FEBRUARY 11, 2021 UPDATE:
Hey IGNITE fam!! So, I think it’s safe to say that our dreams of IGNITE 2020 didn’t exactly pan out, huh? This has been a heavy year. We know friends that have lost loved ones and friends that are currently fighting for their lives in the hospital thanks to COVID. No one has been left unaffected by this pandemic. We see you and we feel your pain alongside you. We see your struggles and worries. And while we have all had a few 2020 dreams that didn’t pan out, we’ve also heard story after story of how 2020 was full of surprise blessings. Stories of families reconnecting like never before thanks to all the extra time together, stories of business owners who didn’t even know how desperately they needed a break, and incredible life milestones made even more beautiful because of the creativity surrounding celebrations. Within our weekly SPARK community we celebrated the births of TWO new baby girls (welcome Frankie and Harper!), TWO weddings (congrats Jenna and Mackenzie!), and the engagement of our co-leader Mekina Saylor! We are so happy! Listing all of the good news of 2020 would surprisingly take too long and that is something to be thankful for.
So, let’s talk IGNITE. While we don’t exactly have official news yet, we wanted to let you know that we are brainstorming constantly about the best way to bring this conference to life. Safety is our number one concern, so while IGNITE can’t happen just yet we do truly hope to bring you IGNITE 2021. We will be sure to keep you posted once restrictions start to lift and we can get excited about meeting together again safely. We humbly accept all prayers for wisdom and guidance! Wishing you all the best until we see each other again!
With love,
Cassi, Amy, and Mekina
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP, MARCH 13, 2020:
Thank you for your patience as we navigate these uncharted waters surrounding Coronavirus. We have been spending time in prayer together as well as seeking counsel from state and federal resources. While we hope and pray that all these precautions are unnecessary, we can't in good conscience potentially bring harm to our wonderful creative community. Even if these precautions turn out to be an overreaction, this is certainly not the energy and atmosphere we envisioned for IGNITE. We prioritize your safety and health above all else.
This is hard, but we know the right course of action is to postpone the IGNITE 2020 conference. Postpone, not cancel! We are already researching new dates that would allow us to bring together this same amazing lineup of teachers. The good news is - GOD IS GOOD and IGNITE will be amazing no matter the date!
We have put in all the work, your teachers are eager and ready, the menu is planned, we are beyond ready to make this the best IGNITE yet. Thank you for your patience as we iron out some of the new details! Once the new plans are solidified, we will email attendees and update the website!
In the meantime, we are praying for all those affected by this outbreak and we pray for wisdom and peace above fear. We know the One who created the stars above, the One who knows the number of hairs on your head...let us look to Him as we all are faced with difficult decisions over these next few weeks.
"They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord." - Psalm 112:7
With Love,
Cassi, Amy, Mekina, and the SPARK team
New Date, TBD
9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Mendham Hills Community Church
480 Route 24, Chester Township, NJ 07930
God has blessed us endlessly through SPARK. He has used it as a way for us to support and love one another in our businesses and spiritual growth. We offer the IGNITE workshop for free as a way to serve and love on the photography community around us. We hope you will come away from this experience feeling inspired, empowered, and loved.
"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” - 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)
CONFERENCE INFORMATION
LOGISTICS
The conference will be held at Mendham Hills Community Church. The address is 480 Route 24, Chester Township, NJ 07930.
Start time is 9:00 a.m. sharp.
We will end at 6:30 p.m.
A complimentary lunch will be provided.
A complimentary headshot will be offered at lunch.
CLASSES
3 Keynote Presentations
Choose 3 Breakout classes so you can create your ideal curriculum. Some classes offer hands-on shooting opportunities.
You’ll have the opportunity to select your classes on your registration form!
WHAT TO BRING
Camera and lenses
Notebook & pen
Warm clothes for outside
Come dressed for a headshot!
REGISTRATION, WE’RE FULL!!!
The workshop is FULL! Buuuut, be we have started a waiting list! To be added to the wait list, fill out the contact form below. We will email you if a spot opens up!
KEYNOTE TOPICS 2020
Amy Rizzuto
Addicted to coffee, chocolate, Harry Potter, my husband, and my two littles!
Marketing Your Business for Growth
Marketing brings me so much joy! It is also essential for growing your business. This year I will be diving into 10 ways to market your business for growth! After identifying your ideal client, we will talk through the importance of giving a great experience, good practices 24 hours after you shoot, how to best utilize Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, and cultivating lasting relationships with other professionals in the industry. I hope that you will walk away with easy to implement steps that you can immediately put into practice to help grow your business this year!
JESSICA OH
Weirdly obsessed with Tom Selleck + forever losing my car keys.
Finding Your Voice as an Artist
In such a saturated industry, knowing who you are can be daunting. With social media, we're bombarded with what everyone else is doing and instead of staying true to ourselves, we're too busy keeping up with the Jones'. When Jessica stopped chasing everyone else's art and discovered her artistic voice, everything fell into place. And when she realized some rules were meant to be broken, things got a lot more fun.
LAUREN KEARNS
Teenage bride. Mother of 2 beasties. Daily doses of coffee, chocolate, laughter & wine.
Your Soul Purpose
Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you’re not on the path God wants you to be on? We’re driven people. Driven by passions, interests and purpose. Too often our purpose can be confused with career goals. Your Soul Purpose is about finding balance in work, play and meaningful relationships by intentional planning. Lauren shares her story about getting lost in her career and the steps she’s taking to go from focusing on her sole purpose to finding meaning in her Soul’s purpose.
breakout topics 2020
ASHER GARDNER
Powered by Peloton, Lizzo’s lyrics, and mindfulness meditation.
The Art of Second Shooting
Level: 0-3 years in business
Are you ready to start building your photography business by second shooting? This the course for you. Asher Gardner will share everything you need to know to get off to the best start in the business, from what gear you need to how to find photographers to work with — and how to KEEP working with them. When you leave this course, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to start second shooting this season.
+
Mini Website Reviews
Level: any experience level
With Asher’s experience in brand consulting she will do a run through of your website providing advice on calls to action, feedback on brand appeal, and reviewing simple fixes. A website is your first impression so this is a great opportunity to make sure it’s attracting your ideal client.
CASSI CLAIRE
Fueled by bubble tea, avocado toast, getting real mail, and British television!
Paranoia is the Secret to Success
Level: 3+ years in business
Have you found yourself stuck in annoying or paralyzing situations? From cancelled weddings to secretly (or not-so-secretly) begrudging your bride because she’s texting you THE DAY after the wedding asking for photos to your nightmare-turned-reality hard drive crash in the middle of the busy season? In this class you’ll learn how to preemptively avoid the most annoying or terrifying things we face as wedding photographers!
+
Open House Coaching
Level: any experience level
Do you have questions that are specific to YOUR business? Maybe you’ve been working for a number of years and you’ve hit a roadblock? Maybe you need a second set of eyes on your pricing guide? Come to this small group setting and ask any question you want! Or come and listen to the answers for questions you didn’t even know you had!
CINNAMON WOLFE
Obsessed with Target runs, americanos, and full time travel with my hubs + pups!
Lightroom Essentials
Level: 0-3 years in business
It's no secret that Lightroom is a photographer’s best friend. But so many photographers don't fully understand how Lightroom actually works which can cause massive headaches down the road. In this class we are going to dig in to all my favorite tips and tricks to help you edit better + faster than you ever have before AND you'll know how to fix problems that arise so you can save hours of time!
+
Email Marketing Simplified
Level: 3+ years in business
Want to start and grow an email list but are feeling overwhelmed by how to set it up so it will actually work for you and your business? In this class we are going to talk about why email lists work, how they can help you sell your services, and exactly what to send to your audience and how often. You will leave this class with an exact roadmap to email marketing implementation and success!
DEBORAH ANN
Lover of golden retrievers, garden roses and crime thrillers.
Posing with Purpose
Level: 0-3 years in business
Have you ever spent the night before a wedding waking up with anxiety especially when it come to posing your couple? I had that same fear several years back. In this class I will be sharing some techniques and insights that have truly helped turn my anxious posing into the part of the wedding day that I look forward to the most! Let’s make posing with purpose so much fun and you too will be saying that it is your favorite part of the day!
FABIANA SKUBIC
Living for summer days, traveling, sunsets, and açaí bowls.
Networking Done Right
Level: 3+ years in business
Are you ready to put time and effort into networking and have a clear and effective growth strategy for your business? Fabiana will teach how to make networking REALLY work - the dos and donts, networking events, and strategies that worked for her in two different states! The goal is to help you find your people in the wedding industry and get you on preferred vendor lists so you can increase your bookings and serve your couples alongside an amazing team of vendors!
JainÉ KERSHNER
Brooklyn based mama and educator powered by tea and subscription boxes.
Pinterest Marketing
Level: 3+ years in business
Do you think Pinterest is just for recipes and outfits inspiration? Oh boy, you’d be wrong! Most wedding photographers are not using Pinterest to its full potential. It’s one of the best visual search engines on the internet and you aren’t using it to connect and attract your perfect clients. I’m here to change how you use Pinterest for your business to get more views, have more eyes on your photographs, which will lead to more potential clients reaching out to you vs. the competition.
JESSICA OH
Weirdly obsessed with Tom Selleck + forever losing my car keys.
Hustle & Film
Level: 3+ years in business
This will be the perfect class for anyone thinking about adding film to their repertoire. In this class, Jessica will cover the basics -- from settings to using a light meter to working with a film lab, all while sharing the beauty and art of medium format. She'll also talk about how to get started and how to match your digital images to your film. Jessica will also be sharing her personal failures + triumphs from her first year of shooting film!
MEKINA SAYLOR
Coffee powered, Zillow-holic, smiles are my jam…with a billion dresses in my closet.
0 to 60 How to Get Started
Level: 0-3 years in business
It takes years of education and hustle to go from purchasing your first camera to earning six-figures. I have made every mistake in the book, and I want to help you on your journey to building and growing a business that lasts. This class will guide you through LLC questions, website information, camera equipment, and other helpful tools that will fill you with the confidence needed to kick start your business in the right direction.
NADINE MARIE
Chasing 3 crazy kiddos, eating too much chocolate, and living for the outdoors.
Authentic Family Photography
Level: must know how to use camera
Do you love capturing all the stages of life with family photography? In this class, Nadine will share her tips and tricks for how to capture real, authentic moments at every family session. Learn how to bring your clients back to that very moment each time they look at their photos. We will discuss how to approach an in-home lifestyle session and also photograph a real family during an outdoor session.
ROSEMARY GREEN
Mother of poodles, always up for ice cream, happiest reading a book on the beach.
The True Value of Client Experience
Level: any experience level
In an industry saturated with portfolio perfect images, its easy to forget that serving our clients well is what matters most. Many people think the client experience begins and ends with sending cool welcome gifts, but really it covers everything from how you handle the initial inquiry to how you treat your clients (and their families) on a wedding day or at their family session. When our clients feel respected and understood they trust and value us and become our most consistent source for future business. In this class, we will discuss all of the ways we can build a business around providing an exceptional client experience.
STEPHANIE HERRERA
Mama-to-be, early bird, and Joanna Gaines wannabe.
Picture This: Financial Freedom
Level: 0-3 years in business
Whether you are just starting out or already have an established business, finance is a topic that is on everyone's minds but no one likes to talk about. Steph will be teaching how to grow your business debt free and share how Dave Ramsey’s teachings have literally changed her life. She will share some helpful tips on budgeting for your business, educate you on new ways of thinking about money, saving for that rainy day, and how to grow the profitable business you have always dreamed of!
SAYLORMADE SESSIONS
with Mekina Saylor & Steph Herrera
Level: any experience level
Incorporating your face into your brand and video into your business is more important than ever. Whether you are building your brand, looking to grow your following, or just trying to make the best first impression, quality photos and videos are the perfect way to elevate your business. They help tell your brand story, easily allowing you to build credibility, create connection, and be personal with your clients. Each photographer will receive up to 15 commercial images (both edited high-resolution and RAW format) and 2-3 Video Loopers (15-20 seconds) for use on their website and social media.
CAMERA BASICS
Level: 0-3 years in business
The most highly requested topic from last year! There will be two hour long open-house style Camera Basics classes offered. Are you just getting started? Stop by for some one-on-one help with all of your camera questions. Team Canon & Team Nikon will be on hand to help with everything from shooting in manual to back button focus, or if you are feeling adventurous: how to capture double exposures! Bring your camera and we will walk through it together.
STYLED WEDDING COUPLE
Level: any experience level
This intimate hands-on shooting experience is perfect for those who want to learn some posing tips while also getting the chance to pose the couple themselves. Photograph a real bride and groom in full wedding attire with a beautiful bouquet compliments of Whisper & Brook Flower Co!
CASSADY ADAMS
Loves being a wife, Disney, Friends, summer, and is happiest at the beach.
Behind the Scenes Coordinator
Your perfectly executed lunch and freshly brewed coffee? You can thank Cassady for that! This powerhouse woman works tirelessly off the stage so your experience can be flawless from start to finish! Please be sure to thank her when you see her!
COST
As always, the IGNITE conference is FREE to attend. This conference and all expenses are provided by the ladies of SPARK as a way to bless our creative community. While this conference is free to attend, we would LOVE to give back to Mendham Hills Community Church through their missions ministry Beyond the Walls. Over the past 12 years their volunteers have built more than 125 homes, provided health care services, run sports camps, participated in food distribution, and supported educational, nutritional, personal development, and micro-enterprise programs in Guatamala. The church has graciously opened their doors to us, and we’d love to bless them with a generous donation from the creative community. If you are able, we are asking for a $25 donation to Beyond the Walls. Your donation is tax-deductible. Please note, as your donation is going directly to a non-profit organization, all donations are non-refundable. It is not a "ticket" so it cannot be refunded or transferred. We thank you in advance for helping us spread love beyond our local community!
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SPONSORS
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