Shoot First, Panic Later: Staying Creative Despite Wedding-Day Chaos

Join Foundation Workshops for a special learning event at WPPI 2026.
Beyond the pose: How to see, shoot, and sell real stories
Sunday March 1, 1PM- 5 PM

Learn to see what’s already there. Instead of directing every moment, learn how to notice people, real emotion, and life as it unfolds, and turn the ordinary into something unforgettable through light, composition, and moment. We’ll show you how to approach anything you shoot from weddings, families, to portraits with a storytelling mindset, and how to use those stories to shape your brand, your website, and your marketing in a way that feels honest, human, and unforgettable.

1-1:45 PM – Tyler Wirken– Storytelling Mindset: How to “see” your clients and embrace who they are and what makes them unique in order to make timeless meaningful images. Documentary photography is knowing what to look for. Having faith that real life will give you what you need is what it is all about. Recognizing it and capitalizing on it is key.

2-2:45 PM – Asha King- Storytelling in portraits: Transforming your wedding portrait sessions by integrating storytelling techniques to create unique and personal portraits that define who your subjects really are.

3-3:45 PM – Kaila Williams – Sell the experience: Storytelling in marketing. How storytelling websites attract the perfect clients.

4-5 PM – Huy Nguyen, Jason Vinson, Fer Juaristi, plus more- Live Photo Critique Panel: Come hear honest, constructive photo breakdowns that are filled with with wisdom and often a dose of humor. (Photo submissions by World’s Best Wedding Photographers and Fearless Photographers Communities or bring and submit your own photos)

Presented by: FOUNDATION WORKSHOPS www.foundationworkshops.com

World renowned Foundation Workshop is not your average photography workshop. Billed as an often life changing workshop that teaches photographers how to see and think like a photojournalist, Foundation is not just a lesson in how to take better pictures, but more of a lesson in learning who you are as a photographer and how that affects the way you see the world. Students spend a week immersed with some of the best documentary teachers around photographing real assignments helping them change the way they see the world. Many of the industries top photographers of today started at one of the Foundation Workshops that spread across 20 years and 5 countries. A major part of that learning process comes from in the field instruction combined with honest critique.

Spend a full day with five renowned wedding photographers as they share their expertise on every aspect of the craft. From posing and lighting techniques to pricing, marketing, and social media strategies, you’ll gain practical insights to strengthen both your artistry and your business. The day concludes with an interactive panel discussion on the state of the industry, giving you the chance to ask questions, exchange ideas, and walk away with fresh perspective and inspiration.

Additional information on The Wedding Summit can be found here.

Sponsored by Imagen

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Summer Grace, Posing With Purpose: How to Think Like a Creative Director 
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Chris Evans, The Emotional Blueprint of Luxury: Designing Client Experiences That Last 
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Lauren Ashley, How to Go Viral and Book More Weddings
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Lunch (on own)  
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Fer Juaristi, Same Script, New Vision: Breaking the Mold in Wedding Photography 
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: D'Arcy Benincosa, The Profitable Photographer: Pricing and Selling With Confidence in Any Wedding Market  
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: PANEL with Jason Vinson, Jeff Chang, D'Arcy Benincosa and hosted by Charmi Patel Peña, Redefining What Luxury Really Means

Weddings move fast—light changes, timelines shift, and real moments never repeat themselves. In this seminar, Susan Stripling will teach you how to see clearly in the chaos, training your eye to recognize strong compositions, beautiful light, and meaningful storytelling in any setting. Through real wedding examples—from hotel suites to dark receptions and crowded dance floors—Susan will break down how she made compositional choices in the moment. You’ll leave with a process for finding the frame at any part of the wedding day and practical strategies you can apply immediately.