Photographers doing school photography continue to grow and prosper financially, even as the traditional studio portrait and wedding business continues to decline. If you’re not already doing photography programs with Schools, Childcare Centers and Preschools, you’re missing out on time-tested and PROVEN business models delivering GREAT PROFITS!

Now with TWO tracks – Basic-level and Advanced programming. 

Track #1 is for entry-level school & preschool photographers (or those struggling to grow.)

This is the event you don’t want to miss. Our Boot Camp is the most popular and longest-running school photography educational event because it features both classroom and HANDS-ON learning experiences, with plenty of time for detailed, in-depth questions and answers. In this 24-hour program, there’s far more valuable content here than is possible in shorter 1-2 day programs available elsewhere.

Our Boot Camp teaches PROVEN-TECHNIQUES to QUICK START your entry into the market and help you grow your business exponentially.  Even experienced Photographers tell us they’ve learned a wealth of new techniques and money-making strategies by attending.  Here’s just part of what you’ll learn:

• Time and cost-effective ways to find and prospect new accounts.
• How to make winning proposals and presentations to get the business.
• Learn secrets to beating bigger, national competitors for the accounts.
• Learn to handle Rebates and Commissions without breaking the bank.
• Learn how to price your work to win the account while still maximizing profits.
• How to effectively schedule picture days to minimize Staff & equipment needs.
• Learn what Cameras, technology, lighting, & backgrounds you will need.
• How to create the BEST picture day experience for Sponsors and Customers.
• Learn SPEED POSING techniques to optimize your photography throughput.
• Learn how to automate your image and data capture.
• How to use Ai technology to save money and be more productive.
• Learn secrets to create package combinations that sell and upsell.
• E-Commerce Systems.  What’s really working?  What’s best practice?
• Fast & efficient post-production in hours, not days.
• Customer Service and Account Retention.  Keep ‘em happy!
• Tips on hiring & compensating part-time, seasonal, and freelance help.
• Add-on Profits: Yearbooks & Preschool Memory Books.

Each day is fast-paced and information-packed. There’s classroom time for sales and marketing training, tech time for photo & equipment training, and hands-on time for LIVE shooting demos with models. BRING YOUR CAMERA!  We will have a LIVE demonstration of the School Photography set-up, lighting and posing with LIVE school-age models. You’ll be able to take model-released sample photos you can use for proposals and advertising back home.

Attendees leave with a HUGE workbook full of valuable sales, marketing, operational, and photography information, including lighting and technical diagrams. 

Best of all, every student completing the course will receive a “Certificate of Training” showing you’ve completed the 24+ hour curriculum covering the best practices of the industry. This proof of training can be especially helpful to include with your proposals for new business

Even if you’ve attended the Boot Camp before, maybe it’s time for a refresher course. Or, if your current business is good, send or bring along a staff member to enhance your team of trained professionals. Or send someone else, and you can attend the ADVANCED workshop – details below. 

Lead School Photo Instructor, Chris Wunder, Cr. Photog. ASP is one of the most recognized names in the volume photography industry. Over his career, Chris has owned and operated a large multi-state high-volume photography business, been a corporate executive for a large national mass-market School & Sports photography company, the CEO of PortraitEFX, a Photography Franchise Corporation, and is now the Executive Director of the Volume Imaging Professionals Association. Learn more from an article in the New York Times in which our Boot Camp was featured: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/10/style/school-photos-costs.html

Track #2 is for ADVANCED Volume Photography Business Owners. 

If you are already running a successful business doing ANY kind of volume work, such as schools, sports, dance, or event photography, this class will help you scale-up to a bigger, more profitable business.

Come prepared with a list of your biggest business challenges standing in the way of your company growth, and we’ll help you address them. This 3-day, 24 hour course is where Volume Photographers get down to business. This isn't a lecture-style workshop, but an interactive one that will engage you in the conversation, make you think, and help you find solutions. We’ll discuss managerial-level content rarely, if ever discussed in Workshops or at Conventions, and you'll come home with a workbook capsulizing what you've learned.  Here are just a few of the higher-level topics we’ll discuss:

• Keys to revving up your sales and marketing program to grow $50k-$100k per year.
• Best ways to get yourself (and your Team) organized to end wasted effort and payroll.
• Learn the secrets of winning School District and Large Account bids and RFP’s.
• Check out new models for paying out rebates and commissions.
• Position yourself to SCALE-UP your business quickly and profitably.
• Reduce seasonality of your business by opening new year-round market segments.
• NEW concepts to offer your customers and create new competitive advantage.
• Ai technologies that can help you reduce labor, and produce a superior product.
• Incorporating NEW styles of photography to update your brand.              
• Budgeting & Forecasting & The RIGHT way to review your financial statement.
• Managing your TEAM. Best HR practices for recruiting, motivating & compensating your Staff.
• Maximizing package & add-on sales and incorporating best practices in E-Commerce.
• Fast and cost-effective ways to start and operate a remote office or expansion territory.
• Do you want to grow by Acquisition?  What’s a Volume Photo Business Really Worth?
• What’s your exit strategy?   Sell out?  Transition to an Employee?  Pros and Cons.

PLUS, MUCH, MUCH MORE!

BRING YOUR CAMERA!  We will have a LIVE demonstration of the School Photography set-up, lighting, and posing with LIVE school-age models. You’ll be able to take model-released sample photos you can use for proposals and advertising back home.

Get recognized for your Advanced Training!  Every person completing the course will receive a "Certificate of Advanced Training" that you can include with future proposals and marketing resources. This could enhance your credibility and set you apart (and above) competitors in your area.  

This is an ADVANCED class and seating is limited. Businesses operating full-time for three years or more, and grossing $100k or more per year in sales are invited to attend.  Only one Business from each trade area will be admitted, providing you with a free and open forum to speak & share without fear of educating your competitor.  Register early to reserve your seat. Once someone claims your market area, no one else will be admitted from there.

Lead Instructor for the Advanced Class, Jeff Edwards, is a forty-year veteran of the school photography industry. His company, Scholastic Reflections, served over 150 schools in southeastern Wisconsin prior to his recent retirement. The former National Sales Manager for Inter-State Studio, the 2nd largest School portrait company in America, as well as a Consultant to many others, he is an exemplary trainer for business owners and managers.  He has also been a featured speaker at Volume Photography Conferences at the regional and national level. Jeff has been where you are, met the challenges, and has built a highly successful business on his own.

Still not convinced? See what other attendees have said about our programs!  These are quotes from attendee exit surveys.

 “The info sharing from the presenters will save my studio years of trial and error”

“This was THE best class I’ve ever taken. I couldn’t imagine it getting any better.

“The amount of information is mind-blowing. Exactly what we needed.”

“I don’t know anywhere else you can get this kind of experience and education.  Invaluable!”

“This program exceeded my expectations with a combo of presentations and hands-on experience.”

 “Dynamic presenters. Tons of great info. Shared experiences and knowledge”

 “Loved how modern the techniques and equipment skills taught were.”

“Extremely thorough.   Mind-blowing. Flying colors across the board.”

“The Boot Camp has totally changed my life & business; for the better!”

Come to beautiful Charlotte, NC for the Boot Camp.  The Boot Camp will be at Hilton - Charlotte University Place, 8629 J.M.Keynes Dr. Charlotte, NC 28262.  

Boot Camp Hours will be: Wednesday, July 16 from 8:30 AM to 6PM.  Thurday, July 17 from 8:30 AM to 8PM (the nite of the model shoot) and 8:30 AM to 3PM on Friday, July 18. 

Enjoy lower airline fares to attend!  If you are flying in, we selected Wednesday through Friday for the Boot Camp to allow you to fly in on Tuesday, July 15, and depart Saturday, July 19, the two days of the week with lower airfares. The Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) will be your air destination, then you can use UBER or LYFT (about 20 minutes /  an approx. $25 fare) to get to the hotel. 

Enjoy a special rate of  $159 (+ tax) per night, which includes a hot breakfast, complimentary parking, and complimentary internet in both guest rooms and meeting rooms.  The hotel has a full-time restaurant as well for you to enjoy lunch and dinner. There are also lots of restaurants closeby serving almost every cuisine.  The hotel has an outdoor pool, an indoor fitness center, and a Concierge to assist with any sightseeing you might want to do while in Charlotte.  (Just FYI, the U.S.Whitewater Center with man-made whitewater rafting is one of my favorite places to have fun when in town) 

The special $159 rate is good only thru May 29, 2025. Use this link to book your room:  https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/clthuhf-boot-995ccbda-53ef-4a73-b286-90291f6d8ea0/. As we have a commitment to the hotel for a minimum number of rooms, we do ask that you book using our group link & rate.  

Don't delay, register today. We are often sold-out, often 30-45 days before the event. Register NOW to reserve your spot. 

Our workshops are a best value in your continuing education. You'll receive 24 hours of exceptional training over three days for one low price, plus great camaraderie and networking with other photographers who do what you do. 

Contact Chris Wunder, Cr. Photog. ASP, Executive Director, Volume Imaging Professionals Association

[email protected]..  Cell: 704-763-0409  (Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 5PM ET)