Speakers
This year’s lineup of over 60 speakers, returning vets and newbies alike, are here to deliver an incredible experience for all ShutterFesters!
Shutterfest 2027 Speaker Lineup
Candace Connor
Specialty: Marketing, weddings
Candace Connor is a Seattle-based wedding photographer, educator, and speaker with nearly 10 years of experience photographing weddings and helping photographers build sustainable, relationship-driven businesses. Known for her practical teaching style and emotionally honest approach to storytelling, Candace teaches on topics including SEO, blogging strategy, client experience, and adaptable wedding-day photography techniques. Her classes focus on approachable education photographers can immediately apply to improve visibility, strengthen client connection, and confidently navigate real-world wedding photography situations.
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Candace Connor’s Classes:
Google Loves You (If You Let It): Smart SEO Strategies for Wedding Photographers
Class Description:
Most photographers are overwhelmed by SEO because it feels overly technical, confusing, or constantly changing. This class breaks SEO down into practical, approachable strategies that wedding photographers can immediately apply to improve visibility and attract more ideal clients through Google search.
Using real-world examples and actionable workflows, photographers will learn how to optimize their websites, improve Google Business profiles, structure pages intentionally, and create content that helps potential clients actually find them online. The focus is not on “hacking” the algorithm — it’s about building a strong foundation that supports long-term visibility and sustainable inquiries.
What to Bring to Class:
A basic understanding of how to navigate your website backend (Showit, Squarespace, WordPress, etc.) is helpful but not required. Attendees are encouraged to bring something to take notes with, as the class will cover actionable SEO strategies photographers can immediately implement on their websites and Google Business profiles.
Class Description:
Blogging is one of the most powerful ways photographers can improve visibility on Google and attract ideal clients organically. This class breaks down how intentional blogging and content strategy can help photographers get found through the topics, locations, venues, and questions their clients are already searching for online.
From deciding what to blog to understanding keywords, search intent, and post structure, photographers will learn practical strategies for creating content that feels approachable, sustainable, and effective — without burning out or feeling chained to constant content creation.
What to Bring to Class:
A basic understanding of blogging platforms or website platforms (Showit, WordPress, Squarespace, etc.) is helpful but not required. Attendees are encouraged to bring something to take notes with, as the class will cover practical blogging and content strategies photographers can immediately apply to improve visibility and attract ideal clients.
Connection-Driven Storytelling: The Systems Behind a Connected Client Experience
Class Description:
Last year, Connection-Driven Storytelling explored how intentional touchpoints like engagement sessions, wedding rehearsals, and meaningful communication help photographers build trust and arrive on the wedding day as more than just another vendor with a camera.
This class goes behind the scenes of that approach. I’ll walk through the HoneyBook workflows, email templates, questionnaires, guides, and systems I use to create and manage a connected client experience from inquiry through the wedding day.
Attendees will learn how to build a workflow that keeps clients informed and supported while still feeling personal. The goal is not simply better project management. It is creating the structure that gives photographers the time, context, and trust needed to become genuinely invested in their couples and tell their stories well.