Attending Imaging USA 2026
Attending Imaging USA for the first time was an important milestone in my photography journey. As a new member of Professional Photographers of America, being able to attend the conference as part of my first year of membership was an incredible opportunity. It allowed me to fully engage with the experience and focus on learning, connection, and practice in a way that felt both meaningful and motivating.
Over several days, I moved between classes, live demonstrations, conversations, and time on the expo floor, paying close attention to how others work and how I approach my own.
Learning from Industry Leaders
Imaging USA offered the opportunity to learn directly from industry leaders. Across sessions and conversations, a clear theme emerged from their teaching. Intention matters.
That focus showed up clearly in classes with Abdulai Sesay, Gary Hughes, and Jen Hillenga. Ab’s class on developing a signature lighting style emphasized clarity and choice over formulas. Gary’s class on directing portraits reinforced how communication, timing, and small adjustments shape authentic expression. Jen’s session offered practical insight into building and sustaining a pet photography business, particularly around marketing, client experience, and long-term growth.
Learning from Julieanne Kost was a highlight. I spent time in several of her micro sessions on the expo floor and had the opportunity to ask questions directly about using Lightroom more efficiently. Lightroom and Photoshop are complex, constantly evolving systems, and her depth of knowledge helped me better optimize my culling and editing workflow and make more effective use of newer AI tools in ways that support consistency and speed.
These sessions sharpened how I think about my own work. Intention matters in how I use light. In how I direct people. In how I choose tools, structure my workflow, and make business decisions.
Community and Connection
Community at Imaging USA showed up in small, unexpected ways. One of the first people I met was another photographer I ran into in the parking lot while trying to navigate the scale of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and find the conference. She was friendly, funny, and immediately put me at ease as I headed into the conference for the opening keynote.
Most conversations happened casually and without much structure, often in passing or between sessions. They were practical and grounded, touching on the work people are making, how they are thinking about their businesses, and where they are still refining their approach.
Hearing a range of perspectives, often from photographers at very different stages, offered useful context. It reinforced that growth rarely follows a single path, and that much of the learning in this field comes from listening, observing, and sharing experience as it happens organically.
Practicing the Craft and Exploring Tools
Time on the expo floor brought much of the learning into practice. I photographed models in styled sets with lighting already in place, which allowed me to focus fully on composition, expression, timing, and camera settings. Working within those constraints shifted my attention toward observation, reading how the light behaved, noticing small changes, and making deliberate adjustments.
That same hands-on mindset carried into exploring new gear and technology. Being able to see equipment in person, watch how it was used, ask questions, and look closely at printed work made it easier to evaluate what would genuinely support my workflow. I came home with a few new tools and a clearer sense of how to integrate them thoughtfully into my existing setup.
Nashville in Between
Outside of the conference, there was time to enjoy Nashville itself. Live music was everywhere, from bars along Broadway to the airport, and it became a steady backdrop to the trip. We also made time for a hockey game and found great bars to watch playoff football, including a Buffalo Bills spot that more than lived up to expectations.
The conference location itself added to the experience. The Gaylord Opryland Resort is massive, with indoor botanical gardens, waterfalls, and long walking paths that offered peaceful spaces to process and reflect between sessions.
Coming Home
I returned to Rochester feeling energized and focused. Imaging USA reinforced the importance of being intentional in how I approach my work, from creative decisions behind the camera to the systems and tools that support it.
I’m grateful to PPA for making the experience possible and for the opportunity to engage with, observe, and practice alongside others who take photography seriously. I’m carrying what I learned forward and continuing to refine how it shows up in my work.
