The Top Photography Conferences of 2023
Imaging USA:|January 28-30, 2024 • Louisville, KY
What is Imaging USA?
It’s the longest-running photographic conference, trade show, and exhibit in the USA, drawing 10,000 working photographers each year. Dating back to 1880, the event is always growing and evolving to help photographers become better artists, grow as entrepreneurs, and be inspired to do and be more.
This photographers’ dream event has 3 days of a 70,000 square foot trade show, 80+ sessions to pick from several tracks of photography and business classes, 2 all-inclusive parties, an impactful keynote, and several ceremonies with some of the biggest names in photography. And for those who want an extra dose of learning in a smaller group format you’ll have the option to add up to 3 days of pre-conference classes!
Be a Student Volunteer at Imaging USA
Want to become immersed in professional photography for at least three full days? Would you like to meet and network with thousands of professional photographers and industry specialists for at least three full days? You can do that—for free—as an Imaging USA Student Volunteer!
Volunteer your time in a convention and trade show that will spice up your art and heat up your photographic business opportunities for your future.
Duties will include assisting Imaging USA convention staff and attendees, and badge checking.
This year we’re bringing all the education and excitement to the Music City. And to make your experience even more rewarding, pre-con classes are available in the days leading up to the conference.
WPPI • Mar 3-7, 2024, Las Vegas
Specializing in wedding and portrait photography, WPPI gives 13,000+ attendees access to networking, educational sessions and key exhibitors with the latest gear. Sessions focus on everything from business growth to new shooting styles, while networking events include a fun run and nightclub happy hours. WPPI includes a wide variety of content for wedding filmmakers, too.
ShutterFest • April 2-4, 2024, St. Louis, MO
With an aim to shake up the photography conference norm, ShutterFest focuses on intimacy and personal connection. The two-day event includes in-the-field workshops and hands-on classes with some of the industry’s leading photographers.
What is Out Of Chicago?
Out of Chicago began in 2011 as a blog by Chris Smith to share his photography adventures. Since then it has evolved from a published book, “The Photographers Guide to Chicago”, to the first and largest annual midwest photography conference of its kind. Things have changed since then, but the vision has remained the same, which is to connect and immerse enthusiasts and professionals alike with the best possible learning experience around photography.
Today, Out of Chicago creates immersive, in-person and online photography conferences each year, attracting the world’s best photographers from their field for you to connect and energize your photography alongside the pros. We are all photographers ourselves, so we understand what it takes to be inspired and get to the right place at the right time to get that one epic shot. Each conference is unique and creative allowing you to interact and learn something new every time. Our in-person, hands-on events take you to epic destinations throughout the year, such as Acadia, Moab, and Yosemite National Park. And once-a-year, you can attend our live, online, global photography conference where over 50 world-class photographers gather in one place, at one time, to share their discoveries from the past year, and for you to learn, share and get feedback from the pros.
Join us and be part of a community as passionate about photography as you.
Out Of Oregon • Week 1-October 9-13, 2022
Out Of Oregon • Week 2- October 16-20, 2022
This conference immerses you in a world-class coastal environment where you will learn and photograph alongside the pros. The format is organized for you to learn different techniques, try them in the field and get feedback on your work each day, from creating dramatic compositions to refining your camera settings, defining your photographic style and much more. You will have the opportunity to learn hands-on, in the field with almost every one of our instructors.
While on the Oregon Coast, your time will be spent in hands-on, small group field excursions, image reviews and post-processing sessions. To make the most of your time, presentations will be provided on equipment, locations and shooting techniques in advance for you to prepare for the event.
Out of Desert Botanical Garden • March 19-23, 2023
Join us in Phoenix, Arizona for an immersive experience focused on photographing some of the best collections of unique desert plants in North America. This conference is limited to 45 attendees to make this a more intimate, personalized learning experience. We will spend most of our time together at the Desert Botanical Garden, which features 140 acres of desert plants, including cactus, succulents, trees, and flowers from around the world, showcased in cultivated outdoor exhibits and along naturalized trails.
We will be timing our visit with the Garden’s spring flower season, with opportunities to photograph blooming cactus, an extensive range of colorful desert plants, butterflies, and possibly hummingbirds. This conference will also include an extended day trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden. During the conference, you will have extended time to work with each instructor, photograph on your own, and create a cohesive portfolio of desert plant and flower photographs. Deserts are sometimes perceived as dry, inhospitable places. This conference will challenge that perception through an exploration of these amazing, specially-adapted plants, with the gardens proving a broad range of inspiration for any nature photographer.
Out of Chicago Botanic Garden • August 27-31, 2023
Immerse yourself in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s 385 acres, which includes 27 individual gardens full of dahlias, roses, waterlilies, lotuses, hummingbirds, butterflies, and much more, along with 3 greenhouses that feature desert plants, tropical, and semi-tropical plants. The Chicago Botanic Garden cultivates a collection of more than 2.6 million living plants, including native species, unusual nonnatives, and adapted cultivars, making it a paradise for flower, plant, and garden photography.
Late August is the ideal time to visit Chicago Botanic Garden: the gardens are at their lushest and the summer crowds have begun to diminish. During the conference, you will have ample time to wander the garden paths, explore your creativity, practice mindful photography, and explore your subjects deeply. The conference, which is limited to 45 attendees to make this a more intimate, personalized learning experience, includes extended time to work with each of our talented, supportive instructors in the field.
Create NYC • September 29 – October 2, 2022
Create NYC is a new chapter, a festival-like experience for visual creators and brands at the forefront of image culture. Where a diverse, influential, and talented group of visual creators will converge to form a new emerging creative community. To level up your imaging skills in unforgettable immersive experiences. To test gear and connect with brands and game-changing creators. To discuss, learn, create, and reframe image-making.
The Portrait Masters • September 11-14, 2022, Phoenix, Arizona
Learn new lighting, posing, and shooting techniques that you can put into immediate practice in the numerous shooting bays throughout the conference. You’ll get exclusive access and deals on the latest tech and gear at the manufacturer’s expo and be able to network with photographers and instructors from around the world during social events and parties!
What Is Professional Photographers of America PPA?
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the world’s largest nonprofit photography association organized for professional photographers, by professional photographers, with 30,000 creative members in more than 50 countries.
PPA’s mission is to create a vibrant community of successful professional photographers by providing education, resources and industry standards of excellence.
PPA is your go-to resource to grow your business and be more profitable. You want educational workshops and classes? We got ’em. Business assistance and protection for your valuable gear? Done. An esteemed group of successful photography professionals to guide you? Absolutely.
PPA photographers can rest assured that PPA will help them navigate the business of photography. We are here to help you be more profitable, be more productive, be more creative, be more in-demand, and more. In a nutshell, PPA helps photographers like you BE MORE!