From Camera to Collection: A PPA Photography Workshop for Portrait Photographers
Sometimes, improving your photography business is not about buying another camera, learning another complicated lighting setup, or completely reinventing everything you do.
Sometimes, you simply need a little fine-tuning—and the opportunity to learn from someone who has built a successful portrait studio through decades of real-world experience.
On Monday, September 14, 2026, professional photographers are invited to join me at Charleen’s Portrait Studio in Dayville, Connecticut, for From Camera to Collection, a hands-on PPA photography workshop focused on senior portrait photography, client experience, and in-person sales.
As a Certified Professional Photographer, Master Photographer, and Photographic Craftsman, I will share the practical methods I use in my own studio—from connecting with and photographing a high school senior to presenting the finished portraits and guiding the family through an ordering appointment.
This class is intentionally limited to only eight photographers so that everyone has time to participate, ask questions, and receive personal attention throughout the day.
Who Is This Workshop For?
This class is designed for professional photographers who understand the basics but feel they could use some help fine-tuning their portrait sessions, studio workflow, client experience, or sales process.
You may be a photographer who:
- Feels comfortable using your camera but wants more confidence directing and posing clients
- Struggles to create enough variety during a portrait session
- Wants sessions to feel more natural, relaxed, and organized
- Would like to improve your studio portrait work
- Is unsure how to transition from photographing a client to selling finished portraits
- Finds pricing conversations uncomfortable
- Wants to introduce in-person sales but does not know where to begin
- Already offers IPS but feels the ordering appointment could be more effective
- Wants to see how another working portrait studio handles the entire client experience
This is not intended to be an overwhelming, highly technical class filled with complicated formulas and unrealistic ideas.
It is a real-world workshop created for working photographers who want practical information they can take home and begin using in their own businesses.
Follow a Portrait Experience from Beginning to End
During this six-and-a-half-hour workshop, I will take you through the complete portrait process—from planning and photographing a senior portrait session to presenting the finished images and helping the client place an order.
We will begin with a live senior portrait session.
You will observe and participate as we talk about connecting with the senior, creating natural expressions, using comfortable and flattering poses, and producing meaningful variety without making the session feel rushed or overly complicated.
I will share how I keep clients relaxed, how I move through a session, and how I create portraits with the final products and ordering appointment already in mind.
Because creating beautiful images is only one part of a successful portrait business.
What Happens After the Portrait Session?
Once the session is complete, we will move into image selection, presentation, and IPS—also known as in-person sales.
You will see how I prepare for an ordering appointment, present the portraits, help clients narrow down their favorites, introduce products and collections, and guide them toward choosing the portraits they will enjoy in their home.
We will also discuss how to:
- Talk about pricing with greater confidence
- Help clients make decisions without making them feel pressured
- Present printed products and collections
- Keep an ordering appointment organized
- Respond when a client only asks about digital files
- Make sales feel like a helpful part of the experience rather than an uncomfortable conversation
You will be able to see how the photography, client relationship, products, pricing, and sales process all work together.
Small Class, Real Participation
This workshop is intentionally limited to only eight photographers.
A smaller class means more time for questions, more opportunities to participate, and more individual help throughout the day.
Bring a notebook or laptop for taking notes, your camera, your favorite portrait lens, a fully charged battery, and an empty memory card. Most importantly, come ready to learn, participate, and have some fun.
You do not need to arrive with everything figured out. That is the purpose of the workshop.
My goal is for you to leave with greater clarity, renewed confidence, and practical ideas you can use to improve both your portrait sessions and your sales experience.
Reserve Your Seat
From Camera to Collection will be held:
Monday, September 14, 2026
9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Charleen’s Portrait Studio
145 Country Club Road
Dayville, Connecticut
With only eight seats available, early registration is strongly encouraged.
Learn more and reserve your seat through Professional Photographers of America:
https://www.ppa.com/events/from-camera-to-collection-9-14-2026
I would love to welcome you into my studio for a day of learning, creating, sharing, and discovering how to take your clients from the camera to a finished portrait collection.