Professionals Photographers of America

Professionals Photographers of America takes place on 31 January – 2 February 2027 at Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte. It is organised by Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and B2DB lists 74 speakers and 124 sessions announced so far.

Imaging USA is a three-day photography conference, trade show and exhibit organised by Professional Photographers of America (PPA). The 2027 edition takes place at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and features classes on photography and business skills, a keynote presentation, networking opportunities, an expo and pre-convention classes.

Key facts

Keynote speakers

• Tyler Gillum

Speakers (74)

Compiled from the published agenda; speakers can claim and verify their own entry.

• Tyler Gillum
• Andrea de Anda ANDREA DE ANDA PHOTOGRAPHY
• Carl Caylor Photo Images by Carl, Inc.
• Eli Infante Eli Infante Photography
• Ian Spanier Ian Spanier Photography
• Jennifer Hillenga TheWaysOfTheDog
• Jeremy Saffer Jeremy Saffer Photography
• Lindsay Adler Lindsay Adler Photography
• Pete Coco PETE COCO PHOTOGRAPHY
• Roberto Valenzuela Roberto Valenzuela Photography
• Ab Sesay
• Ahmad Barber ABDMSTUDIO
• Alvaro Balderas Alvaro Balderas - Fotografia Artistica
• Cate Scaglione Life as Fine Art Studio and Spa
• Daniel Norton
• Donté Maurice
• DOUGLAS DUBLER DOUGLAS DUBLER
• Glynns Thomas Glynns Thomas Portraits
• Gustavo Pomar Gustavo Pomar Fotografía
• Jenn Lewis Jenn Lewis Photography
• Jennifer Stitt Fox & Brazen
• Lindsay Betz Jonathan Betz Photography
• Monica Sigmon Sigmon Taylor Photography
• Sandra Pearce Sandra Pearce Photography
• Sarah Edmunds
• Abhi Sarkar
• Alison Carlino Carlino's Photography
• Andre Brown Andre Brown Photography
• Andrew Hiorth FABLE Studios
• Angela Kurkian PPA
• Arica Dorff Arica Dorff Pet Paintings & Photography
• Ashley Lowder Ashley Lowder Photography
• Bee Trofort-Wilson
• Bill Manning Studio C-41
• Bill Vahrenkamp Albertex Photography
• Brent Watkins Sylvart Studios
• Chloe Ramirez Nikon Inc.
• Glen VarnHagen
• Jaimy Ellis Jaimy Ellis - Photographer
• Jeahn Laffitte Jeahn Laffitte Photography
• Joe McNally Joe McNally
• John Branch John Branch IV Photography
• John Gress John Gress Photography
• Kenneth Hines, Jr Zeiss Camera Lenses
• Kevin Dooley Idube Photo Safaris
• Kira Derryberry Kira Derryberry Photography
• Lindsay Walden Lindsay Walden Photography
• Lisa Asp Lisa Asp LLC
• Lori Unruh Poole indigosilver studio
• Lyman Winn
• Matias Ezcurra Matias Ezcurra Photography
• Matthew Orbaugh Matthew Orbaugh Photography
• Meg Loeks
• Misty Moss
• Rachael Boer Rachael Boer Photography
• Ray Alvarez Shoot With Ray
• Rodney Getz Champion City Photography
• Ruby Jean
• Samuel Bouret Samuel Bouret Productions
• Sanjay Jogia
• Shawn Black Courture Black / Shawn Black Photography
• Sheryl Bashore sheryl z photography
• Shiloh Getz Champion City Photography
• Sophia Barrett Sophia Barrett Studios
• Steve Foisy Milestones Photography
• Sveta Butko Sveta Butko Fine Art Portraiture
• Tiffany Crenshaw
• Tim Walden Walden's House Of Photography
• Tina Meerloo
• TJ Rak Skylab Tech
• Tracy Bosworth Page Tracy Bosworth Page
• Travis Stitt Fox & Brazen
• Vanessa Joy Vanessa Joy Photography
• Parker Pfister Parker J Photography

Agenda (124 sessions)

Day 1 — Thursday 28 January 2027

• Fotografía Documental de Bodas Un Framework para Cuando Todo Sale Bien… y para Cuando No - Documentary Wedding Photography- A Framework for When Everything Goes Right… and When It Doesn’t 09:00–17:00 · Wedding, Spanish, Workflow — Andrea de Anda
• Master the Art of Photoshop with Sandra Pearce 09:00–17:00 · Adobe, Fine Art, Technique — Sandra Pearce
• From Shoot to Delivery: How to Build a Fast and Personalized Workflow That Clients Remember 09:00–17:00 · AI, Workflow — Ray Alvarez
• AI Workshop with Kira Derryberry 09:00–17:00 · AI — Kira Derryberry
• Two Day Business Intensive 09:00–17:00 · Business, Sales, Marketing — Lindsay Betz, Monica Sigmon
• Professional Photography Certification Workshop | Hands-On In-Person Training 09:00–17:00 · CPP — Carl Caylor

Day 2 — Friday 29 January 2027

• Why Companies Still Hire Photographers: Creating a Corporate Headshot Experience AI Can’t Replace 09:00–17:00 · Commercial, Headshots — Glynns Thomas
• De Una Pose a una Galería Completa- Un Flujo de Posing y Composición para Retratos de Boda From One Pose to a Full Gallery- A Wedding Portrait Posing & Composition Flow 09:00–12:00 · Wedding, Posing — Andrea de Anda
• Two Day Business Intensive 09:00–17:00 · Business, Sales, Marketing — Lindsay Betz, Monica Sigmon
• Light It Up: A Day of Creative Lighting Exploration with Joe McNally 09:00–17:00 · Technique, Lighting, Posing — Joe McNally
• Master the Art of Photoshop with Sandra Pearce 09:00–17:00 · Adobe, Fine Art, Technique — Sandra Pearce
• On-Location Real Estate Workshop with Jonathan Lee 09:00–17:00 · Commercial, Technique, Real Estate, Workflow
• The Photographer’s Sales Playbook: From Consult to Close / A Creative’s Guide to Confident Selling 09:00–17:00 · Business, Sales — Jennifer Stitt, Travis Stitt
• Professional Photography Certification Workshop | Hands-On In-Person Training 09:00–17:00 · CPP — Carl Caylor

Day 3 — Saturday 30 January 2027

• International Photographic Competition Live Judging 09:00–18:00 · Richardson Ballroom B, Exhibit Level
• Professional Photography Certification Workshop | Hands-On In-Person Training 09:00–17:00 · CPP — Carl Caylor
• Light the Pose 10:00–13:00 · Technique, Lighting, Posing — Roberto Valenzuela
• Adding Volume to Your Portrait Studio (The Side Hustle That Supports Your Portrait Habit) 10:00–13:00 · Portrait, School, Sports and Events, Volume — Brent Watkins
• The Luxury Portrait Experience AM 10:00–13:00 · Portrait, Lighting — Lindsay Adler
• THE ART OF BOUDOIR: photographing bodies through a transformative lens 10:00–13:00 · E221 B, Meeting Level — Misty Moss
• Dogtography: Building a Pet Brand AM 10:00–13:00 · Pet — Jennifer Hillenga
• Dominando los Fundamentos de Iluminación en el Retrato “-Mastering the Fundamentals of Portrait Lighting 10:00–13:00 · Portrait, Lighting, Spanish — Alvaro Balderas
• Elevating Your Portrait Photography With Editorial Lighting and Eye AM 10:00–13:00 · Lighting — Ahmad Barber, Donté Maurice
• Studio Portraits Made Easy: From Simple Setups to Creative Lighting AM 10:00–13:00 · Lighting — Eli Infante
• Strobe vs Continuous Light…how do you choose? AM 10:00–13:00 · Technique, Lighting — Ian Spanier
• Stop Running Your Photography Business Like It’s 2009 10:00–13:00 · Business, Marketing, AI, Workflow, Social Media — Jaimy Ellis
• Film Photography in the Digital Age 10:00–13:00 · Technique, Film — Bill Manning
• Stop Chasing the Algorithm: Understanding Social Media for Photographers 10:00–13:00 · Business, Marketing, Social Media — Ashley Lowder
• Gimbal Mastery: Creating Cinematic Motion with Confidence 10:00–13:00 · Video — Samuel Bouret
• Elevating Your Portrait Photography With Editorial Lighting and Eye PM 14:00–17:00 · Lighting — Ahmad Barber, Donté Maurice
• Strobe vs Continuous Light…how do you choose? PM 14:00–17:00 · Technique, Lighting — Ian Spanier
• Photographing the Big Cats of the World 14:00–17:00 · Wildlife, Nature, Podcast — Kevin Dooley
• Paper Negatives 14:00–17:00 · Film — Daniel Norton
• The Complete Actor Headshot Session Workflow 14:00–17:00 · Headshots — Pete Coco
• Studio Portraits Made Easy: From Simple Setups to Creative Lighting PM 14:00–17:00 · Lighting — Eli Infante
• Becoming a Hybrid Photographer: Adding Video Without Starting Over 14:00–17:00 · Video
• Dogtography: Building a Pet Brand PM 14:00–17:00 · Pet — Jennifer Hillenga
• Beauty in Darkness: Gothic Portraiture w/ Jeremy Saffer and model Tara Leary 14:00–17:00 · W201 CD — Jeremy Saffer
• El Poder Tranquilo del Flash: un Workflow Introductorio para Priorizar la Luz Natural 14:00–17:00 · Lighting, Spanish — Matias Ezcurra
• The Volume Blueprint: Booked. Shot. Sold. Building a Profitable Dance, Cheer & Gymnastics Business 14:00–17:00 · Business, Lighting, Posing, Workflow, Volume — Sheryl Bashore
• Commercial Photography 101: Contracts, Bids, and Red Flags 14:00–17:00 · Business, Commercial — Ab Sesay
• The Luxury Portrait Experience PM 14:00–17:00 · Portrait, Lighting — Lindsay Adler
• Building a Photography Brand People Care About: Lessons from The Goddess Project 14:00–17:00 · E221 B, Meeting Level — Ruby Jean
• The Profit Shift: Pricing and Sales 14:00–17:00 · Business, Sales — Jenn Lewis
• ASP 90th Anniversary Gala & Awards 18:00–22:00 · W209 ABCDEF, Meeting Level

Day 4 — Sunday 31 January 2027

• Level Up Your AI Workflow: The Simple Social Media Shortcut for Photographers 08:00–09:30 · Business, Marketing, AI — Jennifer Stitt
• Marketing to the Luxury Client 08:00–09:30 · Portrait, Marketing — Lindsay Walden
• Turning Ordinary Spaces Into Cinematic Portraits 08:00–09:30 · Inspiration, Portrait, Lighting — Meg Loeks
• La Magia De Usar Una Sola Luz -“Mastering One-Light Portraits for Professional Results” 08:00–09:30 · Technique, Lighting, Spanish — Alvaro Balderas
• Designed to Be Seen: Creating Editorial Boudoir Imagery That Demands Attention 08:00–09:30 · Boudoir — Shawn Black
• Luxury Without Borders: Photographing Multicultural Weddings with Authority, Respect & Representation 08:00–09:30 · Wedding — Abhi Sarkar
• The Photographers Social Media Playbook 08:00–09:30 · School, Sports and Events, Marketing, Social Media — Lyman Winn
• One Light. Two Lights. Three Lights. Gel! 08:00–09:30 · Technique, Lighting, Demo — Andre Brown
• Keynote: Bet On Yourself with Tyler Gillum 10:00–11:15 · Inspiration — Tyler Gillum
• Express Talks 12:00–17:00 · Exhibit Hall A, Exhibit Level
• Design the Business You Want to Own 14:30–15:30 · Business — Angela Kurkian
• Table Topic discussions 16:00–16:45
• The Portrait Photographer’s Guide to Social Event Photography for Year-Round Income 17:00–18:15 · School, Sports and Events — Steve Foisy
• Picture Perfect Plans 17:00–18:15 · Inspiration — Glen VarnHagen
• From Stiff to Stunning: The 10 Minute Transformation 17:00–18:15 · Boudoir — Cate Scaglione
• Posing: What Separates Good Shots from Unforgettable Ones 17:00–18:15 · Posing — Roberto Valenzuela
• On Set IQ: Crew, Clients, and Controlled Chaos 17:00–18:15 · Commercial — Ab Sesay
• How to Book More Jobs without Feeling Salesy 17:00–18:15 · Portrait, Marketing — Vanessa Joy
• Dogtography 17:00–18:15 · Portrait, Pet — Jennifer Hillenga
• United Behind the Lens - Diversity & Inclusion Meeting 17:00–18:00 · The Hub
• Simple Gear, Extraordinary Images 17:00–18:15 · Lighting — Daniel Norton
• Redefining the Senior Portrait Studio: Editorial Imagery, Gen Z Clients, Real Profit 17:00–18:15 · Portrait, Sales — Matthew Orbaugh

Day 5 — Monday 1 February 2027

• Cinematic and Scroll-Stopping Boudoir with Tina Meerloo 08:00–09:30 · Lighting, Boudoir, Posing — Tina Meerloo
• Inside School Photography Systems - Strategy – Scale 08:00–09:30 · School, Sports and Events — Rodney Getz, Shiloh Getz
• Tu Mirada Creativa “Your Creative Gaze” 08:00–09:30 · Fine Art, Inspiration, Spanish — Gustavo Pomar
• Lighting Athletes: Shaping Strength, Power, and Motion 08:00–09:30
• Light Anything: Master Product Photography for Any Material 08:00–09:30 · Lighting, Product (Food/Tabletop) — Jeahn Laffitte
• From Awkward to Confident: Photographing Professionals Who Hate Headshots 08:00–09:30 · Commercial, Headshots, Posing — Glynns Thomas
• Lighting on Purpose: Stop Guessing, Start Shaping 10:00–11:30 · Lighting — Chloe Ramirez
• Photo Walks 10:00–12:00 · Technique
• Gels, Color, Impact! 10:00–11:30 · Portrait, Lighting — Lindsay Adler
• Seeing Beyond: Creating Beauty and Fashion Photography That Is More Than Skin Deep 10:00–11:30 · Portrait, Technique, Lighting — Tracy Bosworth Page
• Shoot the Wedding, Build the Empire 10:00–11:30 · Business, Wedding, Workflow — Roberto Valenzuela
• The Boudoir Business Audit: Identify What’s Actually Holding You Back 10:00–11:30 · Business, Boudoir — Lori Unruh Poole
• Combining Traditional to Trending – Team Sports & Media Day 10:00–11:30 · School, Sports and Events — Alison Carlino
• Antes del Momento Observación, Anticipación y Timing en Fotografía Documental (Before the Moment Observation, Anticipation & Timing in Documentary Photography) 10:00–11:30 · Inspiration, Spanish — Andrea de Anda
• Express Talks 12:00–17:00 · Exhibit Hall A, Exhibit Level
• Lunch & Learn 12:30–13:30
• Table Topic discussions 16:00–16:45
• Photo Walks 16:30–18:30 · Technique
• Flower Beauty Shots 17:00–18:15 · Fine Art, Technique, Demo — DOUGLAS DUBLER
• See Her Clearly: An Individualized Approach to Boudoir 17:00–18:15 · Boudoir — Cate Scaglione
• Taking Ownership of the Numbers 17:00–18:15 · Business — Lisa Asp
• What’s the Right Strobe and Modifier for Me? A Practical Lighting Guide for Every Photographer 17:00–18:15 · Technique, Lighting — Ian Spanier
• The Human Algorithm: Connection Based Marketing that goes beyond the ‘Gram 17:00–18:15 · Marketing — Tiffany Crenshaw
• Big Music, Small Spaces: The Art of Capturing Jazz Legends in New York’s Cramped Jazz Clubs 17:00–18:15 — Pete Coco
• AI Volume Workflow with TJ Rak 17:00–18:15 — TJ Rak
• Photographing Bands Off-Stage Using LED Lighting 17:00–18:15 · Lighting — Jeremy Saffer
• Book Signing with Douglas Dubler 18:30–19:30 · Richardson Pre-Function, Meeting Level — DOUGLAS DUBLER
• Book Signing with Jeremy Saffer 18:30–19:30 · Richardson Pre-Function, Meeting Level — Jeremy Saffer
• International Photographic Competition Finale 18:30–20:00 · Crown Ballroom, Meeting Level

Day 6 — Tuesday 2 February 2027

• Getting started in Wedding Photography 08:00–09:30 · Wedding
• Usos Creativos Del Flash 08:00–09:30 · Lighting, Spanish — Gustavo Pomar
• Pro Lighting Results with Everyday Items at the Hardware or Big-Box Store 08:00–09:30 · Lighting — John Gress
• Long Exposure Without Fear: Breaking the Rules Creatively 08:00–09:30 · Technique, Lighting — Bee Trofort-Wilson
• The Professional Real Estate Workflow: Structure, Speed, Consistency 08:00–09:30 · Commercial, Real Estate
• The Profit Shift: From Cheap and Overworked to Confident and Profitable 10:00–11:30 · Richardson Ballroom A, Meeting Level — Jenn Lewis
• Posing and Lighting Musicians - A Subject-Centered Approach for Amazing Results 10:00–11:30 — Pete Coco
• The Booking Call Blueprint: Mastering the Conversation That Converts 10:00–11:30 · Business, Marketing, Boudoir — Andrew Hiorth
• Creating Iconic Portraits with a Fine Art/Fashion Fusion 10:00–11:30 · Portrait, Lighting — Sarah Edmunds
• Photo Walks 10:00–12:00 · Technique
• Print On-Site Photo-Ops: When Faster IS Better 10:00–11:30 · Volume — Bill Vahrenkamp
• The Intentional Portrait: Using Light, Pose & Direction to Tell the Story 10:00–11:30 · Portrait, Posing — Sophia Barrett
• 5 Essential Studio Lighting Setups Every Photographer Should Know 10:00–11:30 · Technique, Lighting — Eli Infante
• Express Talks 12:00–15:30 · Exhibit Hall A, Exhibit Level
• Lunch & Learn 12:30–13:30
• Finding Your Style, Defining Your Place 13:30–14:30 — Tim Walden
• Table Topic discussions 14:30–15:15
• Award & Degree Recipients: Q&A 15:15–16:00 · Crown Ballroom, Meeting Level
• Photo Walks 15:30–17:30 · Technique
• Profitable Pet Photography 15:30–16:45 · Sales, Pet — Arica Dorff
• Wired to Win: Marketing for Your Personality Type 15:30–16:45 · Marketing — Rachael Boer
• Anatomy of a Fine Art Retouch 15:30–16:45 · Fine Art, Portrait, Technique — Sarah Edmunds
• Emotional Portraits 15:30–16:45 · Fine Art, Inspiration — Sveta Butko
• PPA Award & Degree Ceremony 17:00–18:30 · Crown Ballroom, Meeting Level
• Adding Value to Your Business with Video and Content: Getting Started with Video for Photographers 17:15–18:30 · Video — John Branch
• The Death of the Safe Photographer 17:15–18:30 · Inspiration — Sanjay Jogia
• The Art of Being “Unseen” in Street Photography 17:15–18:30 · Richardson Ballroom B, Exhibit Level — Kenneth Hines, Jr
• Permission Granted: The Freedom to Fail, Experiment, and Create with Intention 17:15–18:30 · Inspiration

Organisers, sponsors and partners

Organiser (1)

Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

Exhibitors (94)

Pixel Connection · Click Backdrops · Sood Studio · MILLER’S PROFESSIONAL IMAGING · Advanced Photographic Solutions · Album Master · Sigma Corp of America · Giraffe360 · Rocky Nook Inc · Capture One · Newborn Nerds · RetouchUp.com · TogDrop Solutions · Competitive Cameras · Candid Color Systems, Inc. · Frames for Portraits · Package Choice Insurance by Hill & Usher · Other World Computing · Richard Photo Lab, Inc · Narrative · Whitewall USA Inc. · Imagen · RAUBAY · Cardinal Camera & Video Center · American Color Imaging · White House Custom Colour · Lockton Affinity LLC · ECS – Entourage Corporate Services | Entourage Yearbooks · Makeup by Holly Beauty Partners/Color Coded Cosmetics · Cheetah Stand · Lensrentals · Gilman Brothers Company · Adorama · Aftershoot · Texas School of Professional Photography · 17hats · Tag Your Photo · UsedPhotoPro · Spartan Photo Center, Inc · Pelican Products , Inc · Professional Photographers of North Carolina · Platon Graphics · Platypod · Seven Rubies · Glyph Production Technologies · NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP · Professional Photographers of America (PPA) · Denny Manufacturing Co. Inc · ShootProof · ProGrade Digital · RealTourVision · Godox Photo Equipment Co , Ltd · KEH Camera · Tether Tools · Tamron Americas · United Industries MountingBoards.com · United States Copyright Office · Vision Art, Inc. · Tiffen · Glow Pulse · Canon · Pro Photographer’s Insurance by RVNA · Neewer · Spider Camera Holster · MARATHON PRESS · Zenfolio Inc · Graphistudio · Mid-Atlantic Regional School of Professional Photography · ASP - American Society of Photographers · FOREVER · Duraluxe Inc · Charles Beseler Company · Neil Enterprises Inc. · Texas Professional Photographer Assoc.Inc · Allied Powers LLC · Spring Distribution · Portraits for Patriots · OnPress Book Printing · Sandisk · H & H Color Lab · SpotMyPhotos · Operation Lifesaver, Inc. · Tenba - Shimoda Designs · Tyndell Photographic · Vivid Metal Prints · ZNO · ProMaster · Biggs Camera · PATONA International S.L.U. · Nomatic · Nanlite · NiSi Filters USA Inc · KONPOLI · Evoto AI

Source: the published agenda. See how B2DB compiles its records.