Shutterfest - Shoot. Learn. Party. In my own words.

I’ve attended Shutterfest, a photography conference, for two years now. By the end of the first conference, I had already bought my ticket for the next year (for 2024). I already knew it was somewhere I wanted to return; to find more like-minded people, to create more art, and to learn more about the not-so-fun but ever-so-important aspects of managing my small business.

The First image I captured at Shutterfest ‘23

I felt so insecure that I didn’t take out my camera until the end of the first day of the conference.

Above is the first image I captured at Shutterfest ‘23, my first year attending. I was so intimidated by, well, the whole everything, that I didn’t once take out my camera. I thought my gear wouldn’t be good enough, that I would be criticized for my technique, that others there would judge me on everything that I would or would not do. So, I went to classes and took notes and that’s about it. At the end of the day I pulled out my camera to take capture this scene at Union Station St. Louis. No one was around me so I wouldn’t feel as intimidated and I had no model to direct or anything like that. So, this picture will have a special place in my brain folds. I will always try to let it remind me that I shouldn’t be intimidated. Just do the thing and do it my own way.

The two images above were taken not long after my first capture of Shutterfest ‘23, the photo of Union Station St. Louis (above). I was eating dinner at a restaurant (the one in the background of the image on the left actually) and saw the jacket this model was wearing (model: Ryanna Thompson) and wanted to tell her that I loved it! So, while waiting on my food I ran out and told her I liked it. The photographer who was working with her looked me over and said “do you have your camera?” I was surprised! No one had yet asked me to participate with them. I told her it was inside the restaurant, but yes I do have it, and she asked me to shoot with her!! She was so generous and kind in allowing me to jump in and use her lighting. When I was done I walked back to the table and felt an excitement that was so welcome after all of the anxiety.

Special thank you to Tressa Shaw at The Photobook LLC for your kindness in asking me to join.

These three images were taken in one of the last classes I attended in 2023. It was a “Projector Shootout” with Eric Burke. This class was literally a shootout - there were two projector setups and class attendees were just flocked around each of those areas taking pictures. The models would switch out here and there and the projected image would change often. Projection photography is a concept I would still like to integrate into my own work someday because it offers such diversity. So, watch for that in the future.

The images above were from this year’s Shutterfest (2024). I agreed to so many more pre-arranged photo shoots than I did last year (which was none), plus a few I agreed to just hours before because it sounded fun! I had a good year and tried to come out of my shell a bit more while I was there. But, I was also struggling with more anxiety while there than I normally deal with on a daily basis. I’m still not sure why that was happening since I had been very, very excited to attend, even while on the road to St. Louis. So, once again, I felt intimidated and anxious around so many other talented photographers…even though I knew I shouldn’t.

For context, Shutterfest has so many talented individuals; from models to photographers, to hair and makeup artists, to software and hardware gurus. And so many of these individuals are very willing to share their talent and/or knowledge with you if you just ask. I think it’s part of the draw of attendees of Shutterfest, that everyone is so willing to just sit and chat with you about your shared interests. So I’m not sure why my brain decided I needed to be so anxious in this environment but it was frustrating to say the least. Probably Imposter Syndrome striking, once again (that could be a fun villain name!).

Anyway, I learned more editing, marketing, lighting, and efficient workflow techniques this year. I think in just the few images I’ve displayed here, I can see improvements in my work from 2023 to 2024, and I have made multiple changes for the better on the back end for my clients (like easier scheduling, sending contracts, invoices, session reminders, etc., all from one consistent source, and having more information available up front on my website).

As far as next year, I already have my ticket purchased and the hotel room booked! I look forward to going to this conference yet again and learning and building myself and my business so I can bring these things back to you all, my current and future clients. Another northeast Indiana local photographer, Kristen (or Ris), will be speaking at next year’s event and I can’t wait to attend her class and support her! Plus, MY behind-the-scenes images (see below) of a group session were used in the Shutterfest ‘25 ads on Facebook! It’s almost like I’m famous now…HA!

To sum up this entire page, I love learning new things. Whether it’s lighting, posing, in-camera techniques, or ways to make my client’s process better, I like to know options and decide how to implement them into my business. I attend this event so I can do just that, plus keep up-to-date with the barrage of constant information, techniques, and gear changes in the industry.

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Thanks for reading! And if you remember, wish me luck in April when I go to Shutterfest ‘25!