News

Immersive Classes That Fill Out Fast!

Published: September 19, 2022

Pre-con classes take place in the days leading up to the conference, January 19-21, and allow attendees to hone in on specialized topics like CPP Exam Prep, Image Evaluation, Boudoir Photography, and more. Small class sizes allow for in-depth learning and the chance to interact with expert speakers. Deep Dive classes take place Saturday, January 21, and will feature multiple speakers giving their strongest insights on the topic. Imaging USA has a class for everyone! Choose from:

  • Full-Day Classes
  • Multi-Day Classes
  • And Half-Day Classes!

 

Full Day Pre-Cons: 
 

Thursday, January 19 | 9am-5pm

Painting With Photoshop
With Sandra Pearce

Sandra has a working knowledge of traditional and computer-based art, as well as experience teaching each form. In her experience, photographers are already comfortable with tools used in Photoshop. In her class, Sandra enables photographers to concentrate on painting techniques rather than learning a new program, empowering them to create beautiful images. 

 

Friday, January 20 | 9am-5pm

Mastering High Volume Headshots
With Gary Hughes

Headshots have become a huge genre in professional photography, but the real money is in volume. So, anyone can shoot a headshot, right? What about 10? What about 100? What about 1000? In this new live demo program, learn how to market for, book, organize and execute team and event headshots in a way that will create raving clients and huge income streams in your business. If you want to know how to break into this incredible and lucrative genre from start to finish, don’t miss this class! 

 

The Business of High School Seniors
With Jenn Lewis

Prepare to learn the ins and outs of high school senior work, including the importance of an influencer team, how to work with senior clients, in-person sales, and the steps between consultation to delivery. Walk away with valuable tips on how to prepare a client for a successful sale and overcome objections during the sales process. Take Jenn's expertise to task and move past the common issues so you can enjoy your client relationships and business!

 

-Deep Dives-

Saturday, January 21 | 10am-5pm

Boudoir Deep Dive
Kelli Connor, Andrea Mendoza, Susan Eckert, Kiati Plooksawasdi
This Deep Dive sponsored by The Boudoir Album will feature 4 dynamic speakers sharing their expertise on this growing genre of photography. Kelli will show you how to increase your average sale and upsell during the ordering appointment. Susan will share her key to sustainable business through market highs and lows. Kiati will teach you to wield light to bend and contour the body in her live demonstration. Lastly, Andrea will show you how to optimize communication with each client, creating safety, trust, and an encouraging client relationship that keeps them coming back for more!
Sponsored by The Boudoir Album.


Branch Out With School & Sports Photography To Grow Your Business 
Mitchell Moore, Heather Crowder, Carl Bott
This Deep Dive sponsored by Gotphoto, will be led by 3 photographers who provide great insights into the world of volume photography. Successful portrait and volume photography veterans, Mitchell Moore, Heather Crowder, and Carl Bott will teach you everything you need to succeed with school and sports photography! Learn how to build profitable price lists, target the right schools or teams, turn “volume” customers into portrait studio clients, and so much more. This session is both highly informative but also highly practical. Embrace volume photography and move your business forward in the industry!
Sponsored by GotPhoto.

 

Multi-Day Pre-Cons: 
 

Thursday, January 19 – Friday, January 20

Business Intensive for Portrait Photographers
With Lindsay Betz, Allison Tyler Jones, & Scott Kurkian

Day 1 of this full-day class will focus on your financials and the foundational considerations for your business, beginning with defining your individual business model and your personal definition of success. You’ll learn managerial accounting for photographers and what you need to know about your legal structure and taxes. Additionally, you’ll come away with an understanding of pricing for profitability, which is vital to the sustainability of your business.
Day 2 of this full-day class focuses on discovering and attracting the right clients, developing your brand, selling confidently, and competing in today’s business landscape.

 

CPP Prep Class
With Cris Duncan or Steve Kozak
Planning to take the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) exam? Before you do, why not take this intensive class covering all the technical topics on the exam? You'll gain a better technical knowledge of photography, which probably means a more peaceful sleep before the exam!
This Certification Prep Class isn't for the faint of heart– it's an in-depth study of the technical side of photography that’s almost the equivalent of a college semester! You may work hard and study hard in this course, but you'll also walk away a more polished, knowledgeable, confident professional. You can even choose to take the CPP exam after the class while the information is fresh in your mind!

 

Half-Day Pre-Cons: 

 

Friday, January 20 

Certification Technical Image Evaluation Prep | AM & PM Classes Offered
Jamie Hayes
Is your goal to become a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP)? Jamie will give you an in-depth look at the process of creating and understanding the Technical Image Evaluation. You will review the criteria and guidelines for submitting your evaluation and receive helpful tips on creating your best evaluation using a light meter, camera angles, exposure ranges, and more. Get ready to ace your evaluation!
 

Saturday, January 21

Editing for Clients and Photographic Competition
Kristy Steeves
As a PPA-approved juror, Kristy has an eye for things that can be fixed with photoshop. In her class, you’ll learn how to deal with challenges that arise and maintain a natural look in your photography. Her treasure trove of Photoshop editing techniques will take your work to the next level!

 

Techniques for Commercial Product Photography
Joseph Glyda
Learn how to create exceptional images that pop the subject off the page, from recognized food photographer and author, Joe Glyda. After this session, you can expect to walk away with an understanding of how to create a setup for basic commercial product photography and you will have learned problem-solving techniques that will help separate your work from the competition!
 

 

This is just a small selection of the full-day, multi-day, and half-day classes we have available! Pre-cons sell out well in advance, so early registration is advised. Visit the Schedule page and filter by session type to find a pre-con that’s right for you.

We can't wait to see you in January! Don't forget to register for your all-access pass now through December 1 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.