Inspiration Summit Sponsor

Join Julieanne Kost, Digital Imaging Evangelist at Adobe, to discover her favorite new features, tips, and techniques that will help you become more effective and creative when culling and editing images in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. Julieanne will demonstrate new selection and masking and enhancements as well as AI tools for retouching, reducing noise, and removing distracting elements from photographs.

About Julieanne Kost:

 Named  one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Julieanne  Kost is the Digital Imaging Evangelist Director at Adobe Systems,  responsible for fostering relationships with customers through  meaningful and inspirational Photoshop and Lightroom instruction. As a  highly sought-after speaker for the industry-standard Digital Imaging  franchise, she devises and presents motivating and educational training  sessions, sharing original techniques and tutorials worldwide — via live  events, Adobe.com, her blog (jkost.com/blog)  and website  (jkost.com). She is also the author of  “Passenger Seat—Creating a Photographic Project from Conception Through  Execution in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom” and “Window Seat — The Art of  Digital Photography and Creative Thinking”, an accomplished photographer  and fine artist, and creator and host of the popular Photoshop CC  Essential Training, Lightroom & Photoshop Workflows, Photoshop  Automation Techniques, and the Art of Photoshop Compositing for LinkedIn  Learning | Lynda.com.

Kost  is well-known for her unique approach to instruction, infusing  practical tips and tricks with an equal amount of humor and creativity  that keeps audiences entertained and engaged. She often serves as a  guest lecturer at distinguished photography schools and leading  educational institutions around the world. She has created and published  more than a thousand instructional videos for Adobe Photoshop and  Lightroom. 

For  her outstanding service and contributions to the photographic industry,  she received the Chuck Westfall Technical Education award from the  Lucie Foundation, the Gerhard Bakker and Warren Motts International  Service awards from the Professional Photographers of America, and was  granted the title of Honorary Educational Associate as well as received  the International Award for her significant contributions to  Professional Photography as an Art and a Science from the American  Society of Photographers, and was inducted to the Photoshop Hall of Fame  by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.

The  combination of her passion for photography, mastery of digital imaging  techniques and her degree in psychology, makes her photographic and fine  artwork familiar, yet surreal with inventive and mysterious worlds  where things are not quite as they seem. Her work has been exhibited  numerous times and featured in several publications including NatGeo  Traveler, CNN Travel,  Behance.net,  FUBIZ, PetaPixel.com, thisiscolossal.com,  CreateMagazine,  and Australian Photography Magazine.
Kost holds an AA in Fine Art Photography and a BS in Psychology.

https://jkost.net/

You become an advocate of shelter animals the moment you press the shutter of your camera. This is why it is so important to provide quality images that highlight an animal's personality when you are at the animal shelter or rescue. You will learn how to interact and photograph shelter animals so that when adopters view the images, they see them as potential family members. Lisa will also share with you how, when, where and why to share images and stories on social media.

About Lisa Francescon:

Based out of Coal Valley, Illinois, Lisa has been capturing the relationships and personalities of families, children, and high school seniors with her camera since 2004. In 2015, Lisa began to focus on pet portraiture and her primary client now has fur and whiskers. Lisa did her first fundraiser for an animal shelter in 2017 and continues to raise money and photograph shelter animals to increase their chances of finding a forever home. Lisa holds a bachelor's degree in Special Education, a Master's Degree in Education and taught in the public school system for many years. Lisa has been awarded the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees. She is also certified through the Professional Photographers of America and has won numerous awards both at the state and international level.
 

https://www.momentsbylisa.com/

Carl will demonstrate LIVE how he works with ONE light and what is already in place to produce powerful and salable images. Carl has always believed that you must have a good background and good light present together; then the subject can exist and be recorded. In this live event you will witness Carl choosing a location and placing a subject within the scene to create depth and balance. Then he will light the pose and record. Yes, this will be live so... mistakes and all you get Carl "Un-Plugged"!

About Carl Caylor:

Carl is a down-to-earth, portrait photographer and photographic instructor. He has been involved with professional photography for over 30 years. He started his photographic career as a custom printer and technician and now covers a gamut of photographic assignments including portrait, wedding, commercial, environmental and photojournalism. He is PPA certified, a master photographer, a craftsman with Professional Photographers of America and an international juror. Carl is one of 129 photographers to earn the ASP-Fellowship. He has won numerous national awards for his photography, including 29 PPA Loan Collections and several Kodak Gallery, Fuji Masterpiece and Lexjet Awards. Carl is the author of the book “Portraiture Unplugged” a guide to natural light portraits and is one of the most sought-after instructors in the country because of his "hands-on" coaching approach. He enjoys sharing what he has learned so far in his journey. Carl’s greatest strength in our industry is his ability to see what skills others already possess and how to break down concepts on a personal level to help advance those skills further. Carl is happiest when he can help other artists succeed and witness growth in the footsteps of our industry.

https://www.photoimagesbycarl.net/

Navigating the path to mastery is like embarking on a constant uphill journey, filled with a plethora of choices—gear, locations, and the eternal debate of whether to hit snooze or savor that cup of coffee. Ah, the dilemmas of a photographer's dawn! In this unpredictable world, capturing the perfect wildlife shot

often feels like a rendezvous with Lady Luck herself. Yet, as a wise friend once told me: luck favors the prepared mind. So, buckle up and join me as I spill the beans on the myriad of lessons I've gathered, fine-tuning my brain for the wild escapades that await me in the field. From the strategic decisions to the quirky rituals that keep the creative juices flowing, we'll journey through the art of preparation with a sprinkle of flair. Because, after all, mastering the craft is not just about snapping photos—it's about dancing with the unpredictable rhythm of the great outdoors!

About Erica Lane Harvey, M.Photog., M.Artist, Cr., CPP:

Hey there, I'm Erica Lane Harvey—a storyteller, Disney enthusiast, adventure seeker, and proud companion to Mabel, my delightfully goofy poodle. Picture this: a photographer with a love for capturing magical moments and a dog with a penchant for stealing the spotlight. That's our dynamic duo! My journey in the world of photography began at Brooks Institute, where I graduated with honors in 2003, specializing in photojournalism. Upon graduation I returned to Rapid City, South Dakota and have been running my business in some shape or form since 2005. Since joining PPA in 2016, my path has been marked by a relentless pursuit of mastery by earning merits towards the higher degrees within the association. 

Currently, I own the only Pet Portrait Studio in the Black Hills. My days are filled with the joy of capturing the unique spirit of furry companions. Although my focus has shifted to the delightful world of pet portraiture, I continue to explore the enchanting landscapes of the Black Hills and Badlands National Park whenever time permits. Living in this picturesque area is a constant source of inspiration. I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by so much abundant wildlife on which to focus my lens when I need a break form all the crazy dogs.

https://www.ericalanephotography.com/

If opportunity knocks at your door will you answer? Better yet, will you step over the threshold once it’s opened to see what, or who, is on the other side? If you don’t you might miss out on a world of possibilities. But how do you know when a door of possibilities opens up? What if you hesitate and it closes? Kristy Steeves reluctantly stepped through one such door and it changed the course of her professional and personal life. Door after door after door kept opening up after that, one leading to another and another, taking her on the most amazing journey! Now, Kristy is going to share what she’s learned about the Door of Possibilities with the hope that it could change your life too!

About Kristy Steeves, M.Photog., M.Artist, Cr., CPP, F-ASP:

Kristy Steeves graduated from Indiana University with two Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism and political science. She worked as a television news reporter for 25 years before switching careers to become a professional photographer. She specializes in children, high school seniors, corporate head shots, pets, and wildlife. Kristy is actively involved in the photography industry serving as a PPA approved international juror and an elected council member. She also serves on the Board of Governors with the American Society of Photographers. Kristy has won various awards including 4 television Emmy awards, PPA Diamond Photographer of the Year, Ohio Photographer of the Year and is a two-time finalist for the IPC Grand Imaging Award with 2nd place in the Photographic Open Album Category. Kristy is a PPA webinar instructor, an Imaging USA speaker and has earned PPA’s 100EDU speaker bar. She is also the recipient of the Imaging Excellence award. She is an ASP Fellow – the highest honor a professional photographer can achieve.

http://kristysteevesphotography.com/

In this program, Richie will talk about his business model that allows him to shoot on location, indoors at pet stores using a lower price, higher volume strategy. Learn about:

• Following a ‘high volume, low price’ business model to attain business success. 

• Ideal clients/partners and where to find them.

• Creating strategic partnerships with other vendors, businesses, and organizations in the pet industry. 

• What selling propositions to use when partnering with pet local stores. 

• Pointers on how to partner with other businesses. 

• Successful marketing efforts when partnering with local pet businesses. 

• His "Shoot-Show-Sell" system to generate income fast. 

• Production tips for financial efficiency and quick delivery time.

 About Richie Schwartz:

After a 25-year photography career in the New York City/Long Island market doing weddings, schools and families, Richie decided to specialize. As a pet lover and former Veterinary Technician, working solely with pets became the goal. In 2001 he and partners came up with a plan to partner with other pet businesses to form mutually beneficial relationships. They won contracts with the two largest pet supply stores in the US. They grew the business into the largest pet photography studio in the USA with a staff of 40 photographers taking pet portraits at 600 stores in 30 states. 

In 2006, Richie left that company to open his Pets Photography Studio LLC on a smaller scale. Richie put his studio in 80 PETCO stores in NY, NJ, CT. In 2010, he took on the same role for Pet Supplies Plus, in 40 stores. In 2012 the studio began partnering with more independent pet businesses such as grooming salons, doggie daycares, dog kennels, and pet boutiques.

Richie has been recognized both for his photography and his contributions to the community. He provides free photography for Pet Rescue groups. Richie was named to NBC Universal's list of Top 25 Pet People of 2010 along with Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, for their charity work with animals.

• 2018 - Pet Photographer of the Year (NY Pet Fashion Show) 

• 2017 - Society Paws Award for Best Pro Pet Photographer (NYC) 

• 2023 - EIGHT-time winner: Best Pet Photographer on Long Island (Long Island Press) 

• Featured on TV, blogs, podcasts, magazines and newspapers including Modern Dog Magazine, American Dog Magazine, Pet Home Magazine, Pets in the City Magazine, Metropolitan Magazine, Newsday, Wall Street Journal, and Cats In Sweaters Calendars and book. 

Richie is an admired educator. He offers mentoring in Pet Photography techniques, Sales, Marketing, Partnering, Volume Photography and more. Richie runs several Facebook groups for Pro Photographers. As of January 2024, his various social media has over 50,000 followers.

http://petsphotography.com/

When you find your niche in photography, finding the right clients can be intimidating and overwhelming. Where do I start? Who do I network with? How come so many successful photographers, who are winning awards, have a more diverse portfolio than others? Do I want to photograph tons of pets inexpensively or keep my client list smaller but charge more? "Am I looking for Love in all the wrong places..?" Or finding the Right Clients to keep you busy, solvent and inspired? Let's spend a few minutes together finding our direction by searching for exactly what we want to have and NOT by want we HAVE TO DO right this minute....find a few clients to find "romance with" and not speed dating.

About Gena Tussey

Growing up on a small farm in East Tennessee, I found out really quickly that I preferred interaction with animals much more comfortable than with people...armed with a Kodak Duoflex and film, just being on a farm was a way to communicate differently. I joined the PPA in 2012, received my CPP the same year, Master of Photography, 2016, Photographic Craftsman in 2018, Master Artist in 2023 during which time I have had 5 images become GIA finalists with 1 image winning a Grand Imaging Award in creative open. I became a PPA Approved Juror in 2022 and cannot tell you how inspired I am by being able to see so many incredible works of art done by fellow PPA members each year! I truly believe the only way to become better is to learn from those who inspire you, aggravate you and push you to jump out of the box into the unknown...lets take that leap!

https://genatussey-stationhousephotography.com/

Are you good at taking risks?  Admittedly, I do not.  After 15 years of being a wedding photographer in Colorado, the pandemic nudged me into making the leap from a successful wedding business to becoming a dog photographer!  My secret sauce was in building a mobile portrait studio that travels to clients homes to photograph their beloved fur family.  By following my journey, I aim to inspire you to consider how you can break outside of your comfort zone and attract clients in a way that is unique to you.  I’ll share some insight on how my mobile studio works and will encourage you to imagine how you can grow your business in a fun and unique way. 

About Ryan Erickson

Hi, I'm Ryan Erickson. I am the owner and photographer of Fetch Photo Truck in Denver, Colorado. I was born and raised in Colorado and love the many adventures it offers me every day. My black Lab, Henry, is always by my side, ready for belly rubs, really big stretches, and all the fun we can find.

I have a bachelor’s degree in fine art photography from the University of Colorado at Denver and over 16 years of portrait photography experience.  In a past life, I was a cook.  If you’re lucky enough someday, you’ll get to experience my authentic pad Thai dish that I adapted from my travels in Thailand. 

https://fetchphototruck.com/

This presentation touches on self-awareness, reducing drama, and how these two specific areas can impact your life professionally and personally when you put this "connection" knowledge into action.

About Kim Madsen

Kim is the “Connection Expert”, just ask her husband, boys, and family ! She believes connections transform our lives, and sometimes connections save our lives. Kim speaks to audiences, individuals and/or companies, helping them understand the self-awareness and actions needed to create connections in order to be our best and see others for their best.. The examples she has seen through her career, education, current work and passion projects are proof that you just don’t know when reaching out and making a connection is going to change or impact another person’s life. It can be simple!

https://www.kmadsenconsulting.org/