Teaching at After Dark Photography Conference

If you saw a group of people with lighting running around Austin, Texas at 2am…it was me.

In July I had the opportunity to teach at a photography conference called After Dark. I was introduced to this unique photography education experience when I was 17 and actually was asked to model from one of my favorite photographers, Dan Davis.

#modelbrittany in 2010

This education process is 100% opposite of all the structured conferences I’d been to as a marketer in corporate America and honestly? It’s refreshing! The best way to describe this is that it’s a photography conference by creatives for creatives. So loose is an understatement. But that flexibility allows for happy creatives learning on their own timelines, one-off conversations that spark lightbulb moments, friendships being made over chats at the bar, and some awesome images being created.

I have modeled, been a participant, and now came back this year as a mentor to share what I know. I taught two specific classes: beauty lighting and gown handling. But here’s a secret: I think I learned just as much as I shared. It’s always so interesting to see how photographers approach the same location, model, and lighting and still get totally different results.

This was my first time teaching in a group setting, and honestly, I felt so comfortable leading the education of the group. I love public speaking, answering questions on the spot, and ensuring how I communicate is the way the group can best receive it. I prepped, explained, showed, and invited others to shoot hands-on with my model who joined us for the 3 days fo education.

A big thanks to Jordan, the guy who got me into all of this, and my model, Amanda, for being so good at her job it was considered “cheating” by other photographers because she’s so in control of her body and posing. Ya’ll rocked.

Can’t wait to be back!

Location: Austin, Texas

Capturing 2am street photography

Teaching hand posing on night 1

Me being a human light stand to add a backlight to our model

@atchleyphotography's class

Small group classes where I focused on handling gowns

A participant practicing model directing

So many images were taken, and both photographers snd models got experience in a safe learning environment. Often as a photographer, you’re in charge of making the shoot seem seamless and your model’s comfort and happiness during the shoot experience. By removing those expectations and trying new techniques, a moment of deer-caught-in-the-headlight eyes is totally fine! Mentors are there to help guide the photographer learn something new, and the models get to see what it really takes to be great at our jobs. Even my friend & model, Amanda, said “I never really knew how much goes on to get good photos!”

Thanks to all the sponsors—including Canon, Westcott, a local camera store, ACI—we had all the tools needed to expand our knowledge. Let’s share a bit of what I created!

An image from my beauty lighting class

DAY: This image was so easy for me to create. I was right in my element, took 5 seconds to set up, and was shooting a cocktail standing up with diffused natural lighting—a comfort spot for me

vs. NIGHT: This one image took about 45 minutes of learning. It was a struggle, and took forever to create. BUT I learned how to mix ambient and artificial light under very minimal light conditions. Shoutout to Fonzie to teaching me & Amanda for her patience haha

Thanks for reading!

XOXO

Brittany

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