Classes

Union Station provides the perfect backdrop for hands-on learning and spacious classrooms for lecture and live demo classes.
With over 100 classes, there’s something here for everyone!

How do I pick my classes?
You will be able to register for classes IN THE SHUTTERFEST APP two weeks before the event (first come, first serve). The app is released about a month before ShutterFest. READ THE FAQ and/or monitor the private Facebook group for more details.

See All Speakers
See All Classes

SF26 Class Lineup

Class Search Form

Click here to reset search

Download classes as a spreadsheet

Photographing Children With Special Needs

Speaker: Michelle Cramer (Website) (Social Media)

Live Demonstration   

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced   

Photographing children with complex medical or developmental needs requires more than technical skill—it requires presence, flexibility, and empathy. Michelle, Founder and Executive Director of On Angels’ Wings, brings nearly 20 years working with families navigating their child’s terminal-risk diagnoses and medical fragility, along with specialized experience in her personal photography business working with children on the autism spectrum.

In this session, Michelle will share practical strategies for photographing children with diverse needs, including those who are nonverbal, use mobility devices, or experience sensory sensitivities. Topics will include preparation, communication techniques, adaptive posing and positioning, and creating an environment that supports autonomy and trust.

You’ll leave with greater confidence, a deeper understanding of how to honor each child’s individuality, and tools to create meaningful images families will truly treasure.

Primary Topics: Children, Client Communication, Posing

Click here to reset

There's still time to get

Early Bird Tickets

April 22-25 2024 | St. Louis MO.
  • Learn from 80+ top speakers
  • Trade Show Access
  • Work with over 200 models
  • Save over 40% on tickets - for a limited time only!
REGISTER NOW

SKILL LEVELS

Beginner: Just starting out or relatively new to a given subject matter. Basics will be covered and the course will move at a slower pace. The instructor will spend a little more time trying to explain concepts to ensure everyone is following. On a scale of 1-10 consider this level a 1-3 on the given topic.

Intermediate: Has a grasp of some basic concepts. This course level will move at a faster pace and assume you have basic knowledge covered on the given subject matter. On a scale of 1-10 consider this level a 4-6 on the given topic.

Advanced: You have working knowledge of the given subject matter, but are looking for more fine-tuning and some advanced topics to take your work to that next level. DO NOT expect instructors to explain basic concepts in this course. On a scale of 1-10 consider this level a 7-10 on the given topic.

Class Types

Hands-On

These are shooting courses. You will be shooting and working. Bring your camera, gear, or whatever you need for the course and to create create images. Expect to have some level of shooting.

Live Demonstration

These are instructor-led courses where you will see a live demonstration of what the instructor is teaching. You can still bring your camera to these courses and you can photograph, but the goal of the course is NOT for you to shoot or to ensure you get a shot. The goal is for you to see how and why the instructor does what he/she does in order to get the final result.

Lecture

These are non-shooting courses. Typically classroom-based, bring your laptop and notepad and focus on learning!