Learning Labs

We know that some topics just can’t be covered during a 90-minute breakout. That is why each year we offer a choice of four learning labs prior to the conference.

These stand-alone 4-hour workshops are taught by subject matter experts and include a deep dive into new skills and knowledge that you can immediately put into action. Each workshop is recorded and you’ll have lifetime access.

This is a great way to kickstart your learning before the conference begins.

I’ve STARTED My Business… Now I Have Questions About RUNNING My Business

Speaker: Kimberly Melton

Date / Time: Wednesday, February 16th at 12:00pm – 4:00pm EST

Description: You’ve started working as a photo manager and now you realize there’s a lot more to it than photos! This Learning Lab will help answer key questions needed to develop a successful photo management business.

Session Outcomes: You’ll walk away from this session with the functional structure needed to run a successful business. You’ll learn strategies to help you market yourself and your brand, approaches to successful networking, and create effective goal setting and organizational structure.

Conference Track: Core Competencies / Business Management / Client & Project Management / Marketing & Sales

Experience Level: Just Starting Out / Solopreneurs

Grow your Photo Organizing Business by Incorporating FOREVER.

Speaker: Shelley Murray

Date / Time: Wednesday, February 23rd at 12:00pm – 4:00pm EST

Description: Shelley Murray has built a profitable and thriving Photo Organizing business using the small business tools provided by the company, FOREVER. In this deep-dive workshop, you will learn Shelley’s workflow and process for handling photo organizing projects. She will take you through each step beginning with the pick up and ending with the digital and physical delivery back to the client. She will show her methods for organizing, digitizing, curating the story and then empowering the client to access the collection and share with others by using their private FOREVER Storage Account. Shelley will also review all of the business tools and resources that she uses from FOREVER to assist her in each of the departments of her business: Marketing, Communications, Product Management, Business Strategy and Finance.

Session Outcomes: Shelley will review her workflows and processes, which quickly led her to profitability. You’ll learn her client on-boarding system, which includes FOREVER’s premium platform that provides her with tools to track her client’s progress with a built-in CRM. She will review ways to empower and inspire your clients through tech training to grow your passive and residual income and how she outsources her scanning and media conversion. By outsourcing using these services, Shelley has freed up her time to work on developing her business in other ways.

Conference Track: Business Management / Client & Project Management / Marketing & Sales

Experience Level: Solopreneurs / Experienced Entrepreneurs / International Members / Partnerships & Growth

How to Hire and Manage a Team

Speaker: Jordan Babeon

Date / Time: Wednesday, March 2nd at 12:00pm – 4:00pm EST

Description: Do you have a successful photo management business and are ready to grow? Without a team, your growth will be limited by a factor of one. Jordan has grown her business to include 10 full-time employees and 5 contractors in 2.5 years. She knows the ins and out of building and managing a team in this growing industry.

Session Outcomes: This learning lab will overview helpful tips and techniques including:
– Hiring basics – including skills required, background checks, interview techniques, and where to look for your next team member;
– Training and Onboarding – how to accelerate your ramp time for new employees;
– Management and Leadership basics – inspire your team while building accountability.

Breakout sessions will give you time to draft a job description and interview outline, roleplay an interview, and start working on an onboarding/training guide. There will be plenty of time for Q&A with Jordan.

Conference Track: Business Management

Experience Level: Experienced Entrepreneurs / Partnerships & Growth

Using Canva for Your Marketing & Client Projects

Speaker: Haleh Shoa

Date / Time: Wednesday, March 9th at 12:00pm – 4:00pm EST

Description: Canva.com is a popular free graphic design website—and a great resource for photo managers (who may not have graphic design skills).

Session Outcomes: In this learning lab, you will have a hands-on opportunity to learn how to use it to design your marketing materials, client projects such as gallery walls and album pages, and much more. Information will include:
– Introduction to Canva – including graphic design basics and how to navigate the app;
– Using Canva for Marketing – learn how to design a logo, business cards, email signature, social media graphics, and presentations;
– Using Canva to Serve Your Clients – Wow them with a family logo, beautiful photo book covers, and stunning gallery walls.

Breakout sessions for hands-on design work mean that you’ll walk away with designs for your marketing assets and practice working on some client projects. Share your designs with the group and get questions answered by Haleh.

Conference Track: Marketing & Sales

Experience Level: Just Starting Out / Solopreneurs / Experienced Entrepreneurs / International Members / Partnerships & Growth