Speakers

	Jim Collins What does Dream, Create, Inspire Mean to You? We’re going to take a moment to breathe and dream a little. We’re going to celebrate the incredible work you do and we’ll contemplate creativity. What inspires your creative energy? What drives your vision? What’s your next big thing? This session is a little overwhelming by design. It is a collage of images (your images) and thoughts (your thoughts) purposefully wrought to shake a few of the cobwebs lose in your soul. Ultimately, this session is about beginnings. It’s about a mindset. It’s about being open to what’s next. Onward, indeed! Bio Jim joined Pictage after a long and successful career in managing and growing a variety of businesses that focus on small business services. Most recently Jim was the CEO of Affinity Internet, an internet hosting provider to small business. At Affinity, he successfully grew the company from 11,000 subscribers to over 450,000, and showcased his relentless focus on customer service. Jim is an avid photographer, and he is excited about having direct access to the industry's leading pro lab.

	Carlos Baez Rated MA: For Mature Audiences Only Subject matter is dramatic, posed, sometimes even a little risqué. In this session you will experience something different. Whether for the nuveaux, or the avant-garde, this session is for photographers who want to push the envelope a little. This session is for those who want to learn how to use light in dramatic ways, that aren’t afraid to use their flash, or want to conquer their fears of studio style lighting effects. This session is rated MA because we’ll also discuss shooting nudes for boudoir or fashion. This staple from art and photo school has been largely ignored through the last few years and the result is a lack of familiarity with the basics of making the body look great, in any situation. Bio A Miami-based photographer, Carlos brings 20 years of experience in the world of fashion and editorial photography, encompassing such high profile markets as New York, Paris, Milan and Japan. Carlos reignited his interest in weddings six years ago and has perfected the art of bringing fashion photography to his wedding clientele. His unique approach is becoming the next major trend in contemporary wedding photography. His work is widely published in such leading magazines as Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, W, Martha Stewart, People, Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style, Town and Country and The Knot.

Session sponsored by Shoot Q	Jeff & Erin Youngren Keepin’ it Real in a Rockstar World More than ever, the urge to become admired and well-known within the wedding photography industry has created a Hollywood-like effect, transforming successful photographers into celebrity-style icons, while the world’s brides crave authenticity and transformative leadership. Jeff and Erin will discuss the impacts that this has had on the wedding photography industry – both good and bad – and show you how honesty, generosity, and authentic leadership can transform your rising business into a successful brand. Bio Jeff and Erin are international wedding and lifestyle photographers running one of the fastest growing boutique studios in the competitive Southern California market. Although based in San Diego, their deeply emotional style and passionate partnership has taken them from the streets of San Francisco to the canals of Venice to the family suburbs of Chicago to photograph extraordinary weddings and incredible couples. As leaders of the San Diego PUG and the Pictage community, they are passionate about helping other photographers build viable, authentic businesses, while building a photography community built on integrity and honest leadership.

	Jason Aten Starting out Right: Top 10 Things for Your First Two Years Whether you’re in your first 2 years of business, or you’ve been in business 10 years - whether you shoot less than 10 events a year, or more than 40 - there are best practices that can help you create a business built for success in any market. From setting up your business, to understanding what makes clients tick - there’s a lot about this business beyond the photographs. Learn what it takes to start out headed for success with 10 things you have to know to start out right. Bio Jason has been a photographer for over 15 years. Drawn to the ability of photography to tell stories in a way that nothing else can, Jason’s background is as a documentary photographer. In addition to weddings Jason has photographed hundreds of events, people, places and stories across the country, and around the world. An expert on workflow and marketing, Jason is based in Grand Ledge, MI, where his small town studio serves clients both domestically and internationally.

	Kevin Kubota Lightspeed Workflow with Lightroom Photographers constantly searching for new ways to improve, simplify, and expedite their workflow system. This seminar will illustrate the best tips from a workflow system that has proven to be one of the best in the industry- Kevin Kubota's Lightspeed Workflow. Far more than just a few hot tricks, this is a chance to learn a complete start to finish system in a fully digestible package. Bio Kevin Kubota, of Kubota PhotoDesign Inc., has been photographing since 1980, and professionally since 1990. He is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Oregon. His studio photographs clients in Oregon, as well as worldwide. Kevin was recently awarded the third annual Monte Zucker Humanitarian Award during WPPI 09. This award is presented to individuals who are significantly involved in their community and are committed to doing charitable work. In 2008, Kevin Kubota was named one of the “Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World” by American Photo Magazine. His wedding and portrait work has also been featured in magazines such as Rangefinder, Studio Photography & Design, Popular Photography, and Shutterbug, as well as in photography books such as, The Best of Portrait Photography and The Best of Wedding Photojournalism by Bill Hurter. His images have been featured in Nikon advertisements, calendars, trade show displays, and he was also selected as the Nikon “Legend Behind the Lens” #2 on the Nikon website.

	Jared Bauman Your Business – On Auto Pilot for Six Figure Income In today’s era, nothing is more important than building a solid foundation for your business. Known as an industry leader in business education, Jared will show you how to set your business up for six figures - this year! Creating an auto pilot of profit for your business is essential in these economic times, and Jared has broken down the process into simple, practical steps that are easy to put into action. Examples will include efficiency analysis, automization techniques, and profit focuses. You will leave with the tools to make a six figure income this year! Bio Within only a few years, Jared has built a company that photographs 90 weddings annually with an average package price of $6,000. In addition to the company’s success, Jared has structured the business in a way that allows him several months of vacation each year. Jared and his photography partner Bronson Pate have released an educational DVD "Shooting the Perfect Wedding: an Insider's Approach", they have also started a comprehensive editing service "Shoot Dot Edit." In his free time, Jared loves to travel and backpack, photographing God's creation with his panoramic camera.

	Scarlett Lillian Find the Fabulous in Each Bride & Groom Every client has an inner beauty and fabulousness inside of them that it is our job as photographers to bring out and document. It’s the little tricks that make a big difference in bringing the best out of each couple and allowing them to feel comfortable enough to open up in front of the camera. In my talk, I will share how I prep and educate my clients before the shoot, during the shoot with posing and lighting, and after the shoot with workflow and editing, including outsourcing to Pictage, of course! ;-) Bio With an award-winning background in magazine journalism, Scarlett Lillian now documents beauty, emotion, fashion and love through wedding & fashion photography. Scarlett has been a featured guest on PhotographyMentor.com, FStopBeyond podcast, Pictage Blog podcast, PocketWizard.com and was named "one of the hottest up and coming wedding photographers of our new generation” by the CameraDojo podcast. In just two years, Scarlett's work has been published in various magazines, newspapers and all over the web, including commercial projects for the Sandals resorts and celebrity wedding designer Preston Bailey. Scarlett’s blog receives thousands of visitors everyday and she enjoys teaching others in a one-on-one workshop called "Spend A Day With Scarlett." At WPPI 2009, Scarlett hosted her first shooting workshop, selling out to 20 international photographers. Scarlett is also the leader of the Jacksonville Pictage User Group.

	Will Jacks . . but I’m an artist, dammit ! (I think?) What are we doing and why are we doing it? Are we artists or entrepreneurs? As technology allows for easier and easier image creation the question arises – does it even matter? In this presentation we’ll explore the delicate balance between art and commerce and the importance of recognizing how each enhances the other. We’ll also discuss what it means to be a professional in an artistic field, ways to discover and cultivate the artist that lives within us all, and methods of using that knowledge to create a career that is satisfying, sustainable, and real. Bio Will began his career as a commercial product photographer, with no clue what he was doing. After nearly seven years creating catalog images he realized he was no longer inspired by his work and his business was treading water. In debt and tired of “settling”, he decided to refocus on what drew him to photography in the first place – curiosity, exploration, and passion. Currently, he resides in a small Mississippi Delta town and runs a business centered around a portrait a wedding clientele spread throughout the southeast. He is also the owner of a boutique gallery which shows not only his own work, but that of many other artists as well.

	Mike Colón Tuesday 2pm session - Defining Your Style One of the most challenging aspects of being an artist is defining your style. Does this mean you have to make rules and guidelines for your work and stay within the lines you draw? Absolutely not! Defining your style is about the thought process you go through for each image you create. Consistency is key, but consistency is not about producing all your images the same way. It’s about producing images that consistently impress your viewers and define who you are as an artist. Mike will take you through his thought process from capture to final output and everything in between. Shooting Workshop Mike Colón hits Royal Street One of the oldest streets in New Orleans is also a killer backdrop for an edgy wedding fashion shoot. This is one shoot you'll want in your portfolio! Mike will demonstrate how he interacts with his model, chooses the precise location for light, sets the scene, and creates unique images without losing believability. Bio Mike Colón specializes in wedding, fashion and lifestyle photography, His work has been published world-wide including the cover of People Magazine, Instyle Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Us Weekly and many more. He is a spokesperson for top corporations like Apple, Epson, Nikon, Pictage, and Lexar. As a celebrity wedding photographer, Mike has worked with Usher, Timbaland, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and Mel Gibson to name a few. He understands what it takes to establish a solid career and is an excellent resource for aspiring top-notch photographers. He is a man of faith who gives God the glory for all he does. Mike, and his wife Julie, have four beautiful children and live in sunny Newport Coast, California.

	Amber Holritz Lifestyle Baby Photography: The Shoot Lifestyle photography is taking over the portraiture world- and with good reason. Slowly but surely, the market is transitioning from those stiff "smile at the camera" portraits, to a more relaxed, journalistic style of imagery. Capturing "life as it happens" in a family's home may seem straightforward and simple, but it is not without its challenges. Lifestyle Baby Photography: The Shoot will identify those challenges, and help you overcome them. We will discuss the communication techniques vital to capturing the essence of a child, as well as the shooting techniques necessary to combat the difficulties of shooting in people's homes. Bio When you do what you love, you love what you do. For Amber Holritz of Holritz Photography, based in Chattanooga, TN, that love lies in bringing beauty to everyone's reality and, in turn, preserving it forever. While flipping through her first child's photo albums, she realized that she had failed miserably at documenting the intricacies of his life. This became the catalyst for a career centered on capturing the realities of life, and capturing it beautifully. Since that day, Amber has had the opportunity to photograph countless children and families, has been flown across the country to document family life, has spoken nationally to photographers about her passion, and has had several articles published in Rangefinder Magazine. Ultimately, her passion for capturing her own family's life has birthed her craft.

	Liana Lehman In Her Shoes After 10-years in business as a professional photographer, Liana takes a walk on the OTHER side...as the bride! Find out what’s ACTUALLY important to the bride and groom in terms of service, marketing, and expectations. Learn why they really hire you and get a glimpse into how fear, love, and one often-overlooked characteristic play into the picture too. Find out what she and just-married friends and clients are saying about their recent weddings and what will make or break their experience with you. Bio Liana loves her life and career! She is honored to spend her time shooting destination weddings in the US and abroad, speaking at major industry conventions, and helping other small businesses. Liana is an Approved Business Instructor for PPA and is currently one of the only working professional photographers certified and willing to teach managerial accounting and business planning to other wedding and portrait photographers. Her website received PPA’s ANNE award for Website of the Year and she has also been featured on NBC. A third-generation entrepreneur and graduate of an exclusive program in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management and Marketing, Liana has gained knowledge that she desires to share with others. She believes in helping others achieve the impossible, that photography and business should be FUN, and in telling stories through pictures and numbers!

	Denis Reggie A debut presentation – never seen before Bio Denis is a nationally renowned celebrity and society wedding photographer, proclaimed "the finest wedding photographer of his generation." He defined the genre and coined the phrase wedding photojournalism, transforming the look of wedding photography. Denis and his exclusive team of hand-picked photojournalists have covered over 1,800 weddings in the documentary style he defined. He was listed first in a recent American Photo cover story naming "The 10 Best Wedding Photographers in the World." Denis has been commissioned by brides and their families to photograph 20 Kennedy weddings since 1980, including those of Maria Shriver to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Caroline Kennedy to Edwin Schlossberg, and John Kennedy, Jr. to Carolyn Bessette.

	Justin & Mary Marantz How to Be a Rainmaker: Ten Tips to Turn the Tides It seems like talk of the economy is all you hear these days, but what if it were possible to build a business that thrives, not just survives, in any economic climate? A business that's insulated from the rise and fall of the market, and unshaken by ominous financial forecasts . In business terms, a "rain maker" is defined as one with an exceptional ability to attract clients and increase profits. Using their "Loyalty Beyond Reason" approach, Justin & Mary will show you step by step how to amp up your momentum and create an experience that clients will have to have. In this one hour presentation, they will share their top ten tips for turning the tides and defining your own destiny. In a time of economic drought, they'll teach you how to make your own rain. Bio Justin & Mary have devoted themselves to helping others. Their “Spread the Love” Tour has taken them all over the country and is aimed toward helping photographers find balance in their lives and a new love for their business. They are also the Founders of The Portrait House Campaign, which recently launched on its worldwide fundraising mission for hope. Justin graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2003, and was a featured winner of the 2006 & 2009 PDN Top Knots Photography Contest. Mary is a 2006 graduate of the Yale Law School, and brings with her a sharp business sense and a high-end take on marketing & branding. She was also a winner in the 2008 PDN Contest. Justin and Mary have recently done a 16 city PUG tour as well as lead their own Connecticut PUG each month. They have spoken at events such as PartnerCon LA in 2008, and the Pictage Booth at WPPI in 2009.

	Jenn Lindberg From Newlyweds to Newborns: Keeping Your Wedding Clients for Life Have your past wedding clients ever asked you to photograph their new baby, or asked for a referral for a photographer who would? Have you been unsure of what to charge and how to go about it, thinking it might be easier to shoot and just give a disc, or pass entirely? We’ll cover the how to's of diversifying by offering lifestyle baby portraiture, including how to approach past clients and gain new ones, charging for weddings vs. portraiture, how to use Pictage to radically simplify workflow, our most popular ‘poses’, and what to expect from a lifestyle baby shoot. Bio Jenn Lindberg is a photojournalist turned wedding photographer based in Austin, Texas. Her photography career started when her personal project--following 3 teenagers as they courageously placed their babies for adoption--was published in Marie Claire magazine. Jenn launched Beaubaby in 2007 after realizing that she was missing the opportunity to continue the profound personal and professional relationships already forged with her wedding clients by not offering baby photography. She now happily runs 2 companies with her husband, Jim: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings and Beaubaby. In addition to Jenn, Beaubaby employs 3 talented contract photographers, and specializes in high-end baby/ childhood photojournalism.

	Steve DePino My Mother Runs my Business In these trying times we all need a little motherly advice to get us back on the right track. In this session I'll share some of my mother's life advice that I have turned into success principles for my business . Whether it be writing down my goals to "set my vision" for my business or taking R&R days just to "dream". My mother gave me a guide to succeed early on in life. In this session I'll explain how I have taken those rules into my business and it has flourished because of it. Bio Steve has been rated a national top pick photographer by weddingphotographydirectory.com since 2006. He placed 1st over all in their international 2009 Annual Wedding Phography Contest and 2nd in their previous 2008 creative wedding contest. Steve has given several photography workshops in Connecticut, Philadelphia and Vienna, Austria. This year he will be part of PhotoFusion workshop tour stop in Boston MA. His work has been published and featured in Billboard, Brides Connecticut, The Wedding Channel, The Knot, Style me Pretty ,Pacific weddings and many more publications in both print and the web. An article was also written about Steve's work in Rangefinder's 2008 "the wedding issue".

	Kevin Meyers Avoiding Trial by Fire: A Must for This Economy Tough economies don’t allow the luxury of learning the hard way. Fortunately, I waded through most pitfalls in earlier days. In the early days of my business editing and album design ran at a snail’s pace, income and expenses were sorely out of whack, communication would have happened more quickly via horse and buggy, and worst of all, images had been lost. In the last year, I’ve fixed all those problems by leveraging resources available to us all. Don’t wait for problems to arise. In this session you will learn from the stories of my transition to full-time photographer and discover solutions that will keep you in business and help you grow. Bio After experiencing a passionless stint in the financial services industry, Kevin Meyers made a transition to full time wedding photographer in the fall of 2006. Since that time, he’s established numerous friendships within the photographer community as an active participant in online forums, conventions and workshops. Kevin has been commissioned for weddings in Italy, Austria, Dominican Republic, Mexico and many of the Northwest’s finest destination venues. He credits his success to the friendships made and the knowledge learned through the photographer community and is excited to nurture that environment for others to enjoy.

	Grant Oakes Perception is Reality Learn how to attract the high end bride, get to the top of your market, shoot less, earn more and actually enjoy your personal life. If you are a good photographer but are struggling to get to the next price level and earn what you feel you’re really worth, this session is for you. All of this and more will be presented along with world class marketing tips that will raise your perceived value to new heights, drop the jaws of your clients and your competition and do it all without spending a fortune in advertising. Bio Grant Oakes began his photography career documenting weddings over 32 years ago. He has been published both in photography magazines as well as in wedding publications. His speaking ability has taken him into the educational realm, teaching on diverse subjects such as the technical aspects of digital capture, marketing and the art of wedding photography. He continues to pursue his passion as a wedding photojournalist/artist and his new venture, Tafota.com, which empowers photographers to manage their websites quickly and easily.

	Joe Buissink Wednesday 10:10am session - Are You in a Rut? Are you worried about your future as a wedding photographer? What are you doing to be different? How do you stand out from the rest of the crowd? Renowned wedding photographer Joe will help you find and unlock your passion and direct it so that you will see and feel everything differently at a wedding. In this inspirational session he will discuss the importance of "who we are," and the impact "who we are" has on our images and our clients…. “The most important thing about photography is who YOU are.” We work so hard at our “job”… that we sometimes lose sight of our passion for what we do. What else are you shooting these days that keeps you in your passion for photography? Discover the things Joe shoots to stay fresh. Get a glimpse into the mind set of Joe when he shoots, and feel what he sees. Shooting Workshop Seek the Light Learn to shoot GREAT portraits on the fly using available light. Forget about the flash! What do you do when you don't have your studio lighting equipment? Come see the light, step out into the open! Joe will demonstrate how he captures his signature portraits in seconds, in various locations using natural light. Don't miss this special opportunity to learn from Joe Buissink. Bio Joe Buissink photographs weddings all over the world and has over the years been a favorite wedding photographer among many celebrities such as, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson & Nick Lachey, Brendan Fraser, Kelsey Grammer, Hillary Swank & Chad Lowe, Christina Applegate, Jenny Garth & Peter Facinelli, Christina Aguilera, Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, Katharine McPhee … Joe’s photography is about capturing the moments, and the essence of the person in those moments. His work redefines wedding photography, and has been described as “Fine Art” by his most notable celebrity clients. Joe has become a world-renowned teacher in the photographic field. His teachings have taken him on an international platform from Japan, China, Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland to Russia as well as in the United States. In 2003, Joe was awarded the International Leadership Award in Photography by the International Photographic Council at the United Nations. Also, Kodak hired Joe in 2003 to shoot their International Ad campaign for their Portra Film Line. In 2005, Apple selected Joe to be their spokes person for the Wedding Industry, in the release of their new program Aperture. Joe has received numerous International Grand Awards for his work from the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International). Joe has been profiled by Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Lifetime Television’s “Wedding of a Lifetime”, and E!. Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America interviewed him, and his work is published regularly in InStyle Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, People Magazine…

	Jamie Karlin & Michael Kress The Mitzvah Boot Camp How to Increase Your Revenue by $20,000 Per Month! The Bar/Bat Mitzvah market is a hidden gem in the photography business. No matter what your religious views may be, this profitable market is yours for the taking. With the ability to do up to 4 events a weekend, incorporating Mitzvahs into your business is a surefire way to increase your revenue. This presentation covers simple and easy ways to GET CLIENTS, price your packages, market your event and learn the Mitzvah lingo. We will discuss how to break into the Mitzvah circuit and how to shoot them once you are booked. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah market can be as profitable as weddings in half the time, leaving you with more time to grow your business. Jamie Karlin's Bio Jamie Karlin is the owner of Jamie K Photography with her husband Jason. They have been in business for 5 years and have offices in New York and New Jersey. Last year they shot over 45 Bar/Bat Mitzvah's. Michael Kress' Bio Michael Kress has recently taught a two week wedding course for CDIA Boston University. He has won the International Special Event Society-DC “Best Wedding Photography” award for 7 of the past 10 years. He was the Garden Wedding Feature article in Rangefinder Magazine September 2000 and has had images published in numerous publications including: BizBash, Capitol File, Engaged!, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Orient Express, Washington Home & Garden, Washingtonian, Washington Life, Women’s Wear Daily. Michael has also hosted all PUG meetings in Washington, DC. Debra Gerson's Bio Debra Gerson is Manager of the Pictage Pro Consulting team and has been a Pictage photographer since the beginning. She owns and operates Gerson Photography, and has been providing the Southern California community with creative, sophisticated photographic services for over 20 years, and specializes in Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings and special events. Based in Beverly Hills, CA , she offers a wide range of photography ranging from candid photography, black and white photojournalism to traditional portraiture. While paying careful attention to the balance between subject and form, she combines inspiration, talent and expertise to capture beautifully the essence of your special event. Gerson Photography is universally admired among peers in the industry for personalized service and artistic work.

	Jared Platt The Photographer’s Eye: Get Inspired to Elevate the Level of Your Photography In 1964, a photographic exhibition in New York, was hailed as the landmark in the history of the medium. This exhibition brought together images that outlined a unique visual language for creative photographers. In it, five concepts were addressed, which synthesize the act of photography. Jared Platt will be discussing these five concepts and how they effect his mindset as he shoots and as he edits his images in the studio. This presentation is a must for both new and seasoned photographers. The concepts that will be discussed are universal and critical to better photography. Plus, we'll have a good time talking about the process we all love so much: taking photographs. Bio Jared Platt is a professional photographer from Phoenix, Arizona. Jared holds a Masters of Fine Arts in the Photographic Studies and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography from Arizona State University. He teaches photography at the college level and to professionals everywhere. Jared is a skilled and entertaining public speaker and extremely knowledgeable in his field of photography and post production.

	Me Ra and Brian of Me Ra Koh Photography Revive the Artist in You: Live the Impossible Life! What does your life look like? Has stress piled so high that your creative child can’t play anymore? Me Ra and Brian are excited to bring something unique to this year’s Partner Conference! They are shifting their focus from marketing and shooting to YOU and how to rediscover your creative self- the most powerful piece of your business. In this session you will learn simple exercises and practices that you can do to revive the artist within you. Me Ra and Brian believe that their commitment to constantly rediscovering their creative selves is the foundation for living their lives and running their business. Come to this session ready to be inspired, artistically refreshed, and ready to look at your business in a whole new light. Bio Brian and Me Ra lead a creative team of associate photographers for their award winning studio, Me Ra Koh Photography. Their images have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, VH1's Fabulous Weddings, and Martha Stewart TV. In 2008, they accepted Sony’s invitation to join the Sony Artisans of Imagery icons. They have also been recognized by Grace Ormonde’s premier Wedding Style magazine as Masters of their Craft. Besides their joy for photography, Me Ra and Brian, take true pleasure in teaching people how to be the best photographers they can be. Together, they travel nationwide speaking at photography expos and leading conferences and workshops for women. In 2007, they released two instructional DVDs: Refuse to Say Cheese and Beyond the Green Box. Both DVDs won the national merit of being given the GOLD award from the prestigious NAPPA organization. Me Ra and Brian are based out of the Pacific Northwest. They are proud parents of two beautiful children, Pascaline and Blaze, and they will tell you that capturing their lives is the greatest honor of all.

	Frederick Van Johnson Your Website Sucks, Let’s Fix it More than any other time in history, having a world‐class website is critical to the success of any serious photographer. What good is having an amazing camera, talent, and business with no way to showcase your work? Having a successful website is not as simple as just throwing up some images, and expecting people to come. Today’s modern photographer websites are both stunningly beautiful, and complex on the back end. They encompass features like blogs, content management systems, image management systems, eCommerce, Search Engine Optimization, and more. In this session you will learn how to differentiate your web presence from your competitors by creating a flexible and self‐running gallery/ blog experience, all with minimum cash outlay. Bio Frederick Van Johnson is a professional photographer, marketer, and data storage expert. In addition to being Senior Marketing Manager at Data Robotics, inc. Frederick is also host of “This Week in Photography,” one of the world’s most popular photography‐related podcasts. Prior to Data Robotics, Frederick helped develop the award‐winning professional image management application Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Frederick was also key in the development of iPhoto, Apple’s award‐winning photo management application. Beginning his career as a Combat Photojournalist in the United States Air Force, Frederick served dutifully for 8 years and was decorated many times for his photographic work in the field. After leaving the military, Frederick went on to study Visual Communication at the University of California in Santa Barbara, California. Currently, Frederick works as a professional photographer and marketer. He is also the author of the popular book “Global Mobile, Connecting without Wires, Walls, or Borders”.

Photo by Gregory Heisler	Skip Cohen It's not who you know, it's who knows you! Why is it when you get a group of photographers together and start to talk about marketing and promotion everyone disappears? Marketing is vital to the growth of any and every business, but the potential costs are intimidating enough for businesses to completely avoid it. So how do you grow your business without spending a fortune on marketing? Skip's how-to marketing program takes a fun look at a variety of ideas including diversity in your business, cost-effective self-promotion, social media, publicity generators, ideas on networking, cross-promotion, packaging, direct mail and website development, just to name a few. You've worked hard to know how to focus on your subject, but are you paying the same attention to the focus of your business? Bio Skip Cohen is President of Marketing Essentials International, a marketing consulting firm specializing in projects dedicated to photography. Officially incorporated on May 1, the company launched its website, kicked off Skip’s Summer School with 15 different speakers and established one of the fastest growing individual blogs in professional photography, all within the first 60 days. He is former President/Chief Operating Officer of Rangefinder Publishing Inc. and previously had responsibility for Rangefinder Magazine, AfterCapture Magazine, the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Association and the WPPI Convention and Trade Show. He is also a regular contributor to Rangefinder Magazine, writing a monthly feature on marketing and business. Skip has been a recipient of ADL’s Torch of Liberty Award, Foto Imagen Magazine’s Man of the Year Award and in 2001 he received PPA’s Legacy Award for his work in support of PPA Charities. He has written five books on photography, The Art of Wedding Photography, The Art of the Digital Wedding and The Art of People Photography with Bambi Cantrell and Don’s Blair’s Guide to Posing and Lighting Body Parts. Book number five, co-authored with Joe Buissink, Wedding Photography from the Heart, is expected to be released in the fall of 2009.

Session sponsored by Shoot Q	Dane Sanders How to Rule Your Photo Business (before your business rules you) Imagine life as a professional photographer where everything you do is a reflection of you; where your confidence comes from who you are and not what someone else says you’re supposed to be. Now, imagine a recession- and competition-proof business built on those core strengths, freeing you up to be completely genuine in your work and your life. But how do you make the jump from here to there? Let Dane Sanders give you the practical tools necessary to make your business dreams a reality. Bio Dane is in the midst of his fourth year of shooting weddings professionally and has been with Pictage since he began. He was one of the founding members of the now world famous OpenSourcePhoto Forum and has found his greatest joy in creating images around life's most meaningful moments. Dane's efforts have recently been recognized in such noteworthy publications as Professional Photographer and Rangefinder Magazines. He was also recently selected to be one of a handful of photographers highlighted in Lou Jacob's upcoming book on Modern Wedding Photography. That said, he is probably most well known for his "Photo Minute" video podcasts that he began in 2006.

	Melissa Jill Top 3 Keys to Long-term Success Melissa Jill shares the top 3 things that helped make her business nationally recognized, profitable and efficient all in under 5 years time. There are so many things that vie for our time and attention as business owners. Learn how to take control and focus on the keys to long-term success. Learn how to develop a recognizable brand, network like crazy and systematize your workflow for maximum efficiency and profit. Bio Melissa Jill took her Gilbert, Arizona studio from its insemination in 2003 to a full-time business shooting 20-25 weddings a year both in Arizona and around the nation in just 18 months time. She is an award-winning member of the WPJA, has been a member of Pictage since 2003, and enjoys leading the Phoenix PUG.

	Jay Goldman FLASH DANCE: Control your light- Don’t let it control you Jay will review the most popular gadgets, gizmos and lighting modifiers that have flooded the photo industry in the past few years. Lighting tests will be done with products such as: Lightsphere, Flip-it, Flexfill, Lastolite, Sun Bounce, Lite Panels, and Elinchrom Ranger Strobe units. Remote trigger systems will be tested, such as Pocket Wizards, Radio Poppers, and Micro Syncs, as well as soft boxes, umbrellas, beauty dishes, ring lights, and hot lights. By the end of the hour seminar, attendees will have a clear understanding of the options that are available for them to rent or purchase for their next shoot and also the results that they can expect to achieve with some of the new and old school lighting equipment on the market today. Bio Jay’s 20 years of photography experience began in New York, photographing teen sensations such as Marky Mark, New Kids On The Block, Tiffany, and Debbie Gibson. Jay now operates out of Los Angeles, CA. His various areas of expertise include weddings and events, entertainment industry (on set and portraits), and product photography and still life (specializing in fine jewelry). His work has been featured in magazines such as, InStyle, Inside Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Town & Country, Angeleno Magazine, LA Confidential, and has also recently shot the covers for Modern Jeweler Magazine and In Design Magazine. Jay has been a featured photographer on America’s Next Top Model, along with recording audio and video interviews for Pictage, F-stop Beyond, and Photography Mentor. Rangefinder Magazine recently interviewed Jay for an upcoming feature story.

	Mark Zucker Your Business Needs to Lose 1,000 Pounds The average starting price for full service wedding coverage in the US is approximately $2,500. With the rise in popularity of “Shoot and Burn” photographers that are charging as little as $500, it’s getting harder and harder to attract new clients. For the full service photographer to stay busy, they’ll need to shed $1,000 of “waste” out of their operation. They can then lower starting prices by $1,000, while still maintaining the same profits. Our “less is more” fitness program entails less shooting, less editing, less designing… and more time behind the camera and with clients. Like any “weight loss” program, the photographer will need to make some big changes. The reward will be to emerge as a healthier company that is “lean and mean” and poised for growth. Bio Mark Zucker is the Founder and CEO of Zookbinders Inc., a Chicago based manufacturer of Photo Albums and Photo Books that supplies the professional photography trade. In “Your Business Needs to Lose 1000 Pounds,” Mark combines his own experiences of running a lean company with his vision of staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing industry.

	Roberto Valenzuela Harnessing Talent Through Deliberate Practice Master techniques of preparation and the art of deliberate practice. Photography, much like a musical instrument or a sport, is a craft that must be effectively practiced. Simply putting in the years and pushing the shutter button thousands of times is not an effective way to master your craft. This program is designed to teach you groundbreaking practicing techniques that will change the way you prepare for a job, and transform you into a fine-tuned photographer. Together, we will design an effective, goal oriented practice regiment that will make the most challenging aspects of photography become second nature to you. Bio Roberto Valenzuela is a wedding photographer based out of Beverly Hills, Ca. His academic background is in Economics and Marketing however, it was his 10 years as a concert classical guitarist, which gave him such a unique outlook and motivated him to master his love for photography the way he tackled his musical instrument. In his 4 and a half years as a wedding photographer, Roberto Valenzuela has been awarded over 50 International print competition accolades from the WPPI, and has been a three time International first place winner. In his most recent two-hour appearance with Camera Dojo, Roberto Valenzuela’s interview drew more than 10,000 people from all over the world to download his pod cast. Roberto will also be sharing his current fine art and fashion work including the photographs of the winning designs on the popular TV show “Project Runway”.

	Gary Fong State of the Industry For 20 years, Gary Fong operated one of the most financially successful photography studios ever. Starting by charging $150 to shoot a wedding (with no time limit!) he began selling large wedding albums with a simple premise, pre-designing the album and emphasizing album design over anything else. In an era of shoot-to-burn price competition, Gary will carefully explain how to achieve ravingly happy clients and how to grow your business exponentially with no advertising. Gary will explain the system he relied on to allow him to enjoy remarkable financial success even through two deep recessions, and will explain why consumers distrust advertising in difficult times, and how to price reasonably and effectively. Gary retired from photography at 42, just after co-founding the lab at Pictage. He then went on to design the Lightsphere family of diffusers, and controls a multimillion dollar empire including real estate, plastics manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. Bio As a professional photographer Gary ended his 20 year long career in 2002 to pursue other interests, including creating the solution to unflattering images lit with direct flash lighting called the "Lightsphere." Since introducing the Lightsphere in late 2004, more than 400,000 Lightspheres have been sold worldwide. After inventing the Lightsphere, Gary built a veritable cottage industry around variations on his popular dome-shaped Lightsphere light diffuser including variations called, "The Origami" and "The Puffer.” Gary has expanded into extensive real estate holdings with properties in the U.S. and Canada, a shipping and distribution warehouse in Wisconsin Rapids, WI and a plastics manufacturing company in Columbus, Indiana specializing in environmentally-friendly plastics made from corn and other bio materials. His most recent book THE ACCIDENTAL MILLIONAIRE: How to Succeed in Life without Really Trying," has been described as “a humorous, poignant memoir of the man said to have revolutionized wedding photography.”

	Shari Zellers Marketing to Vendors: Making Contacts, Making Friends, Getting Business Today, someone will get engaged and begin planning their wedding. How can you get your brand in front of clients faster with more bookings guaranteed? In order to do this you need to know your local industry’s vendors and they need to know you. So, how do you meet other vendors and get them to remember and refer you? Every wedding has 20 or more vendors and each one of them is a potential marketing partner! This presentation will show you the best way to connect to your local vendors and make friends with them to expand your exposure and increase bookings. We’ll discuss how to start from scratch and what to do after the wedding along with several methods to tap into this vital resource. Bio Atlanta native, Shari Zellers has been working in the photography industry for over 20 years. Her love for photography began at a young age with a Kodak Instamatic that went with her everywhere and by 19, she was managing a pro photo lab and camera store. While her college pursuit started in graphic design and illustration, she realized her life-long passion and changed course to receive a BFA in Fine Art Photography. NationsBank offered her first freelance opportunity at the 1996 Centennial Olympics. Since starting her business in 1999, she has photographed over 350 weddings, for which she has received four awards and the Professional Wedding Guild award for “Most Dedicated Professional”. She is also on-call for Operation Love Reunited, volunteer photographers who take family portraits and capture homecomings for our military personnel.

	Mike Larson Get Simple Shooting Workshop What are simple tricks you can use during a shoot? Are you leading your clients or are you waiting for them to move? How can you make your clients more comfortable, more beautiful, and more excited about you and your work? How can you demonstrate confident leadership in the middle of a shoot? How will doing something like that affect your entire business, or even your community? Bio Mike Larson is sought after to photograph spectacular weddings around the world. Mike speaks all over the world to photographers on various topics. Mike uses live shoots to demonstrate how to get the images perfect in the camera, rather than relying on (and wasting time in) post-production. Mike teaches how to have the confidence to shoot without trial and error, making you look better and your clients feel more comfortable. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Rachel.

	Kevin Swan, Shaun Austin, Nathan Holritz Get Simple Workshop This special 2-hour session is divided into three parts (along with a shooting workshop led by Mike Larson the following day). Stand Out in a Crowd: Use Branding to Your Advantage (Kevin Swan) Does your brand stand out? Do people know what you stand for--and what you don't? Do you know how to select and defend a marketing position? Do you even know what a marketing position is? How does this affect your business? Double Your Income with Album Sales (Kevin Swan) Kevin sold over $140,000 to only 18 brides in 2008 using a simple predesign system. He'll walk you through, step by step, how he does it and answer any questions you have! Turn Your Customers Into Advertisers (Shaun Austin) What are simple tricks to landing a client? How do you handle your interviews? Are you turning your clients into evangelists? Do you surprise them, wow them? Do you know how to under-promise and over deliver? Do you have it built into your standard workflow? How does something like taking your clients to dinner impact your bottom line? Process Like a Pro in Lightroom (Nathan Holritz) Are you trapped behind the computer for days after a shoot? Are you using the speedy Lightroom or are you still stuck in sluggish Photoshop? What would you do with the extra time if you could edit a wedding in 3-4 hours instead of 3-4 days? Bios Kevin Swan: Kevin helps develop CS and LightRoom for Adobe. He is a long-time advertising man (the former creative director of an advertising agency) and enjoys teaching photographers the things he picked up in marketing. He regularly sells more than $100,000 of albums a year to his fewer than 20 brides, and loves teaching photographers how to do the same. He lives in Indiana with his wife, Rachelle, and his 4 kids. Shaun Austin: Shaun's been involved in the photography industry for over 10 years. He's worn many hats in that time, including photographer, studio owner, photo-lab owner, retail camera store owner, and now part owner of KISS Wedding Books. He lives and works in California, with his wife, Jamie, and his 3 kids. Nathan Holritz: Nathan is not only a high-end wedding photographer in his hometown of Chattanooga, but has had the opportunity to speak to photographers from across the country about how to structure one's business and life to maximize the amount of time spent with loved ones. Nathan also founded and runs Photographer's Edit.

	Chris Williams 2-Hour Hands-on Shooting Workshop ReBirth, Photographic Tour Beyond the French Quarter Are you feeling a bit uninspired by your own work? Would you like to return home with a series of images that reflect the city – reflect you curiosity -- that reconnect you with your passion for photography? New Orleans resident Chris Williams will lead a group through the Crescent City, visiting the 9th Ward, the Garden District, Lakeview, and the Faubourg Marginy. You'll see areas still devastated by Katrina, and areas that have rebuilt stronger than ever. Along the way, you'll hear stories that will make you laugh. Some that will make you cry. Some that will inspire you. And, of course, you'll create images. Purposeful images. Images that show what you see, and show what you feel. Come explore the rebirth of New Orleans, and just maybe, find a rebirth within yourself. Bio Chris Williams was born in Spain in the early 70s....He lived in Spain, Turkey, Chile, Pittsburgh, Houston, Florida, Alabama, Baton Rouge and until finally moving to New Orleans. He is a talented musician that always dreamt of being a professional drummer. When he and his wife moved to New Orleans 15 years ago, he discovered his passion for the city which lead to his love for photography. He started photographing wherever he went, the people, the buildings, the texture, the culture. People started offering to pay for his photographs and he soon realized he could make a living as a professional photographer. He calls his style of photography “documentary photography.”

	David Beckstead 2-Hour Hands-on Shooting Workshops. Wednesday, November 4th or Thursday, November 5th A Shoot with Beckstead is about “Seeing” Differently. Seeing at a New Level! Often we are so caught up with what the client wants that we end up shooting “safe-shots” and then more safe-shots completely ignoring our own artistic drive. Sometimes the beauty of the model drags your lens in like a magnet keeping you focused on fashion while great composition slips past you. The leading line, the reflection, the shadow, the light was right there…why did you not “see” it!? Bring one camera, one wide-angle lens and an open mind to “see” and shoot in a new way -- Beckstead Style! Bio David was named “The Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World” by American Photo magazine - March 2007. He was one of the first registered trackers for Arizona Search and Rescue, while carrying a Nikon SLR with a 50 mm 1.8 lens. He is a fine art watercolor painter and lover of all things artistic. He lives in NE Washington State and mixes his passion for art and travel to run a 13 year destination wedding photography business. Kassandra, his wife (of 17 fabulous years!) and business partner, shares his passions. Together they have successfully mixed their lifestyle with their business. They have a two year old girl named Asia. They have photographed weddings in Italy, Scotland, Ireland, UK, Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Vietnam and many other destination style shoots.

	Jules Bianchi Shooting Workshop Location, Lighting & Love: Creating the Perfect Wedding Day Portraits Do you get nervous if you're about to shoot in a venue you've never been to, aren't sure of the lighting conditions or haven't met the people you're going to photograph? Jules' shooting workshop will be covering those exact fears! Learn how to have a plan, even if you don't have all of the pieces of the puzzle yet! Jules is going to take a whole bridal party to Washington Artillery Park. She will talk her way through her thought process of how she deals with large groups of people, how she puts them at ease and gets fun, relaxed portraits. Bio An international award-winning photographer, Jules’ work has been published in magazines such as Los Angeles Wedding, Bride & Bloom, The Knot, Your Wedding Day, and Ceremony. Her work has also been featured in vendor samples from Leather Craftsmen, Livebooks, Kolo, and Pictage. . Jules speaks and teaches other photographers on a regular basis. She has spoken at Pictage PartnerCon, Digital Wedding Forum Convention, the PPGBA and Kevin Kubota’s Bootcamp, just to name a few. She created a website called Jules Cafe (www.julescafe.com) specifically designed for photographers to learn, grow & share. Jules has a home studio in West Hollywood where she often sleeps in quite late because of her extreme night-owl tendencies.

	Scott Bourne Photowalk A Photo Walk through the French Quarter with Scott Bourne Scott will lead this visually stimulating PhotoWalk throughout the French Quarter, providing you with an abundance of opportunities to photograph the unique architecture, people and happenings of one of the most famous and historic areas of New Orleans. The best thing about this PhotoWalk is that there are no rules! You'll enjoy an engaging photographic journey that will take you over the course of a few miles as you capture all the amazing sights, and enjoy the many other "senses" that the French Quarter delivers (such as live Jazz, the smell of gumbo, and cobble stones at your feet). The PhotoWalk will kick off from the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel and meander along Bourbon Street and throughout the many alleyways, nooks and crannies of the French Quarter. Along the way, Scott will informally instruct and discuss various photography-related topics. The PhotoWalk will conclude back at the hotel, providing the opportunity for all participants to share their images and experiences. Tweet-Up (November 3, 4:30 pm-6:30 pm) In concurrence with our Tuesday evening reception (featuring live music, libations and appetizers), Scott Bourne will be hosting our first Tweet-Up for all PartnerCon “twittering” attendees! What’s a Tweet-up you ask? Basically it’s one more opportunity for you to connect with your community, and get to know in-person those that you follow on Twitter. Attendees will have badges with their Twitter names, Scott and others will be discussing the value and nuances of Twitter, we’ll be “tweeting” from the reception, and we’ll be raffling off some really cool prizes as well. But most of all a Tweet-Up is all about making connections and having fun! Bio Scott Bourne is a digital media pioneer and has been involved in photography for more than three decades. He’s the author of four photo books including, 88 Secrets to Selling & Publishing Your Photography, Captivating Wildlife, with David Middleton, 88 Secrets to Photoshop for Photographers, and 88 Secrets to Wildlife Photography with Rod Barbee. Scott’s also authored three photography-related titles for Lynda.com. Scott’s led workshops and seminars for, Palm Beach Photographic Center, Cooperative Communicators of America, WPPA, The Professional Photographers of America, Seattle Art Center, and Olympic Mountain School of Photography. He holds the designation Apple Certified Professional Trainer (T3) for Apple’s Aperture. He’s also previously held the designation Certified Adobe Photoshop Instructor. Scott is a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), the National Association of Photoshop Professionals and the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA.)

	Kurt Gerber Shooting Workshop One Photographer - One Camera - One Couple - One hour in the park in New Orleans Kurt Gerber will demonstrate how to make some captivating images of your wedding couples. We will demonstrate some tried and true techniques, poses and principles for sure success with your couples when you get back home. A lovely, newly wed, New Orleans couple will be our models. We will be shooting in famous Latrobe Park. Join Gerber + Scarpelli's Kurt Gerber as he guides you on a one hour photo safari in New Orleans. The goal of this shooting workshop is to help participants learn how to take the most simple elements and combine them with their own personal vision to create some artful, beautiful, silly and sweet moments. This workshop will provide some "go to" tools to use when you have limited time and want to maximize your results. Bio Always attracted to the fine arts, Kurt studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he began developing an aesthetic informed by renaissance painting, modern art and pop culture. Kurt spent his early career making images for advertising clients, with his full-service production company in upstate New York and office in Manhattan. Upon discovering the friendly environs of Chicago, he formed a commercial photography business there in the mid-nineties. After shooting many of his advertising clients' weddings, Kurt found his photography style sought after by many in the business. In 1997, he turned his friendship with Michael Scarpelli into a successful partnership.

	Sara France Shooting Workshop This shoot will be filled with excitement as you will have to opportunity to hit the streets of New Orleans with Sara and a sexy, crazy, edgy model. The shoot would not be complete without props that include an incredible wedding dress, New Orleans costume accessories like masks and feathers and all the accessories that make a shoot like this over the top fabulous. Sara will give you hands-on training on how to prepare for a shoot like this, such as looking for the perfect location, lighting, lenses, as well as working with the subject to create incredible expressions that complete the image. This shoot will leave you inspired, with new knowledge on lighting including both available light and Sara's personal favorite, Video Light. Not only are you going to have a blast on this shoot. Sara will make sure you leave with images that you can post on the front page of your website. See you on the streets of New Orleans! Bio Sara France a Southern California based photographer has captured Weddings, Portraiture, and Commercial Photography all over the world. Her ability to embrace technology and outsourcing allows her the freedom to travel and run a successful business from anywhere in the world. Sara has been a huge part of the Pictage Community from launching the Pictage Forums and the majority of Pictage User Groups across the country. Sara France Photography has been featured in many publications such as, Modern Bride, Cermony Magazine, and San Diego Style Weddings. Sara's modern and creative business model has allowed her the opportunity to help other discover their true gifts and create successful photography businesses for themselves.