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ROCK THAT Conference JUNE 18-20, 2020

Rock That 2020!

THE PHOTOGRAPHY CONFERENCE BUILT AROUND EDUCATION. BUSINESS. INSPIRATION. COMMUNITY.

Rock That Photography Conference and Tradeshow: National photography conference built around EDUCATION, BUSINESS, INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION, DIVERSITY, COMMUNITY & OUTREACH and NETWORKING with some of the top photographic influencers in the world.

Photographers from across the United States will come together in Metropolitan Detroit for three(3) days of intense instruction to address photographic standards, take the Certification of Professional Photography (CPP) test, receive training in many areas of photography including...

Business Training
In Person Sales
Industry Relevance
Professional Headshots
Photo Bay Training
Wedding & Engagement
Post Production and Retouching
Tweens
High School Seniors
Inspiration
Live Lighting Demos
Posing Strategies
Speaker led Photowalks

Also featuring two(2) expert panels, opening reception by PPA, after glows, motor coach buses to photowalks, and Closing Party and Award Banquet with food and DJ by Miller's Professional Imaging with our super popular photo station sponsored by Gifyyy!

Experience our free tradeshow with deep specials given only during conference. With Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Miller's Professional Imaging, 17Hats, Fundy Software, Westcott, Gifyyy, Shootproof, H&H Color Lab, Tyndell Photographic, Pixel Connection and so many more. Get what you need here at show prices that are amazing!

Whether you are a novice photographer, an intermediate level photographer, a seasoned pro or even a cell phone photography enthusiast, there is something at “The ROCK THAT Photography Conference and Tradeshow” for you! If good is just not good enough for you, then you’ll be in the right place when you join us as we pursue photographic excellence together!

Our Speakers

Shawn Lee, Hanson Fong, Audrey Woulard, Terry White, Jenn Lewis, Tracy Bosworth Page, Jeff Rojas, Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, Kesha Lambert, Andrew Funderburg, Michael South and more.

OUR PAST INFLUENCERS

HANSON FONG

Hanson Fong, international award winning photographer and educator, is well known for his ability to pose people in order to bring out the best in their portraits. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, Hanson travels the United States and the world designing and creating beautiful timeless, contemporary pieces of photographic art for his clients. His unique vision and style set him apart from other photographers. He holds both the degrees of Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman as well as numerous National Awards through PPA. Hanson is a current member of Canon’s Explorer of Light.

AUDREY WOULARD

Audrey is a well known childrens portrait photographer whose resume includes commercial campaigns such as the Pottery Barn Kids, and Pottery Barn Baby catalogs, and the 2011/2012 Global IAMS Petfood. Her work has also been published in national magazines such as InStyle, US Weekly, People Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens Photography edition, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Scene, North Shore Magazine, as well as the Chicago Source. Her work has been featured on CBS news and the Chicago Sun Times. She also has her own chapter in the book entitled, "14 Experts Talk About Photographing Children" . She also completed her first book entitled "Natural Enlightenment Photography" .She has also photographed the children of some very well known celebrities through out the US.

TERRY WHITE

Terry White – Principal Worldwide Design & Photography Evangelist for Adobe, Inc. Terry has been with Adobe for over 20 years and has extensive knowledge of Adobe’s Creative Professional product line. In his current position, he leads the charge of getting customers excited and educated about Adobe Creative Cloud products and services. In 2016 Terry White was the 34th inductee into the Photoshop Hall of Fame. He has been active in the industry for over 25 years and is the founder and past president of MacGroup-Detroit, “ Michigan’s largest Macintosh users group. Terry is the host of the top ranked award winning Adobe Creative Cloud TV and has one of the most popular channels on YouTube. He is also the author of Secrets of the Adobe Bridge and co-author of The iPhone Book, The iPhone Book 2nd Edition, The iPhone Book 3rd Edition, The iPhone Book 4th Edition, The iPhone Book 5th Edition, The iPhone Book 6th Edition and InDesign CS/CS2 Killer Tips.

REGIS & KAHRAN BETHENCOURT

With more than 7 years of working with hundreds of children, families and brands, we specialize in lifestyle photography and authentic, visual storytelling. Our holistic approach to capturing one-of-a-kind moments has allowed their work to be featured in Essence magazine, Munaluchi Bride, MochaKid magazine, on The Real daytime talk show, on the OWN network, and more.

ANDREW FUNDERBURG

Andrew "Fundy" Funderburg – photography expert and industry visionary – has a passion for people, capturing emotions, and telling their stories through print. He is the creator of the Fundy Design Suite software platform and the founder of Fundy Software. The Fundy Suite has transformed countless photography businesses and facilitated the production of millions of photo stories worldwide. The software design tools are simple and efficient for the busy photographer looking to capture the emotions of the moment and lay out the story of their clients with albums and wall art. Fundy continues to lead innovation and personally inspire photographers worldwide with his stories and a common sense approach to photo layout and the art of storytelling.Fundy speaks four languages, holds a BA degree in English Literature from the University of Oregon, was a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Moldova, an Iron Chef Photographer in Japan, and has traveled the outer reaches of the planet preaching about the power for printed photography.

JENN LEWIS

Jenn is an award-winning portrait photographer based in Clemmons, North Carolina who concentrates on seniors and headshots. She began her photography business 11 years ago as a “mom with a camera”. With a determined work ethic and tenacious personality, she grew her part-time business from her living room to her full-time 1600 square foot studio while multiplying her sales average by 10. She is an army of one, but her ADHD helps her to multitask like a BOSS. Jenn loves this relationship-based business. She lives to attend conferences where she has learned great business practices like combining good sales techniques and a great experience all while taking killer photos. But the networking (which usually takes place at the bar) might just be her favorite part. :) Jenn is easily recognized by her crazy curly hair, which has been rumored to give her superpowers in her sales room. She enjoys road trips, long walks on the beach, and pink Starbursts.

JEFF ROJAS

Jeff Rojas is an American photographer and author based in New York City. His primary body of work is advertising and editorial photography that has been published in both Elle and Esquire. Jeff also frequents as a photography instructor. His teaching experience includes platforms like CreativeLive, WPPI, the Photo Plus Expo, Imaging USA and APA.

PIPER CARTER

Piper Carter lives inside Detroit city. She is an Arts and Culture Organizer in Entertainment Justice, Education Justice, Maker Space, Environmental Justice, and Food Justice, communities. She is Host of the Piper Carter Podcast on Detroit is Different where she discusses Social Justice and Hip Hop to a world wide audience. She is an Image Maker, Fashion Photographer, Featured four times on Tyra Banks’ VH-1 TV show “The Shot”, The First Black Woman to shoot for Hi-End publications such as French Vogue, British Elle, New York Times, Spin, & Essence Magazines, & emerging talent for Music companies such as Def Jam, Sony Music, Warner Music, Universal Music, Disturbing tha Peace, Elektra Records, & Television Cast Images for BET.

JENNY RISHER

Jenny Risher is a lifestyle and portrait photographer. Risher’s continual strive for perfection and natural sensibility has given her the opportunity to photograph for many illustrious clients; including ad agencies, magazines, publishing companies, celebrities, non-profit organizations, and TV shows. Risher completed her first book, 'Heart Soul Detroit'. A self-produced venture, she interviewed and photographed 50 iconic Detroiters; including Iggy Pop, Smokey Robinson, Jack White, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Lily Tomlin, Alice Cooper, Bill Ford Jr, Lee Iacocca, Eminem, and Tim Allen. Risher's second book, ‘DCYPHERED', takes a look at Detroit’s undocumented Hip-Hop Community. In 2017- 2018 the work was featured in a seven-month solo exhibit at The Detroit Institute of Arts.

TRACY BOSWORTH PAGE

Tracy Page is one of the top headshot photographers in the Southeast for talent. She specializes in working with actors, both children and adults, and has been recognized by LA based acting coach Chambers Stevens as “one of the top headshot photographers for kids and teens in Atlanta.” She is one of the preferred vendors for headshots for the best Southeastern agencies including names like J. Pervis Talent, Houghton Talent, The People Store, Atlanta Models & Talent and East Coast Talent. Her clients are repped by LA agents and managers such as Burstein & Co., CESD, Carson Adler and Abrams. Among her clients are celebrities such as The Walking Dead’s Chandler Riggs. She has clients in hit network and cable TV shows and on Broadway. Tracy is a graduate of The University of Georgia where she studied Fine Art, Advertising and Graphic Design and is active with the Professional Photographers of America where she serves on several committees and is recognized as a Craftsmen Photographer and a Certified Professional Photographer. She has won multiple awards including the 2017 Best Portrait for the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association.

VICTORIA PAVLOV

Artist, Photographer, Digital Painter, Designer I was born in musical family and started practicing music at age 3. I was practicing for about 5 hours every day but this did not stop me from starting to draw at age7. My first type of drawing (and still my favorite) was portrait. At age 15 I had my first big exhibition where I was surprised ( as any child would be) of all “WOWs“ I heard from the people attending. The first time I was introduced to photography was at age 8 when I saw my uncle’s camera and his work it inspired me to see how different photography and painting could be. All my life, from an early childhood my primary subject has been people and the human eye. I believe that eyes are the window to the human soul. I always ask my models to show me their personality during the shoot. I am not looking for a pretty face I am looking for a person’s personality. Because of my artistic background my photography is telling a story with images. The technical aspect in my photography is very important to me, especially when it comes to lighting. I don’t like any shadows on my subjects unless I do it on purpose. I spent about two years to find the lightning technique that I love and am happy with. I was introduced to Adobe Photoshop version 1.0. And since that time Photoshop has become my everything, my soul, my method of communication, my method to express myself. I am always saying “ Nothing is impossible with Photoshop”. My work in Photoshop includes everything from photo retouching, web design and image manipulation to digital painting. This is a very special world to me.

ROBYN ROBINSON

I love what I do. That is how I introduce myself to most folks. I have been "the one with camera " for as long as I can remember . I love beautiful pictures and creating "art" out of something people initially look at as 'nothing'. I am a photographer stalker..... i love seeing the work of others. It inspires me and turns me on to the world around me and lets me see the beauty of the world through others who share my passion. I love my son and seeing him smile, makes my heart a little lighter everyday :-) I love what I do. I am passionate about my work and love to be "real" at all times. (i think I am a closet commedienne...lol) I am passionate about your memories.... and strive to give you the best in all I do. I love what I do. I would love to live MY dreams through capturing YOUR dreams on camera.

CARL JONES II

Photographer based in Detroit, MI. My photography covers a wide range of subjects from sports, motorsports to lifestyle portraiture. I have worked with.... BLAC Detroit Magazine, Blueline Magazine, Chene Park, Detroit Lions, Ellements Magazine, M1 Concourse, Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC), Michigan Cronicle, NFL, Spekture, TEDx Detroit, Wayne State University, US Army and Xenith Helmets.

GEORGE MITCHELL

George C. Mitchell, Jr., is a native of Michigan and still makes his home there. A graphic designer and photographer for more than 10 years, his passion is communicating with people and creating powerful, creative images. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Tele-Communications and Film, he has always looked for ways to help people connect with each other in ways that clarify, explain, warm the heart, inform, explode boundaries and create lasting memories. His keen sense of understanding people’s needs and desires has helped him develop George Mitchell Photo. His client list includes small businesses, organizations, individuals and entities as large as the United States Department of Defense, Red Bull, BET, the University of Michigan and others too numerous to list. George is a member in good standing with the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA).

MIKE SOUTH

Mike South is the Vice President of the Multicultural Association of Professional Photographers. He is a Certified Professional Photographer that primarily shoots weddings, events and portraits. He is the The Technical Lead for TEDx Detroit and the Rock That Photography Conference. Mike mentors photographers on their journey to becoming Certified Professional Photographers. Mike’s formal training as a Clinical Lab Scientist and background in the scientific method has allowed a natural progression to the technical aspects of photography. Using these principles he’s developed/created mechanisms/workflows that use current technology to limit the risk of data loss and promote repeatable success from image creation through the archival processes. Finally, Mike has a strong fraternal/religious desire to help creatives and a definite passion for diversity and opportunity for all photographers which continues to inspire him to serve the community.

KESHA LAMBERT

New York based wedding and event photographer and attorney admitted to practice in NY. North Carolina born, raised in the Bronx, NY, my parents are Jamaican, which makes me a proud “Jamerican.” I love light, movement, color and emotion and often incorporate these elements in my work. I am a wife to an awesome husband and mom of 3 incredibly brilliant and funny boys; including a set of twins.

TROY SCHROEDER

Troy is a professional photographer and runs a successful portrait studio out of Fort Dodge, Iowa. He is a council member for the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and Chair of the Speaker Selection Committee for Imaging USA Conference. Troy is passionate about the success of people and has a huge heart for those less fortunate and have fallen on hard times. It is for this reason that Troy is the Director of Outreach for MAPP and will lead the ROCK THAT Photography Conference and Tradeshow in helping feed the homeless this year partnered with the Neighborhood Service Organization in Detroit, MI.

MATT MEIERS

Matt Meiers is a successful portrait photographer from Pittsburgh, PA and runs a non profit called, So Many Angels. He takes photographs of kids suffering with cancer and has graphic artists transform them into superheroes, princesses, sports icons or whatever they want to be when they grow up. Matt and So Many Angels is once again partnering with MAPP and the ROCK THAT Photography Conference and Tradeshow to bring smiles and tears to the faces of so many kids and family members this year!

SHAWN LEE - FOUNDER

MAPP - CEO/President, PPA Diversity Lead, ROCK THAT Founder, Industry Advocate, Community Guy who Loves People

VisTaTech Center- Schoolcraft College

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248-764-0860
email@email.com