Classes

The day of your shoot arrives and the skies have turned dark and cloudy. Someone really wants to book a shoot with you, but you can’t make it during daylight hours. If these types of situations would bring you to a dead stop, then this class is for you. This class is aimed at beginners. We will simplify and demystify the tools and process for using off-camera flash. We’ll cover the basics of lighting modifiers and go over some simple setups to get you started. We’ll also talk about what to do if things aren’t looking like you want. After the discussion we’ll break into smaller groups to practice and build confidence shooting with off-camera flash. If you’ve been avoiding adding off-camera flash to your toolkit because it seemed too complex, or you just didn’t know where to start, we’ll get you up and running in no time so you can be your own light-bringer.

If you feel you’re the kind of photographer that’s in a rush all the time, STOP! Discover the art of achieving awe-inspiring results all in-camera with this transformative class. Learn to master lighting tools and techniques as well as strategic decision-making, reducing editing time and capturing shots that are fascinatingly shy of the ultimate, final masterpiece.

I love playing with fabric as much as I like playing with light. Let’s work towards adding some dramatic portraits to your portfolio by adding fabric to a fabulous dress or a scene. Draping and lighting the scene for drama and impact. Things you can share with your clients for that added affect.

So, we got the headshots. We’re going to deliver one to the client, same day! Watch a step-by-step live demo of how I edit a clean, quality headshot with a realistic approach. Wow your client by providing a same day service, which will have them speaking highly of you and can potentially bring you more business. Live editing demo, Q&As, Bring your notepad or laptop. If you attend my Headshot Formula class, you can use photos from that session to edit your own headshots.

Attendees will learn:
A minimal editing process for realistic, clean and full of quality headshots
Lightroom & Photoshop tips and tricks for headshots

While your clients may not be agency represented, you can still give them a fashion photography experience. First, you’ll learn the fundamentals of fashion photography. Then, Jeff will guide you through the fundamentals of posing and lighting techniques for lighting fashion and commercial-style portraits in the studio.

Every time a bell rings a new senior photographer is born! (Feels like that sometimes, right?) How do you become the “Go-To” photographer in your schools? How do you become the photographer seniors and their parents are willing to travel to in order to have their senior portraits taken? 8 years into running our business we moved to a new state and went head first into the already over saturated Midwest senior market. We went from having 2 ambassadors who were just daughters of friends to this year having 36 applications submitted for our 10 slots as studio influencers in 5 years and built a unique style and high fashion experience that makes us the most sought-after senior portrait studio in our area.

Learn:

• How and where we find our ambassador/influencers
• How we photograph our seniors to stand out
• How we plan and style our sessions
• How we are able to offer wardrobe to our seniors
• How we edit our sessions to maximize sales and bring in new clients

Tired of clients arriving to their session looking like fashion victims? Do you feel like you could do more if your clients had the right accessories or styling? If you aren’t getting the results you want from your client images, it might be because you aren’t involved in the styling process BEFORE and DURING the shoot. In this class we’ll get you ready to be a ‘star stylist’ and cover all the details of building a style closet. Where to start? How, where, what to buy…and why? Insider tips that will save you money! What to look for and much more. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune but it will make a difference in your final images and wow your clients. My style closet actually books me clients! BONUS: It doesn’t matter if you can’t dress yourself (you know who you are) or don’t have a personal style that matches your clients. We’ll give you all the goods to elevate your client experience and your portfolio.

Join James and Apryl, seasoned professional photographers with over 6 years of experience in bodyscape photography. They will guide you through the techniques and tricks they have learned over the years, providing you with more options to showcase your clients’ bodies in ways they will love. Learn how to use light to carve and shape the human form into a work of art that will leave your clients breathless. No more boring portraits – bring on the drama and explore the hidden depths of the human body.

By taking this class, you will unlock a whole new world of creative possibilities and gain valuable insights that will set you apart from other photographers. Your clients will be impressed by your skills and will keep coming back for more sessions. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your photography to new dramatic heights!

Welcome to “Empowered Seduction,” an immersive boudoir photography class that invites you to explore the art of capturing sensual and sexy female portraits. Join us on a transformative journey where you will learn to unleash your creative potential and confidently capture empowering boudoir images.

In this class, we will dive into the world of boudoir photography, focusing on the essence of sensuality and empowerment. Through expert guidance and hands-on demonstrations, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to create stunning, evocative portraits that celebrate the beauty and confidence of your subjects.

Discover the art of posing and directing individuals to bring out their most alluring and authentic selves. Learn how to utilize lighting, composition, and styling techniques to create a seductive atmosphere and enhance the mood of your images. Explore different wardrobe choices, props, and settings that elevate the sensual appeal of your boudoir portraits.

Sometimes a photo falls flat. In this class we’ll show you how to take an ordinary photo and make it extraordinary. Mother of the groom wear white to the wedding? Got a backdrop that didn’t extend all the way to the edges of a photograph? Is the pose good in one image but the face is better in another? This class will explore advanced techniques to turn a moment from “oh sh*t” to “holy sh*t”. Let’s fix it in post!

Do you ever feel like you’re doing the same pose over and over again just in different scenes? Do you ask your couple to kiss when you feel stuck? We have all been in this situation but we don’t have to!

During this live demonstration we will learn the basics of body language, like posture, touch, use of space and facial expression and how it can make or break your images! We will learn how to prep your couple leading up to the shoot. How to direct the couple based on the environment we are in. We will use our energy and practice prompting the couple to evoke emotion and capture authentic expression. We will learn how and when to use motion to effectively tell a story.

Don’t have a studio or don’t like hauling around tons of gear? Great. This is the class for you. Learn how the fundamentals of lighting can help you take incredible photos by simply being observant and purposeful with your choices.

If you love to use tons of layers and edit your images in a meticulous, non-destructive way, this is not the class for you! When you need to get images retouched fast, there are plenty of ways to get it done while keeping your images intact and your subjects looking like actual human beings. Learn how to use Photoshop to polish your images to perfection in just a few minutes. Every attendee will even leave the class with a set of actions to help them get started. If you struggle with spending hours in Photoshop or you haven’t quite mastered the art of natural-looking retouching, don’t miss this course.

Deliver images faster and more efficiently with repeatable targeted results – ready to get in on the secret? Jen will demonstrate how she is using the right tool for the job to reduce her image delivery stresses to make for happier clients. She will also share her formula to creating a post-production workflow that works best for your business. Using your own “terminators” you can spend less time sitting in front of your computer and spending more time doing what you love most, taking pictures, creating content, and drinking mai tais on the beach.

Here is what you will walk away with:
1. Tactical steps to create targeted results for 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

Let’s be honest: you probably are frustrated with your website and know you must fix it but keep putting it off. You muddle through updates, but you’re never sure if your actions will make or break your website. However, that all will change with this class!

Your photography website needs three things to be successful: relevant content, speed, and a searchable index. I’m going to cover the following in-depth:
• The CONTENT of your website should be relevant to your photography brand and what you offer prospective clients.
• Make it easy for clients to CONTACT you and find your studio.
• The THEME your website runs should be modern and responsive.
• Leverage several layers of CACHE for the best performance and visit retention.
• Use powerful PLUGINS to optimize your website for search engines.

I will run this as a real-time hands-on class rather than a dull lecture. Please bring your laptop or tablet where you can access your WordPress dashboard, and follow my step-by-step guide. By the end of this class, you will have a robust, connected, and fast website ready to accept your brand-specific content.

Class note #1: This class is *only* for photographers with WordPress websites or those looking to set up a WordPress website. This doesn’t apply to ShowIt, SquareSpace, Zenfolio, ProPhoto, Wix, or other all-in-one website solutions.
Class note #2: If you’re going to set up a new WordPress website for your photography business, have the domain registered and the hosting installed *before* taking this class.

Being surrounded by photographers all using off camera flash can be intimidating right? This is especially true if you haven’t used it off camera flash before, are scared to try it or you tried it but didn’t get the results you wanted so you packed that flash back into your bag for it to gather dust.

If this describes you then our flash virgin class is built especially for you. It is a hands on class for those who are new to off camera flash and those who want to get a little better at it before going to some more advanced classes on offer at ShutterFest.

Building on the foundation we set with Flash Virgins 1.0 and 2.0. This Flash Virgins 3.0 class will recap what you need to start your off camera flash journey, we will go through my a step by step guide on how to dial in your settings to get the look you want before we build up a look using not 1, not 2 but 3 off camera lights. We’ll also tackle trying different types of modifiers. If you didn’t attend Flash Virgins before, it doesn’t matter, we’ll catch you up!

Once this has been demonstrated, then it’s over to you to dial in your settings and fire away before we come back together or a final re-cap and a Q&A session.

Think about this…

Out of all the clients you have ever photographed, how many of them have used any of their flatlay images as their social media profile images? How about a cover photo?

While details are a vital aspect of our jobs, Esteban Gil will share his approach to his detail images and how he incorporates the human element into them.

Are you curious about how to make someone levitate? Want to provide unique images for your clients? Watch a live demo from conceptual photographer Kerri Jean. Setting the scene is only half the battle! After the shot is captured, you will watch Kerri edit in real time to see exactly how to add a shocking level of realism. To get the most out of this demo, intermediate knowledge of Photoshop is required.

Are you new to boudoir photography or interested in venturing into a new confidence-building and empowering genre? In this course Creator Series Season 2 winner Margo Franklyn will demonstrate the essential equipment needed to get started, and simple setups with studio backdrops that served her well in her home studio, and have grown with her to a new brick-and-mortar studio space.

So, you’re a photographer who’s been flirting with the idea of videography, huh? Well, you’re in luck! You’re practically already a videographer, you just don’t know it yet. This class is jam-packed with our tried-and-true advice and techniques that’ll help you comfortably weave videography into your repertoire. We’ll start with the ABCs of videography, dive into how to tweak your camera settings for best results, and walk you through the equipment that gives our films that extra sparkle. Plus, we’ll help you navigate the sea of software options and share our system for sorting and managing footage so you’re not stuck in an editing labyrinth for days on end.

Don’t get me wrong, shooting weddings is amazing (I still love shooting them)… but do you know what is more amazing?  Shooting corporate work!

Why is it amazing?  I get my weekends back.  I get repeat business.  I get bigger and better budgets.  It’s less stress.  Did I mention that I actually get to spend time with my family on weekends now?!?

What is corporate work?  It can range from headshots, to corporate event coverage, and branding video work.  You’re basically providing any photo/video content for your client’s website.

If you want your weekends back, and you want to get started in corporate work, this is the class for you.  I’ll talk about how I transitioned to corporate work, why I prefer it over weddings, how to actually find clients in your area, and more!

In this class, you’ll learn:

• Transitioning from weddings to corporate clients
• How to find corporate clients
• Writing quotes and proposals
• Going from a signed proposal all the way to a corporate shoot
• Client expectations and why it’s different than wedding client expectations
• Final product and delivery-Retaining corporate clients

Bring a pen and paper to write notes, any questions you may have, and let me show you how to start booking corporate clients!

Gels are fun and help separate your work. You can use them as a background, and accent light, or gels only. Use either colored gels on off camera flash or LED, or using RGB LED lights. Bring your camera and we will set up for you to experiment and do some gel-o shots!

Get ready to embark on an exciting journey into the world of gel-tastic portraits! In this immersive photography class, you will discover how to transform your portraits into vibrant, eye-catching masterpieces using color gels.

Unleash your creativity as you learn to paint with light and colors, exploring the captivating effects that gels can bring to your images. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this class is designed to inspire and empower you to take your portrait photography to the next level.

Through hands-on demonstrations and practical exercises, you will delve into the art of strategically placing gels to enhance mood, evoke emotions, and add a unique visual element to your portraits. Discover how to manipulate color temperature, create dramatic lighting effects, and highlight your subjects in ways that leave a lasting impact.

Throughout the course, you will receive expert guidance on selecting the right gel colors to evoke specific emotions or match the mood of your subjects. Learn how to infuse your portraits with personality and character as you experiment with different gel placements and combinations.

By the end of this gel-tastic journey, you will have developed a newfound appreciation for the power of gels in portrait photography. Armed with innovative techniques and a fresh perspective, you will be equipped to create portraits that mesmerize and captivate viewers with their vibrant and dynamic visual appeal.

Do you have a concept in mind and don’t know where to start? I will show you how using mood boards will help you in producing the work you and your clients will love. Using mood boards have been a huge help to me in my work and I will show you how to do it from start to finish. This will be a class where you will have input as well.
In class we will:
1. Explain how a mood board can help set the tone and overall vision to make your concept come to life.
2. Discuss how it can help with communication and collaboration between the photographer, client, and other team members.
3. Show examples of successful shoots that utilized a mood board to help guide the creative process.
4. Go over the software I use when creating my mood boards.
5. Design a mood board from scratch in class.

That’s right!!! We will design and put together a mood board LIVE, with the class’s participation. Yes, you will make a concept from scratch, and we will produce that concept at ShutterFest.

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of creating jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring photographs with just a single light source? Prepare to create your very own as we dive into the world of BIG dramatic images and show you how to wield a single light and simple modifiers like a true expert.

In this eye opening class, we’ll teach you the art of crafting images that leave a lasting impression. Say goodbye to complicated setups and overwhelming gear. We’re here to prove that with the right knowledge, shooting with intent, and a touch of creativity, you can achieve breathtaking results using minimal equipment.

Attendees will learn how to get started with email marketing and the role it plays with client retention. I cover email marketing essentialsk, from lead magnets to subject lines, giving attendees the knowledge and tools to create successful email campaigns. I’ll even teach attendees how to set up your own FloDesk account from with the help of Artificial Intelligence! My goal for participants is to be able to walk away with ideas for lead generators, welcome series, and general emails that can be sent to continue the client relationship. At the end of class I will set up someones FloDesk account and do a quick demostration on how I use Jasper to help me with email campaigns.

Small strobes (mini monolights/speedlights) are super portable, easy to carry multiples, full of features, and can get you out of a jam when the existing light isn’t what you want since you’re more likely to pack them. Small lights can get you to create a small studio set up almost anywhere, however some people seem to think you always need more power but what if you learned how to get the most out of your small strobes. Everyone has at least one speedlight right? This is a great one for people looking to get more out of their existing kit but also newbies to learn the core principles of flash itself. From portaits to commercial looks lets create studio looks out of a backpack and also how to use our environment with strobe as well.

There’s little else more frustrating than taking the time to reply to an incredible inquiry only to never hear back. Were your prices too high, or were you not a good fit? Or even worse, did they ever get the reply in the first place? That unknown is the worst, but we will put that worry to rest.

The problem of email deliverability goes beyond just message content. Deliverability includes how your email is configured, the email service you’re using (not all are created equally), your server and DNS settings, how your cull your email lists, your usage of source compliance, and using dedicated sending IPs. It’s a multifaceted, imperfect science that is constantly evolving. But you can manage it, and I will walk you through a step-by-step operation to get more of your emails to your clients. And we practice what we’ll teach you: Twig & Olive typically sends over 200,000 emails annually, and we have achieved a 99.99% delivery rate.

So why is this a Hands-On class and not a Lecture? Would you really want to listen to me drone on for two hours about DNS configurations and sender policy frameworks? Literally no one would want that except for perhaps Rob Greer (IYKYK.) That’s why I want you to bring your laptops with you: after I show you each component, you’ll immediately implement the improvement. Once this class is done, you’ll be confident that more of your email will reach your clients. Together we will get your (and everyone else’s) email upgraded from “shit” to being “The Shit.”

Class note: Please bring your laptop or tablet that you use for email for the best learning experience. Knowledge of the location of your DNS configuration before class is recommended.

Instagram is so much more than posting pretty photos or reels. The algorithm can seem frustrating at times, but I promise it can be simple, powerful, and a great way to grow your business! As an intermediate and advanced level class, you will get the most out of this lecture if you feel comfortable with all of Instagram’s features and are looking to change or elevate your strategy. You will learn:

-How to optimize your profile
-Establishing your brand identity
-What makes an impactful links page
-The different types of content you should be creating
-How to build a strategy that reaches your ideal client
-The best way to use hashtags
-When reels make sense and when they aren’t needed
-How to maximize SEO
-Writing engaging captions that are on-brand
-Ways to partner with other businesses
-How to evaluate and leverage your insights

At the end, we will do a short working session to get your new strategy started and I’ll do real-time Instagram audits.