Boutique style educational conference for photographers
Every year I broaden my business horizons with continuing education, and one of those ongoing pieces of the puzzle is The Reset Conference.
Reset is a boutique-style conference with around 150-200 attendees so every class feels very intimate and curated to the photographers that attend. Most of the attendees have been in business for a long time, though there is also a WEALTH of information for new photography business owners as well.
The Reset Conference staff (minus Tyler!) in front of the stage on Monday morning between sessions
How I approach the conference
While most of the classes I attend are geared more toward marketing, business, and finances, there are also a ton of great classes on the technical aspects of photography as well: lighting, posing, gear, etc. I always leave with pages and pages of notes and then pull out a handful of action items that I want to incorporate right away. Some things I am even able to do while or put into practice while I’m still at the conference!
The conference works on a block schedule, so during each time block, you have the opportunity to choose from 4-5 topics that you want to learn about. The conference also has a vendor expo with big names like Canon, Pic-Time, Kissbooks, Miller’s Lab, and more. There is also usually a camera shop on site with select items, and a camera cleaning service (which is literally the only time I ever am able to get my cameras cleaned!).
The 2026 Reset Conference was held in Chattanooga, TN, and next year’s will be March 1-3, 2027 in Panama City Beach, FL. We’ve been to this location before, and I already can’t wait to go back and see my people!
My key takeaways
I wanted to share a few takeaways I had from this year’s conference:
Rest is not a reward, it’s a necessity. — Laylee Emadi
Don’t make the mistake of obsessing over revenue instead of profit. - Erinn Bridgeman
I learned in more detail about the difference between retainers vs deposits. I plan to change all my contract language to reflect “retainers” to book sessions. (from Elle Danielle)
Emails are up to 40% more effective than social media in turning viewers into clients. — Noella Andres (and she gave us a GREAT idea for a lead magnet to include in emails… BUT you’ll have to sign up for my emails to get it!) ;) Watch for the June newsletter!
And then the class I was MOST looking forward to was “Get Clients from Pinterest” with Kathryn Novak which did NOT disappoint. I was already considering signing up for Kathryn’s group mentoring intensive the next day, and that night after her class I booked and paid for my spot!
The next morning our class of 5 met up at a coffee shop down the street while Kathryn got into the weeds with us all with our Pinterest marketing. And I tell you what… within the first 30 minutes of our hangout, I was already seeing results in my Pinterest account. It was worth every penny! And now I have a clearer idea what my Pinterest workflow needs to look like and I have a plan for going forward with my blogging/SEO efforts and my Pin strategy.
Mary, Danielle, Liz, and me at the welcome party Sunday night before the conference. It was so nice to be outside in the courtyard!
Joe Baker leads an impromptu photo walk with OCF and a senior model
Time to Rest, Reflect, and Reset
But the Reset Conference wouldn’t live up to its name if it was all work and no play, right?!
Sunday night pre-conference is an early registration time window, followed by a very casual, fun welcome party. I am proud of myself for mingling with and meeting several people I didn’t know before! One of the tenets of Reset is also leave your ego at the door and it’s totally true… all the speakers are so open and kind and the keynote speakers hang out with the attendees as well!
The lunch hour is usually an extended 90 minutes to 2 hours to allow for people to find lunch around or near the hotel, and so people can peruse the vendor expo. The Day 1 evening is dinner on your own around town. We found an awesome little hole-in-the-wall burger joint. Yum!
Then after day 2 of classes there is also some sort of social event. This year we had the run of a very cool, vibe-y bowling alley. Let me tell you — it was so much fun! I opted to not bowl, but instead floated around between lanes with some healthy encouragement (and maybe a tiny bit of heckling & trash talking). 🤣
Join us in Panama City Beach in 2027!
So whether you decide to attend any photography conference or maybe Reset next year, I cannot recommend enough the importance of continuing your professional education. Trends, marketing, and social media are ever-changing, and there is always something new to learn to help your business thrive. I’m cheering you on!