FRIDAY EVENING
VIP EXPERIENCE
MARCH 20, 2026
On Location Sports Photos
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Hotel Foyer)
[ SKILL LEVEL - All skill levels welcome]
Come learn how to work in a fast-paced sports environment. We will be working with two athletes on location, learning about off-camera lighting, reflectors, and gels. We will work on making a boring location fun.
Recommended Gear:
• Your Favorite Camera & Lenses
• Westcott Lighting & Triggers provided
Recommended Skills:
• All Skill Levels Welcome to attend!
Outdoor Portraits with Off-Camera Flash
- Photo Walk Experience
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Convention Center)
[ SKILL LEVEL - Beginner to Intermediate ]
Join Eli Infante and Keydrin Franklin for a guided photowalk focused on creating professional outdoor portraits using off-camera flash.
Working with two live models on location and using Westcott lighting, you'll learn how to balance ambient light with flash, shape light for flattering portraits, and confidently shoot in real-world outdoor conditions.
This interactive session is designed to help photographers gain confidence using off-camera flash while building strong portfolio images. We'll share practical lighting setups, positioning techniques, and real-time problem-solving.
Participants will have time to shoot and ask questions throughout the walk.
Recommended Gear:
Camera with manual exposure controls
Portrait lens (recommended range: 35mm–135mm)
Fully charged batteries and memory cards
Comfortable shoes for walking
No flash equipment is required from participants.
Westcott off-camera lighting will be provided during the photowalk.
Recommended Skills:
Camera exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO)
How to operate their camera in manual or aperture priority mode
No prior off-camera flash experience is required.
Golden Hour: Studio Edition
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Conference Room)
[ SKILL LEVEL - All Skill Levels Welcome]
Sometimes the sun doesn’t cooperate. And sometimes you’re ready to create something even better than what nature gives you.
In this immersive VIP Photo Walk, Julie Gayler and Niah Aldrich show you how to recreate — and elevate — golden hour entirely in studio. Through three fully styled fashion-meets-fantasy sets, you’ll learn how to sculpt luminous, dimensional light that feels warm, cinematic, and intentional.
This isn’t just a demo. You’ll receive guided lighting breakdowns and hands-on shooting time, giving you both the technical understanding and the opportunity to create stunning, portfolio-ready images on the spot.
Lighting equipment, sets, and professional models are provided. With universal controller compatibility for a seamless workflow, Niah and Julie will be on set, offering direct guidance to help you shape the light and craft images with intention.
What You’ll Experience:
• Building golden hour glow indoors — no sunset required
• Blending hard and soft light for dimensional warmth
• Using backlight and edge light for separation and drama
• Managing contrast and fill for rich, flattering depth
• Directing posing within styled environments
Whether you need reliable in-studio solutions or you’re ready to level up creatively, this VIP experience gives you practical tools and powerful images to take home.
Walk in with your camera - Leave with the glow.
Recommended Gear:
• Camera
• 24-70mm or 50mm / 85mm Lens
• SD cards
• Charged Batteries
• Westcott controller optional, if owned
• Westcott off-camera lighting will be provided during the photowalk.
Recommended Skills:
• All Skill Levels Welcome to attend!
Urban Motion
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Kansas City Union Station)
[ SKILL LEVEL - All skill levels welcome]
An exclusive 2-hour hands-on photo walk around historic Union Station and the Kansas City skyline. This VIP experience is designed for photographers who want to master long exposure techniques and capture dynamic car trails against iconic urban architecture.
You’ll learn:
• How to dial in settings for clean, vibrant light trails
• Composing downtown scenes for impact
• Balancing ambient light in urban night settings
• Focusing techniques after dark
• Simple adjustments that elevate your night images instantly
This is an in-the-field learning experience with live instruction, real-time feedback, and creative guidance throughout the evening.
Recommended Gear:
• Camera with manual exposure controls
• Wide Angle Lens
• Mid Range Lens
• Solid Tripod
Recommended Skills:
• All Skill Levels Welcome to attend!
ALEXANDRA DUGAN & ERIC MACKEY
Portraits with Purpose: Photographing Shelter Dogs
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Hotel Foyer)
[ SKILL LEVEL - All skill levels welcome]
This class goes beyond cute pet photos. We’ll work with real adoptable shelter animals, using studio lighting and clean backgrounds to create images that stop the scroll and drive adoption interest. You’ll see how to move fast, adapt to unpredictable behavior, and pull authentic personality out of even the most distracted subject. Tickets are $50, with $25 from every ticket donated to the KC Pet Project
Recommended Gear:
• Camera & Lens
• Memory Cards
• Fully Charged Batteries
Optional:
Donate a bag of dog or cat food or blankets to the local animal shelter
After the Keynote on Friday Night 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Post-Keynote Mixer at OP1906 in the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel
Keep the inspiration going after the keynote! Join Featured Host Pam Stukenborg at OP1906 Bar & Grille for an engaging evening of connection and conversation. Network with fellow photographers, reflect on the day, and spark new collaborations within the photography community.
Guests are welcome to purchase food and beverages from the restaurant through 10:00 PM (not included with the event).