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.

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ShutterFest 2027 Classes

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The Anchor Method: Building Bold Portrait Concepts Through Color & Styling

Speaker: (Website) (Social Media)

Hands-On   

Beginner, Intermediate   

“Ever feel stuck staring at a blank creative slate? In this class, Niah shares her signature approach to building visually cohesive portrait sessions by starting with one “anchor” and building everything around it. Whether it’s a dress, location, prop, color palette, texture, emotion, or mood, attendees will learn how to turn a single idea into a fully realized concept with intention and storytelling.

From wardrobe styling and color pairing to props, lighting direction, locations, and posing, this class breaks down how to create shoots that feel elevated, intentional, and uniquely you instead of random or disconnected. Niah will walk through her creative process with real-world examples and a live creative breakdown so attendees leave with practical tools for building stronger concepts and more memorable work.”

What to Bring to Class:

Bring your camera, 24-70mm range and wider if you have! Great for photographers of all experience levels looking to improve creativity, styling, visual storytelling, and portfolio cohesion.

Primary Topics: Lighting – Creative and Special Effects, Portraits – Styling and Set Building

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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!
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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!