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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High-Stakes Photography: Mastering Concerts, Sports, and Award Shows Under Pressure

Speaker: Zach Dalin (Website) (Social Media)

Lecture   

Beginner, Intermediate   

From concerts to championships to award shows, learn how to thrive under pressure and nail the shot when there are no second chances.

Adrenaline, chaos, and no second chances – that’s the world of high-stakes photography. For the last 12 years, Zach has been trusted to deliver in environments where mistakes aren’t an option: 850+ concerts (from local press pits to international tours), the St. Louis Cardinals in the Championship Series, the Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals, NFL games for USA Today, and photographing nationally televised award shows and broadcasts for CBS.

Zach shares what it takes to perform under pressure when the lights are brutal, the action is nonstop, and deadlines are immediate. You’ll learn the difference between shooting for press outlets versus working directly with teams or artists, how to anticipate the moment before it happens, and how to deliver fast-turnaround images when millions are watching. Even if you never shoot a concert, sports game, or award show, the skills you’ll take away — anticipation, storytelling, and thriving under pressure — will strengthen your wedding, portrait, and commercial work.

Key Takeaways
• How to secure access and credentials for concerts, sports, and award shows
• The difference between shooting for press vs. working with artists, teams, or networks
• Gear and settings for extreme low-light, high-speed, and live-broadcast environments
• Anticipating decisive moments before they happen — whether it’s the winning goal or the final note
• Delivering fast-turnaround images on tight deadlines without sacrificing quality
• Universal lessons from high-stakes environments that make you stronger in weddings, portraits, and beyond

Primary Topics: Commercial – Events

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April 22-25 2024 | St. Louis MO.
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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!