the most sought-out class in 2024 and 2025 . A hands-on lighting adventure, four killer setups: two bodyscapes and two gel-heavy boudoir scenes that bring drama, shape, and color in all the right ways.

We’ll dive into:
• Sculpting with light instead of just blasting it everywhere
• Posing that celebrates natural lines without feeling stiff or awkward
• Using gels with intention (not just tossing magenta around because it’s trendy)
• The exact gear and modifiers we use—no organ donation required
• Controlling your light instead of wrestling with it
• Creating images that feel powerful, soft, bold, and sensual—all in one frame

This isn’t a lecture—it’s creative chaos in the best way. You’ll rotate through each setup, shoot with models, and leave with portfolio-worthy shots that scream “I did that.”
If you’re ready to stop relying on luck and start creating magic on purpose—this is your moment.

Come ready to shoot. Come ready to slay.

In this class, I’m going to show you exactly how I use social media advertising to consistently book high-end photography clients. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, or even TikTok, I’ll walk you through the strategies that have helped me build a multi-six-figure brand using paid ads. We’ll dive into how I structure irresistible offers, write ad copy that connects, and build funnels that turn cold traffic into booked consultations. I’ll also share how I target my ideal clients, use video to build trust, and test campaigns for maximum results. If you’re ready to stop relying on referrals and start creating consistent leads through ads, this class will give you the roadmap I use every day.

Quit hiding in that Kindle, we’re creating images that are just as epic as the fantasy novels you escape to! You’ll explore how themes, settings, and characters from novels can guide wardrobe, set design, lighting, and posing. We’ll break down how to turn literary inspiration into shootable, sellable creative work that’s both visually stunning and deeply intentional.

By the end of this class, attendees will be able to:
-Translate literary themes and fantasy characters into styled session concepts
-Use storytelling as a creative planning tool for composition, posing, and styling
-Break out of traditional portraiture and explore high concept sets
-Take home an optional reading list + concept sketch worksheet for your next shoot

This class is perfect for photographers craving a bold creative challenge or anyone who wants to push past realism and design art that feels like it stepped off the page.

Heads up: Optional book club homework will be offered ahead of time. Come ready to dream BIG.

Do you feel like you’ve mastered using one light in OCF? Do you think your images still lack that special something? Let’s talk about when, where, and how you’d add a second light to enhance your images. We’ll explore multiple ways to add a second light that will make your work stand out even more! If you’ve been using OCF for a little while and are ready for the next step, don’t miss this class!

Do you feel like your brain doesn’t work like everyone else’s? Does it feel like others are able to focus and you are going in a million directions? Yep, me too! But honestly, that might be your biggest advantage. This class is for photographers who feel pulled in a million directions, struggle with structure, or just want a business that doesn’t feel like a mental load all the time. I have accepted the fact that I have ADHD and have studied (and tried out) many systems to manage time, organize client flows, and build habits that stick (without relying on remembering to do it). This class will introduce you to simple, repeatable steps for booking, prep, and delivery with flexible time management tools without strict schedules. And you’ll leave with an action plan that helps you work with your brain (not against it) and actually enjoy the business you’re building.

Photography is often introduced through a set of rules, the rule of thirds, symmetry, leading lines. But true artistry emerges when we know these principles so well that we can break them with purpose. Breaking the Rules is about embracing freedom: the ability to adapt, improvise, and push beyond convention to craft images that are powerful, unexpected, and unforgettable in any situation.