Program
Sponsored by
Creating Portraits with Light & Story: Creative Portraiture
Nikon Ambassador D'Ann Boals
September 12 - 9:30am to 10:30am
Class Description:
Join Nikon Ambassador D'Ann Boal as she explores the art of creative portraiture through the lens of storytelling and light. During this presentation, D'Ann will guide you through her portrait process, from finding inspiration to creating consistent work with individual style. She'll share insights into her techniques, including color choice, posing, composition, and emotional mood. Discover how embracing beautiful light (both natural and off-camera flash) enhances the depth and emotion of portraiture and how to use light more intentionally within your work. Walk away inspired and ready to elevate your photographic storytelling.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Mastering Focal Lengths for Outdoor Photography
Canon Ambassador Erin Babnik
September 12 - 11:00am to 12:00pm
Class Description:
Whether you are photographing grand vistas or small scenes of nature, it is incredibly beneficial to understand the unique characteristics of all focal length ranges, from ultra-wide all the way through to super telephoto. Contrary to popular belief, there are many types of opportunities outdoors for lenses that take in the world differently than the human eye sees it, and non-traditional focal lengths can open up opportunities for creating unique and impactful images. In this wide-ranging presentation, Erin Babnik will present a variety of scenarios that you can seek out in order to get compelling results from any lens that you want to carry outdoors.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Matter of Perspective: Color & Composition
Sigma Ambassador Meg Loeks
September 12 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Class Description:
In this workshop, Sigma Ambassador Meg Loeks will discuss ways to build a strong, unique composition that strengthens the narrative within your work. Attendees will learn techniques that will help them create versatility within a single session. Discover ways to achieve several images within a single location. Meg will also demonstrate the importance of being intentional with lens choice and settings. Lastly, participants will lean about color theory and why it’s such a powerful composition tool.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Pro-Level Portraits with Any Camera
Fujifilm Ambassador Caroline Tran
September 12 - 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Class Description:
You don’t need fancy gear to take stunning photos. In this hands-on talk, learn how to create professional-looking portraits using any camera. We'll break down the fundamentals of lighting, posing, and perspective to help you capture flattering, dynamic images anywhere. Whether you're a beginner or just looking to level up your skills, this session will give you the tools to make every shot count. Caroline will raffle off a Fujifilm X-E5 kit & a Fujifilm X half to two lucky winners at the end of her presentation!
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Professional social media content without traditional hassles
Panasonic Lumix Ambassador Dustin Armstrong
September 12 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Class Description:
Social media content creation is more complex than ever, with a multitude of platforms demanding diverse aspect ratios for optimal viewing. While filming with a smartphone offers convenience, integrating a professional camera like a mirrorless one into your workflow can quickly become complicated, making the post-production process confusing and time-consuming if you're not a seasoned pro. This presentation offers a simplified, end-to-end workflow designed to help you upgrade your content with a professional camera without traditional complexities, ensuring your videos are perfectly formatted for every platform, fast, and easily.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Balancing Act: Stills and video on one project made (a little) easier
Sony Ambassador Morgan Heim
September 12 - 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Class Description:
These days, we are often expected to be a master of many skills. This talk will share how I've managed to find balance while producing video and still packages for clients on deadline. In one instance, we go on expedition with a team of Arctic scientists and their canine sidekick as they study how one population of body-confident reindeer is unexpectedly thriving at the top of the world. We'll discuss how we navigated the challenge of telling a more nuanced and unexpected climate story while hiking through polar bear country. In the other, I break down how we tackled producing a series for The Nature Conservancy, diving into the personal stories of farmers and ranchers to create media packages with direct conservation impact.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Friday Mini Sessions
Sponsored by
No One Likes to be Posed
Mike's Camera EDU Specialist Joe Klocek
September 12 - 10:30am to 11:00am
Class Description:
In this short presentation we will cover the essentials of good posing. Some photographers avoid shooting portraits because they don’t know where to begin posing people in a way that feels natural and brings out the subject’s personality. Some people stand in front of the camera and immediately become awkward, not knowing where to place their hands or feet. It doesn’t have to be this way. Posing a subject is about knowing a few essential positions, knowing errors to find and correct, and slowly adjusting elements of the pose in order to arrive at a high quality and consistent body of work. We’ll discuss how.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
Sponsored by
Using Focus Stacking in your Landscape Photography
OM System Ambassador Peter Baumgarten
September 12 - 12:00pm to 12:30pm
Class Description:
Focus bracketing and stacking has generally been thought of as the macro shooter’s purview. This technique, however opens up new opportunities for the landscape photographer and allows you to capture the scene in more interesting ways. Join OM SYSTEM Ambassador Peter Baumgarten for this mini-session exploring the creative techniques he uses to capture maximum depth of field in landscape images.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
Sponsored by
Beginners Guide to Capturing Milky Way
Nikon Technical Specialist Paul Van Allen
September 12 - 1:30pm to 2:00pm
Class Description:
When can you see the Milky Way? Where are the best spots to make images of the Milky Way? What are your camera settings? Paul Van Allen will walk you through the starting points in making amazing images of the Milky Way and the night sky. Afterwards you can stop by the Nikon booth to talk to Paul and get additional questions answered.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
Sponsored by
Steadicam Axis: The Precision of Steadicam, The Ease of a Gimbal
Steadicam Technical Specialist Bridger Eberhart
September 12 - 3:00pm to 3:30pm
Class Description:
When can you see the Milky Way? Where are the best spots to make images of the Milky Way? What are your camera settings? Paul Van Allen will walk you through the starting points in making amazing images of the Milky Way and the night sky. Afterwards you can stop by the Nikon booth to talk to Paul and get additional questions answered.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
Sponsored by
Ready for Anything: Adventures in Travel Vlogging
Canon Ambassador Juliana Broste
September 13 - 9:30am to 10:30pm
Class Description:
Class Description: Grab your passport and your camera, we’re going around the world, sharing our own story like no one else can. Join 12x Heartland Emmy award winning Travel Video Journalist Juliana Broste, TravelingJules, and learn what it takes to get started travel vlogging. In this session, we’ll focus on being behind the camera—and in front of it—at the same time. We’ll get set up for success, choosing the right gear, making a plan, and reacting when the plan goes out the window. We’ll learn how to follow the story, capture the action, and “do it all” with style and ease. Don’t miss this special session dedicated to solo storytellers. You got this!
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
A Journey through Colorado's Wildlife
Nikon Ambassador Kristi Odom
September 13 - 11:00am to 12:00pm
Class Description:
Calling all Colorado Wildlife Photographers: Join Nikon Ambassador Kristi Odom and Mike’s Camera Lone Tree Manager and workshop leader Scott Dougherty for an inspiring and info-packed hour all about photographing the amazing wildlife in our own state.
Kristi and Scott will share stories from the field, favorite local spots, and their camera techniques. You'll get real takeaways you can use right away, from unique locations to settings and gear. This is a chance to learn from two locals who are passionate about helping others grow as photographers. Scott’s years of experience outfitting photographers and teaching camera skills, combined with Kristi’s background in conservation storytelling, make this a unique and valuable conversation. Whether you're looking to discover new places close to home or dial in your settings for better results, you’ll leave inspired and ready to get back out there with your camera.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Into the Landscape - Strategies to Improve your Landscape Photography
OM System Ambassador Peter Baumgarten
September 13 - 12:30am to 1:30pm
Class Description:
Landscape photography has been, and still remains the most popular style of photography. Whether you travel the world, or just explore your local area there are countless photo opportunities that exist for the landscape photographer. Peter Baumgarten has been a passionate outdoor photographer for over 40 years. In this seminar, Peter discusses the challenges and joys of landscape photography and the compositional strategies he employs “to get the shot”.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Journey of Inseparable Love by Sony Artisan of Imagery Zabrina Deng
Sony Ambassador Zabrina Deng
September 13 - 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Class Description:
Join internationally acclaimed photographer Zabrina Deng, WPPI Master and Sony Artisan of Imagery, for a heartfelt and visually rich lecture exploring her photographic journey across the globe. Journey of Inseparable Love is more than a travelogue — it’s a celebration of love stories that transcend borders, beautifully told through Zabrina’s lens. From the sun-soaked coastlines of Spain to the winding medinas of Morocco, from the epic landscape scene of Halong bay in Vietnam to flickering neon glows of Hong Kong streets, Zabrina captures the unique spirit of each couple she photographs with cinematic elegance and fashion-forward style. Her storytelling goes beyond poses, revealing authentic emotion, cultural texture, and unforgettable memories.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Twenty Years of Adventure Filmmaking with Charley Voorhis
Tamron Lens Ambassador Charley Voorhis
September 13 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Class Description:
In this dynamic one-hour talk, filmmaker Charley Voorhis distills years of hands-on documentary experience into an engaging session for aspiring and working filmmakers. Drawing from real-world projects that range from documenting the global coffee trade in Central America, to capturing the inner workings of large-scale productions, to chasing stories through the wild corners of the Peruvian landscape, this class explores the essential lessons learned behind the camera and on the road. Whether you’re interested in ethical storytelling, improving your production agility, or refining your cinematic eye in the field, this session offers hard-earned takeaways, practical tips, and inspiration for your next documentary adventure.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Sponsored by
Joyful Determination: In Between Moments from Sahara to South Pole
National Geographic Filmmaker Tommy Joyce
September 13 - 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Class Description:
Join National Geographic filmmaker Tommy Joyce for an unforgettable journey through some of the planet’s most extreme and awe-inspiring locations. From unearthing dinosaurs in the Niger Sahara, to battling storms on Himalayan peaks, and tracking elusive pumas in Patagonia, Tommy shares the grit, humor, and joy behind his most challenging assignments. Through vivid storytelling, he’ll reveal the creative process, problem-solving strategies, and emotional resilience it takes, plus the gear and techniques that make it possible. Whether you’re here for the adventure, the artistry, or the inside scoop on shooting in the world’s toughest conditions, you’ll leave energized to pursue your own work.
Ambassador Presentation - Full Day PAID Access Pass required to attend.
Saturday Mini Sessions
Sponsored by
The Power of Lumix Lab
Panasonic Lumix Technical Specialist Matt Frazer
September 13 - 10:30am to 11:00am
Class Description:
The LUMIX Lab App is a powerful smartphone application that can not only remote control your LUMIX camera with Phase autofocus, it can fast transfer your photos to your phone, edit your photos and vide images and even build your own custom photo styles that can be loaded into your LUMIX camera. Come see how LUMIX Lab works and get your questions answered by a LUMIX pro.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
Sponsored by
The Storytelling Portrait
Canon Technical Specialist Ryan Brown
September 13 - 12:00pm to 12:30pm
Class Description:
Have you wondered how to visualize and create a great environmental portrait? Join Ryan for a class in which we will explore concept to creation steps to a strong portrait in any environment. We will look at all the elements needed to bring out a strong emotional connection in your image between your subject and their environment. In this workshop you will learn lighting concepts, compositional techniques and how to choose the correct lens and focal length to effectively define your subject in their environment. We will also look at how to put these skills into use real-world practice for musicians, commercial clients, and personal projects.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
Sponsored by
Moving into Video: Using new technologies to enhance your storytelling
Nikon Technical Specialist Paul Van Allen
September 12 - 1:30pm to 2:00pm
Class Description:
Join Paul Van Allen as he looks at the future of visual storytelling. This mini session will look at ways to incorporate advancements in imaging into the creative process. With a Nikon and Red partnership, there is unlimited flexibility in advancing your creative vison. This brief talk will give you insight into ways and technologies available to enhance your visual storytelling for professional and personal usage.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
Sponsored by
More Than Full Frame
Fujifilm GFX Business Manager Joshua Conti
September 13 - 3:00pm to 3:30pm
Class Description:
Think large format photography is complicated or intimidating? Think again. In this hands-on session, we’ll show you just how easy it is to step up to the Fujifilm GFX series and unlock stunning image quality that goes beyond full-frame.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
Sponsored by
Light Like You Mean It
Mike's Camera EDU Specialist Joe Klocek
September 13 - 4:30pm to 5:00pm
Class Description:
If photography is about light, then placing the lights on the subject and the background should afford the photographer the maximum amount of creative liberty. So why are so many photographers scared of lighting? Simple answer: it looks difficult from the outside. But it’s not. In this presentation we will break down the essentials of using and placing a single light, building the exposure around it, and then adding additional lighting positions, such as fill, background, rim lighting, and hair lighting. Controlling the light on the subject is the secret to every great portrait you’ve ever seen and the good news is it’s not that hard.
Mini-sessions - Free to all attendees
