Classes

Personal brand photography is a fast-growing niche, and you need to stand out from the crowd. The typical “type on your computer and smile at me” pose is a solid shot, but let’s be real, it’s not stopping anyone’s scroll. And confetti for celebration photos? Predictable. Boring. Overdone.

Your clients know they need to grab attention quickly and you’re going to be the expert who gets them there! It’s time to learn how you can spice things up for your clients and create WOW worthy photos to add to your portfolio. Each station in this class will focus on taking the basic branding photos/poses/props and ramping up the creativity.

I highly recommend using a 35 mm and/or 50 mm, anything else is a bonus. Come ready to get those creative juices flowing!
*This class is ideal for attendees who are comfortable changing their camera settings quickly and giving models direction.

Senior Model/Influencer Teams can be one of the most lucrative things you can do to help promote your Senior Portrait Studio. We are starting to see long running studios no longer running model teams because “they don’t work anymore”. Two years ago we had a rough season with few applications and a lack of interest from that team, but in 2025 we had 36 applications and new found zeal from our team due to the changes we made.

What worked for Millennials will not work for Gen Z, but before you know it Gen Alpha is right on their heels. Generations are changing faster than EVER and if you don’t keep up with what resonates with these newer faster generations you will get left in the dust! BUT, if you’re just getting started with seniors these generations are becoming the great equalizer between long running studios and new photographers. We are going to show you what has been working and what as NOT been working with our Influencer Team and what changes we are making for NEXT year to get us ready to have our most successful team yet.

We all love taking pretty pictures, but what’s your endgame? How do you plan on retiring? At 55 years old, I do not want to roll around in the streets for 12+ hours shooting weddings into my 60s. Will I ever be able to retire? What does that look like? How much do I need to survive? What about benefits? Can I create income streams that don’t require my full time labor?

Salvatore Cincotta, as a brand, has built and sold businesses in the 7 figures. We have built multiple revenue streams that continue to generate revenue. Nothing has been by chance. It’s all part of a plan. There are a lot of ways to make money and build wealth beyond being a guy/gal with a camera.

What’s your plan? Let’s build one together.

“Can you make it look light and airy but moody… but also timeless? Oh, and kind of vintage? But modern? And make it all super blurry!”

Sound familiar? In this fun but brutally honest class, Bethany tackles the confusing world of client requests and teaches you what they really mean when they use buzzwords like “timeless,” “editorial,” or “vintage vibes.”

We’ll break down how to ask better questions, how to read between the lines (or pins), and how to deliver a product your client loves without betraying your creative identity. You’ll also learn how to talk clients off the “TikTok trend cliff” and redirect their energy into something that actually works for them and for your brand.

By the end of this class, attendees will be able to:
-Translate client buzzwords into actionable creative direction
-Gently redirect unrealistic or trendy requests without making clients feel shut down
-Build a “style boundary” that helps attract aligned clients (and repel chaos)
-Handle conflicting client feedback with humor, clarity, and confidence
-Create sessions that feel “timeless” without becoming beige or boring

Whether you’re tired of sepia-tinted confusion or just need stronger scripts for creative control, this class is your permission slip to stop chasing every trend and start building work that actually lasts.

Your portfolio should tell the story of more than just your technical skill, it should show the range of people you can confidently and beautifully photograph. In this hands-on class, you’ll learn how to expand your portfolio with portraits that reflect diversity and inclusion in a genuine, impactful way.

Together, we’ll explore how to collaborate with subjects from different backgrounds, how to style and direct in ways that honor individuality, and how to build trust so your images feel authentic rather than staged. You’ll have the opportunity to shoot live during the session, walking away with fresh portfolio pieces that showcase your versatility.

By the end, you’ll not only have new images to strengthen your portfolio, but also the tools and some experience to continue creating portraits that celebrate every face and every story.

Ever have kids running around your studio not wanting to sit for a photo? We’ve all been there! Turn your studio sessions into an interactive experience that your clients will talk about for years to come. This hands on class will show you how to use printed backdrops and a few simple props to design interactive sets that kids enjoy and will actually want to get their photos taken on. These themed activity sessions will capture authentic images which will result in higher sales for you! This class will be packed with tips and tricks for working with kids of all ages as well as resources for building up your studio collection.

Do you feel like you’re just not creative enough to plan a great styled shoot? Do you have a dream shoot but you struggle to bring it to life? Or maybe you feel like you’re too creative and you have trouble not throwing everything into the photo? Harness your ADHD chaos brain and your passions for good. In this class you’ll learn to:

-come up with an easy central theme
-expand on your ideas
-throw out what doesn’t work
-use that plan to build your sets and pick your gear

Let’s be real, regardless of how incredible your work is, once potential clients click on you, they need to click with you. In this class, we’re diving into the often-overlooked (but wildly powerful) soft skills that help turn inquiries into bookings, clients into fans, and fans into walking billboards for your business.

But we’re not stopping with clients. I’ll show you how to leave a lasting impression on vendors, venue staff, and even your clients’ family and friends—because that’s where the referral goldmine really is. From first consult to final gallery delivery (and everything in between), we’ll talk about how to communicate with warmth and confidence, how to make people feel seen, and how to turn natural conversations into lasting professional relationships.

Whether you’re naturally charming or feel awkward talking to strangers, you’ll leave with practical tips you can use at your next wedding, shoot, networking event, or literally anywhere you meet people. And the best part? You can start practicing everything you learn right away, with the people sitting next to you at ShutterFest!

Step into class where you’ll photograph cinematic looks in real time. In this hands-on lighting lab, you’ll rotate through four unique setups—from moody constant light to bold colors. You will learn how to layer light, control shadows, and create drama straight out of camera.

This is a hands-on class—bring a camera and a lens with a wide aperture (f/1.2–f/2.8 recommended) so you can shoot each setup yourself. You’ll leave with:

• The exact lighting recipes for 4 cinematic looks.
• Tips for working fast and keeping seniors engaged.
• A set of killer portfolio images to showcase your new skills
• Confidence to recreate these looks in your own sessions

Whether you’re brand new to off-camera lighting or already experimenting with drama and color, you’ll walk away with portfolio shots that will impress Gen Z seniors and the confidence to recreate them with your own clients.

Grab those gels and let’s get our color on! Using gels and colors is a great way to not only separate you from the rest of the photographers in your area, but you’ll also use them to enhance the senior experience and give those seniors (and their parents) photos with that WOW factor that will get those kids super hyped and increase your sales as well. We’ll discus color theory and which colors complement each other as well as the environment. I’ll show you how to use multiple gels to showcase your client’s high school colors. You’ll learn how to quickly change colors for a smooth transition into different set ups. You’ll also learn how to use multiple gels and lights to create cool prism effects and super saturated looks as well as cool backlighting and silhouettes. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll see how easy it is to work color into all different aspects of your photography.

Come ready to learn how to create art that fuels your creative passion with non-traditional photos. This will be a demonstration of pushing your creativity to create edgy sexy portraits using colored lights, smoke, shutter drag, rear curtain flash, and much more. Alain will lead you through several different scenarios to achieve in-camera stunning portraits mixing the use of things available to all. We’ll start with a vision and we’ll create it LIVE!

In today’s market, brands don’t just need photos—they need full content packages. From lifestyle branding campaigns to product imagery and cinematic promos, modern photographers must be able to deliver both stills and motion seamlessly.

This advanced-level, hands-on class will teach you how to assess a company’s media needs and capture it all in one efficient shoot. We’ll move fast, working through branding portraits, lifestyle imagery, product photography, and short-form promotional video to show you how to create a complete content library for small to medium-sized businesses.

What you’ll learn:
How to evaluate and plan for a brand’s content needs
Streamlined workflows for hybrid photo + video production
Lighting with continuous sources (no triggers required)
Lens selection strategies for portraits, products, and lifestyle coverage
How to deliver stills and a polished commercial promo from one shoot

Class format: This session will begin with a live demonstration, then transition into hands-on shooting. Together, we’ll capture both a real product and real subjects—giving you practical experience you can immediately apply to your own client work.

What to bring:
Camera body
Mid-zoom & portrait lens (macro optional)

Skill Level:
Advanced — attendees must have a strong grasp of the exposure triangle, lens choice, and lighting fundamentals, and be able to make in-camera adjustments and setting changes quickly on the fly.

By the end of this class, you’ll know how to confidently capture and deliver the versatile media today’s brands demand—positioning yourself as a one-stop creative partner for commercial clients.

Learn how to turn ordinary photos into powerful images through the art of composition. In this class, you’ll explore essential techniques that help your eyes to create more balanced, dynamic, and emotionally engaging photos.

We’ll cover key principles like the Rule of Thirds, leading lines, framing, symmetry, negative space, and visual balance, along with tips for breaking the rules creatively. You’ll also learn how light, color, and perspective play a role in composition and how to use them to tell stronger visual stories.

Whether you shoot with a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or phone, this course will give you practical tools to improve your photography right away.

How often do we have an idea in our heads we cannot put into practice. In this session I will show I utilise AI and other resources to plan a shot, source the right props and styling then execute it with great light and posing and then turn that into a finished masterpiece similar to what has won multiple awards.

The best wedding stories aren’t told through poses or checklists—they’re told through trust. My approach to photography begins long before the wedding day, with moments along the journey that help couples feel comfortable, understood, and truly seen. Each connection becomes a chance to learn who they are and what matters most. In this class, we’ll explore how building genuine connection allows you to step into the wedding day not just as a photographer, but as a trusted storyteller who can capture images that feel real, intimate, and deeply meaningful.

Expectations:
You’ll leave with a new perspective on storytelling in wedding photography, and inspiration for creating work that goes deeper than simply documenting an event.

Picture this: you’re meeting with a new potential corporate client, you’ve pitched your pitch, and now you slide your proposal across the table. The client flips through it, nods, and finally looks up. “When can you start?” That moment doesn’t happen by luck. It happens because you know how to pitch, how to listen, and how to deliver. This class will show you how to get there.

Corporate work isn’t just about sharp photos or slick videos. It’s about knowing how businesses think, solving their problems, and showing them that you can bring real value. In this class you’ll walk through the entire journey, from the first consultation with a client to delivering work that makes them want to hire you again.

You’ll see how to write proposals that actually stand out, bid with confidence, and pick up on what clients are really asking for. You’ll learn how to shape a portfolio that speaks their language and how to use marketing that keeps you on top of mind. Then we’ll get into project management: consultations that uncover what really matters, timelines that keep everyone on track, and communication that leaves clients impressed with how easy you made the process.

We’ll also talk about money. You’ll learn simple pricing strategies, negotiation tactics that keep you in control, and invoicing habits that keep the cash flowing. By the end, you’ll know how to step into that boardroom, own the meeting, and walk out with the job!

In this course I’ll be teaching hands-on techniques on how to step into any space indoor or outside analyze the existing light and quickly determine the best way to create stunning portraits. I’ll be teaching attendees how to blend flash and natural light to help elevate their photos.

This class dives into styling, posing, and lighting techniques that transform maternity sessions into high-fashion experiences. Learn how to work with clients to craft confident, elegant looks and use lighting to sculpt the body in flattering, artistic ways. Whether in studio or on location, you’ll gain the tools to create bold, timeless images.

Want to take your studio portraits from predictable to creative? This hands-on class dives deep into one of my favorite tools: the optical spotlight.

Whether you’re shooting editorial fashion, beauty, or client sessions, I’ll show you how to harness gobos and lenses to craft stylized lighting.

What you’ll learn:
– How an optical spot works
– Using gobos and blades to sculpt light and shadows
– Combining hard edges with soft light for unique contrast
– Posing and composition tips to amplify the effect

You’ll walk away with bold portraits for your portfolio and the confidence to experiment with light.

Make the send-off the shot everyone remembers. On this hands-on photowalk, we’ll stage multiple exit scenarios and I’ll show you exactly how to plan, prep, and direct a flawless finale. Easy lighting techniques, 1 & 2 light setups, and repeatable direction you can use at your very next wedding.

You’ll learn:
* A simple exit game plan: timeline script, who to brief, and when
* How to cue DJs/planners, line up guests, and create clean lanes fast
* How to work with videographers
* Sparkler alternatives for no-sparkler venues: glow wands, LED balloons, ribbon wands, bubbles, petals, eco-confetti, and more
* How to spot and use available light and backgrounds to keep it crisp and safe

Bring: your camera and comfy shoes. We’ll move, practice, and have you exit-ready in one session.

Tired of over-posing, fake laughs, and “okay now look down and giggle” sessions? Yeah, me too.

This class is for boudoir photographers who want their work to stop looking like everyone else’s. We’re cutting the bullshit — the robotic posing, the forced sexy face, the Pinterest energy — and learning how to actually make images that hit hard and feel real.

I’ll walk you through how I shoot with intention, how I read people, how I use light to support the vibe (not overpower it), and how I guide clients in a way that keeps them feeling like a badass — not a prop in lingerie.

We’ll talk:
Smart, story-driven lighting setups (minimal gear, maximum vibe)
What posing actually looks like when it’s rooted in trust, not control
Building real connection without overstepping or sounding like a life coach
Turning awkward energy into powerful, unforgettable images

If you’re happy playing it safe, this ain’t your class. But if you’re ready to create boudoir that actually means something — that empowers, reflects, and resonates — then let’s make it lit.

Photographing dancers isn’t just about catching the leap-it’s about timing, language, and trust. In this class, you’ll see a live tethered photo session with a real dancer. We’ll walk through names of common dance poses, review real image examples (the good and the not-so-good), and talk openly about what makes an image successful, not just technically but emotionally. The dancer and her mom will share their thoughts on posing, wardrobe, and how to keep sessions appropriate and encouraging for young performers. This is a practical class for anyone photographing teen dancers, with an emphasis on skill, respect, and age-appropriate photo results.

The light hits your subject’s face. You make a small change, and instantly their look goes from flat to dynamic. You don’t need to guess or wait to check your screen later – you see it happen right in front of you. That’s what working with LEDs gives you.

Flash has always been the standard, but it slows you down. LEDs give you freedom. In this hands-on class, you’ll see how continuous light lets you create portraits that feel alive. Together we’ll experiment with bare LEDs and modifiers, building everything from clean, natural setups to dramatic, high-impact looks.

You’ll be shooting the entire time, and since we’re using LEDs, we won’t need to wait for triggers or flashes to recharge. We’ll go through different setups, and work in small groups to shoot our models.

By the time we wrap, you won’t just understand LEDs – you’ll know how to use them with confidence. You’ll walk away with some great portfolio pieces and a new way of thinking about light!

Are you fascinated by the art of visual storytelling? Do you dream of creating compelling images that captivate audiences on the big screen? If so, becoming a Director of Photography (DP) might be the perfect path for you.

In this class, we will immerse ourselves into the exciting world of cinematography, exploring all the essential aspects that go into becoming a successful DP. Through a combination of engaging lectures and live demonstrations, we’ll cover the following key topics:

– Understanding the Role of a Director of Photography
– Essential Skill Sets
– Tools of the Trade
– Team Building and Leadership

This class will be a blend of lecture-based learning and practical demonstrations. You will have the opportunity to see first-hand how a DP operates on set, providing a comprehensive understanding of the role and its challenges.

Join us to explore the fascinating world of cinematography and embark on your journey to becoming a Director of Photography. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, simply curious about the magic behind the movies or the money making posibilites, this class will provide you with invaluable insights and knowledge.

If you’re a beginner photographer or a natural light shooter looking to add some serious firepower to your creative toolkit, this class is made for you. Off-camera flash can feel intimidating but trust us, once you crack the code, it opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities.

This isn’t your usual dry tutorial. Expect a hands-on, energetic session full of trial, error, and plenty of light-bulb moments (and maybe a little friendly chaos). We’ll get your flash firing and guide you through the essentials: setting up your gear, controlling your light, and adding depth and dimension that natural light alone just can’t achieve.

Worried about your equipment? We’ve got you covered with a pre-class boot camp the day before, where we’ll help you get everything set up, tested, and ready to go — so you show up confident and prepared. You’ll need to bring your camera, a flash capable of firing off your camera and trigger.

If you’re ready to shake things up, experiment, and add a powerful new skill to your photography arsenal, come join the fun and light it up with us!

How the new revolution of AI can affect our business. Pros and cons. Start from the basics and unwrap all the elements to be successful.

Double exposure is more than a technique, it’s a mindset. By combining two frames into one, we challenge the idea of photography as a single truth and open the door to layered storytelling. This approach embodies breaking the rules: merging light, shapes, and emotions in ways that transcend reality. Double Exposure is about seeing beyond what’s in front of you, blending imagination with technique to create powerful and poetic compositions.

Mandy Wright and Esteban Gil will walk you through their unique approaches to the wedding day, showing how they complement each other to deliver seamless coverage from getting ready until send off! You’ll gain insights into how they tackle the wedding day from start to finish, collaborating effectively while maintaining their individual artistic styles. Whether you’re focused on technical excellence or building a visual narrative, this class will equip you with the tools to enhance both. This workshop is perfect for photographers looking to elevate their wedding photography, refine their team dynamics, and deliver captivating imagery that tells the full story of the day.

This class is all about bad locations and how to overcome them. In real life situations, like a wedding, we may not get to choose the most ideal situation to photograph in. We need to be prepared to create in any environment, in any lighting condition and at any time of day. We don’t always get blessed with flower fields, cool architecture, golden hour and other “perfect” photography scenarios, but our clients still expect amazing results. So what can we do?

This class is all about taking the “bad” and turning it into AMAZING. Curtiss will take you to a location around Union Station that you wouldn’t choose to photograph normally (dumpsters anyone?) and show you how he sees a scene and walk you through his vision to create images in that location. He will demo various lighting setups, various poses and so on to show you different looks that can be created in those locations to create images that clients would LOVE. Then you will be broken into small groups to photograph the models with the concepts that he taught you. Curtiss will work through the different groups to make sure each attendee is grasping the concepts and would be able to replicate it on their own when they get home. You will get to work with a few different models and a few different looks. At the end of the class, Curtiss will do a speed posting tutorial and show you 50+ poses you can do with your clients in a single location to provide different looks without moving to a new location. This class is all about seeing the world in a different manner and being able to create ANYWHERE at ANYTIME regardless of the circumstances we face.

So make sure you bring your camera and lenses and get ready to create. You would ideally want a lens in the 70-200mm range as well as a lens in the 15-24mm range. To keep the chaos down and keep things organized, lighting will be provided along with triggers for Sony, Nikon and Canon to share amongst the class.

In this demonstration, I’ll show you how to transform ordinary gym or athletic environments into dramatic, magazine-worthy scenes by adding light. From a single light source to complex setups with up to five lights, you’ll learn how to masterfully use lighting to create dynamic images that captivate. I’ll also demonstrate how small changes in poses, angles and light placement can deliver a wide variety of images, keeping your sessions fresh and exciting for clients while maximizing creativity and efficiency that helps you, as the photographer, run through multiple set ups that deliver sellable images to your seniors and their families. Let’s break down the fear of multi-light setups and embrace the power of lighting to tell a story that reflects strength, determination, and individuality.

Equipment needed for this session would be something to take notes on or record and an open mind for what’s possible with extensive light set ups.