Classes

What do you do if its the day of your shoot and the skies have turned dark and cloudy? Or maybe someone really wants to book a shoot with you, but you can’t make it during daylight hours? If these scenarios stop you dead in your tracks, 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!
Bring your camera. I’ll have lights and triggers to pass around!

Are you a natural light photographer who wants to learn studio lighting? Are you new to off camera flash or continuous light? If you answered yes, this class is perfect for you. In this class I breakdown and simplify the most common portrait lighting setups. These setups are fool proof and guaranteed to deliver beautiful results every time. Learn to use lighting in a way that can evoke emotion or feeling from your image. Or, just learn how to get really beautiful light in a really easy and simple to remember way! It’s time to level up your photography and become more than a natural light photographer.

Interacting with kids is tough, especially as an adult. Learn how stupid games and a thigh workout will help get you the best kids pictures ever. I was a pre-k teacher before my 18 years in business as a children’s photographer and I can tell you all about:
– Which lenses to pick for families and kids.
– Stupid games to play for real laughs and authentic expressions.
– Reverse phycology will win you points too
– Treating kids like real people, no baby talk here!
– You don’t have to resort to bribes.

Master the art of photographing diverse skin tones in this specialized course designed to help you achieve perfect balance and harmony in your images. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this class will provide you with the essential techniques and knowledge to beautifully capture subjects with a range of complexions.
In this course, you will:
Learn how to adjust lighting setups to complement both dark and fair skin tones.
Understand the nuances of exposure and contrast for diverse complexions.
Explore different lighting modifiers and their impact on various skin tones.
This course is perfect for photographers looking to expand their skill set and create inclusive, stunning portraits.

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 for their senior portraits taken? 8 years into running our business we moved to a new state and went headfirst into the already over saturated Midwest senior market. We built a style and high fashion experience that makes us the most sought-after Senior Portrait studios in our area.
Learn:
What marketing and sales tactics we use to fill our calendar
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 (with about spending thousands)
How we edit our sessions to maximize sales and bring in new clients

If you’re new to email marketing or haven’t yet taken it seriously, this class is perfect for you. Discover my 3-Part Framework for email marketing, which has been instrumental in keeping my photography business thriving for the past seven years. Learn how to leverage email marketing effectively to grow your client base and sustain your business as a full-time photographer.

Unlock the power of email marketing and transform the way you connect with clients and grow your photography business.
“Email Marketing for Photographers: Step-by-Step” is tailored specifically for photographers who want to harness the potential of email marketing to build a loyal client base and boost their business.
What You’ll Learn:
Introduction to Email Marketing: Understand the basics of email marketing and its importance in creating lasting relationships with clients.
Building Your Email List: Learn effective strategies for growing your email list, including how to capture and retain subscribers ethically and legally.
We start from the beginning. We will go step by step from creating a leadmagnet to growing your list and building community.
Crafting Compelling Emails: Discover how to write engaging and persuasive emails that capture your brand’s voice and resonate with your audience.
Segmentation and Personalization: Understand the importance of segmenting your email list and personalizing your messages to increase engagement and conversions.
Automating Your Campaigns: Learn how to set up automated email campaigns that nurture leads, welcome new subscribers, and re-engage past clients.
Analyzing and Optimizing: Discover how to track and analyze the performance of your email campaigns using key metrics, and learn strategies for continuous improvement.
Who Should Attend:
Beginner Photographers: Ideal for those new to email marketing who want to learn the basics and start building their email list.
Experienced Photographers: Perfect for photographers looking to refine their email marketing strategy and enhance their client communication.
Join Jasmin for this comprehensive, step-by-step class and master the art of email marketing to build community for your photography business in order to book clients and connect with clients.

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!

Craving to inject some fresh vibes into your engagement session portfolio? Or maybe you’re just a hopeless romantic with a camera that needs step-by-step guidance on how to work with engaged clients. During this photow alk, Jen, will demonstrate the magic of setting up swoon-worthy poses for your engaged clients while ensuring you get hands-on experience clicking away to level up your engagement portfolio.
Here’s what we’ll focus on:
1. Five killer poses that work in every scenario for every couple
2. Fresh images for a portfolio refresh
3. A mixtape of on-location backdrops – yup, we’re going on a little Union Station walking tour!
4. How to talk and guide your couples through a session
5. The secret sauce to making your couples look like they like each other
Gear up with your camera, reflector, lights, and any other gadget that makes your signature style.  To provide the best variety of portfolio images, please be prepared to move around inside/outside. Kindly dress accordingly for whatever STL weather brings us – unless it’s doom weathering – we will be spending most of the class outside.

Join us for an exquisite journey into the art of conceptual boudoir photography with our class, “Envisioned Elegance: Hands-On Conceptual Boudoir.” This immersive class is designed to blend sensuality with creativity, offering a unique approach to boudoir photography that transcends traditional boundaries.
In this hands-on session, you’ll work with professional models adorned in luxurious lingerie and angelic wings, accentuated by professional makeup to enhance their ethereal beauty. Our centerpiece is Laura Dark’s renowned “Seraphim Cloud Set,” a dreamy backdrop with a unique twist that adds a heavenly dimension to your shots.

The Duo: Ray & Kay Alvarez return to Shutterfest for the fourth consecutive time, bringing their signature blend of creativity and expertise to the forefront once again! While this Creative Portrait class may share some similarities with previous iterations, rest assured, we’re always adding new twists and fresh perspectives to keep things exciting. A lot of us wrap ourselves around the idea of the Key Light. Some of us start setting up a shoot by starting with the Key light. I usually like to start off with everything else but the key light! So in this class we will focus more on other aspects of lighting the shoot such as: rim light, hair light, gels, optical projections or snoots and more.
This is far from your typical lighting class. For us, lighting is the cornerstone of creativity, and it takes center stage in our discussions. If you’ve been following our journey on social media or YouTube, you know that our portraits are always innovative and spontaneous.
Kay Alvarez, a nationally recognized professional makeup artist, will be showcasing super creative looks paired with styled outfits. This will be a “Hands On” class. I’ll kick off the class by demonstrating a quick photo session while also explaining my process in detail, followed by a quick and engaging Q&A session. Then, it’s your turn to get behind the lens and capture our stunning models and sets. If time allows, we can let participants try different methods.
With 1-3 stations featuring different models, the latter half of the class is dedicated to ensuring every attendee has ample opportunity to shoot. Over the past three years, our attendees have consistently raved about their experience, walking away with newfound knowledge, enhanced lighting and posing skills, and a collection of breathtaking images for their portfolios.
Worried about equipment? Don’t be. Lighting camera transmitters will be provided for your convenience. I take pride in guaranteeing that every participant will have the chance to shoot—it’s a top priority for me.
So, welcome to Shutterfest! I’m thrilled to have you join us for what promises to be an illuminating experience. Let’s unleash our creativity and play with light like never before!
Attendees will learn:
Camera settings to apply for creative portraits
The process and the WHY behind the shoot and workflow
Informative Lighting information: Placement and reason for usage
Lights, Tools & lens that work best for our style of creative portraits

Adventure photography isn’t about taking an ordinary portrait. It’s about hanging off the side of a mountain in rock climbing gear to take a dramatic portrait of a couple in clothing that would look awesome walking down the Oscars red carpet. It’s about one-upping classic portraits and injecting emotions and feelings into your imagery–fear, danger, wonder, and adventure–all while being safe! In a nutshell, it’s about living on the edge and figuring out how to raise the bar for your own portraiture so that clients gravitate toward you for something new and different. If you’re looking to shake it up a bit and redefine how you think about “”different”” types of portraits, this class is for you. I’ll show you the challenging setups I’ve created for both OCF and myself in places like cliffside, hanging over a gorge, or on a ridgeline to craft an exciting and cutting edge portrait for my clients. I’ll also go over safety protocol and how to communicate with clients to gain trust (and how not give them a heart attack). We’ll also talk about the not so fun stuff that is necessary to make photo sessions like this run like a well-oiled machine, from pricing, insurance and permits, to the crew I trust with my life and my clients. If you need something different or are looking to shake up your brand, come to this class because you’ll leave with enough inspiration to redefine what you think you’re capable of!

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.

I will walk you through my consult process so that you have a game plan for the session. I will show you how to pose, shoot and make your family sessions easy, simple and painless for your clients.

Join us to master the art of capturing irresistible images for clothing brands! Learn essential lighting, styling, and post-processing techniques to create stunning visuals that elevate your brand and drive sales in the dynamic world of fashion. Make sure to bring your favorite macro lens!

Are you scared or intimidated to use your off camera flash? Just looking at your flash in your camera bag gives you chills down your spine? We get it and we’re here to help!
Using off camera flash can be daunting, but with the right tools and practice, OCF can take your photography to the next level. In this hands-on class, we will take you through the baby steps of using off camera flash to enhance your photos giving you easy go to setups to have in your back pocket for your next shoot.
You will get your flash firing, learn the fundamentals of off camera flash, including how to set up your equipment, control the lighting and add some extra pop and dimension to your images.
But wait………that’s not all – we are also offering a special tech support boot camp the day before the class to help you get your equipment set up and working correctly so you can hit the ground running for our class. We want to make sure you are fully prepared to dive into the world of off camera flash!
Don’t let fear hold you back from exploring the creative possibilities of off camera flash. Join our hands on class, conquer your fears and take the first step towards becoming a confident flasher.
Please attend class with your camera, flash and trigger ready to shoot!

Round table coffee talk 5 topic points on beginner business theory, etiquette, and how someone like you is managing the day to day..
Building your skill/style
How to start price and packaging
Pitfalls and navigating the negativity.
Professional etiquette when building your network and working with others.
Q&A format with basic topic points with a feel for the beginners to understand we are not that different and how attainable it is. (Still trying to work with the idea over all).

How do you capture the connection between a couple?
Discover the art of capturing love and connection in our Engagement and Couple class. Learn essential techniques for creating stunning portraits that tell a unique love story.
This course covers:
– Posing and composition for couples
– Using natural light and flash to create stunning portraits
– Building rapport and making couples comfortable
– Creative ideas for engagement shoots
– Details that you CAN NOT miss in an engagement session
And much more!!

Time is money and editing is the biggest time suck of all! Let’s learn the principles to creating epic images in camera with intentional framing, flattering posing and, most importantly, proper exposure. In this live demo, I’m going to break down those 3 principles:
• Intentional framing – finding the perfect background in every location to bring focus to our subject.
• Posing – using a system that flatters every body shape to ensure a happy client.
• Proper exposure – using available tools including flash, constant lighting, and more to create a dynamic image that pops our subject off the background.
This class will be a live demo so you won’t be shooting but be sure to take lots of BTS and notes so you can take home the knowledge I’ll be dropping! Bonus points: bring a device with an internet connection (cell phone, tablet or computer) and you’ll be able to watch my tethered camera through a video webinar LIVE during the class!

**Frame the Deal: Understanding Commercial Real Estate for Photographers**
Considering opening a studio in a commercial space but unsure where to begin? Feeling intimidated by the leasing process and tempted to simply call the listing agent’s number displayed in the window of your desired location? If so, this is the class for you! Unlock the secrets to securing your ideal studio space with “”Frame the Deal,”” a comprehensive class designed specifically for photographers. Dive into the nuances of different property types, from office to retail spaces, and understand the distinctions between gray shell and second-generation spaces. Gain insights into various lease types, including triple net, modified gross, and percentage leases. Learn how to identify the perfect location, negotiate effectively, and navigate critical aspects such as exclusivity, letters of intent, lease terms, and tenant improvements. This class will also familiarize you with essential real estate lease terminology and underscore the importance of having a dedicated real estate attorney. Bring a notebook and your favorite pen and prepare to equip yourself with the knowledge and confidence to frame the perfect deal for your photography studio!

Ever felt like wrangling a family photo session is more like herding cats? From squirmy babies to moody teens, every age group requires different approaches to get those perfect shots. This class is your ultimate guide to mastering the art of age-appropriate family photography. We’ll dive into the nuances of working with every age group so you can confidently walk into any session and leave with a portfolio full of smiles and candid moments.
For the little ones under one, it’s all about being silly and expressive – think goofy faces and peek-a-boo to get those adorable giggles. Toddlers? Well, they’re the stars of the show, and you’ll learn how to keep up with their boundless energy. As for kids from four to eight, they’re your voice-activated subjects, ready to follow instructions and engage in fun games. Preteens and teens come with their own set of challenges, but with a bit of confidence-boosting and relatability, you’ll capture their true selves. And when it’s time to shoot adults, it’s all about creating a relaxed, enjoyable environment where everyone feels at ease.
In this hands-on class, we’ll work with models of all ages and show you how to adapt your approach on the fly. You’ll learn specific techniques for each age group and get practical tips and tricks for making every session successful. Whether you’re dealing with a family that spans from babies to teens or shooting a group of all adults, you’ll leave this class ready to tackle it all.
What you will learn in this class:
• Techniques for engaging and photographing babies under one year
• How to manage and capture the energy of toddlers
• Tips for directing and interacting with kids aged four to eight
• Strategies for working with preteens and teens to build their confidence
• Creating a fun, inviting environment for adult subjects
• Adapting quickly to families with a wide range of ages
• Hands-on experience with live models of different age groups

In a world where boudoir photographers are a dime a dozen, creating a portfolio that stands out from the crowd will help keep your calendar booked. Boring is out, BOLD is the new black.
During this class, we will create a plan to revive your portfolio in 30 days. Class Material:
– How to leverage trends in the industry to stand out
– Where to find inspiration to create new looks/sets
– Posing for every figure in any environment
– How to use dynamic lighting to your advantage
– Utilize Special Projects to create hundreds of new images for your portfolio

Between managing client interactions, maintaining productivity, running your own business and the distractions of life it is time to add prioritizing your mental well-being. This class will offer practical strategies and actionable tips to help you harness your strengths and conquer hurdles you may have with your business. Don’t let your adhd, anxiety, and any other struggles and fears hold you back. Learn effective time management techniques, organizational strategies, and stress-relief practices tailored specifically for photographers. We will create an action plan that you will be able to take home and work on immediately.

In this Live Demonstration, I would like to illustrate how I work through and overcome all of the challenges that are presented to us in the moment in order to walk away with beautiful results. When it comes to wedding photography, we don’t exactly have the option to reschedule when the lighting conditions are not in our favor. Instead, our true value as professionals is established through how we consistently react to constantly changing lighting scenarios. Whether that means incorporating off-camera lighting, reflectors, diffusers, proper positioning and composition, or all of the above, we must be able to think and act quickly to maintain the highest level of our subjects confidence in our skillset.
Join me and let’s learn how to be better problem solvers and take better control of our lighting no matter the situation.
Although this is classified as a Live Demonstration and I wouldn’t want to guarantee shooting time, I would still encourage attendees to bring their cameras as I always do my best to budget some time (if possible) for attendees to step in and take some photos.

Get ready to learn my step-by-step approach to elevating your personal branding photos! In this class, we’ll cover everything from camera gear and lighting (OCF, natural, and continuous) to essential poses and props that truly capture your client’s brand essence.

Master the art of the champagne shot. Jeff has received several awards and praise for his use of lighting and giving his couples an experience during the champagne shot. Using a three light setup Jeff will walk you through this must have photo for your couples. Showing you exactly how he performs them and the steps you need to protect your gear from getting covered in champagne and creating the ultimate experience for your couples. We will talk about it and then I will show you and walk you through how I create them. Get ready to wow your couples and give them an experience that will have your couples raving about you.

In this hands on session, Adam will teach you 4 lighting setups to photograph pets and people together. We’ll work on butterfly / paramount lighting, cross lighting, rembrandt lighting and a 3 light set up to wow your clients. Bring your camera and your poop bags because this lesson will be a shit full of fun.

Enjoy senior photography but have no idea what to do with the boys? We’re here to help! Boys may not always show an appreciation for having their pictures done, but their moms will appreciate you in BIG ways with their checkbooks. In this class, we’ll show you what we do with senior boys and how to get the most out of your time with them so that they’ll want to send their friends to you and their mom wants to give you all her money!

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.

I will show you, with simple lighting sets ups and various poses, how to create head, 3/4 and full length images. I will show you how to create glamorous and beautiful images that your clients will love.