Saturday, July 19th

9:30 – 4:30 Lisa Asp - Photographing and Fundraising with Furry Family Members
(PPA Merited Class with separate registration)

Lunch provided for PPO members.

9:30 – 4:30 Mike Price - Business Headshot Portraiture: Setup, Selling, Shooting, Showing, Styling, and Sending
(PPA Merited Class with separate registration)

Lunch provided for PPO members.

9:30 – 4:30 The Power of Story: Creative and Fine Art Image Making
(PPA Merited Class with separate registration)

Lunch provided for PPO members.

Photographing and Fundraising with Furry Family Members

PPA Merited Class
July 19th | 9.30 – 4.30
Cherry Valley Hotel

**Separate Registration – Register here.

Did you know that 68% of all U.S. households own at least one pet? This includes 86 million dogs. Compare that to the 22 million 15-19 year olds (reported from the US Census Bureau) who make up the high school senior portrait market, and you will see that pet photography is a tremendous market to tap into. This is also why it is one of the fastest growing niche areas in the photography industry today. Yet there are very few in-person educational opportunities available for those wanting to learn. Being a successful pet photographer comes with many nuances, from understanding animal behavior and safety, to posing and lighting pets, to getting expression. Lisa Asp help your members uncover the mystery of pet portraiture.

Program Description:

Lisa Asp of Tangerine House of Design in Minneapolis, MN, is dedicated to dog portraiture of all kinds - both in-studio and on-location. With over 20 years of experience working with our canine counterparts, she brings a full-time career of working with animals to get you up to speed on all things dog - one of the fastest growing niche markets in photography today.

Participants will learn dog behavior including body language, signs of stress, and safety practices. We will discuss the importance of a “dog wrangler” and how to quickly train your client to be your assistant if you don’t have one. You will see how to attractively pose dogs – what works and what doesn’t, as well as the best ways to get and keep their attention. Then, get ready to play! Live demos both in studio and outdoors will put this new knowledge to work.

Next, we will switch gears to talk about fundraising and how you can use it to market and grow your business, as well as other marketing strategies – topics that Lisa uses in her studio every day, and things that ANY photographer can use regardless of niche.

Lunch is provided for PPO members. $15 for non-members.

Taking Ownership of The Numbers

July 20th | 10:45am – 12:15pm

Most photographers struggle with crunching their numbers, knowing their overhead, and setting their prices for long-term sustainability. As creatives, photographer’s faces tend to glaze over when it comes to the numbers, especially those newer to the industry. Lisa has created a way to dumb this process down to a simple “fill-in-the-blank” worksheet that has helped numerous photographers understand their time, their overhead, and what their average orders need to be to see profitability. Many don’t think about their own time as a cost, or their equipment as an ongoing expense. These two factors alone can make a MAJOR difference in one’s final numbers. Lisa will lead your members in a discussion demonstrating the numbers and the ease in finding this information, which is a different equation for every single person. By the end of the discussion, the light bulb will be burning brightly and attendees will have more knowledge and confidence in their businesses and what they each need to be charging.

Lisa has won numerous awards for her work including five Kodak Gallery awards, Fuji Masterpiece, Lexjet, PPA District First Place, IPC GIA First Place and GIA Second Place, two-time Diamond Photographer of the Year, and more. Receiving PPA “Photographer of the Year” status the last 11 years straight, Lisa has been named one of PPA's "Elite Plus" members. She enjoys volunteering her time with several pet rescues photographing their adoptable animals, fostering and assisting in their fundraisers and food drives. Her love of animals has grown into wildlife (and landscape) photography as well. She is the current president of the International Society of Animal Photographers, a past president of the Twin Cities Professional Photography Association, Founder and Director of the Animal Image Makers Conference, a PPA Councilor and PPA-Aproved Juror.

SPONSORED BY: ACI

Business Headshot Portraiture: Setup, Selling, Shooting, Showing, Styling, and Sending

PPA Merited Class
July 19th | 2.00– 3.30
Cherry Valley Hotel

**Separate Registration – Register here.

Spend a day with Mike Price, M.Photog.Cr., as he takes you on a hands-on journey through the 6 S’s of Business Headshot Portraiture: Setup, Selling, Shooting, Showing, Styling, and Sending. Attendees will learn how to organize their headshot business offerings, select equipment and lighting that fits their style, develop an effective workflow, and find new clients. This workshop is heaving on developing business acumen for dealing with corporate clientele coupled with efficient workflow to quickly complete projects resulting in target margin.

More than just learning how to light pretty pictures, this workshop is designed to show you tools to be productive and profitable immediately you can practice and apply after the meeting.  After all, this IS a business and our goal is run a profitable business that balances our work and our life.

This is a hand's-on experience, so bring cameras, portrait lenses (85mm or 70-200mm zoom), and plenty of paper for notes and exercises. A workbook will be provided.

Lunch is provided for PPO members. $15 for non-members.

This is a PPA continuing education class. All PPA members in good standing will receive a merit for attending.

QUIT LIKE A PRO

July 20th | 2.00pm – 3.00pm

Mike Price of Fairfield Photography helps you create a contingency plan for performing triage, stabilizing, and eventually closing a photography business, especially if the owner can't participate in that effort due to serious accident, severe medical condition, or even death. It’s not just an essential guide to shutting down a business; it’s a roadmap for getting your current chaos under control. Clear, practical, and downright necessary.

Mike Price, M.Photog.Cr. turned his part-time hobby into a full-time business nearly 19 years ago.  Prior to expanding Fairfield Photography into a full-time career, Mike worked in Corporate America for over 25 years in various IT leadership roles in systems analysis, project management, consulting, and sales.  This deep experience in applying the right people, process, and technology to the solution of problems, coupled with the business and sales acumen, has given Mike a powerful advantage in creating a customer service business that produces award winning images.

Mike’s photographic experience ranges from high school senior and family portraits, team and individual sports portraits, action photography in equestrian, running, and cycling plus community and corporate events.  Several years ago, Mike shifted his business to focus on corporate portraiture and commercial property photography and the results have been more a more profitable business with more time for family and less time justifying the price of an 8x10.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Franklin University.  Based in Pickerington Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, Mike is an active member of the Professional Photographers of America and Professional Photographers of Ohio.  He is a PPA Master Photographer and Photographic Craftsman, past Board Member of the Professional Photographers of Ohio, and a two-time Past-President of the Professional Photographers of Central Ohio.  Mike speaks regularly to fellow photographers to improve their craft and offers advice, tools, and products through is education website – www.PhotographersToolbox.com.

The Power of Story: Creative and Fine Art Image Making

PPA Merited Class
July 19th | 9.30 – 4.30
Cherry Valley Hotel

**Separate Registration – Register here.

As photographers, we’re all visual story tellers. What story do YOU want to tell? And how can you ensure your audience connects with that story? In this hand-on experience, we will walk through how you can skillfully and artfully tell your visual story. *We will work through different methods of idea generation, and practice how to develop those ideas *We will explore different visual literacy techniques to convey the story of your image, including color, lighting, camera angles, and more *We will discuss post-production methods to help put everything together Join in and learn the power of story in your image creation.

Lunch is provided for PPO members. $15 for non-members.

The Power of Process

July 20th | 9.00am - 10.30am

Stop mistaking being “busy” with being “successful”: Photography business processes to win back your time. You may look at your full schedule and think that you’ve reached the pinnacle of your career… at the cost of your personal life, profitability, and sanity! This talk will guide you through processes for different business models to help you build a career that is truly successful, and help you maintain a beautiful balance between work and home. We will look at ways to streamline your marketing, client workflow, post-production, and sales techniques.

Erica Manning is the owner and operator of a portrait studio just outside of Columbus, Ohio. She has built a thriving senior portrait business, providing high quality imagery, consistent and elevated customer service, and unique session experiences. Erica incorporates fine-art lighting techniques and creative portraiture as means to set herself apart as an authority and leader in her market.

Erica’s imagery has received high recognition. She has achieved Master level or higher through PPA, Icon Awards, and The Portrait Masters. Her creative portraits have received many top awards through these organizations, including IPC GIA finalist in 2023 and Diamond distinction in 2024 in the High School Senior category. Other notable awards include 1st in Teen and Senior through The Portrait Masters 2023, and a top 10 finalist in Icon Awards for 2025. Erica was named Professional Photographers of Ohio’s “Photographer of the Year” for 2024. She also has been featured in Professional Photographer Magazine and Rangefinder Magazine, and on several episodes of The Portrait System Podcast, and on The Generator Podcast.

Erica enjoys sharing her knowledge of lighting, creative image making, and business processes through workshops and mentoring.

Visit Erica’s Website

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/ericamanningphotography

Instagram URL: https://www.instagram.com/ericamanningphoto

SPONSORED BY: BAY PHOTO

Don't Just Stop at Senior Banners... Make More $$$ in Other Areas too!

July 21st | 9.30am - 11.30am

Join me for an engaging workshop designed to unlock new revenue streams for your studio beyond senior banner photography! With over 45 years of experience in design and photography at our full-time studio, I’ll share innovative ideas and strategies to help diversify your income. We’ll explore custom products like retail yard signs, Classic Car Showboards, clothing for local businesses and Fun T-shirts for senior parents, playful custom faces, and in-house sublimation items. You’ll learn how to create impactful event signage and promotional materials tailored to your various photography divisions. We’ll also discuss collaborations with schools of all ages to produce memorable sports and graduation keepsakes, along with effective marketing techniques to boost your visibility.

Get excited to make more money!

Bring plenty of paper to write your notes and Ideas!  Be prepared to be inspired with actionable insights that will elevate your studio’s offerings throughout the year!

SOCIAL MEDIA

July 21st | 1.00pm - 2.30pm

NETWORKING WITH CONFIDENCE

July 21st | 9.00 - 10.30am

Networking can feel intimidating, but it’s one of the most powerful tools for growing your photography business and enriching your personal life. If you’ve ever felt anxious about meeting new people, you’re not alone—but you don’t have to stay stuck. You can learn to approach conversations with confidence, build meaningful relationships, and open doors to new opportunities. Whether you struggle with introductions, keeping conversations flowing, or following up effectively, you’ll gain practical strategies to make networking feel natural and rewarding. When you connect with confidence, you attract opportunities, collaborations, and clients who truly value your work. Let’s take the fear out of networking and turn it into one of your greatest strengths! 

**Sarah Henderson** is the owner of Desired Focus Photography, with the goal of helping people feel seen and beautiful. She is a portrait photographer who primarily photographs business owners and professionals for branding and headshot photography, as well as high school seniors and families.

PHOTO LAB

July 20th | 4.00 - 6.30pm

Join various industry leaders for several on-locations shoot-outs with provided models, both indoors and outdoors, as well as roundtables on a variety of topics such as using ChatGPT for business and using volume ordering software. Full schedule available soon!

CHERRY VALLEY HOTEL

2299 CHERRY VALLEY RD SE, NEWARK, OH 43055
740-788-1200 | cherryvalleyhotel.com

$132 room rate for single or double King. Reservations can be made using this direct link: PPO - CHERRY VALLY DIRECT BOOKING LINK

or calling Hotel directly at 740-788-1200 or 800-788-8008.

Individuals must identify themselves as being with the Professional Photographers of Ohio at the time the reservation is made to receive the special rate. All reservations must be made by June 27th, 2025. Regular rate of $209 per room will apply after the deadline.

Popular Hotel Amenities and Features
Take advantage of recreational opportunities offered, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center. This hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet access, gift shops/newsstands, and wedding services.

Hotel Accommodations and Guest Rooms
Make yourself at home in one of the 200 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and LED televisions. Your bed comes with premium bedding, and all rooms are furnished with twin sofa beds. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.

Registration includes classes on both July 19th and 20th and 4 meals (lunch and dinner on Sunday, breakfast and lunch on Monday).

PPA members will receive one merit for attending and PPO members will be eligible for a PPO service merit.