Plan Your Week of Growth and Creativity
Discover everything WPPI 2026 has to offer as you plan your week of learning, creativity, and connection. The schedule is packed with powerful presentations, hands-on sessions, and experiences designed to inspire you, challenge you, and help you grow as a photographer.
Icon Awards Live Judging
The Icon International Photography Awards annual competition celebrate…The Icon International Photography Awards annual competition celebrates iconic photography with a primary focus on inspiration, education, integrity, and the power of print to elevate the photography industry. The Icon Awards continues the 30+ year …The Icon International Photography Awards annual competition celebrates iconic photography with a primary focus on inspiration, education, integrity, and the power of print to elevate the photography industry. The Icon Awards continues the 30+ year legacy originally created by the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) annual photography competition. When WPPI decided to discontinue their photography competition in 2023, Jerry a…The Icon International Photography Awards annual competition celebrates iconic photography with a primary focus on inspiration, education, integrity, and the power of print to elevate the photography industry. The Icon Awards continues the 30+ year legacy originally created by the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) annual photography competition. When WPPI decided to discontinue their photography competition in 2023, Jerry and Melissa Ghionis launched the Icon Awards and continued this tradition of celebrating excellence in photography. Entries in the competition will be anonymously scored by five judges, with final scores determining eligibility for silver, gold, and platinum awards, along with digital badges and certificates. Your top four entries contribute to your Icon Honors of Excellence designation.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Beyond the Pose: How to See, Shoot, and Sell Real Stories
Join Foundation Workshops for a special learning event at WPPI 2026.Be…Join Foundation Workshops for a special learning event at WPPI 2026.Beyond the pose: How to see, shoot, and sell real storiesSunday March 1, 1PM- 5 PM Learn to see what’s already there. Instead of directing every moment, learn how to notice people, r…Join Foundation Workshops for a special learning event at WPPI 2026.Beyond the pose: How to see, shoot, and sell real storiesSunday 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, familie…Join Foundation Workshops for a special learning event at WPPI 2026.Beyond the pose: How to see, shoot, and sell real storiesSunday 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.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Sneak Peak Welcome Reception
The WPPI Sneak Peek is your exclusive first look at everything this ye…The WPPI Sneak Peek is your exclusive first look at everything this year’s conference has to offer. Be among the first to explore what’s in store—connect with fellow photographers, industry experts, and vendors in a relaxed setting before the expo fl…The WPPI Sneak Peek is your exclusive first look at everything this year’s conference has to offer. Be among the first to explore what’s in store—connect with fellow photographers, industry experts, and vendors in a relaxed setting before the expo floor officially opens. This is your chance to get a head start on networking, discover the latest gear, and map out your game plan for the week ahead. Whether you’re looking to make new connections, sc…The WPPI Sneak Peek is your exclusive first look at everything this year’s conference has to offer. Be among the first to explore what’s in store—connect with fellow photographers, industry experts, and vendors in a relaxed setting before the expo floor officially opens. This is your chance to get a head start on networking, discover the latest gear, and map out your game plan for the week ahead. Whether you’re looking to make new connections, scope out must-see exhibitors, or simply soak in the excitement before the main event, the Sneak Peek sets the perfect tone for an unforgettable WPPI experience.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
After Hours: Deseo Latin Sundays
Present Show Badge for Complimentary Admission before 1 AM, Doors Open…Present Show Badge for Complimentary Admission before 1 AM, Doors Open at 10:30PMPresent Show Badge for Complimentary Admission before 1 AM, Doors Open at 10:30PMPresent Show Badge for Complimentary Admission before 1 AM, Doors Open at 10:30PMShow MoreClick the title to see all details
Icon Awards Live Judging
The Icon International Photography Awards annual competition celebrate…The Icon International Photography Awards annual competition celebrates iconic photography with a primary focus on inspiration, education, integrity, and the power of print to elevate the photography industry. The Icon Awards continues the 30+ year …The Icon International Photography Awards annual competition celebrates iconic photography with a primary focus on inspiration, education, integrity, and the power of print to elevate the photography industry. The Icon Awards continues the 30+ year legacy originally created by the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) annual photography competition. When WPPI decided to discontinue their photography competition in 2023, Jerry a…The Icon International Photography Awards annual competition celebrates iconic photography with a primary focus on inspiration, education, integrity, and the power of print to elevate the photography industry. The Icon Awards continues the 30+ year legacy originally created by the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) annual photography competition. When WPPI decided to discontinue their photography competition in 2023, Jerry and Melissa Ghionis launched the Icon Awards and continued this tradition of celebrating excellence in photography. Entries in the competition will be anonymously scored by five judges, with final scores determining eligibility for silver, gold, and platinum awards, along with digital badges and certificates. Your top four entries contribute to your Icon Honors of Excellence designation.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
The Boudoir Summit
Join six of the industry’s most sought-after photographers for a full …Join six of the industry’s most sought-after photographers for a full day dedicated to the art and business of boudoir. Each speaker will share their expertise, from creative approaches and styling techniques to building confidence and elevating the …Join six of the industry’s most sought-after photographers for a full day dedicated to the art and business of boudoir. Each speaker will share their expertise, from creative approaches and styling techniques to building confidence and elevating the client experience. You’ll gain practical tools to refine your style, connect more deeply with your clients, and set your boudoir business apart. This summit is your chance to learn, be inspired, and a…Join six of the industry’s most sought-after photographers for a full day dedicated to the art and business of boudoir. Each speaker will share their expertise, from creative approaches and styling techniques to building confidence and elevating the client experience. You’ll gain practical tools to refine your style, connect more deeply with your clients, and set your boudoir business apart. This summit is your chance to learn, be inspired, and advance your artistry and your business. Additional information on The Boudoir Summit can be found here. 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Anita Sadowska, Celebrating Every Body: Posing and Directing Women in Boudoir 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Cate Scaglione, The Soulfully Sustainable Boudoir Business10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Yuliya Panchenko, Sculpted by Light: Mastering Posing with Directional Lighting11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Lunch (on own) 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lindsay Adler, The Art of Photographing the Nude Form 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: Marco Ibanez, Build a Strong Boudoir Brand that Drives Bookings3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Jenn Bruno Smith, The Art of Male Boudoir: Confident Posing for Powerful, Profitable ImagesShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
The Business & Marketing Summit
This full-day summit is designed to guide photographers through every …This full-day summit is designed to guide photographers through every essential aspect of building a profitable and sustainable business. Six industry leaders will share actionable strategies on branding, social media, pricing, marketing, and expandi…This full-day summit is designed to guide photographers through every essential aspect of building a profitable and sustainable business. Six industry leaders will share actionable strategies on branding, social media, pricing, marketing, and expanding revenue streams. Each session offers practical insights to help you strengthen your business foundation and fuel long-term growth. The day concludes with a panel discussion, where speakers come tog…This full-day summit is designed to guide photographers through every essential aspect of building a profitable and sustainable business. Six industry leaders will share actionable strategies on branding, social media, pricing, marketing, and expanding revenue streams. Each session offers practical insights to help you strengthen your business foundation and fuel long-term growth. The day concludes with a panel discussion, where speakers come together to provide clarity, direction, and inspiration for the next stage of your journey. Additional information on The Business & Marketing Summit can be found here. Sponsored by Imagen 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Elena S Blair, Pricing Made Simple: Build a Profitable Strategy That Works 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Jason Vinson, Marketing on Autopilot: How to Create Content That Books Clients Year-Round10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Miles Witt Boyer, From Connection to Capture: Create a Seamless Wedding Client Experience11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Lunch (on own) 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Cassidy Lynne, Booked Through the Feed: Turning Social Media into Clients 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: Jeff Chang, The Client Experience Blueprint: How Wedding Photographers Maintain Growth 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Preston Luke, Monetizing Your Brand Beyond Photography 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM: PANEL with Staci Brucks, Elena S Blair, Miles Witt Boyer and Hosted by Noella Andres, What’s Actually Working in Photography MarketingShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
The Lighting Summit
Join some of the most respected voices in photography for a full day d…Join some of the most respected voices in photography for a full day dedicated to mastering the art of light. The Lighting Summit explores how to use light with purpose and creativity, from choosing the right shapers and maintaining color consistency…Join some of the most respected voices in photography for a full day dedicated to mastering the art of light. The Lighting Summit explores how to use light with purpose and creativity, from choosing the right shapers and maintaining color consistency to working confidently with both LED and flash. Discover how lighting can elevate any scene, turning challenging conditions into beautiful, portfolio-worthy images. Whether you want to sharpen your t…Join some of the most respected voices in photography for a full day dedicated to mastering the art of light. The Lighting Summit explores how to use light with purpose and creativity, from choosing the right shapers and maintaining color consistency to working confidently with both LED and flash. Discover how lighting can elevate any scene, turning challenging conditions into beautiful, portfolio-worthy images. Whether you want to sharpen your technical skills or find new inspiration, this summit will give you the tools and confidence to make light your strongest storytelling tool. Dive into hands-on experiences in the Lighting Summit’s studio bays and dynamic lighting setups! Additional information on The Lighting Summit can be found here. Sponsored by Profoto 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Michael Anthony, The Power of Three: Light Shapers That Transform Your Portraits9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Meg Loeks, Balancing Light and Color: Creating Consistent, Cinematic Imagery10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Roberto Valenzuela, Less Gear. Better Light. Studio Lighting Masterpieces made Simple11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Lunch (on own) 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Seth Miranda, Precision Lighting: Controlling Highlights, Shadows, and Visual Impact2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: Chloe Ramirez, Lighting Saves the Day: Mastering Light When Natural Light Won’t Cooperate3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Joe McNally, One Light, Two Light, Three Light for Portraits on LocationShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
The Portrait Summit
Spend a full day immersed in the art and craft of portrait photography…Spend a full day immersed in the art and craft of portrait photography with six leading experts who will challenge and inspire you to elevate your work. This summit covers every angle of portraiture, from discovering your personal style to building s…Spend a full day immersed in the art and craft of portrait photography with six leading experts who will challenge and inspire you to elevate your work. This summit covers every angle of portraiture, from discovering your personal style to building striking concepts on a budget. You’ll explore how to guide authentic expression through emotion-driven posing, use light intentionally to shape mood, and make styling choices that create maximum impact…Spend a full day immersed in the art and craft of portrait photography with six leading experts who will challenge and inspire you to elevate your work. This summit covers every angle of portraiture, from discovering your personal style to building striking concepts on a budget. You’ll explore how to guide authentic expression through emotion-driven posing, use light intentionally to shape mood, and make styling choices that create maximum impact. Rounding out the day, you’ll learn how to craft portraits that tell powerful stories within a single frame. Whether you’re refining your voice or seeking fresh creative approaches, this summit will leave you with practical tools and renewed inspiration to transform your portrait work. Additional information on The Portrait Summit can be found here. 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Kelly Brown, In-Camera Creativity: From Concept to Capture9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Jerry Ghionis, Effortless Posing for Powerful Portraits10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Laretta Houston, Broad Contrast: Shaping Light for Modern Portraiture 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Lunch (on own) 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: AB+DM, The Fashion Eye: Mastering Editorial Vision in Portraiture2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: Julia Trotti , Behind the Portrait: Planning, Shooting & Editing 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Caroline Tran, The Art of the Pivot: How to Build a Portrait Brand That Evolves With YouShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
The Wedding Summit
Spend a full day with five renowned wedding photographers as they shar…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…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 f…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 Weddings11:30 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 MeansShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Dynamic Portraits Using One Light
You don’t need a studio full of gear to create dynamic portraits—just …You don’t need a studio full of gear to create dynamic portraits—just one light and the ability to shape it. In this live demo, John Gress shows how a single light can produce dramatically different results by changing its position, distance, and mod…You don’t need a studio full of gear to create dynamic portraits—just one light and the ability to shape it. In this live demo, John Gress shows how a single light can produce dramatically different results by changing its position, distance, and modifiers. From clean and simple to bold and dramatic, you’ll learn versatile one-light techniques you can use in both studio and on-location sessions to maximize creativity with minimal equipment. What …You don’t need a studio full of gear to create dynamic portraits—just one light and the ability to shape it. In this live demo, John Gress shows how a single light can produce dramatically different results by changing its position, distance, and modifiers. From clean and simple to bold and dramatic, you’ll learn versatile one-light techniques you can use in both studio and on-location sessions to maximize creativity with minimal equipment. What You’ll Learn: How to create multiple portrait styles with just one light The impact of angle, distance, and modifiers on mood and texture Techniques for adapting one-light setups in studio and on location How to maximize efficiency and creativity with limited gearShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Find the Frame: Essential Composition Skills Every Wedding Photographer Needs
Weddings move fast—light changes, timelines shift, and real moments ne…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 mea…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.…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.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
