Announcing PUSH 2017
I cannot believe this announcement is coming for a third year now and I am still just as nervous as when I first announced it! This conference means everything to me and I am so grateful that I get to share my dream with all of you. I am not going to lie, I still get very nervous hoping you want to be a part of this. It is always scary when you put yourself out there but if you don't do it, you cannot grow.This year I relied heavily on your feedback to create my ultimate speaking team. I listened to the topics you wanted covered and did my absolute best to bring them to you. Every year I am excited for what is to come. The PUSH speakers the last three years have been the absolute best in the industry and I am grateful to call each and everyone of them my friend. I am constantly in awe of their artistic ability. And to be able to gather 12 of them at a time each to put under one roof is what makes this conference so special.After last year's conference I felt like my family had grown. This year I know it has grown exponentially. We became a larger and tighter PUSH family. Crazy I know. It must sound that way to anyone who has not attended the last two years, but to the lucky 50 each year, we left stronger, energized and knowing we had each other’s backs and will continue to do so. It was in every sense of the word…a family.Am I nervous putting my dream back out on display? YES. But I truly believe in the power of community and education. We are growing stronger and making this industry stronger along the way! This year expect more ACTIONABLE and IMPLEMENTABLE items than ever before for your business!
I just love this behind the scenes video taken by our PUSH alumni, April Massad!The Details…PUSH 2017 will be held at the same location as this past year. The Inn At Depauw in Greencastle, IN is the perfect setting for us to freely create. The hotel will be locked down for only PUSH attendees again this year (and yes those of you who stayed in Depauw’s Town homes located across the street will have that option as well). It makes this event more intimate. The hotel and town homes were the perfect creative bubble for 2015 and 2016! We will be back in the ballroom and galleria area we were in for PUSH 2015!Combine the hotel, location and all of these elements…-50 Attendees-Exclusive content from our instructors that they have not spoke on elsewhere.-All of us in one room at the hotel back in the ballroom like the first year (it was under construction this past July!)-3 instructors for two nights of After Hours Pods-Teen Panel-Teen models-One night of hands on shooting-Charity Auction-PUSH Image Awards-The PUSH Society-Exclusive education one day early for those who will be attending their 3rd PUSH Conference-Evening networking and bonding while after hours pods are available-Lunch and Dinner each night of the conference from our sponsors-Swag from our favorite vendors-And so much more to be announced!
You will be pushed beyond you comfort zone in all aspects of business from pricing, marketing, posing, senior models, editorial components, styling and so much more. We have put together a team of amazing speakers all invested in helping your business. Each one of them has a very specific topic and course created for you to incorporate into your business.
"I have attended PUSH for the past two years and cannot begin to express how much the knowledge, guidance and friendships gained from the conference have changed my business...and myself. From the industry leading presenters, to the amazingly talented photographers attending, the experience was completely uplifting and encouraging.Vickie Black compiled a line-up of industry-leading presenters ready to generously share their knowledge and experience, helping each attendee take their business to the next level. Vickie's dedication to providing the best educational experience, incorporating the latest and most desired professional techniques and topics, while creating a positive, family-like atmosphere is to be commended. I cannot wait for PUSH 2017!" -Shelley Larrabee
Who will be speaking at PUSH 2017?That is the big question right? Again, I am grateful to have the best lineup for 2017. This speaking team is phenomenal and I am so proud to call each of them my friend. I know they will put their heart and soul into PUSH 2017. For complete information on our speakers please visit the website HEREAmanda Holloway-PRICING AND SALES METHODS FOR THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHERIt's time to stop guessing when it comes to your income. Learn exactly what you need to succeed financially with intense analysis and psychological pricing methodology. Learn how many collections you should be presenting to your clients as well as what to put in them and how to price them. Learn what motivates your clients to spend more money while up selling easily and efficiently. Exceed your previous client average by leaps and bounds with time tested sales techniques that are proven to work.
Brooke Daniels-DESTINATIONS: JET SET TO SUCCESS
Over the past few years I have combined two of my loves, Travel + Senior Photography, to help launch my business into uncharted territory and reignite a passion that had become stale. What do all Senior clients want? Whatever is the hottest, freshest idea out there! They want an ADVENTURE that is unique and different from anything their friends have done. What do all Moms want? A memorable bonding trip with their child to celebrate their senior year before they leave the nest. Parents and Seniors alike want way more than just jaw-dropping images... they want a once in a lifetime EXPERIENCE that will forever be the highlight of their high school journey. I am so excited to be teaching at Push 2017, for the first time ever, how you can offer Destinations to your clientele and set yourself apart from your competition. My previous experience as an Event Planner (and lots of trial and error) has helped develop a seamless plan that I can't wait to share with you! We will discuss how to effectively market Destinations, what to charge, how to plan & execute AND how to actually profit off of traveling! No detail will be left unturned and you'll walk away with an action plan you could go home and implement immediately! Get your bags packed and passports ready!
Christina Ramirez-COLORS AND SKIN TONES PART 2
We are artists but with time I have noticed that so many of us study the art of photography and forget to remember the basics of art and colors and how it applies to what we do day in and day out. How does the color wheel matter? How can you implement it and get your clients on board? In PUSH 2015 I taught colors and skin tones but once you understand the right colors your clients should be wearing to accent their skin tone on camera, then what? How can you consistently get your clients to follow your advice and the color guide in order to make your job as an artist easier? How does makeup tie into the equation? Essentially getting it right in camera is possible and the ultimate goal but preparation is key and through this you can cut your editing time down considerably. I am going to walk you through HOW to get your clients to wear the right colors, what you should look for and how to train your eyes to make it something you don’t even think about. Once they have the right clothes, then what? Your job continues and I’m going to help you through it.
Claire Anderson-EDITORIAL SHOOTS: BRING YOUR VISION TO LIFE AND ENHANCE YOUR BRAND!
Do you ever look at dreamy editorial fashion magazine spreads and wonder how everything looks SO perfect? The hair, the makeup, the clothing and jewelry, the location, the lighting and even the model’s pose and expression? One thing I have learned is that it takes a village! In Editorial Photography, every component must blend together cohesively and authentically.
Editorials used to typically reference Magazine assignments, but now it has taken on a whole new meaning. “Editorial Photography shows what words cannot communicate.” I believe with the right tools in place, anyone can create their own “dream” Editorial shoot!I will walk you through how I envision, plan and execute my editorial shoots from start to finish. I will show you how to “work with what you’ve got” to create exactly what you want, and how even the smallest changes to a location, wardrobe, hair and/or lighting can have a drastic effect on the overall mood of an image. I will show you how to set the scene and engage with the subject to ultimately bring your story to life!Use your editorial shoots to boost your confidence and enhance your brand! Network and collaborate with local talent and creatives to reach your mutual target markets. Shoot what you love and attract your ideal client. Take a step back (or 2 or 3) and get out of your comfort zone. Get your creative juices flowing and fall back in love with your photography!
Craig Stidham-A NEW VISION:ACTIONABLE FASHION TECHNIQUES YOU CAN APPLY TO YOUR SENIORSDAYTIME CLASS PART 1
“A New Vision” is a program that teaches actionable implementable techniques used by fashion photographers alike. Look into this bag of tricks and learn new ways to work and communicate with your clients. Use storyboards to design and achieve an editorial approach to your session. Use the tools and equipment you already own to make a bigger impact in the quality of your images.
But the fun doesn't stop in the classroom! I will be doing after hours pods to further implement what you learned in the classroom for a hands on approach...Night Time, hands on demo Part 2In Part 2, You will be able to work with the models and get real hands on learning. I will help coach and teach you while you work with the model.
Dan Brouillette-BEYOND THE OBVIOUS
We all became photographers because we have a creative vision and the camera allows us to take the images in our head and put them into a tangible existence. But, similar to every creative field, we get stuck in ruts, have creative blocks, and fall into old habits, thus losing sight of our creative intentions. I want to show you ways to do things different. I want you to see beyond the obvious shot and explore your work in a new light. Whether it's a new lens, a different lighting technique, or a fresh source of inspiration, there are many ways to get out of our own way and get back on the creative track that brought us to photography in the first place. In this session, we will to over self-critiquing our work and explore how to use that to refresh our creativity.
Devon Jones-STYLE PREP 101: STYLE YOUR SENIOR LIKE A PRO
With the senior experience becoming the norm, styling your senior well can give your senior AND your business a serious boost! I will be talking about many implementable techniques to getting a big bang out of styling your senior that will add to their experience, give them confidence, and give you an edge in your market. We will discuss how working with a boutique can benefit you, your senior, and that boutique, as well as properly and effectively using specific questions on your client questionnaire to help you hone in on what you can do to fully maximize your senior's style factor. We will discuss important hair and makeup techniques that will reduce your time in post processing and how your HMUA can boost confidence in your senior and help give them the best senior experience they can imagine. We will also talk in depth about choosing outfits for your senior that will give them lots of variety while staying with a cohesive collection, that will lead to higher sales for YOU and make your product design easy peasy. Finally, I will teach you how to organize all of that into a schedule that will ease the flow of your session immensely.
Jackie Palmer-INCORPORATING VIDEO
How many of you jumped into video? You bought a monopod, downloaded Premiere Pro and then filmed once and it was out of focus so you gave up and never tried it again? That is what I hear the most from talented photographers like yourself. It's difficult to succeed in photography and then with the same camera you can't seem to get your videos to look great! I am going to teach you the basics of video. I will go over what all the numbers mean and how shutterspeed and FPS effect your footage. I will also teach you the tools you need to help direct your clients to move comfortably in front of the camera. And how to get your footage IN FOCUS!
Latasha Haynes-THE SENIOR MODEL EXPERIENCE - HOW BUILDING COMMUNITY MAKES DOLLARS AND SENSE
Latasha Haynes is known for her amazing street team and the community built within. This year at PUSH she will be back explaining her latest approach to her street team model and how her program evolves each year and fosters such a tight community throughout. I am very excited she will be sharing with us first on her updated unique approach to her street team.
Tara Rochelle-DYNAMIC FASHION INFUSED POSING
Today’s seniors are constantly being bombarded by highly stylized fashion imagery. It’s everywhere they turn.. Billboards, Magazines, Fashion Bloggers, Instagram feeds, and throughout all of social media. I am going to show you ways to incorporate current and “un-posed” poses into your own senior work. This is the look your clients see and more than anything, that is how THEY want to look!!
I’ll show you where to get some inspiration and how to infuse it into your sessions to make your teens look more modern and on trend in todays senior market. Gone are the days of boring, stale poses! It’s all about editorial, fashion, and natural looking images!
Teri Fode-SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ON PURPOSE AND BY DESIGN
Being social online is part of the new culture in our world. It’s also the doorway to building your business. It’s easier than ever to connect with potential customers...all because of social media! But are you overwhelmed? Do you feel scattered? Does the fear of missing out ever creep in? And most importantly…are you actually turning those likes and those followers into paying customers? Teri will teach you the very formula she uses to build relationships both on and off-line and how she converts her followers and likes into her loyal tribe of quality clients. You will learn how to use social media on purpose, with the intention of growing your business. The number of followers you have and the amount of likes or views you receive is not a true measuring stick to the success of your business growth. Long-lasting client relationships truly can happen via social media marketing with this proven recipe to success!
Thomas Nguyen-SENIOR GUYS: ART OF NATURAL POSING AND MEN STYLE FASHION
Senior guys have the ability to tell a story in a much different way than senior girls in that while the story of a girl is in her eyes, the story of a guy is written on his face. I will show you my techniques, starting with ice-breakers to which direction to push and which direction to abandon depending on some key observations. This will allow you to better connect with your senior guy in order to create more fluid, natural poses throughout your session.
I will also be covering how to build a solid foundation for the proper wardrobe for your senior guy and a fashion staple that every guy should have. Doing a few of my simple tricks will help elevate your senior guy’s wardrobe from casual wear to GQ status.
The PUSH Society...
The PUSH Society was designed to reward our alumni who attend 3 or more PUSH Conferences. Each PUSH Society member will gain access to exclusive classes the day before PUSH kicks off! They will be learning in small intimate groups about topics that will not be taught at PUSH for the year! And the only way to gain access to these exclusive classes is to come to 3 or more PUSH Conferences! The PUSH Society will take place July 9th.
The speakers for this year's PUSH Society...
Jeff and Christine Tonkin-MAKE A SPLASH WITH DIGISMILES (PUSH SOCIETY CLASS)
We are excited to help you learn all the ins and outs needed for underwater senior portraits.We are so thrilled to share all of the tips we learned from our experience during 200+ hours shooting under the surface. This includes session planning, the gear you’ll need, posing in an underwater environment, makeup, props, editing, and several tips that you must know to maximize your underwater productivity.
We will cram as much as we can in the time we have. This will be a very interactive and hands on class. You will have the opportunity to shoot with our gear and create a few underwater images for your portfolio.
Jen Bertrand-CHOOSE YOUR LIGHTING ADVENTURE (PUSH SOCIETY CLASS)
Have you ever wished you could have your own customized lighting tutorial? In this exclusive class for Push Society members, you get to choose your own lighting adventure! Jen Bertrand will work with you directly to create a tailored learning experience that eschews the traditional conference class in favor of instant, real-world application. During this hands-on, interactive Q&A, Jen will live-demo her own lighting and shooting processes while utilizing the in-person format to show you the answers to your most pressing lighting questions. Need to know how to troubleshoot hot spots? Dying to know what gear you should purchase next? Want to see the difference between a beauty dish and a softbox, and when to use one over the other? From lighting equipment to posing, no topic is off-limits!
Vickie Black-HOW TO PLAN, ORGANIZE AND IMPLEMENT A SUCCESSFUL CHARITY FASHION SHOW
(PUSH SOCIETY CLASS)
Want to create an event that will put you on the map in your area? What if that same event could give back to the community and not cost you any money out of pocket? Sounds like a perfect plan right? But the work involved and not knowing where to start is scary I get it! That is why I will teach you how I plan, organize and implement a charity teen fashion show from start to finish. You will learn the ins and outs of working with vendors, boutiques and getting the teens excited and rallying the moms. This event creates top of the mind awareness for my business each year (think of all the social media love!) and raises money for a charity close to my heart and enabling my clients to be a part of something positive. In the last 4 years my fashion show has raised over $22,000 for anti bullying education in the schools.
After Hours Pods...We will have two evenings of After Hours pods so you can get your learn on or hang out with your friends! Jen Bertrand, Craig Stidham and Jim Meyer will be instructing and working with you!
More Details…Additional info for Push:When: July 10, 11 & 12Where: The Inn At Depauw, Greencastle, INWho: 50 Lucky AttendeesRegistration will begin Monday September 26 at 11 am eastern time. We will provide complete details on how to register along with the complete PUSH schedule on Friday!Price: $1695 (registration only…meals-except where listed, transportation and hotel are not included)Want more details? Visit the website by clicking HERERestrictions and fine print…*There will be a 40 mile protective radius from zip code 46135-you cannot live, shoot or market to clients within or have a business within this radius.*If you own or work for another senior blog, senior/teen focused social media site or magazine, you will not be able to attend.*Not responsible for weather, acts of God, flight delays, etc. we make every accommodation possible but note that things are subject to change. There are no refunds.
I can’t wait to meet our 50 lucky attendees as space will be super limited to this conference! Come hang out, shoot, build your portfolio and learn with these amazing speakers!See you in July!xoxo,Vickie