Classes

Creating dramatic portraits with gels + gobo is a fantastic way to add vibrant colors and a unique perspective to your images.
You will learn how to embrace colors and patterns in your portrait work and you will walk away with 5 advanced lighting set-ups you easily can reproduce on your own.

How can you get as many locations in a session in the least amount of time? In this “photo walk” style class we will hit the streets of St. Louis and capture location after location getting the best shots in a rapid fire session. Learn how to see your next location while shooting the current one, how to walk a path that allows you maximize the environment all while keep your client involved and entertained. This class will allow you to learn the technique Josh uses to make sure his photography session stay up beat and energized every time!

Are you ready to dive into personal branding photography? Discover essential steps, from asking key questions during consultations to marketing your services and boosting your AOV. I’ll also provide a comprehensive list of tools, resources, workflows, and camera gear that I personally use in my personal brand photography business. Plus, I’ll conduct website and social media audits to offer constructive feedback and guidance.

Beauty is in every face you photograph, and in this extensive course in retouching, Hernan will share the vast experience and the unconventional approaches he uses to beautifying his portraits. Hernan will share how he uses his years of illustration experience and applies these principles to his retouching. We will cover the process from capture to final image, which includes color management, skin texture, skin tones, the importance of the eyes and final tips that will make your images pop.

Build your wedding portfolio with this styled shoot! When I first started in the wedding industry, I had nothing to show potential clients – no images – no product. Styled shoots are a GREAT way to get going and the benefits are endless. They are a lot of work, but worth it! I will put together a styled shoot for you to photograph so you can have portfolio images for your website, studio, and bridal show booth, and content for social media! I will also go over how I come up with concepts, get other vendors to work with me and how to shoot for publication and the vendors who helped. Every year is a different theme and they are always spectacular! *This is the same styled shoot as Session 2 – you do not have to take both – choose the one that fits your schedule the best.*

Build your wedding portfolio with this styled shoot! I will put together a styled shoot for you to photograph so you can have portfolio images for your website, studio, and bridal show booth, and content for social media! I will also go over how I come up with concepts, get other vendors to work with me and how to shoot for publication and the vendors who helped. Every year is a different theme and they are always spectacular! *This is the same styled shoot as Session 1 – you do not have to take both – choose the one that fits your schedule the best*

When I first started in the wedding industry, I had nothing to show potential clients – no images – no product – an no one knew who I was. Styled shoots are a GREAT way to get going and the benefits are endless. They are a lot of work, but worth it! In this class, I will go over how I come up with concepts and brainstorm ideas, how I get vendors to work with me, how to get and stay organized, and how to get those images published and used on social media. Building relationships, building your portfolio, and practicing is key with shooting weddings, and styled shoots are a great way to get started!

Why is it important to understand the rules of composition, when do they apply and when can we break them?

We all have had our moments sitting and watching others at workshops go through their lighting techniques. We also have all been a part of those gang bang group shoots where we are not really paying attention to the why or how something is being lit. Well, join this session and you’ll not only shoot, but you will be interacting with the light. What does that mean? That means each person will be assigned a station. Taking turns rotating through different points of view. See at each light position the direction distance and purpose of the key, main, and fill lights. So not just shooting but understanding and truly listening. Then you can see, from each position’s point of view, the purpose.

Dive into the world of boudoir photography with Michael and his wife Jen in this insightful class. As experienced wedding photographers, we have found great success incorporating boudoir as a 6-figure add-on vertical service in our thriving business. In this course, we will share our expertise in lighting, and the nuances of posing and communication by utilizing shadow, dimension, and color.

Together, we will help you develop the skills required to create alluring, tasteful images that showcase the perfect blend of sensuality and elegance. Learn how to make your clients feel at ease and confident in front of the camera while capturing their most intimate moments with grace and finesse.

By honing your boudoir posing and lighting techniques, you’ll not only expand your portfolio but also attract discerning clients who value the artistry of this evocative genre. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your photography skills and take your business to new heights. Sign up now and embark on a journey toward becoming a distinguished boudoir photographer!

Let’s face it. Search engines aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they are even more important than ever with AI. In this session, Myrna will demystify SEO fundamentals, share winning tips from her signature framework for optimizing an entire digital footprint, and take a deep dive into a few AI tools that help create a stronger connection with your customers.

We all have our best images on our website/social media and they are normally what clients like to see, but I always have something to wow clients with at least 1 image to give them a taste of a WOW moment.

Scenario: You are a wedding photographer who creates nice images of people in pretty locations. Congrats and welcome to the club! Now, how do we stir things up and actually be different? I can think of at least 49 other people at Shutterfest who probably have at least one way to do it but let’s focus on creating more interesting images through the use of foreground elements. Whether it’s a roll of duct tape in front of your lens getting hit by a purple gelled light (IYKYK #SF23), or using any other foreign object that is readily available to create an interesting frame/composition…it’s time to start looking at your surroundings and using your imagination. Not only will introducing more foreground elements into your images expand your portfolio, but it will have you thinking of photography in new, exciting and interesting ways.

In this Live Demo, my goal is to open your eyes to the creative possibilities that exist all around us as well as some easily obtainable objects you can keep in your gear bag and take out whenever the situation may call for it. I’ll be working with an engagement couple to create a variety of interesting images using a combination of natural light and OCF that all include some form of foreground element.

Get ready to make a big impression with “Size Matters: Creating Larger-Than-Life Senior Portraits”! In this class, we’ll show you how to use the magic of Photoshop to turn your high school seniors into towering giants, dominating the world around them. You’ll learn how to manipulate perspective, scale, and lighting to create a larger-than-life effect that will make your senior portraits stand out from the rest. Included with this class will be a “Cliff-Notes” version of the class in a PDF file that you will have access to for later use when you are on your own and trying to remember the steps. So, join me and take your senior photography to new heights!

We all use the small screen, our phone, and we shoot content and behind the scenes that sits on there for days even months. In this class I’m going to show you how to develop a content plan and editing using popular free and paid apps on your phone. You will walk away with not only tips but the tools and templates to upgrade your mobile video editing.

It’s easy to come to an event as exciting as ShutterFest and be inspired to tell your boss you’re never coming back. But jumping off a cliff with no plan risks you’ll be back in that cubicle in 6 months. Instead, let’s work together to build a plan that keeps you successful, thriving, and on a steady track to entrepreneurship!

In this course, you’ll learn everything you need to know about photographing Indian weddings, from pricing your services to capturing the vibrant colors and cultural traditions of the big day. We’ll cover posing and composition techniques for stunning portraits, as well as how to approach the day with sensitivity and respect. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced pro, this course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to capture the magic of Indian weddings.

Join us and learn the art of balancing flash and natural light to create stunning and magical images. We’ll teach you how to use natural light to your advantage and add artificial light to achieve the desired mood and effect.

From shooting in harsh sunlight to capturing intimate moments in low-light settings, we’ll cover it all. You’ll learn how to use your flash and ambient light sources together to create cohesive and beautiful masterpieces.

Whether you’re a portrait photographer or a wedding photographer, come and discover the secrets to creating truly magical images that take advantage of both, natural and created light!

Stop with the awkward smiles and stiff poses.
To get real emotion and feelings from your clients you must help invoke it. How?! With prompts and energy.
Ever heard “you get what you give”?
Learn how to treat every session like a motivational feel-good segment. That helps clients have a good time, which in return, helps capture real smiles, laughs, and emotion. This will help make your clients want to buy ALL the images, trust me! Plus walk away with some prompts you can immediately put to use!

We all can take the traditional “boring” wedding portraits. Let’s learn to create Bad Ass wedding portraits. These are the portraits what will WOW your wedding clients and stand out in your market.

In this class, we will discuss several different lighting scenarios and poses that allow us to create images that stand out. You will learn how to do this with a single light as well as multiple lights to create more dramatic images. You will learn how to use gels to completely transform venues and add different layers to your images. You will learn how to create drama with the veil and dress. You will learn how to see a scene so that you can take that boring location and make it Bad Ass.

Why do other wedding photographers have a consistent look to their images? What’s the secret sauce to their beautiful aesthetic? Come to my class ready to chat about white balance, Kelvin, your F-stop, ISO, lens choice, available natural light and shutter speed. What you should be adjusting and what you should stop relying on. I want you to bring that fixed lens to my class you never use and leave your kit lens or even that reliable 24-70 in your hotel room. There is a reason why so many successful photographers and especially wedding photographers have such a high booking rate and your work can get there too!

Posing, Lighting, Composition, Emotion, learn how to create it all with the SX3 Shooting Method – Standard-Story-Signature Shooting for the Modern Photographer! This innovative class will revolutionize your approach to portrait sessions, infusing them with structure, variety, and dynamic images that captivate viewers. During this class, I will guide you through the three key pillars of the SX3 method: Standard, Story, and Signature, empowering you to masterfully create visually stunning and emotionally engaging photos.

Whether you’re working with natural light or off-camera flash, the SX3 Shooting Method will elevate your technique and unleash your creative potential. Learn how to effortlessly transition between classic portraits, captivating narratives, and those awe-inspiring signature shots that define your unique style as a photographer. This game-changing workshop is designed to help you stand out in today’s competitive market and attract clients who appreciate the exceptional. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your photography and raise the bar. Sign up now and embark on your journey to becoming a true modern photography maestro!

If you get the Blink 182 reference, then we are already best friends. I have tried all different selling techniques. In Person Sales, online sales, all inclusive, etc, and it was exhausting. I loved the higher sales I got from IPS but love the convenience of online sales. I learned during COVID that I can protect my time and offer a great hand held experience from the comfort of my own home. If you would like to learn how to achieve higher sales averages without the hassle of IPS then is the class for you. This is great for photographers wanting to tip their toe in IPS and product sales, but if you are already rocking IPS you could probably learn something too.

Family portrait sessions can get a little CRAZY! But it doesn’t have to be. Let me introduce you to family lifestyle sessions. In this demo to hands-on course you will learn amazing tools to keep your session moving and documenting wonderful candid and fun moments. Our class will break into smaller groupings for a more intimate shooting experience.
You will learn:

– How to building trust with your young clients
– Keeping the momentum moving
– Breaking the habit of posing
– Verbal cues

Photography is more than just taking pictures; it’s about creating a memorable experience for your clients that sets you apart from your competition. But how do you get there? And what can you do tomorrow to start to make a difference? From workflows to client guides, our IPS experience and social media templates, we’re opening up our business to show how you can make simple changes to increase your perceived value, have an enhanced client relationship that all leads to…you guessed it, more $$$. You will walk away from this class with usable templates, worksheets and checklists to immediately implement into your business.

We’ll have a live newborn model for this class to demonstrate ten different poses you can achieve on a card table using the Newborn Nest. Wrapping techniques, baby’s positioning, and light positioning will all be covered for these poses:

Mugshots
Potato Sack
Tucked In
Froggy
Timber/Modified Taco
Forward Facing
Bum Up
Side Lying
Heart Pose
Twist Wrap

This course will be how to unlock the full potential in every part of the lead conversion process. Starting at the website through the consult, I will identify areas in which you can use proven sales and communication psychology to convert leads like never before. Not only will you covert more leads, but don’t be surprises when your averages double in the process!

Wanting to create the family images in the studio that sell? Learn how in this hands on class how to structure family groups and light them effectively to create beautiful timeless classic images that will be cherished. Keep it simple and learn the a-z of those portraits. When you can do this it gives you the options the work indoors in the studio and also be able to take those skills outside.

Do you see yourself fitting into the dynamic ShutterFest Promo Team? This class will take you on a deep dive into Sal’s shot list, clarify the rules of the game, and examine some example shots – the good, the bad, and everything in between. We’ll dish out tasks to the team and then it’s all about hands-on practice for the rest of the conference!

Just a heads up: You’ll need gear that can handle 4K shooting – it’s a requirement!