Schedule

SPAC 2021 Schedule (All times are Pacific Time)

**All educational session will be “On Demand” starting at midnight on January 31, 2021 until April 1st! Vendor representatives will be LIVE during the LIVE trade show hours, but you can also connect with them until April 1st!

SPAC 2021 Detailed Schedule

To use, click the day to see the schedule that day, if you click the session title a description will be displayed.

Please note that below is subject to changes.

You can also download the full sponsors list, agenda, and schedule below.

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  • Day 1

    January 27, 2021 (Wednesday)

  • Day 2

    January 28, 2021 (Thursday)

  • Day 3

    January 29, 2021 (Friday)

  • Day 4

    January 30, 2021 (Saturday)

  • Introduction to the Youth Sports Photography business. This session is for photographers beginning to enter the business of youth sports photography for recreational leagues. This class will review how to set up your business so, it is scalable. Topics include: Business Set Up, Goal Setting, Equipment, Workflow, staffing, training and more.
    Sports
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • I will discuss many of the steps you need to begin in Volume Photography and processes you will need to organize your workflow for maximum effectiveness. Sample Bullet Points: ** Types of Business Structures (Corp; Sole Proprietorship; etc.) ** Insurance ** Business Licenses ** Where to learn basic photography skills ** Professional Organizations ** Backing up images ** Crowd control in the age of Covid-19 ** Covid-19 safety procedures ** How to Determine staffing ** Sample numbering systems ** Branding: Looking established with shirts; tablecloths, etc. ** Agreements ** Checklists ** Posing ** Scheduling Picture Day ** Dont take a job you are not ready for
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Some photographers entering the volume segment are immediately successful, while others struggle to make the transition. Volume photography expert Chris Wunder will share the top ten mistakes “newbies” often make that can be the difference between success and failure. If your business isn’t growing fast enough, this program can help you identify and address the obstacles standing in your way.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • This class will review strategies, sales techniques and other information to help you to market your business and begin selling to recreational sports leagues. Discussion includes branding, digital & direct marketing and use of the social media platforms.
    Sports
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • In the sports photography market we do not act or look like the other "business" in the world and that needs to change if we want to keep up. One reason why people think they can negotiate with us as photographers is because we don't have a professional business image along with the correct marketing materials to make us look like actual companies. In this class I cover everything from your logo, brand colors, marketing materials and so much more that ultimately create your business "Image". If you look like a company people will respect you more, have more confidence in purchasing (spend more) and ultimately you will get more jobs in the process.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Event Photography-Online viewing taken to the next level.
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Traditional, green screen & composite photography demos with focus on recommendations for beginners. Insights and tips on best picture day photography practices will be covered to insure successful and seamless lab production and completion of volume orders.
    Sports
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • Schools 101- What schools and parents expect and in the Famous words of Bob Dylan “The Times They Are A Changin”. We will discuss what the expectations of the school (the people who decide if you get hired) and the parents (the people who pay you) have had in the past. Things significantly changed this past fall, business in many cases was done in many different ways. We will talk about how these changes will likely affect how business is done going forward. We will talk about different methods used to do school business so you can be preparing your business models and workflows going forward. How do these systems allow you to compete with the big guys.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • School photography is a lucrative and exciting industry, but it is also a competitive field. So, how can you get started and make your business stand out amongst the rest? Matthew Kemmetmueller of Kemmetmueller Photography knows precisely how, having grown his company every year, acquired new clients, and expanded his team. In this talk, Matthew shares how he got his start in the industry, the challenges he faced, how he has acquired and won new schools, and the ways he has stayed successful in a competitive environment.
    Schools
    Where
    Napa Room (Auditorium)

  • It’s easy to get stuck in ruts. Changes in our customer’s buying habits, the relentless improvements in mobile phone camera’s hardware and software and now the need to capture images safely leaves us only one choice: adapt or fail. Left with this choice, Dave has recently changed almost everything at TeamDSP: ordering, camera gear, staffing, photo shoot and post production workflows, lighting equipment and software. While his gross sales are down dramatically, his net profit has dropped only slightly due to new efficiencies and his newly configured company is safely conducting photo shoots in less time with a much smaller staff. Dave will give an overview of these changes during his SPAC session.
    Sports
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • 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
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Pricing, KPI's, analytics
    Business
    Where
    Napa Room

  • Cherished Memories Photography has been working with schools producing Senior and Underclass Portraits for 20 years! Owner, Mike Norkin, has led the charge in expanding his business in what started with a small garage studio, to 4 studios spread out over Southern California with 80 schools, 13,500 contract seniors, and 100,000+ heads on a yearly basis! Join Mike and his lead staff in an overview of their workflow and processes for on-site Student IDs from capturing to printing!
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • In this session Wes Kroninger will guide you on a tour of 3 different studios where 3 different photographers will give you their tips on photographing virtual teams for volume photography. We will speak with Sean Bass in Ohio about the photographic basics of virtual groups. Sean will discuss set up, metering, lighting and (most importantly) how to keep the individual players scaled properly in the final image. We will then talk with photographer Sheryl Bashore in Pennsylvania about how dance photography can be unique using this virtual group process. She will guide you through her experiences of creating these virtual groups for dance schools in a volume setting. Then, Dana Chapman in Virginia will discuss how to put this knowledge together and train staff photographers to create these images quickly, creatively and consistently. Because as business owners we know the best workflow is the one someone else can do. What you will learn in this class: - Why and how to create virtual groups - An efficient workflow - Lighting and posing techniques - Using storyboards or reference images - Dance specific virtual group tips - Consistent correct scaling for virtual teams - Training and working with staff photographers - And more!
    Sports
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • This class will be the perfect start to those photographers adding the volume school picture business to their portfolio.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Join Suzette Allen, a portrait photographer of over 30 years and photo industry educator of 20 years, for an informative and engaging course on the most flattering ways to light the face whether it be a senior in high school or a senior over 70! Posing is a vital skill too, where you can not only make your subjects look their best, but also help them appear natural and relaxed. Knowing how to direct your subject with confidence will visibly boost your client’s comfort AND confidence in the session! The course will cover the foundation of lighting techniques and how to confidently set up your lights for portraiture. Posing for flattery and dimension is key for clients to like their portraits. Consider your posing skills (and your retouching skills) as “job security”! Suzette will show you the core elements to flattery and how to direct a client without getting in their space or touching them!
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • Dance schools are a monster unto themselves. Sure, you could run them like any other volume event, but to really reach your subjects, you need a little something extra. Learn how dealing with dancers on their own terms will help you increase your sales, and improve the quality of your work, while adding additional clients to your portrait studio as well. Isn’t that the pointe? =)
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • A history of the Yearbook CD and why it is important!
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • 84% of customers say being treated like a person, not a number, is very important to winning their business. 63% of customers expect companies to provide new products/services more frequently than ever before. Customer expectations are high and technology is evolving at a breakneck pace. You’ll learn what it takes to not only meet but exceed your customer’s expectations in this rapidly changing world of volume photography.
    Business
    Where
    Napa Room

  • Crisis has a way of clarifying our priorities. No photographic business was untouched by recent events and while each business’s experience was different, we can all learn from the experience of others. Hosted by David Drum, of H&H Color Lab, in this session we will meet studios who are willing to share their local story, journey through crisis, how they failed and adjusted, how they survived, and their view of the volume picture business moving forward.
    Business
    Where
    Napa Room (Auditorium)

  • School photography is a competitive market and difficult to break into. This class will walk you through the school photography process. We will discuss how to break into the schools, how to get your company in position for success once you get that school contract and how to keep your clients excited about your business.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • Learn how to quickly execute a picture day in the volume world using "progressions". Multiple poses and expressions are key to giving parents what they want and increasing your sales. In this 60 minute presentation, Jay Boatwright will share key techniques that will allow you to stand out and be successful with selling volume photography in an online world.
    Sports
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • Hiring is the most important thing a manager does. And if you hire well, you will need to manage less. This hour long session is split into 2 sections, with a 10-minute Q&A period after each section. In the first part, you'll learn how to find candidates for your job. Learn where to look, and how to write a want ad that attracts people to your job openings. Learn how to conduct a successful interview and what steps to take after it's over. What questions should you ask? Which questions should you avoid? How should you evaluate the people you interview? Finally, in the first section, what do you do when you're ready to hire someone? Find out what key steps you should take to create an onboarding process that gets your new hire excited to work for you. In the second section, what do you need to know to create a great training program? Once a new hire is working for you, how do you help them become a high performing employee? Are you a manager, a leader, or both? Is there a difference? How to get the most out of your employees by being a better boss.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Prospect, Meet, Present, Close. Sounds easy right? For most people, not so much. If you want to grow your business, that means you must get new accounts. Find the motivation to get them. In this session, let’s get excited about growing your business and taking it to the next level.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • Join renowned dance photographer Rose Coleman as she shares her insights on the art of running and growing a successful volume dance photography business. This comprehensive talk will cover developing your own unique style, how to utilize social media and marketing strategies to grow your business, plus how to sell images in 2021 and increase your productivity and sales figures.
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • So you’ve made a conscious decision to add volume sports to your studio offerings. You’ve got the gear, the talent and the workflow to produce quality images and deliver them promptly. You’ve even photographed your kid’s team and received positive feedback. But now you need actual clients. How do you get them to notice you when it seems that the “big box” companies have contracts locked up, or so many teams have “a parent with a nice camera” willing to do the photos for free? Join David Grupa as he walks through the ways he approached teams with “top of mind” marketing and how he converted many of them to become his clients. During his program, you’ll learn how he does some very simple things: · Identifying prospective teams and leagues. · “Stalking” teams (without being creepy!) · Make a difference with multiple impressions. · Adding value without writing a check.
    Sports
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you can’t get past the gatekeeper you’re not going to get the school. Neal Freed and Bryan Blanken of FreedSPIRIT will share the techniques they have developed that have been instrumental in their rapid growth. While there’s no guarantee of success, prior attendees have said this class changed their business more than any other.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

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

  • Discussion of online sales results
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • he high seas of the internet are full of pirates, their bounty is your data. In case 2020 couldn't get in worse, ransomware and data breaches are at an all time high. We will go over 7 areas you can improve to help protect your business and its most value asset... your data.
    Business
    Where
    Napa Room

  • Every business has a sales funnel - some just don't work. Mitchell will help you define the elements of your funnel and create a unique sales process (funnel) that guides targeted customers through the process to sign with YOU. Free sample funnels are provided (through accessible links) to anyone attending the class.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • This class is the perfect opportunity for all levels of photographers from the established studio to the complete novice. Come learn how to add a new revenue stream to your studio or how to start making money by getting into volume photography. Join us as we discuss how to start, build, and maintain a successful volume business and the unique trials and tribulations we encountered during 2020. You’ll learn what marketing and sales techniques work Learn basic lighting and posing techniques Watch and learn how to properly do extractions for composites We will also cover workflow and uploading options to your lab This class starts you off in the right direction so you can hit the ground running into the wonderful world of Volume Photography!
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • From my experience over the past 8 years, I will talk about how we run successful Easter Bunny and Santa portrait sessions at a local garden center. I will explain the equipment we use to shoot, sell and print these photos on location as fast as possible. In addition to our Easter Bunny we have in a costume, we add in live bunny sessions on the weekends that bring in hundreds of people and can generate over 10K+ in revenue a weekend. I will discuss our computer / printer set up in detail, pricing, staffing, photo sets, where to get your costumes & live bunnies, and our financial setup with our garden center.
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • Like it or not, the School & Preschool photo industry is greatly influenced by product and service benchmarks set by Minnesota’s “dark side.” The good news is that their challenges thru 2020 can spell o-p-p-o-r-t-u-n-i-t-y for local, independent volume photographers who outwit and outplay them. Learn the latest about what’s happening at Lifetouch, and how you can take advantage of it.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • High Volume Photography can mean so many different things. Volume photography can be school portraits, sports teams, community theater, corporate headshots, etc. It can be more modernized by changing the posing, the lighting, and using new techniques to capture these photos. High-Volume can also be a very profitable business. Join Michele Celentano to learn more about how she approaches her High-Volume sessions and how she has grown her business into a successful and profitable business.
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • How to make money and be a hero for your schools with traditional and virtual graduations! We will talk about the process, pricing and the top items you need to know to be successful.
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • Marketing is one of the most important aspects to growing a business and in today's ever changing landscape of technology change can make it hard to keep up. We've compiled 5 practical steps to automate key aspects of your marketing campaigns so that your marketing is working, even when you're not. Automate your emails, your follow-ups, your post-cards mailers, your online social media posts to drive awareness of your business and leads for revenue. Elias is the CEO of Entourage Yearbooks and runs sales and marketing for Entourage. His background is as a sales and marketing consultant from McKinsey & Company where he advised fortune 500 companies on how to drive efficiency is sales and marketing investments.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • After an unexpected 2020, let’s take a moment to see where we’re at. Join Benedikt as he evaluates the current state of the volume photo industry and looks ahead to the future. Where is the industry going? How can you succeed? Benedikt will answer these questions, plus discuss the trend to online sales, share key industry statistics, and explain how this can be your best year yet as a volume photographer. You don’t want to miss this!
    Business
    Where
    Napa Room

  • The “Class Cart”… the new school photography.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Since the COVID-19 outbreak, schools must factor health standards into every decision. School picture days are no exception. At Schoolhouse Pictures, we specialize in taking outdoor pictures which are a safe alternative to traditional school pictures. Additionally, our online ordering process means less handling for school staff and parents. School pictures have not changed much in 100 years. Most companies still use paper order forms, require parents to prepay without seeing their pictures, take only one picture, use fake backdrops, and use camera operators rather than actual photographers. In 2008, I started Schoolhouse Pictures to create a more modern look and tie pictures to education at childcare centers and elementary schools across the nation. We have been way ahead of the industry by doing it differently.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • Trying to get into high school banners but not sure where to start or how to start? We'll go over some of the workflows from set up to processing and printing to make your life easier. We'll go over some of the tips and tricks to make future shoots more efficient and post processing a breeze!
    Sports
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • After discussing the basics of WHY at last year's SPAC we'll dive deeper into specific message formats for targeting different personality types as you seek to book schools, leagues, etc. Specific message examples will show how to craft your message for each or all of the types involved.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • In this session, Robert will discuss how Green Apple Studio used this past year to innovate and promote growth. These challenging times have been the perfect opportunity to turn a bad situation into a good one by focusing on core strengths such as deep learning and creating new content for the industry.
    Business
    Where
    Napa Room

  • In this session, we will talk about the steps we took to scale up our business while making sure that we didn't sacrifice profitability, consistency, client, or customer experience. We'll talk about software that has simplified our work. How we moved from prepay to view first and the way these changes and advances have made up more desirable to new schools!
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Printed Id cards are the bane of the existence for school photographers and photo labs. On site instant Id cards are the worst but any printed id is time consuming, costly, and fraught with problems. Marty Brown from High5.id, Bob Winkler of PhotoVisions PVID and Dan Fisher of SelfieID will have a roundtable discussion about this latest innovation is school photography. We will focus on the cost savings, reduction of labor and sales advantages when you move your school to the cloud. Sales tips on how to educate your schools to the advantages of going digital. Jump on in and see what the future looks like.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • 2020 changed a lot of things, unfortunately it didn't change the fact that volume photographers still need to manually edit images. Learn about how this year provided opportunities to leverage cutting edge AI to help with color correction, cropping and retouching tasks from both the perspective of a seasoned professional and a technology minded photographer.
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • As school photography moves toward recovery, let’s hear how some of our Industry partners have used this challenging time to invest in the future. An essential step in making sure your studio is ready to tackle what’s next is executing on prudent and timely investments to ensure efficiency, security, quality, and scalability for long term growth. Please join us in a panel discussion to learn more and reflect on 2020, a year for the record books. Finding the silver lining and how we can use difficult situations for opportunities to improve are important perspectives. Moderator: Marilyn Lam, Vice President of Sales - PhotoLynx & ImageQuix
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Takeaways, assembling all the required assets to create a marketing video brochure for your youth sports or school photography company. * How long should the video be * what software platforms to use to create it * What hardware/cameras is required * Where to post the Videos and how to share them Eric will go through the steps to create a Video Marketing Brochure that will demonstrate how your company is organized, ontime and why Schools and Sports Leagues should partner with you.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • One on One coaching by some of the industry leaders!
    Schools
    Where
    Social Lounge

  • One on One Coaching by some of Industry Leaders!
    Sports
    Where
    Social Lounge

  • One on One coaching from some of the Industry Leaders!
    Business
    Where
    Social Lounge

  • For nearly all businesses, digital transformation mandates aren’t new; they’ve simply and rapidly been brought into sharp focus over the last 12 months. It’s clear and irrefutable that the pandemic has pushed companies and organizations past a plethora of stubborn technology tipping points—and transformed business forever. In this session we’ll discuss the state of digital disruption, adoption, and transformation hastened by COVID 19; current trendlines, forecasts, proof points; and the opportunities these swift and sharp consumer and market shifts are creating for the digital imaging, print, and publishing industries, and particularly in the school and sports photography markets. Because properly harnessed, transformative digital technologies deliver move-ahead strategies and opportunities to realign your business around the customer to create a more connected, profitable, and well-positioned enterprise on the other side of the pandemic.
    Business
    Where
    Napa Room

  • Demo and instruction of the tetherless and automated workflow solution by PhotoDay using their Capture/Facial Recognition software for both schools and sports volume photographers.
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • Resiliency is the unspoken secret of SURVIVAL. From start-up and through the years, the inevitable is the unpredictable. Challenges are not a matter of if, but of when. We are living through an extreme condition of uncertainty today and our individual tenacity and mental strength is the main tool we have to survive and achieve our vision success. Whether we pivot products, services or markets, those that know success use the pain of the struggle to grow into their future. In this session, Calvin Harrell, Jr. will share insight and perspective gained over 40 years in this industry and in business.
    Business
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • Practices to optimize your online school photography workflow & reduce your time in front of the computer.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma A

  • When Covid hit in March, we had to cancel 70+ Spring shoots. We knew this Fall would be a disaster, so we developed “Remote Picture Day” to remotely capture school pictures using widely available technology.
    Schools
    Where
    Sonoma B

  • Many photographers cover social events as part of school contracts. And even more see social events as an opportunity to make money but bill for their time. But we have several different models for making money at social events ranging from high school dances or charity balls to fan photography at tailgating. Learn the tips & tricks you need to be successful in social!
    Other
    Where
    Sonoma C

  • We know and felt the pain of school closings, graduation ceremonies cancelled, leagues suspended, and events deferred – if the kids ain’t there, there’s no volume photography. But how did COVID effect consumer attitudes towards photography? We conducted a survey this summer that explored the effects COVID had on consumer attitudes, outlook, and intent to purchase. The results are fascinating and reveal how COVID has effected what’s important to them in context of family and photo, has changed their attitude towards pro photography, and what lifestyle changes are expected that will require pro photographers to adjust their products, processes and models. This session will unpack the learning and discovery from the survey and present the results – many which may be pleasantly surprising!
    Business
    Where
    Napa Room