Professional Photographers of Iowa upcoming events

PPI Shootout: Photography Meetups for Creative Practice, Networking, and Community (Sunday, October 04, 2026)

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

PPI Shootouts are where creativity meets community. These casual, non-instructional photography meetups give photographers the opportunity to practice new skills, experiment with creative techniques, and connect with fellow photographers in a fun, supportive environment. No presentations. No pressure. Just cameras, creativity, hands-on experience, and meaningful connections with photographers who share your passion.

Fall Panel + Photo Competition (Monday, October 19, 2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Learn more about PPI Competitions and how to enter HERE.

Enter panels to win Iowa's Child and/or Senior Photographer of the Year Award! PPI's photography competitions are designed to inspire creative growth, recognize excellence, and help photographers elevate their craft through professional image critique and competition. Open to photographers of all experience levels, our competitions provide opportunities to receive valuable feedback, earn prestigious awards, and gain recognition among peers and industry leaders.

Fast Forward Featuring Peter Hurley (Sunday, November 08, 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Fast Forward is PPI’s one-day photography conference designed to help photographers accelerate their creativity, sharpen their skills, and build meaningful industry connections. Whether you're a professional photographer, aspiring photographer, content creator, or creative entrepreneur, Fast Forward delivers hands-on learning, inspiring speakers, networking opportunities, and real-world business insights in a high-energy, community-focused environment.

Tentative Schedule for the day:

9:00 Doors open
9:30 Welcome Message
10:00-1:00pm - Annie Marie (more info coming soon)
1:00-2:30pm - Lunch On Your Own
3:00-6:00pm - Peter Hurley: From Zero To Shebang
6:30-7:30 - Fall Image Competition Awards Presentation
8:00-? - Networking Hang-out at the Residence Inn, Ankeny where we will have a room block. Reservation link coming soon!

We are excited to be featuring Peter Hurley as the main speaker for the afternoon of this event! Peter Hurley is a world-renowned portrait photographer, author, speaker, coach, and a proud Canon Explorer of Light. Widely recognized as the leading authority in headshot photography, Peter has personally trained thousands of photographers through his dynamic teaching style and the principles outlined in his bestselling book, The Headshot. His work and expertise have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Good Day NY, and Nightline. A TEDx speaker and YouTube sensation, Peter continues to inspire a global community of photographers with his passion, presence, and pursuit of excellence. In 2024, he received the prestigious ICP Professional Photographer Achievement Award at the United Nations, cementing his lasting impact on the photography industry. He lives in New York City with his wife and their twin daughters.

Fast Forward Course: From Zero to SHABANG! A live coaching masterclass with Peter Hurley

Every portrait photographer knows the feeling: the lighting is dialed in, the scene is set, you look through the viewfinder and your subject looks like the life just got sucked right out of them.

Human beings behave strangely in front of a camera. Shoulders tense. Smiles go flat. The person who was cracking jokes five minutes ago suddenly looks like they're posing for a mugshot. That's not a lighting problem or a lens problem; it's a coaching problem. And closing that gap is what separates photographers who take pictures from photographers who create images people actually want to be seen in.

No one closes that gap better than Peter Hurley.

Peter has spent his career turning bland, guarded expressions into what he calls SHABANG’n shots. That split-second collision of adrenaline, emotion, and authentic personality that makes a portrait stop people in their tracks. It's the difference between a technically correct photo and an image that makes you say "wow." In this session, he's pulling back the curtain on exactly how he gets there, then proving it live.

What You'll Learn

How to read a subject's tension in the first ten seconds and know exactly what to say to break it
Peter's signature verbal and physical coaching cues — the specific language that gets a genuine reaction instead of a forced smile
How to build rapport fast with total strangers who've never been photographed professionally
The mental framework for directing someone toward their SHABANG moment instead of just shooting and hoping
How to keep shooting through the awkward warm-up phase instead of stopping and starting
Common coaching mistakes that keep subjects stiff and what to do instead
All taught while Peter is doing a Live Demonstration

This isn't just a lecture. It’s Peter Hurley shooting LIVE while bringing the best out of his subject on stage. You’ll watch him coach them in real time using the same techniques he uses with executives, actors, and his A-list clients.

Who This Is For

Portrait photographers at any level who may very well be technically solid but want their images to carry more life, more personality, and more impact. If you've ever nailed the lighting and still walked away with a flat, forgettable shot, this class is built for that exact problem. Peter always says that it’s more important for a photographer to have good people skills than it is for them to have good technical skills. The technical is actually easier to teach than the ability to connect with your subject on a human level.

Walk in with a good eye. Walk out knowing how to direct your subjects toward the elusive SHABANG’n shot!

This event is paired with a hands-on workshop the following day, you can attend one or both. If both, you will need to register for each day separately.

Fast Forward Workshop: The Headshot Crash Course with Peter Hurley (Monday, November 09, 2026)

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

The Headshot Crash Course

One day with Peter Hurley. The fundamentals that built his career.

Peter Hurley didn't become the world's most recognized name in headshot photography by knowing more about lighting than everyone else. He got there by figuring out what actually happens between a photographer and a subject in the seconds before the shutter clicks and built a repeatable system around it.

A system like this could take years to piece together on your own. This course compresses it into one day.

The Headshot Crash Course is a distillation of what Peter teaches in his multi-day Headshot Intensive workshop and in his book: The Headshot. His workflow, the lighting setups, the posing mechanics, the directing language all condensed into a single, fast-moving session built for photographers who are ready to take their headshot photography to the next level. No matter if you are an amateur just getting started in photographing people or a full-time pro getting the job done, this course is for you. No prior headshot experience required.

What You'll Learn:

Lighting that flatters: Peter's go-to lighting setups for headshots, why they work, and how to replicate them without a room full of gear
The mechanics of a great headshot: jaw position, shoulder angle, the "squinch," and the other small physical adjustments that separate an amateur shot from a professional one
How to direct a subject in real time: the verbal cues and coaching language Peter uses to move someone from stiff to natural in seconds
Reading and adapting to your subject: how to adjust your approach on the fly for the nervous first-timer versus the seasoned executive
Post and retouch philosophy: what Peter looks for when culling a session, and how to retouch without losing the person underneath

How the Day Runs

Morning: Slideshow demonstrating the foundations of Peter’s lighting setups and camera fundamentals

Midday: Where the fun begins as Peter works with real subjects in front of the group, narrating his thought process shot by shot

Afternoon: Hands-On Practice using multiple setups during a LIVE shooting experience: Attendees shoot, applying what they've just learned as Peter coaches

Close: Putting the finishing touches on your product. Each student will pick their favorite shot of the day to prepare it for their portfolio as Peter demonstrates how images leave his studio after putting on what he calls his “Secret Sauce”

One day in. A career's worth of headshot fundamentals out.

Competition College (Monday, January 11, 2027)

Mon, 11 Jan 2027 15:00:00 GMT

Join Master Photographers and Print Comp experts to prepare for upcoming print competitions. Great for anyone entering for the first time or those wanting to learn the ins-and-outs of competition. Learn from PPA Masters and competition experts on what judges actually look for, the elements of a high-scoring entry, how to finish and prepare images, and more. Anonymous image critique after class!

Annual Photographic Competition (Monday, February 08, 2027)

Mon, 08 Feb 2027 16:00:00 GMT

Learn more about PPI Competitions and how to enter HERE.

PPI's photography competitions are designed to inspire creative growth, recognize excellence, and help photographers elevate their craft through professional image critique and competition. Open to photographers of all experience levels, our competitions provide opportunities to receive valuable feedback, earn prestigious awards, and gain recognition among peers and industry leaders.

Focus Forward - Annual Convention (Friday, March 05, 2027)

Fri, 05 Mar 2027 22:00:00 GMT

SAVE $150! Registration opens August, 1st, 2026 with an Early Bird Price of $299 for PPI members and $399 for non-members.

Professional Photographers of Iowa (PPI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering professional and aspiring photographers and creative entrepreneurs across Iowa and the Midwest. Through hands-on workshops, inspiring events, and a welcoming community, we help photographers grow their skills, build meaningful connections, and thrive in the industry.

Focus Forward, PPI's Annual Convention | March 5-8, 2027 | Iowa

Inspiration. Education. Connection.

Focus Forward is for professional and aspiring photographers, creative entrepreneurs, and small business owners who crave more than just education—they want connection, inspiration, and growth. Whether you're refining your craft, building your business, or simply looking for your people, Focus Forward is your place to learn, recharge, and belong. From seasoned pros to fresh faces, if you believe in the power of photography and community, you’re one of us.

Join us for a high-energy, hands-on convention designed to elevate your craft and recharge your passion. Over the course of four unforgettable days, you'll experience:

Dynamic speakers from both photography and small business industries covering topics like SEO, email marketing, content creation, and motivation.
Live demos and hands-on workshops covering everything from lighting and posing to marketing and mindset
Meaningful networking with photographers and creative entrepreneurs from across the Midwest
An awards brunch to celebrate industry excellence
And a themed party (Pajama Jam, anyone?) to cap it all off with connection and fun
Vendor Meet and Greet (trade show) to stay up to date on all the current products and tech.

Why Attend?
Because you’re not just a photographer, you’re a creative entrepreneur. And this is your space to grow. At Focus Forward, you’ll walk away with:

✅ Fresh ideas and skills to implement immediately
✅ New friends and mentors who get it
✅ A renewed sense of confidence and creative purpose

Let’s move your business, and your artistry, forward together!

A digital print competition will be hosted prior to the convention on March 9th. You must be a PPI member to win awards. Be sure to join or renew your membership!