Back to School, Pumpkin latte’s, Halloween candy, And Orange is all over the place!
For me, the fall only means that one of the best photo gear expos is coming soon to NYC.

All of us gear monkeys will be seeing, feeling, touching, buying, new kit that will make what we love even better.

Sure,the tools are important, and we all love them. It’s what you do with them that is the key, as you know.
One thing you should not overlook at PhotoPlus Expo is the incredible amount of learning that is available.
Yes, on the floor there are experts teaching while using a manufacturers product ( It ain’t gonna be done for free!). HOnestly you will learn some very cool stuff that you will use. And probably buy the product they are touting.
BUT… and this is a BIG but.. Do NOt Miss The Seminars!!!
Here is a list of what’s in store to help whet your whistle:

Lighting / Portrait Seminars at PhotoPlus Expo Help Photographers Master Core Techniques for All Genres of Photography
More Than 30 Seminars Offer Simple and Innovative Ways to Light and Pose Any Subject

NEW YORK (September 9, 2015) — Every aspect of photography involves some form of light whether it’s natural, artificial, or a combination of both. And, most genres of photography involve people including fashion, portrait, street photography, and sports. That said, the Lighting and Portrait series of seminars scheduled at this year’s PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo (October 21-24, 2015) are essential to any photographer looking for new and creative ways of lighting and posing their subjects, regardless of their area of expertise.

This year, more than 30 seminars will be dedicated to lighting and portraiture and presented under the tutelage of world-class experts and educators in the industry. When you consider that nearly 95% of all photos taken include people and every photograph ever taken involves light, everyone attending PhotoPlus Expo should consider registering for lighting and portraiture seminars best suited to their needs. A complete description of all lighting and portrait seminars at PhotoPlus Expo 2015 can be viewed online.

“A solid foundation in lighting and posing are essential tools for a photographer regardless of your specialty.” explains Jason Groupp, Director of Education and Membership of the PHOTO+ Group. “Our extensive lineup of lighting seminars cover a wide variety of techniques including studio, speedlight, and natural light and our portrait seminars provide insight to formal, informal, fashion, and even street photography techniques.”

The price of a Full Conference Pass will be $329.99 for members ($549.99 for non-members) through October 20th. The price of a One Day Conference Pass is $159.99 for members ($199.99 for non-members).

Lighting and Portrait Seminars
The following is a selection of lighting and portrait seminars scheduled during PhotoPlus Expo 2015. For a complete listing of seminars, please view PhotoPlusExpo.com.

Wednesday, October 21
One Light – Fashion and Glamour — Peter Coulson – 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Learn the secrets of Peter Coulson’s award-winning techniques in creating eye-catching portrait, fashion and glamour photography. During his 90-minute presentation, Coulson will demonstrate his signature black-and-white look and include an overview of several different lighting setups, offering fresh ideas about how to make lighting simple and easy so you can create stunning images with a single light.

Posing Fundamentals for Boudoir and Beyond – Jen Rozenbaum – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Presented by Sigma
Know how to pose a woman to make her look as good as she does in real life, if not better, is the key to successful photos and product sales. Join Jen as she shows you how she works with women to make them look amazing.

The Quick and Simple Portrait – Drew Gurian – 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Join portrait photographer Drew Gurian as he shows you a variety of real-world examples shot for clients like Red Bull, the Associated Press and Rolling Stone that demonstrate just how easy this whole lighting thing can be. Learn the simple solutions that let you achieve what you need, without killing yourself trying to get there. No matter what level you’re at in your photography, one thing is certain: Lighting can be really confusing as we’re constantly bombarded with more and more gear, but at the end of the day, less is usually more!

Thursday, October 22
Studio Flash for Natural Light Photographers – Kevin Ames – 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Natural light is beautiful—it’s a photographer’s dream. It is also subject to change without notice, depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Studio flash is also beautiful but it is constant and available anytime without the worry of weather variables and running out of daylight. This master class in lighting covers everything it takes to work with studio flash as if it were natural light. Using a model, Ames will demonstrate how to create gorgeous, romantic soft light as well as dramatic, high contrast looks, with attention given to proper exposure and color control. Simple light modifiers are shown, explained and demonstrated.

Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait – Michael Grecco – 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Presented by Panasonic
The difference between an ordinary photograph and a truly striking portrait lies in the photographer’s ability to pierce the obvious and reveal the intimate nature of the subject. The play of available angles, light and shadow, soft shapes and hard lines are tools to create not simply a photo, but also a work of art. Using his own work as reference, Grecco will describe his techniques for creating light and shadow and will demonstrate how he creates his stylistic and dramatic images. He will explain his specialty lighting and show you the setups he used to create his striking, signature looks in this new work.

Portrait Lighting on Location: Beyond the Speedlight – Brian Smith – 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Presented by Sony
In this hands-on photo walk, Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Brian Smith will show you his ways for lighting portraits on location using small portable light kits with more power and versatility than speedlights. You’ll learn what he looks for when he scouts locations for the perfect background and how he blends strobes and ambient light for the perfect location portraits even in the most challenging locations. Brian will share his secrets to creating beautiful, dramatic light in any location with or without the help of Mother Nature and show you how to deliver great portraits your clients will love no matter the conditions.

Posing Women – Sue Bryce – 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Learn the subtle but powerful nuance of posing direction and connection. The seminar will look at age-appropriate posing from teens and young girls to posing all body types. Learn the art of body language and guiding expression with confidence and mastery to take your photography to the next level.

Portraits Under Pressure – Victoria Will – 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Portrait and commercial photographer Victoria Will discusses her techniques for reading and shaping light for any type of portrait. Accustomed to working under tight deadlines, Victoria will share some of her secrets for working quickly on location or in the studio and talk about how to deal with clients in tricky situations while still getting what you need. “I had an assignment to photograph Justin Bieber. When it was all said and done—58 seconds after it had begun—I had shot him in two lighting setups and had 22 frames to show for it.” With a career that began in photojournalism, Victoria has made the transition from editorial to commercial seamlessly and is passionate about sharing her journey and the importance of being your own advocate.

Friday, October 23
Fashion on Location: One Light Beauty – Joel Grimes – 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Follow Joel as he takes one light and one model on location, and walks the streets of New York in search of creating amazing images. Joel will show you how to balance natural ambient light with strobes, in combination with using neutral density filters to achieve ultra shallow depth of field.

Advanced Flash: Big Lights – Joe McNally – 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
During this live shoot with sophisticated light-shaping tools, internationally acclaimed lighting master Joe McNally will create a number of unique looks and show you just how he does it! Along the way, he’ll demonstrate the strengths of these tools and the range of moods and effects that can be created from each item. From large soft boxes to beauty dishes and grid spots, McNally will demonstrate how to utilize each tool to maximum effect while explaining the reasoning behind his choices. Attendees will walk away from this master class with a better understanding of how to efficiently control studio lights by accessorizing and directing the tools to portray an idea, feeling or directed vision in a photograph. This will be an intimate experience for a small group, aimed at photographers with a good grasp of lighting basics and looking to take his or her skills up a notch.

Landscapes in the City – Matt Kloskowski – 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Join Matt for a hands-on photo walk where you’ll get to experience everything you need to combine creative landscape photography with the urban city setting. You’ll learn about long exposure photos, ND Filters, polarizers, shooting into the sun, when to use HDR, texture, shadow, light – and how to put it all together to make creative and great outdoor photos, no matter where you are.

Environmental Portraits: Expanding the Limits – Hernan Rodriguez – 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
In photography we are often confronted by these same similarities – the message is expressed and assimilated by the viewer through his/hers personal perspective. When we think portraits, the first thought that usually comes to mind is the obvious – the subject. In this eye-opening, fun-filled street walk expedition; Hernan will explore a new approach and mindset on how to create unique portraits at the whim of what the street has to offer us.

Saturday, October 24
Night Photography: Step-by-Step – Gabriel Biderman, Jill Waterman, Matt Hill 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Night photography is one of today’s hottest trends, with forums, meet-ups and workshops exploding across the Internet and causing spontaneous light shows to erupt within darkened landscapes.

Join in the fun and learn from our stellar panel of night photography specialists, who will share their knowledge, offer tips and inspiration to help guide you in the quest for memorable images of the nocturnal environment. Incurable gearhead Gabriel Biderman will discuss selecting the right tools and accessories for best results in low light. Innovative artist Matt Hill will discuss decisive image optimization and post processing of night photography for breathtaking results. Eagle-eyed editor Jill Waterman will show recent work from the night photography community to inspire attendees’ future efforts.

For more information and frequent updates, visit the PPE website, become a fan on Facebook, or follow PPE on Twitter.

Website: http://www.photoplusexpo.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photoplusexpo
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/photoplusexpo

About PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo
Designed for professionals in the photographic and imaging industries as well as enthusiasts, PhotoPlus Expo showcases the latest advances in photography, digital imaging and filmmaking. Held annually at the Javits Convention Center, attendees have the opportunity to explore an inspiring array of photography and imaging products and services — all from the industry’s leading manufacturers. The show also offers seminars and intimate Photo Walks and Master Classes taught by world-renowned experts that focus on cutting-edge innovations and techniques.