ImagingUSA, I Keep Coming Back For More (Plus Why That Matters)

Last month, I had the pleasure to return to ImagingUSA— one of the largest Photography conferences in the US. I wanted to return not just to learn something new, but to build on the momentum I created last year. My goal was simple: see familiar faces, meet new ones, and strengthen my photography skills. What I didn’t anticipate was how returning would reinforce the importance of community and connection in photography—especially as an Anchorage–based photographer.

ImagingUSA is similar to any other professional conference, but this national event is a photography conference filled with overly friendly people nerding out over gear, techniques, poses, and yes… some internationally big-brands too (it wouldn’t be a photography conference without them). But underneath all of that is something much more valuable: people who genuinely want to learn, share, and grow together.

What Is ImagingUSA?

For anyone unfamiliar, ImagingUSA is one of the largest professional photography conferences in the country. It brings together photographers of all levels, along with educators, vendors, and industry leaders. It’s a space for photographers who are refining their niche, expanding into something new, or simply trying to stay current in an industry that never stops evolving.

While there isn’t a huge focus on landscape photography education (yet), this recent trip planted a seed for me: there are so many photographers and so many niches, but the classes that are offered only seem to be geared towards a few specialties instead of all of them. This includes education from landscape photography (you know, my favorite) to architecture photography (shout out to my friend Aaron who is helping to change this!). This is an early-ish revelation for ImagingUSA, and its something I have been slowly trying to help navigate and cross the bridge for everyone who is hungry to keep learning more and more.

Traveling From Anchorage to Nashville

The conference was held in Nashville, Tennessee—which is basically across the country when you are departing from Anchorage. The travel was long, about 12+ hours, but once the sunshine hit our faces... that alone felt like the biggest reward.

Education That Actually Sticks

One of my biggest technical takeaways came from a friend’s interior photography class. He is the owner of House of Lamar, and demonstrated how simply draping curtains in a specific way could control light spill—allowing light to hug a bathtub or subtly guide the eye toward a marble countertop. It was such a small adjustment, one that I never intentionally thought of. But with this simple yet transformational movement, it changed the image from a simple frame to a powerful story.

That idea—being more deliberate with light—has stayed with me. I plan to take techniques learned and bring them into my work back in Alaska, where lighting conditions are anything but predictable.

Another speaker that stuck with me discussed her success and how she got there, and her takeaway was another powerful one - building community. And this message kept repeating itself throughout the conference: your community is what protects your work. When you build real relationships, your value goes far beyond the images you deliver.

Why Networking Is Everything in Photography

Networking can sound transactional, but in practice, it’s deeply human. Just recently, I couldn’t figure out how to connect a trigger and receiver—and instead of spiraling, going down the Google rabbit-hole, I had friends I could call and ask for real time help. That’s a little thing to some people but a huge relief to a fellow photographer.

Networking builds community. Community makes you a better photographer.

Reconnecting with photographers from last year put an immediate smile on my face. It wasn’t just seeing familiar faces—it felt like running into work besties... even though I’ve never actually worked with any of them. You relate to the same challenges, celebrate the same wins, and understand each other’s frustrations without much explanation. And we all know sometimes my words no so good in English.

Creativity Through Community

Being part of the photography community has completely changed how I see and shape light. From putting balloons and trash bags over strobes to using greasy pizza boxes as reflectors, these unconventional ideas push me out of my comfort zone. They help me problem-solve when I'm in tight spaces and have limitations for posings groups or setting up my lights. These new possibilities are where I used to feel limitations, but now I have the confidence to walk into any size room and knock it out of the park.

These ideas don’t come from working in isolation—they come from sharing knowledge.

The Alaska Advantage (and Challenge)

Working as a photographer in Anchorage comes with unique challenges. Alaska offers stunning landscapes and wildlife, but the differing light extremes define our work. Summers bring harsh daylight from the early hours to late at night, while winters offer very little natural light at all.

Attending national conferences like ImagingUSA allows this lil old Alaskan photographer to see how others solve similar problems in entirely different environments. It’s easy to get stuck in your own head, repeating the same angles and lighting, which can make us miss out on what’s happening in the broader industry. Seeing 20 photographers tackle the same problem 20 different ways is both grounding and inspiring.

Community Is the Throughline

My biggest takeaway from ImagingUSA is simple: community is what keeps us connected.

Photographer community shares expertise. Client community keeps you employed. And community, in general, helps protect your mental health.

Why Continuing Education Matters for Clients

Continuing education isn’t just for photographers—it benefits clients too. Staying current with techniques, trends, and tools reassures clients that their professional photographer isn’t stuck in the past. Think about 1980s wedding albums and how different they look compared to today. I don’t want to shoot like I’m still in the ’80s.

Investing in education helps me stay intentional, modern, and adaptable—so my clients feel confident they’re hiring someone who’s evolving with the industry.

Looking Ahead

There are several potential collaborations and projects brewing from this year’s conference, and I’m excited to see how they unfold. I’d love to attend ImagingUSA again next year, though life has a way of being unpredictable.

What I do know is this: there is always more to learn. And as long as that’s true, I’ll keep showing up—camera in hand—curious, connected, and invested in this community.