How could a shoebox of old photographs transform the lives of thousands of photographers around the world? The answer lies with it’s owner – David A. Williams.

David A. Williams IS professional photography at it's finest. From him you will learn passion, core values, integrity and the importance of your photography. This is not about F stops or equipment, rather it's about life and how to capture it with a timeless beauty that comes from within. You'll develop a new mindset that will allow you to see photography in a different light – a light that transcends the simple recording an image into capturing eternal emotions.

David will lead you on an inspirational journey that will help you become a better photographer.

The DWF welcomes back wedding photojournalism pioneer Denis Reggie who wowed our crowd in Tampa at last year’s convention. Denis returns with both classic and never-before-shown images and will offer behind the scene stories that convey his inspiration and technique. His insight into the how’s and why’s of wedding photojournalism for the upscale market debunk longstanding myths and demystify the path to success in this elusive market segment.

In the 2007 American PHOTO cover story naming the world’s ten best wedding photographers, he was listed first. Denis has appeared repeatedly on NBC’s Today show, as well as on VH-1, Entertainment Tonight, CNN and Fox to name a few. Proclaimed “the best in the business” by Oprah, a Denis Reggie photograph was featured as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things” on her show. He has been featured by each of the major photography publications as well in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Denis has remained at the very top of our profession during his thirty-plus years and this DWF presentation aims to explain exactly why.

You'll Learn:

1. His clear definition of wedding photojournalism and where it fits in the market
2. Denis Reggie signature lighting techniques clearly explained
3. Learn his passion and insights for proven success

Competition as a wedding photographer is fiercer than ever, yet some studios still manage to not only survive, but to thrive. What's their secret? Kevin Kubota maintains not only a successful photography business, but several other businesses that continue to grow year after year. Find out how to apply these repeatable techniques to your wedding business and ensure it grows through any economy. Stay creatively fresh, business savvy, profitable, and still have time to enjoy life.

With the latest offerings from Canon and Nikon, a whole new world of opportunity has opened for still photographers. But what's the big deal? What will the video feature in these cameras mean for the future of wedding photography. What the heck is "Fusion" or "Convergence" anyway?

The Bebbs will cover the following:

1. What does all this mean?
2. Why is everyone talking about this, and why should you care?
3. Why we should embrace this technology now, and not a year from now
4. How to use fusion to break away from the competition
5. How to make money with something you already have
6. Not just for weddings: how fusion can impact all areas of your photography

About The Bebbs:
As the first wedding photographers in the world to review the 5D MkII, the Bebbs are dancing on the leading edge of the newest trends in photography.

Quietly pursuing their dreams in Vancouver, Canada, Stephen and Jennifer Bebb were thrust into the international spotlight when American Photo named them as one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World.

Already known for their fantastic imagery, the Bebbs soon developed a reputation as fantastic educators as well. More importantly, to the Bebbs, they also found a way to balance their very important family life with the demands of a busy and successful career.

Altf’s Let There Be Light, is a landmark seminar. John Michael Cooper will take the DWF convention to El Pedregal-- an adobe-walled outdoor ampitheathre where the only ceiling is the desert night sky. This is the first major convention seminar ever to be held outdoors at night.

We all shoot events at night, and the man who started the "Trash the Dress movement brings you simple, exciting, ways to light an evening wedding or outdoor shoot.

You'll Learn

1. Low-light guerilla portraiture
2. How to make simple video light portraits
3. How to light a room with minimal gear
4. How to do a massive group shot with just one flash
5. How to get quick and easy detail shots with and without people in the way
6. How to make multiple image pieces to put group shots together with minimal light

Experts say it different ways: Control the light. See the light. Use the light. But how? Tony Corbell is an expert who will help you see, control, and use the light via the sun, aimbient light, portable flash, and studio strobes. He’ll dig into additive, subtractive, and reflective light. You’ll learn about transmission and much more from a true expert in our field.

You'll Learn:

1. How you can spend a few seconds at capture and save hours in post production.
2. You'll learn how light direction changes the mood of an image.
3. You'll learn when light quality is more important than light quantity.

You'll learn some intermediate techniques for working with kids and parents. Sandy will go over sets, props, clothing and limited edition portraiture. You'll see how you can create storybook images that your client will want to invest in.

You'll Learn:

1. The psychology and dynamics of working with children
2. Learn how to work efficiently with children
3. Bribery gets you EVERYWHERE!
4. And of course, so much more!

About Sandy:
If you shoot portraits and don't know who Sandy is, you've been living under a rock. Sandy is widely known for her contributions in children's portrait photography and she's considered by many to be a driving force in the industry. As a co-founder of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, Sandy Puc's work and efforts have touched the lives of countless photographers and their clients.

Boudoir is back!  Brides and women of all ages are seeking out this fun service.  Just ask the boudoir divas—in four short years they have seen incredible growth, moving from a 2-car garage into a 4,500 square-foot studio.  Their edgy and fashion-forward boudoir images have attracted women from around the world to their San Diego studio.  With every shoot, the Divas hope to combat society’s perception of beauty, giving women the opportunity to realize just how beautiful they are.

Join the Boudoir Divas as they discuss how to capture edgy boudoir images by using easy lighting set-ups and flattering posing.   They will show you how to reach potential clients in your market area, and how to get started in implementing this service that is fast becoming a very lucrative niche in the industry.

You'll Learn:

1. Discover simple marketing strategies to attract the ideal client and easily add boudoir to your services.
2. Learn 10 flattering poses that work on all body types.
3. See how the Divas use simple and inexpensive lighting set-ups to get an edgy, fashion-forward look.

About The Divas:
The Boudoir Divas- Marissa Boucher and Kimberlee West run “Woman Captured” which has become the premier boudoir studio in Southern California.

In four short years the Boudoir Divas have experienced incredible growth, moving from a 2-car garage into a 4,500 square-foot studio. Their edgy and fashion-forward boudoir images have attracted women from around the world to their San Diego studio. With every shoot, the Divas hope to combat society’s perception of beauty, giving women the opportunity to realize just how beautiful they are.

Is your marketing strategy to "book any bride who will hire me?"
Does your business plan say vague stuff like "I am going after high-end brides" and "I need to raise my prices?" If your marketing analysis is like throwing darts at numbers after drinking a pitcher of margaritas... ..then this class is for you!

This class isn't about designing spunky logos. Famous rock stars and beginners alike need a savvy marketing strategy based on real data. and real analysis. Without it, you might as well throw darts at numbers after drinking a pitcher of margaritas. Why flail and hope you'll have a good year, when you can plan, project, and prevail?

You'll Learn:

• How to analyze the right data that helps you build a marketing plan.
• How to set meaningful marketing goals.
• How to formulate your business plan, and most important, make corrections on the fly.

Learn simple – fast – effective methods of capturing images using Canon, Nikon and others eTTL/iTTL wireless flash without all techno-geeky talk. Straight forward technique developed for the fast paced, action world of wedding photography that can also be used in many other situations. No need for a light meter or guessing a ratio settings, this technique taught will be a simple solution for almost every lighting situation one might face.

Both outdoor and indoor lighting situations will be shown and explained, with simple pullback and final product images shown. A NO SECRET approach in teaching, sharing and learning, including the pros and cons and major trouble shooting problems and solutions to this simple yet effective aspect of lighting. Come learn the power of the “other” wireless flash technique, the IR-Method.

• Basic Tips and Tricks to Canon/Nikon and other Wireless Flash Units
• Manually creating ratios the easy way - Pros and Cons to the IR Method
• eTTL and iTTL settings
• Manual Mode
• Zoom
• Custom Functions
• Learn to travel light and capture on the go anywhere in the world.

You'll Learn:

1. You will learn simple, fast, and effective tips to your flash units (mainly Canon and Nikon) that will take your photography to another level right away!
2. One will learn the pros and cons of the eTTL/iTTL method compared to other wireless flash methods.
3. Basic concepts in “flash placement”. Learning to use your flash as an outdoor portable studio as well as simple light modifiers which wont break the bank.

Christa will give you the inside scoop on how she creates her one-of-a-kind look books for her clients. There will be plenty of nail biting quick-n-easy tips to creating truly unique albums.

Christa will walk you through an album design from start to finish. See how to create a masterpiece with simplicity and beautiful artistry. So if you are looking to transform the ordinary to extraordinary, you just gotta’ see what it’s about.

You'll Learn:

1. Stylish yet simple album design techniques
2. How to make your books unique
3. Custom doesn’t have to be so time consuming

Doug will cover topics such as his influences, style and techniques, demonstrating the art of creating drama with the aid of shadows, reflections and clever use of lighting, including his use of available and artificial light including video light. He will show his transitional posing techniques and how to envision images in your mind's eye. We all know not every wedding goes smoothly. There are always challenges. Doug will show you how to handles all the ups and downs of what really happens at today's weddings with his use of systems on both the shooting and Photoshop side.

You'll learn:

1. To see the world differently. Doug will show you how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by illustrating the astounding results he can achieve from less than desirable locations.
2. Marketing strategies and tips to take your business to the next level.
3. Maximizing yours sales and profitability.
4. Workflow action techniques that will save you time and money
5. Turning a telephone inquiry into an on the spot booking.
6. erfecting the art of honest communication.

About Doug
Doug heads up a team photographers that shoot nearly 800 weddings a year internationally. His work has garnered international media attention from Rangefinger, Storyteller, Professional Imagemaker, InStyle and Martha Stewart to name a few.

As a leading expert in the industry, Doug is a sought after inspirational lecturer and educator on the latest trends in photography since 1998. Doug has spoken in almost all the major cities across the United States. Over the last ten years he has reached countless thousands of photographers with his message of "Dare to be Different!" He has been a featured speaker at innumerable regional conventions and events for Professional Photographers of America, WPPI, BPPA and SWPP.

Discover how to use Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom 2 together to streamline your workflow. Learn how you can have more flow and less work—from thousands of photographs to one perfect image. Lightroom is the professional photographer’s essential toolbox, providing one easy application for managing, adjusting, and presenting large volumes of digital photographs.

You'll learn to use Photoshop and Lightroom to accelerate your path from imagination to imagery with timesaving productivity enhancements, unrivaled editing power, and breakthrough compositing capabilities.

About Julianne:
Joining Adobe in 1992, Julieanne has learned her craft through hands-on experience and now serves as the Senior Digital Imaging Evangelist. Spanning digital imaging and illustration, her role includes customer education, product development, and market research. She is a frequent contributor to several publications, a speaker at numerous design conferences and tradeshows, and a teacher at distinguished photography workshops and fine art schools around the world. Herself a passionate photographer, she combines her background in psychology in creating artwork, seen in several showings and published in several magazines. She is the author behind Window Seat – The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking, the founder of www.jkost.com and the creator of the Adobe Photoshop CS training DVDs published by Software Cinema.

Learn how to price your products to be profitable, find the right kinds of clients, collect money before you've taken a single photograph and how to use projection to help guide your clients to spend more money on larger prints. This is all about helping your clients to purchase what they want without the hard sell. After all, we're selling custom artwork, not used cars.

You'll Learn:

1. How to price your product line to balance the desire for both large sales and referrals from clients.
2. Pre-selling - collecting money for images you have yet to shoot.
3. Why implementing projection is the best thing you can do for your portrait business.

If there was an effective way to market your business for free, you'd take advantage, right?

Facebook.com has 70-million users. 14-million photos are uploaded daily. And most important, brides are there, by the thousands, every minute of every day. Chris will give you a crash course on constructing a Facebook profile, and teach you the basic functions of the site. Then it gets serious, as you learn cost-effective ways to grow your business on Facebook-- including free networking, and paid marketing campaigns designed to strategically reach your target clients.

Please note at DWF 2008, Chris offered an impromptu seminar on his own and got rave reviews from members!

You'll Learn:

1. The basics of Facebook, how to apply them to your business
2. To establish a self perpetuating network of referrals that will generate business for years to come, free of charge!
3. To use many of the facets of Facebook to actively market your services to future brides, seniors, and other potential clients

Telling a great wedding story with photographs that feel natural and thoughtful, yet professional and powerful is visual communication at its best. Documenting your clients’ thougths and feelings as their wedding day races by, is a skill. Translating it into a wonderful family history book is art. You’ll learn to finesse poses and prompt your clients to look relaxed, interested, and happy. To capture better candids, and you’ll also learn six key principles of timeless album design.

You'll Learn:

1. You will learn how to finesse your poses and prompts so that your clients look relaxed, interested, and happy.
2. You will learn how to take better candid photographs, better details, and capture more moments.
3. You will learn the six key principles of timeless album design.

By focusing on clear and understandable methods, this seminar will give attendees specific  points they need to understand to significantly help their flash photography.
We will concentrate on three areas - correct exposure, direction of light, and colour of light when balancing flash with ambient.  At the end of the seminar, attendees will have the knowledge they need  achieve more consistent and predictable results in their flash photography.

You'll Learn:

1. How to balance flash with tungsten light
2. High Speed Sync flash, and the importance of maximum sync speed.
3. Using your histogram to determine proper exposure.

Today's brides want their wedding images to look like the fashion layouts they see in magazines such as Vogue. Images that are trend setting fashion, one of a kind and dramatic. Tony Florez's  seminar will guide you in creating images worthy of an editorial fashion spread.

Working on numerous high fashion editorial shoots for several high end Southern California  magazines, he's created a level of skill and experience and will share to you tips and techniques to make dramatic changes to your style.  He will demonstrate how he creates these images, how to work with clients and demonstrate post production techniques.

He will be working with a live model showing you first hand how he shoots and how to make haute couture part of your photography repertoire.

Five years ago Chuck started over. After years in the news and advertising industries, he had no clue to how to make his award winning photography pay the bills in weddings and portraits. Five years later Chuck’s two-man studio consistently makes over a quarter of a million dollars a year. All while shooting less than 25 weddings.

This is for those who have been in the industry for less than four years. Chuck will short circuit the learning curve and show you how to get your business profitable in less than two years.

You'll Learn:

1. How to find high end clients, who WANT to spend money with little or no advertising dollars spent.
2. Wedding show and art show booths that will either kill your chances to get noticed or that will deliver for you… on the cheap!
3. How your very own price list may be defeating you before you even start.
4. The most productive ways to spend your equipment dollars when you don't have much money in the first place.

About Chuck:
I was born a poor penniless, shirtless… and pant less boy. After college, unable to find or keep a job, I debased myself enough to go to work for a very small newspaper in rural North Carolina. Twelve years, four newspapers and some time with the Associated Press later, with a couple of dozen state, regional and national awards to my credit I celebrated a big raise by quitting.

Are you interested in crazy bookings paired with package totals that blow your client's original budgets out of the water?

Mindy's “live role-play” presentation will give you a front row seat at Mindy's initial consultation with a bride. You'll see how she uses subtle techniques throughout the consultation to book the event and increase sales, all while creating an atmosphere where the client feels wonderful and thinks the extra spending was their idea!

No hard sells, no slimy tactics and no secrets held back, you will hear exactly what she says, see the products she shows and even get a detailed review of her unique pricing structure that encourages clients to hand over their wallets.

Marketing, Branding, PR, and Networking, what do they all have in common? Booking the clientele that you want! In today's world the way to get the clients you want has everything to do with you how approach your market. From setting expectations to the preparation and execution of your images you'll learn techniques to create brand loyalty. Using these 4 keys you'll also learn how to efficiently sell and promote yourself to the type of client you want!

Go towards the light and create images that will set you apart. Light, composition, and client interaction are all key in creating images that move the heart and inspire the mind. You'll learn to use composition to set you apart from amateurs. You'll learn tested methods of client interaction to build trust and create images that make people wonder.

You'll Learn:

1. Learn how to gain and find the clients that you want.
2. Find out how Marketing, Branding, PR, and Net-
   working work together. Find out why they are so important to our industry.
3. Learn how to go towards the light and create images that will set you apart even in the not so grand of circumstances.

Spotlight classes will be held on January 15th. They're hands-on, intensive training sessions. Each class lasts 3 hours and is limited to 35 attendees per class.

You'll get two classes of your choice for $99. Spaces are extremely limited and classes are filling up fast!

Click Here to Register & Select Your Classes.

Impressions are everything. Do you leave a lasting impression with your clients? Do you leave them wanting more? Creating these lasting impressions is what building brand equity is all about. In a sea of apples, it’s your opportunity to be the extraordinary orange. Understanding who you are and your signature style is the first step to creating your identity. Your brand is everything from the pieces of paper your logo is printed on to the building in which you conduct your business. We will look at how all of these things effect your brand and help you create a unique identity that your clients can embrace.

I will show you how to implement marketing strategies efficiently, effectively and consistently. We will perform exercises that will help you identify your strengths and build your brand around them. Be prepared to bring a portfolio and marketing examples with you.

A few things you'll take away
1. How to build a marketing strategy without reinventing the wheel
2. Identify your core values to build a brand around it
3. How to tie it all together seamlessly in every aspect of your business

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Many photographers don't know what to do about flaws in their images. But your clients see them! Wouldn't you like to do something about them—without taking all day? Many of the corrective techniques don't take as long as you might think. Ray will show you eye enhancements—from adding catchlights, to replacing whole eyes. Eye enhancements alone can bring a nice portrait up to a spectacular one—one that commands attention—and high prices. Learn how to quickly eliminate color casts on skin. We’ll explore fixing double chins and back fat. Ray guarantees you will come away with a handful of techniques that you can use on your very next wedding.

About Ray:
Ray Prevost Ray is known nationally for his Photoshop skills, and his ability to teach what some consider difficult! Ray has lectured for both the DWF and for WPPI. He has also lectured extensively for California state and local associations. In 2004, Ray won both the first AND the second half WPPI 8x10 Digital/Special Effects category. Ray has retouched images for many well-known photographers and won numerous national awards for his digital creations.

Classtime: 3 hours
Size limit: 35 attendees
Recommended: Laptop

SOLD OUT

As close to a one-on-one experience as you can get at a major convention! You'll explore lighting techniques in class, and you'll try them in the field under the watchful eyes of Mike Fulton and the TriCoast Photography team. You'll receive in-depth instruction in wireless flash, contolling oudoor light, and get great tips and tricks on using a video light.

About Mike & Cody:
Artists, Authors and all around crazy internationally award winning photographers, Mike Fulton, Cody Clinton and others of TriCoast Photography have gained world-wide popularity with their simple – fast – effective wireless flash techniques. Boasting worldwide and editorial fashion style of art, TriCoast’s unique style provides clients with a one-of-a-kind attitude that is very apparent in their final artwork. With an easy to follow and fun atmosphere TriCoast believes in the NO SECRETS teaching attitude, giving the pros and cons to their lighting method which they have developed over many years of trial and error capturing wedding day events around the world. Former Eastman Kodak’s World Wide Photographers to Watch as well as capturing weddings for Dignitaries of Countries around the world, TriCoast Photography has shown that teamwork, passion for the arts, and a sense of humor is the key to success.

Classtime: 3 hours
Size limit: 35 attendees
Recommended: Camera

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Every time Rosalind teaches, we hear the same thing from so many attendees: I can't believe what I just learned! I never even thought of that!! She's amazing!

Rosalind does it again with this warning: This spotlight class will might be a lot like going to the dentist after 10 years: It's not fun, but oh man, do you ever need it!

She'll teach how to use Quickbooks in an whole new way: To power your decisions about what to buy, where to advertise, and how to price your products. In short, how to make better decisions, and make more money.

Hour 1 - Garbage In, Garbage Out
Overview of how to set up Quickbooks to get the most out of your data down the line. This will include understanding what accounts to set up, how to automate a significant portion of data entry, how to keep track of customer purchases and payments, and how to set up classes that will give you useful information down the line.

Hour 2 - Basic reporting
the basic financial reports and what they mean to you. We will learn how to read these reports and understand how to understand the implications of what you are reading. You will learn about profit and loss statements, balance sheets and statement of cash flows. You will also learn how to use the "class" feature to understand profitability of sub-segments you are interested in, like brides who were referred through a specific source.

Hour 3 - Advanced decision making
In this hour, we will talk about pairing your Quickbooks data with other data sources to make even more finely tuned business decisions. We will cover sources for auxiliary data, specific analyses you can perform

About Rosalind:
Rosalind is the owner of Rosalind Weddings, a boutique wedding photography business based in Chicago. Rosalind spent six years as a management consultant developing strategy for Fortune 500 companies in a diverse array of industries. In the small business arena. Rosalind's entrepreneurial experience includes advising start-ups as they developed their marketing plans for angel investors and venture capital firms. Rosalind holds an MBA in marketing and strategy from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University and an undergraduate degree in economics and English writing. And she's appeared on Oprah!

Class Time: 3 hours
Limit: 35 attendees
Recommended: Laptop w/ Quickbooks Pro (or higher)

SOLD OUT

It's a great shot, but damn if that telephone pole wasn't right there! In this class, you'll learn a completely different way of playing the perplexing game of finding the "right location" for that shoot. At weddings, in portrait sessions, it would be awesome if you could shoot just about anywhere right?

For three hours, Jen and Steve Bebb will show you how any location can be the right location. You'll go outside, they'll take you through multiple shoots, and you'll shoot as well. After three hours with the Bebbs, you'll have a far greater understanding of how to walk into a location, evaluate the possibilities, and select locations and shots that will resonate with your clients.

About The Bebbs:
Quietly pursuing their dreams in Vancouver, Canada, Stephen and Jennifer Bebb were thrust into the international spotlight when American Photo named them as one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World.

Already known for their fantastic imagery, the Bebbs soon developed a reputation as fantastic educators as well. More importantly, to the Bebbs, they also found a way to balance their very important family life with the demands of a busy and successful career.

Today, the Bebbs are still pursuing their dreams in Vancouver, Canada, albeit not as quietly. They balance their passion for photography with their desire to educate, and give tirelessly to the causes that are important to them. Working together, both in their business and in their family, the Bebbs never lose sight of what means the most - the health and happiness of the people they love.

Class Time: 3 hours
Limit 35 attendees
Recommended: Camera!

In a wedding market as monstrous as New York City, having your own truly unique style is a matter of business life and death. Jason Groupp is a high-end NYC wedding photographer with decades of experience shooting fashion, and he's ready to help you develop a style of your own.

This isn't a class about pocket wizards and f/stops. This is for those who have a good grip on lighting but need to turn it up a notch and learn to shoot outside their comfort zone.

Jason will show you how he put his fashion experience to use in his wedding photography, and how developed a style as if he was sending his portfolio to NYC photo editors. The class begins with a discussion of techniques you'd use in developing your style. You'll talk some about lighting techniques borrowed from fashion shooting. Then, you'll shoot. This is a hands-on class with an expert who's making it in NY. And you know what Sinatra said...

About Jason:
Jason shot his first gig at 18 years old, while his friends were flipping burgers for beer money, Jason put himself through photography school (F.I.T) by shooting on the weekends and soon hit the streets of NYC.

Over 22 years he's built an amazing studio in the heart of Chelsea. Keeping Manhattan brides and finicky magazine editors happy is a daunting task but he finds it very rewarding.

Jason has done everything under the sun! He's shot for clients including J. Crew, Candies, Tiffany's, BMW and Cusinart to name a few. He's been published (paid gigs folks!) in over a dozen magazines including the Sunday NY Times Magazine, Men's Health, Bicycling, Marie Claire and Vogue. And, of course hundreds of high-end brides and grooms!

Class Length: 3 hours
Limit: 35 attendees