About The Event

    SPAC now presents the largest independent school and sport photographers conference and trade show in the world. Last year 9 countries were represented!

    This year we are on track to have our largest attendance ever, with continued top notch education! An even bigger trade show with the best companies in the industry to enrich your business. And as always, the most engaging social opportunities with the best food, from the Kick Off Social to Bowling!

    Look for our Frequently Asked Questions, and learn more about SPAC below. Still have questions? Feel free to send us a message!

    WHERE

    South Point Hotel & Casino Conference Center
    Las Vegas, Nevada

    WHEN

    Wednesday to Saturday
    January 22 to 25, 2020

    Book Room Now
    Book your discounted room here


    Conference Schedule

    ***Pre-Conference requires additional registration, not sold separately***

    ***This is a working draft, subject to change***
    *** Final Schedule and Session Descriptions available in December***

    To use the Schedule below: Click on Day and then Session for descriptions!

    Expand All +

    • Pre-Conference - SPAC University Jump Start

      January 22, 2020 8am-4:30pm

    • Day 1

      January 22, 2020 (Wednesday)

    • Day 2

      January 23, 2020 (Thursday)

    • Day 3

      January 24, 2020 (Friday)

    • Day 4

      January 25, 2020 (Saturday)

    • This popular full day workshop will teach you all the basics to “quick-start” an underclass (K-11) School Photography business; part-time, full-time or to supplement your current Studio income. In the first half-day, you’ll learn how to prospect for and win School photography contracts using a proven sales and marketing system. You’ll learn what schools will expect from you, what to offer and what to charge, how to handle requests for “Rebates” and “Commissions” and how to negotiate the best deal for you. We’ll share many “secrets” of the School picture business that will allow you to compete effectively with anyone; even the BIG companies for local contracts. The second half of the program will cover basic school “picture day” logistics; scheduling, staffing, equipment needs and portrait techniques including lighting and “speed posing skills.” We’ll set up a complete portable studio demo; step-by-step so you can see how it comes together in real time. We’ll de-mystify automated capture and high-speed workflow including barcoding of student images for reliable identification and order processing. We’ll also teach “best practices” in photographing with green-screen and other background-replacement technologies. Finally, we’ll show how automated software will allow you to accurately identify and process hundreds of Student Portrait images in just 1-2 hours. After this program, you’ll have the confidence to take on school photography contracts in your local area. Bring all your questions and we’ll be happy to provide all the answers. This one-day workshop has helped thousands of photographers get their start in the lucrative field of School Photography.
      Schools

    • Instructors: Stella Crase-MINIPROS SPORTS PHOTO Gail Roser-Grand Photography Photographers attending our Sports 101 class will walk away with new ideas and various methods that can be used in building a successful youth sports photography business. We have experienced success predominately photographing recreational and youth sports leagues. We would like to share and teach other photographers how to get started in the volume youth sports photography market. Topics covered include: review of photography basics, how to sell and find new business, photo day organization & preparation and workflow processes. Our presentation will include demos on photo day set ups, workflow and video sharing of actual photo days to help attendees make decisions and develop a business plan to be successful in this thriving market.
      Sports

    • This course is for the school photographers who have entered and mastered the basics of the business and now want to grow their business on the way to an enterprise level business. Studios attending should have had at least three seasons in the business serving 2,000 or more K – 11 students in the fall season. We cover a wide range of topics from such as: Determining are you ready to scale your business. What are the milestones for adding people and equipment. Effective hiring, training and managing employees. Trends in e-commerce. Emerging technologies and workflow alternatives. Trends in marketing materials. Acquiring new accounts Looking at school commissions. Preparing your business for succession or acquisition.
      Schools

    • The SPAC Pre-Conference Sales Training Session is perfect for the beginner, the sales professional that wants to hone their skills and for those that want to learn the latest in sales and marketing techniques. Listen and collaborate directly, in a small group setting, with some of the best business and sales training leaders in the industry. The trainers for this round-robin format are Jeff Gump, Eric Miller, John Mark, Jaimie Ford, Lorinda Thompson and Brad Scott. Topics that will be covered are: Video Marketing How to Gain Schools and Increase Sales by Going Paperless Warming Up the Gatekeeper Managing an Efficient Sales Plan Submitting Competitive District Bids Presentation Preparation What to Have in Your Marketing Sales Kit. Moving the Sales Process Forward; Don't Get Stuck
      Business

    • Demonstration of a quick set up for underclass that will insure quality images and guarantee safety of students. This should change the speed and ways that many studios shoot underclass.
      Schools

    • Join us for this lively discussion on how to leverage information you glean from your order form to expand and grow your senior market. We will also discuss ways to convert sports clients into social media followers and eventually into paying senior clients. Then turn those seniors into walking, talking advertisements for how awesome you are! Warning: Not for photographers who are afraid of change, doing things differently or those who don't like to shake up things periodically.
      Sports

    • Breaking into school photography is not an easy! But in this class the illustrious, second generation photographer Matthew ‘The Body’ Kemmetmueller is ready to share everything you need to know to start pursuing the complicated and profitable world of underclass photography. Discover how and why to shoot tethered, learn about different software solutions, tips on writing bids as well as how to automate your workflow. This class is perfect for anyone who has thought of diving into this market but even the most experienced school photographer may pick things up! Takeaways: How to get into the schools that are right for your business The best way to choose the software and gear you’ll need How to put together bids and win over the schools The most efficient way to order and deliver products How to automate the retouching process
      Schools

    • Hiring, training, and managing your photography staff.
      Business

    • How to keep and retain leagues and schools.
      Business

    • James will take you step by step through the theory and techniques behind great studio lighting. Watch a live demonstration explaining in depth a variety of different lighting patterns , and when to use them based on facial analysis . Class will also cover outdoor lighting techniques and a variety of techniques available . James will be shooting with Lumix camera and will demonstrate why he has chosen Lumix cameras for his photography.
      Schools

    • This session will cover almost 2 dozen areas of best practices including: Knowing your Equipment; numbering systems; organizing picture day; scheduling picture day; signage and banners; flags, traffic lines and poles; organizing images; check lists; downloading and backing up images; job assignments; job reports; getting it right in the camera- and more.
      Sports

    • Hear how Carmel Jane is the leading Dance Volume photographer in England and shoots over 300 dance recitals every year. Carmel Jane will share the secrets on how to shoot dancers of all ages and abilities, how maximise sales, how to increase average customer value and how to grow your Dance Volume business. Fast, efficient systems for dance recitals equals high sales and happy customers. sponsored by Gotphoto.
      Other

    • I want to meet and exceed all my school and league expectations......How? I want all my parents to have a great experience on picture day.......How? I want to get that authentic smile from all the students........How? Mom isn't happy with her products and I need to fix that.........How? How do you handle all these things? In the world of the volume photography studio we have lots of customers; the decision makers, teachers, coaches, parents, and children. Each one of these people have very different expectations. Things that are important to one is not always the same for the other. As business owners we have to work hard to create a great customer experience. You need to be able to empower your team to handle anything that comes their way. In this class you will come away with effective communication plan that will meet all your customers needs. Remember it takes months to get customers and only seconds to lose them!
      Business

    • What’s the difference between a group of people who work together and a group of people who win together? Their team mentality. Think about your employees, co workers and potential hires....do they fill a spot you need, or just a spot for the moment? How do you move people from just showing up to winning together? This leadership course will cover methods and inspirations to get your business setup for actual teamwork and create the type of business that wins!
      Business

    • Back by popular demand, This is an easily teachable system of matching ambient and flash exposure. This simpler method does not require helpers, scrims or bulky additional equipment. It works in any lighting situation.
      Schools
      Where
      Outdoor- Pool Area

    • Are you tired of people being late for team photos? Dread the thought of of trying to get 20 children looking in the same direction at the same time? It may be the time to add virtual team photos to your processes. This session will show you the benefits and limitations of photographing for virtual team photos. Technology is making it possible to do these photos easily and often more efficiently than traditional team photos, however the photography process is vital to an easy post-production workflow. Let me show you how to start with the properly captured images to achieve amazing results. This session will cover: - Lighting and posing for composite team photos - No fuss proper scaling - Removing the mystery by working with example team layouts - Training your employees or stringers - How to sell this concept as part of your process
      Sports

    • Taught from childhood to ask WHY? (not Why Not?), and professionally trained to help others succeed, Mitchell has developed a culture of Whymasters, striving to see WHY? others do what they do, say what they say, and react the way they react. If you’ve ever wondered why your photography customers, staff members, and even your family members react differently, let Mitchell show you how we are all wired differently and how to effectively get your point across and succeed in relationships with those wired differently than yourselves. Maximize interactions with everyone in your life – you just need to understand how.
      Business

    • Making all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Freeman Photography started shooting Volume Seniors in 2005. Trying to figure out a workflow for our studio was a great challenge...Scheduling, shooting, showing, proofing, selling, ordering, processing, fulfilment, delivering, communications. As time progresses some things changed and many tweaked. Find out how Freeman has become the choice of many of the private schools in the Houston area.
      Schools

    • Over the last 5 years, our company has grown 10-12% per year. I'm happy to share a high level overview of the 'Wagner Sales Specifics'. How we cold call & prospect, follow up, present and address bids/RFPs.
      Business

    • Do you dream of the ease of customers placing their own orders online? But are you worried about giving up great picture-day sales? You are NOT alone! This is why we have created the HYBRID sales method which is the perfect marriage of pre pay and View First online photo marketing. You can make an upfront sale, but let the customer do the order entry for you. Plus you can get larger sales! And did I say….NO ORDER ENTRY?! Hear real-world examples where this consumer and photographer-friendly method is working for sports, dance schools, tournaments and more!
      Business

    • Description Coming Soon!
      Sports
      Where
      Outdoor- Pool Area

    • We photograph approx. 25,000 players annually in sports, and this year we completely eliminated paper order forms in favor of electronic order form catalogs using Flip Books. This session will share exactly how we did it and what the response was from our customers and league contacts.
      Business

    • Studio photographers may need a new skill set to successfully take volume images. Learn how to get excellent portraits in less time without sacrificing quality or expression. We will cover quick age-appropriate posing, head size and centering and a fool-proof data collection system. A demonstration of school day capture will pull it all together followed by Q and A. Full documentation will be offered.
      Schools

    • Come join her to learn what is working, what has to change in the industry, and what the future looks like for preschool photography. How to photograph children in any environment. Workflow in lightroom and how to print from a DX100. Marketing tips to up sale parents. Preschool market allowing us to teach the new generation the value of our pictures and how to buy school pictures.
      Schools

    • There is more to Santa photos than getting kids to sit his lap. Rob Resing has been photographing this family tradition for the past 20 years. You'll learn how he photographs 600 families per season, shooting only on weekends. Rob runs his Santa business from his home by creating a ‘pop-up’ studio location at a local strip mall. There will be nuggets of information for the experienced Santa photographer and for the newbie who is just starting out. Not only is photographing Santa fun, it will add to the bottom line of your business.
      Other

    • In this interactive and collaborative session, we will explore how you can turn data into dollars: Better Understand What Parents & Schools Want, Improve Photographer Performance and Increase Your Average Order. ** Eric Miller, President & CEO Irvin Simon Photographers, with Jennifer Ruckert, Senior Production Manager and Vince Pane, Senior Project Manager.
      Business

    • A photo booth set up to eliminate personal contact, no electrical cords and incredible lighting.
      Other

    • When you look at the landscape of branding in today’s business market you will notice that every professional business has one thing in common, a professional branding & marketing structure. If you want to look like you are a professional business today you need to also have these in place. In this course you will learn everything you need to know and why branding your business with a consistent and professional structure will improve your image and take you to the next level.
      Business

    • Door Prize Drawing at 8:00am
      Where
      Napa Room

    • Speakers: Carmel Jane - Carmel Jane Photography, Luigi Mallozzi - SW Schools (UAE), Arjen Mulder - Arjen Mulder Photography (Spain/Germany), Tim MacDonald - Imageart Studio Photographers all over the world will discuss trends and development of the school photography market. Sales methods, ideas for photography, products and processes.
      Schools

    • Special Event Photography comes in all shapes and sizes. Join me as I walk you through the ins and outs of a variety of special events from professional sporting events, corporate holiday events, and the world’s most seamless photo sharing platform. This is a no holds bar program where you will learn lighting techniques, designing templates, and onsite printing. But wait there’s more…learn how to impress your clients with a two-day delivery of physical prints along with how to drive participants of those events to your brand and/or studio.
      Other

    • • Employee applications, interviews and who to hire • How to fine the “right” ones • Background checks, training and supervising • Written guidelines and employee handbooks • Written shoot evaluations and critiques • When employees go bad… In the voice of Princess Elsa, Let em GOOOOO, Let em GOOOOO… ☺ • How to set yourself up for success before they even take a photo for you
      Business

    • The session will discuss how partnering with non profit organizations will improve your brand positioning, show leadership, increase profits and support great causes! Robert will share his experience working with professional sports teams (Montreal Canadiens, Impact and Alouettes) and Environmental causes (Virgin's Ocean Unite and Sir Richard Branson). The marketing, sales and social media strategies will be discussed and supported with sales data. Examples of relevant, successful products that can be offered by your studio will be presented.
      Business

    • This will consist of the following: a. Athletic Directors annual meeting- How to get invited. What to present in your small space. b. Getting invited to the Coaches meeting by invitation of the AD. c. Banners- What to offer and how to price / Stop giving them away d. Coaches gifts e. Light up badges for the parents f. What to offer on your prepay flyer g. Introducing... see it before you buy it program.
      Sports

    • Force friending your clients. In this class we will be going through relationship building with clients and other professionals. In the end the key to success and longevity within industry is creating long lasting relationships within the accounts we work with. I want to walk people through the deliberate and necessary steps that are needed to create and maintain those types of relationships.
      Business

    • In this session, we’ll cover all the moving pieces that comprise of the school photography business. Everything from prospecting, marketing, sales, rosters, ID cards, online ordering, product delivery, customer service, late orders, yearbooks and how to measure & analyze everything. These tasks can often become a complicated, intertwined mess. Learn how to identify, simplify, and streamline each part of your business to ensure profitability at any size client.
      Schools

    • This session will show and explain first hand how Haim started Glossy Finish in 2006 and successfully built it into an action photography business that he sold to Lifetouch in 2013 and then purchased back in 2017. Haim will talk about the process, marketing and technology they use at Glossy Finish to make money with action photos. He will also explain in detail how a volume school or sports photographer can leverage action photos to make money and win new accounts by using the same techniques.
      Sports

    • Online sales isn’t just way easier than offline and hybrid methods – it can mean HIGHER buy rates and RECORD HIGH order values. The key to online success? Super-smart, kick-a$$ marketing. Join PhotoDay’s expert marketers, Lisa Mallis and Marissa Latshaw, as they share with you proven methods for connecting with parents, driving customers to online galleries, creating urgency to order, and enticing parents to spend more. You’ll walk away with a complete marketing playbook that you can use to drive more sales!
      Business

    • 1 Organization ( Our Checks and Balances) 2. Software (Darkroom and TEPS) 3. Printing 4. Printing of specialty Items (key chains, water bottles, dog tags, trading cards, etc) 5.Dye-Sublimation of Specialty Items (phone covers, mouse pads, PLAQUES - I bolded this as I can show a way to do sponsor plaques inexpensively , etc.) 6. How I used in house sublimation equipment to reduce School commissions! 7.Packaging
      Business

    • If you provide yearbooks to your schools or if you are thinking about it, come and listen to what is going on in the yearbook industry and what changes are expected. In this session you'll hear about what the largest yearbook companies are doing in yearbooks and where they're going. You'll learn about the 4 major trends that will define the future of yearbooks and how you can monetize on those trends for your business.
      Other

    • Millennials form the buying public we target and have a unique but predictable purchase propensity that needs to be understood and served. As volume photography wrestles with declining buy rates and lower AOV the questions arise on what millennial moms want, how do you reach them, and what does it take to move the needle. Recognizing and responding to the millennial mindset is a must to gain their attention, speak to their hearts, and win their business.
      Business

    • What is your formula for success? Are you taking the time to innovate or are you just iterating? Rob will talk about how his formula for success, honed by 20+ years at the Walt Disney Company and consulting for various volume photography businesses, is a combination of striving for innovation, elevating your game, and a relentless focus on delighting your customers. Practical examples of how to reframe business problems and spur innovation along with observations of photo business innovations from outside the school and sports markets will get you thinking about how to prepare your business for the future through innovation.
      Business

    • Where
      Napa Room

    • Using printing technology from Noritsu, Xerox, Fuji, Sawgrass, and Anajet I will describe how we produce 99% of the products we sell in house. In addition to printing standard photo packages. We print yearbooks and trading cards on our xerox digital press that look and feel like a Topps card. Full color team photos are printed using an Anajet printer and all of our sublimation work is done with a Sawgrass Printer. Photographers need to realize that they can save time and money by doing it themselves. I will show products that labs don’t even offer, like the coated trading card and a custom school folder.
      Business

    • Best practices for flattering facial lighting and poses, with ratios, modifiers, styles etc.... camera equipment features that help, lighting tools too.
      Schools

    • Competing with large companies can be difficult and frustrating, especially in bid markets where the lowest price is the determining factor. In this session, one of the industry’s oldest and largest companies will share their thoughts and expertise on competing in open markets and bid markets, focusing on ways to differentiate yourself from the competition that don’t involve a “race to the bottom” on price.
      Business

    • Description Coming Soon!
      Business

    • Description Coming Soon!
      Business

    • Do parents know your studio by name? In this workshop, you’ll work with marketing leader, Marissa Latshaw, to put together a plan to help your business emerge from behind the camera - and into the hands and hearts of your customers. Together, we’ll go deep to uncover content strategies that work and apply them to a social plan that will help your business rise up and stand out from the rest.
      Business

    • Description Coming Soon!
      Other

    • Kendrick and Aneune Brown have been in business for 13 years covering youth sports action. Join them as they share some tips for a successful, time tested strategy for generating income and avoiding the pitfalls that many in this genre have fallen victim to. Many people enjoy photographing youth sports, but few are financially successful. During this 1 hour presentation, you will be introduced to some do's and don't for making this a lucrative avenue for generating income and expanding your business opportunities.
      Sports

    • View First online, photo marketing is a PROVEN and tested business model for sports, schools and other special events. It’s easy to execute and easy to sell! Coaches, teachers and parents LOVE it! No order forms to print and hand out….CHECK! No picture packages for teachers or coaches to hand out….CHECK! No payments to manage onsite ….CHECK! If you want to book more business and spend less time in your office then come learn the keys to View First success.
      Business

    • Lunch Served at Noon
      Trade Show

    • A SPAC Favorite! Bring your best idea on ways to Make or Save Money... Win CASH!!!
      Other

    • It’s been a long time since actual, real-time data has been collected and shared about trends in the U.S. high-volume photography industry. The good news is that’s about to change. Later this year, a comprehensive survey will be conducted with high-volume photographers, photo labs, workflow & e-commerce providers, yearbook publishers and end consumers to accumulate data that can be analyzed, summarized and reported on during this presentation at SPAC 2020. The survey will cover a whole host of topics including trends in customer buying and participation, most popular packages, products and services, geographic averages for pricing and commissions, and changing trends in online and yearbook sales; just to name a few of the interest-areas to be included. You can benefit from this research in helping you make better data-driven business decisions and to help validate and build upon best-practice positions you’ve already taken. The online survey link will go out by email on, or by Dec. 1, 2019. If you do not receive a survey and would like to participate please contact the survey curator, Chris Wunder, directly at volumeimagingprofessionals@gmail.com . The survey is sponsored and conducted by Volume Imaging Professionals, LLC.
      Business


    Our Speakers

    Check out our Educational Team!
    Shaun DeMint

    Shaun DeMint

    Photo Solutions
    Eric Miller

    Eric Miller

    Irvin Simon Photographers- President & CEO
    Rob Resing

    Rob Resing

    Owner/Artist and personal friend of Santa
    Nikki Doo

    Nikki Doo

    Perfect Portraits

    Bill Freeman

    Bill Freeman

    Freeman Photography
    Mitchell Moore

    Mitchell Moore

    BigMoneyPhotography
    Carmel Jane

    Carmel Jane

    Carmel Jane Photography LTD- Owner
    Di Murphy

    Di Murphy

    Tintype Studio, Inc.
    Willard & Shawn Jones

    Willard & Shawn Jones

    Jones Photography- Owners/Operators

    Ed Monahan

    Ed Monahan

    Edward Monahan Consulting, LLC.- President
    Stella Crase

    Stella Crase

    Stella Crase, CPP MiniPros Sports Photos- Owner
    Gail Roser

    Gail Roser

    Grand Photography LLC- Owner
    Dan Serfilippi

    Dan Serfilippi

    United Portraits- Professional Problem Solver
    Justin Stottlmeyre

    Justin Stottlmeyre

    Dorian Studios- Marketing & Communications

    Cristina O’Connor

    Cristina O’Connor

    Candid Color Photography- Customer Support Manager
    Lorinda Thompson

    Lorinda Thompson

    Inter-State Studio – Sales Trainer
    Kendrick Brown

    Kendrick Brown

    Kendricks Photography-Owner/Operator
    Mike Strawbridge

    Mike Strawbridge

    Vice President- Strawbridge Studios Inc.

    Neal Lester

    Neal Lester

    Strawbridge Studios
    Rich Banick

    Rich Banick

    Rich Banick Photography
    Elias Jo

    Elias Jo

    Entourage Yearbooks- CEO
    Haim Ariav

    Haim Ariav

    Glossy Finish - Founder & CEO
    Jeff Edwards

    Jeff Edwards

    Scholastic Reflections- Owner

    James Schmelzer

    James Schmelzer

    Elite Photographic Studio- Owner/Operator
    Robert Ste-Marie

    Robert Ste-Marie

    36 Pix- President & Chief Executive Officer
    Beth Jones

    Beth Jones

    Marion Hughes

    Marion Hughes

    Educator
    Chip Wagner

    Chip Wagner

    Wagner Portrait Group- Director of Sales

    Calvin Harrell, Jr.

    Calvin Harrell, Jr.

    My Legacy Matters
    Suzette Allen

    Suzette Allen

    A Picture of Hope- Photographic Artist, Educator.
    Alison Counts

    Alison Counts

    Candid Color & TSS Photography-Marketing Director and VP - Franchise Development
    Lisa Mallis

    Lisa Mallis

    PhotoDay- VP, Business Development
    Marty Brown

    Marty Brown

    Excel Photographers- Owner

    Marissa Latshaw

    Marissa Latshaw

    PhotoDay- CMO
    Rob Mauldin

    Rob Mauldin

    Capture Life- Head of Strategy
    Robin & Jennifer Jansen

    Robin & Jennifer Jansen

    Sock Monkey Photographer- Owner/Operators
    Larry Peters

    Larry Peters

    Peters Photography- Owner
    Karl Boettcher

    Karl Boettcher

    Visual Image Photography- Photography Manager

    Brian Crussell

    Brian Crussell

    Personal Touch Portrait Studios - Cr.Photog., CPP
    Brad Scott

    Brad Scott

    Inter-State -National Wholesale Account Manager
    Danny & Dianne Rabalais

    Danny & Dianne Rabalais

    Studio 530 Photography California School Photography- Owners
    Shiloh Getz

    Shiloh Getz

    Champion City Photography- Owner
    Matthew Kemmetmueller

    Matthew Kemmetmueller

    Kemmetmueller Photography- Lead Photographer/Owner

    Wes Kroninger

    Wes Kroninger

    Next Gen Photo Solutions- Owner
    Jeff Gump

    Jeff Gump

    Gump Solutions- President
    Eric Miller

    Eric Miller

    MillerFoto - Owner
    Jaimie Ford

    Jaimie Ford

    Iconic Schools Studio
    Jay Boatwright

    Jay Boatwright

    SMAX Photography- Owner

    Chris Wunder

    Chris Wunder

    PortraitEFX- Owner
    Dave Stock

    Dave Stock

    TeamDSP - Owner

    Hurry!

    Last year our tickets sold fast so don’t miss. Conference will start in