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

Chris and Brandy Gronde

Specialty: Seniors, Business, Marketing, Social Media

Chris and Brandy Gronde (Better known as “The Grondes”) are international award winning Wedding and Portrait Photographers based out of Indianapolis, IN. Chris was the third-place finalist on season two of The Creator Series as well as a Bronze Medalist in the 2024 World Photographic Cup. Both Chris and Brandy’s work have been featured in magazines like Shutter Magazine, Wedding Day Magazine, and the cover of Senior Year Magazine. They have been running a successful studio since 2009, first in Washington DC and now in Indianapolis where they are now known for their high fashion senior portraits and timeless wedding photography.

Follow Chris and Brandy Gronde:

Website | Social Media

Chris and Brandy Gronde’s Classes:

Stop the Scroll: Senior Content that gets you booked

Hands-On   

Intermediate, Advanced   

Class Description:

Gen Z is DROWNING in content.  They see thousands of images, videos, ads, and social posts every single day, and if your content looks like everyone else’s, they scroll right past it. In today’s attention economy, being a good photographer is not enough. You need content that grabs attention instantly, gets shared, creates buzz, and makes people stop scrolling. In this high energy hands on class, we are breaking down exactly how we create senior content designed to stand out online, fuel influencer teams, and consistently drive inquiries into our studio year after year.

After a quick breakdown of what works, what fails, and what actually gets engagement from Gen Z, we go straight into shooting. You will rotate through six fully designed senior sets featuring different lighting styles, moods, and concepts all built to help you create scroll stopping content you can post immediately. This class is all about creating real content, learning what grabs attention online, and understanding how to build a senior brand people actually remember.

2 guy sets.

4 girl sets.

Multiple lighting styles.

Different moods, concepts, and aesthetics.

An insane amount of content you can post the second you get home.

You won’t leave with theory.

You’ll leave with content, strategy, and a repeatable system for creating imagery that makes teens stop scrolling, pay attention, and start asking: “Who shot this?”

What to Bring to Class:

Bring your camera and an open mind!
Bring a portrait lens (85mm) and a medium lens (24-70mm range)
All lights will be constant, so no need for your own lighting or messing around with triggers.

Primary Topics: High School Seniors, Social Media

Senior Business Intensive: Build a brand that dominates

Lecture   

Beginner, Intermediate   

Class Description:

This class is for photographers who are serious about growing a senior portrait business and tired of guessing their way through it. Most photographers are not struggling because of their photography. They are struggling because they lack systems, consistency, marketing strategy, sales structure, and organization. In this fast paced, zero fluff lecture class, we are breaking down the exact systems, workflows, marketing strategies, influencer team structure, sales processes, and automations we use to run and scale a successful senior portrait business year after year.

No motivational speeches. No vague advice. No gatekeeping. Just real world strategies and action items you can immediately implement into your business. We will cover what actually drives inquiries, increases sales, saves time, builds momentum, and helps you operate like a real brand instead of constantly surviving shoot to shoot. If you are ready to stop playing business and start building one with intention, structure, and growth, this class is for you.

We are covering:

-the marketing systems that consistently generate inquiries

-how we build influencer teams that create nonstop buzz

-the sales strategies that increase client spending

-the workflows and automations that keep the business running efficiently

-how we organize shoots, communication, editing, and delivery

-what to prioritize when scaling

-what is wasting your time and killing your momentum

-and how to stop operating like a struggling photographer and start operating like a real brand

What to Bring to Class:

Bring a notebook or laptop cuz you will WANT to be taking notes!

Primary Topics: Business, High School Seniors, Marketing, Sales

The Senior Pose Lab: Directing Seniors Like a Pro

Live Demonstration   

Beginner, Intermediate   

Class Description:

Most photographers are not struggling because of lighting. They are struggling because they do not know how to direct people. Awkward posing, weak direction, and stiff body language instantly kill confidence and it shows in every frame. In this live demonstration class, we are breaking down exactly how we pose and direct high school senior girls and guys to create images that feel confident, natural, modern, and authentic to Gen Z. You will learn how to create movement, coach expression, flatter different body types, build variety quickly, and direct seniors in a way that makes them feel comfortable and confident in front of your camera.

This is not about memorizing Pinterest poses. This is about learning how to control energy, body language, attitude, and connection so your images stop looking staged and start looking real. You will watch us work through live posing demonstrations in real time while we explain exactly what we are looking for, what we are adjusting, and why certain poses work. Because great senior photography is not just about taking pictures. It is about direction, confidence, and creating an experience your clients will never forget.

We will cover:

-how to pose senior girls without everything looking overly repetitive or forced

-how to direct senior guys who feel awkward or uncomfortable in front of the camera

-creating natural movement instead of stiff robotic posing

-how we coach expression and confidence

What to Bring to Class:

Whether your camera or your phone you may want something to record or take photos of these examples we give you. You will not want to forget these tips and tricks.

Primary Topics: High School Seniors, Posing
There's still time to get

Early Bird Tickets

April 22-25 2024 | St. Louis MO.

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!