Speakers

Billy Weeks, PPETN

  • Billy Weeks has worked as a journalist for over 40 years. His career started with the Chattanooga Times in 1984 as a staff photographer.  In 1995, he became the Photo Team Leader, and in 1999 he was named Director of Photography/Graphics at The Chattanooga Times Free Press and in 2010 he became an independent documentary photographer.

    As a photojournalist, Weeks has covered assignments that range from the World Series to small villages in Central America and Asia. In 2016, he was honored to give a TEDx talk “Two Views in Documentary Photography.” In 2016, 2020, 2023 and 2025 his sports photographs were awarded top honors in Pictures of the Year International. Additionally, his photographs were selected as an award of Excellence for editorial photography in Communication Arts Photography Annual three times. He was awarded the Gordon Parks International Photography award twice and was a finalist ten times. He was awarded the Freedom of Information award from the Associated Press and many other awards for journalism.   CNN and Photography District News featured his photographs on baseball in the Dominican Republic and Central America. Weeks is an associate lecturer in communication at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and an adjunct professor at Southern Adventists University.  He believes that not only should journalists cover their assignments but should also give something back to their profession. Today he lives in Ringgold, Georgia with his wife, Annette, and dog named Maggie Bourke-White.

Martin Grayson, PPETN

  • Grayson Martin is the media and communications coordinator for the Town of Farragut, Tennessee, as well as a freelance event photographer. 

    His work has placed in the silver category at PPA International Photographic Competition, appeared in the Turchin Center at Appalachian State University, the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Emporium Center in Knoxville, the 2023 ORNL Calendar, and more. 

    He is a member of the Professional Photographers of America and Professional Photographers of East Tennessee (PPETN). Grayson holds a degree in public relations from the University of Alabama. 

    Class - Street Smarts

    How to find order in an urban landscape.

Cat PPETN

  • Meet the Speaker - Cat Threadgill, CPP    

    Cat Threadgill is a North Texas based photographer, bookkeeper, tax advisor, and financial expert with over 40 years of experience in bookkeeping and accounting.  While pursuing her passion for photography, she build a strong foundation in financial management, working as a family law paralegal, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and a Mediator.

    As a published author and contributor to The Photographer,Cat combines her expertise in business finance with a deep understanding of the photography industry.  She knows firsthand the importance of proper bookkeeping and financial organization for photographers, empowering creatives to take control of their numbers with confidence.

    A dedicated member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) since 2009, Cat has attended numerous Texas School workshops and in 2023 joined the Dallas Professional Photographers Association (DPPA).  She earned her Certified Professional Photographer (CPP designation in 2024 and is actively working towards her Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees.

    With a passion for education and helping photographers succeed, Cat’s presentations offer practical, real-world insights into bookkeeping, taxes, and financial management – ensuring creatives can focus on what they do best: capturing incredible moments.

Liz Salem, PPETN

  • I swapped spreadsheets for shutter clicks and turned my obsession with photography into a career that lights me up every single day. Now I get to boss founders, creatives, and entrepreneurs around (with love!) while making sure their headshots and branding photos scream “I’m the real deal.”

    Forget stiff poses and fake smiles—my superpower is bringing out the unapologetic, confident version of you that the world actually wants to see. Basically, I’m your brand’s new secret weapon… and I just happen to carry a camera.

    When I’m not hyping up clients, you’ll catch me traveling with my husband, chasing sunshine, and scouting fresh inspiration for my next shoot.

    Wednesday night class:
    All About Headshots

    Headshots may look simple, but every photographer knows they’re anything but. In this two-hour, hands-on class, we’ll pull back the curtain on what it really takes to create headshots that sell—for your clients and for you.

    We’ll dig into:

    • Lighting that flatters every client (and keeps setups efficient).

    • Directing with confidence so your subjects look natural, not stiff.

    • Posing secrets for individuals and small teams.

    • Branding strategy 101: helping clients understand why they need headshots and how to upsell sessions.

    • Workflow tips to keep your process smooth from inquiry to delivery.

    This class is designed for photographers who want to sharpen their technical skills, elevate their client experience, and book more profitable headshot sessions. Whether you’re brand new to portraits or looking to refine your approach, you’ll leave with fresh tools, real strategies, and maybe even the confidence to raise your rates.

    Workshop:
    Headshots & Personal Branding — From Click to Client

    Headshots and personal branding photography are some of the most in-demand (and profitable) genres in our industry—but only if you know how to shoot them and sell them. In this full-day workshop, we’ll go beyond the basics to explore both the creative and business sides of building a thriving headshot and branding business.

    Morning  (3 Hours):
    We’ll dive into:

    • The Anatomy of a Strong Headshot: Lighting, posing, and directing for confidence and authenticity.

    • Personal Branding Photography: How to create storytelling images that elevate your clients’ marketing.

    • Pricing & Packaging: Structuring offers that sell (without undercutting yourself).

    • Marketing That Works: Attracting founders, creatives, and entrepreneurs who actually value great photography.

    • Finding Your Ideal Clients: Where they are, how to reach them, and what language makes them say “yes.”

    Afternoon Hands-On (3 Hours):
    Bring your cameras! We’ll walk through real-world setups, practice directing clients, and experiment with branding concepts. You’ll get hands-on experience with lighting, posing, and workflow—plus strategies to streamline your process from inquiry to delivery.

    This workshop is designed for photographers who want to expand into (or level up) headshots and branding. You’ll leave with the tools to:

    • Confidently create polished, marketable images.

    • Communicate your value.

    • Price profitably.

    • And grow a business that attracts clients ready to invest.

Jen Hargrove, PPETN

  • Jen specializes in fine art character, pet and child portraiture as well as fine art waterscapes and abstracts. She is a PPA Master of  Photography, Photographic Craftsman, Master Artist and CPP as well as a MPI Master of Portraiture with accreditation in Character Portraits and Animal Portraits, and a WPPI Associate.  She is also a member of the ASP (American Society of Photographers, IPPA (Intermountain), and TPPA (Texas). She serves as the Immediate Past President of the IPPA Board of Directors as well as the Degree and Awards Chairperson and Education Committee. Jen strongly believes in the importance of continuing education and the role image competition has along with education in growing and evolving as a photographer, as well as a business owner, she also believes that all photographers have a responsibility to help educate other photographers, as well as clients. 

    Jen and Tim, her husband (and part time assistant) reside in Big Piney, Wyoming with their dog, Owen. They have four children, as well as three granddaughters, and four grandsons. Jen and Tim love to travel and Jen is a lifelong Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan.

    FINE ART CHARACTER PORTRAITS:

    Fine art character portraits are a way of photographing a subject with their real and true essence by showcasing personal passions, hands on life work and a unique sense of self or allowing them to portray a character they have always wanted to be. Character photography creates a real and true representation of the people being photographed and once in a while allows them escape reality for a moment or two. This fine art portrait photography course is dedicated to teaching you how to add fine art sensibility to your studio while also creating a high profit revenue stream.  You'll discover how to use your marketing money in the most efficient way, including strategically working with local businesses, shops, and spaces as well as how to create a strong marketing brand. You'll come away from this workshop with everything you need to identify and create inventive shooting spaces, a marketing plan, and a new look for your business whether it’s a storefront, home studio, on location or pop-up. In this behind the scenes look inside Jen’s fine art character portraits, all of the materials and processes she uses, including how she shops second hand and antique shops for clothing and props and sets up her award-winning images. Full and multiple day courses will also have the opportunity to learn Jen’s post processing on both client and competition images.  So if you want to achieve that vintage and subtle painterly feel this is the course for you! You will also learn the most sold products in both fine art full sessions and Character Portrait Keepsake Events, as well as how Jen creates, markets and sells out these events. So, whether it’s creating fine art portraits for first responders, medical professionals, ranchers or just someone that wants to have a moment as someone else and play a little adult dress up, fine art character portraiture portraits can be a highly profitable addition to your business model.

Jen Stitt (Swing) PPETN

  • Jen started in the photography industry when newspapers still took daily images on film and self-developed in a darkroom. She completed her BFA in Film and Animation from the Rochester Institute of Technology (New York, USA) in 2008 and opened her first photography studio, with her husband Travis, in 2011 (Uncorked Studios).  She took the knowledge learned in the photojournalism and movie production to blend these skills to develop and adapt her style to the modern digital age. The results are images driven by an underlying story, motivation, or cinematic lighting to create stunning images that seamlessly blend traditional and contemporary techniques. Adapting to the current client and market landscape, in early 2019 they successfully rebranded their studio to the boutique brand, Fox & Brazen.

    As the co-founder and driving force behind Fox & Brazen, Jen has demonstrated a keen business sense and an unwavering commitment to photography education and the importance of delivering solid imagery to clients. Her ability to adapt to the fast-moving and ever-changing photography industry has enabled her to remain at the forefront of her field, while maintaining a deep and abiding connection to the art and craft of photography.

    Her storefront studio focuses on couples in love, Santa Experience sessions, and headshots and branding for individuals. Photographing clients across the entire globe, Jen has unearthed a passion for capturing her client's story in her imagery while delivering technical excellence. In 2019, Jen was awarded her Associate Photographer Designation from WPPI/Icon. In 2023, Jen was the winner of SWPP’s Wedding Reportage Photographer of the Year and in 2024 completed her Associate of SWPP. In the first head to head IPC Competition, Jen was the Diamond winner in the Wedding category and recently achieved her Wedding Photography Degree from PPA. Believing education is the key to success, she has always placed the community and photography education at the heart of her business. Jen enjoys empowering women in the photography and wedding industry as well as enthusiastically embracing technical challenges in the field, and behind the computer.

    5 TOOLS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE – POST SESSION WORKFLOW

    Ready to dominate your post-session workflow? Whether the mere thought of post-session work sends shivers down your spine or you’re simply hunting for some genius time-saving hacks, this course has got you covered. Get ready to learn the tactical steps and nifty tricks that will not only make your post-production tools more effective but also leaves you more time to spend doing what you love most, taking pictures, creating content, and drinking mai tais on the beach.

    Jen brings her powerhouse mix of tech savvy, AI wonders, and creative flair, all designed to leave your clients amazed at lightning-fast turn around.

    Here is what you will walk away with:

    1. Simple steps to establishing a consistent post-production workflow

    2. Software, Technology, and Programs to ease workload

    3. Tips for establishing better work/life balance

    4. How to implement AI into your existing post-production workflow

    Let’s Reflect(or) Together: Dynamic Lighting Using a Reflector Made Easy - HANDS-ON

    Let’s take the time and reflect together on why the reflector is such an awesome and versatile tool in our lighting kits. This photo walk will inspire you to dust off and bring the reflector to every outdoor session. Jen will walk you through the basics of making the best use of your reflector to enhance the natural lighting or create dynamic lighting for any type of portrait session. She will demonstrate how to find naturally occurring reflectors as well as show some lesser-known tricks to enhance your images on location with a reflector. Fingers crossed for a sunny day!

    What Jen will showcase:

    1. How to use a reflector in multiple scenarios

    2. 3:1 versus 5:1 reflector options

    3. Does reflector size matter

    4. Placement tricks for ideal lighting patterns

    ADD-ON to Reflector class

    Close and Connected: Posing Couples in Tight Spaces

    Description:
What do you do when the only space you’ve got is a tiny Airbnb, a café corner, or a hotel hallway? You make magic happen! In this hands-on class, Jen will teach you how to pose couples in small, challenging spaces to create images brimming with connection, emotion, and intimacy. Whether you’re working with casual engagement vibes or high-end wedding attire, you’ll learn how to adapt your five go-to poses to any setting—no matter how tight the quarters.

    Here’s what you’ll learn:

    1.Five versatile poses that work for every couple, in every scenario.

    2. How to guide couples to feel natural, connected, and comfortable in close quarters.

    3. Creative ways to turn limited backdrops into storytelling opportunities.

    4. Tips for keeping sessions fun, lighthearted, and stress-free—even in tight spaces.

    5. How to embrace the imperfections of small spaces to craft authentic, love-filled images.

    Whether you’re shooting in a hotel lobby, a tradeshow floor, or that café corner with two chairs too many, this class will help you master the art of posing couples in small spaces with big love. Bring your camera, your creativity, and a willingness to laugh—good vibes guaranteed!

Jen Willis, PPETN

  • Jen Willis is the owner of Jennifer Willis Portraits, where she specializes in fine art photography for pets and people. With more than 25 years in the veterinary industry, Jen’s deep love for animals shines through every image she creates. She is a Certified Professional Photographer through the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and is currently pursuing her Master of Photography degree through PPA.

    Jen serves on the Board of Directors for both the Professional Photographers of East Tennessee (PPETN) and the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association (TNPPA). She is also an instructor in the University of Tennessee Knoxville Photography Certificate Program, where she specializes in lighting education.

    Jen enjoys sharing her knowledge through presentations on a variety of topics including lighting theory, safe pet photography practices, and movie-inspired lighting techniques. Her specialty lies in pet and portrait photography, where she captures the connection, emotion, and authenticity that make each subject unique. Through her teaching and presentations, Jen’s approachable style and enthusiasm help photographers gain confidence, expand their creativity, and see light in a whole new way.

    From Flat to Fantastic: The Secrets Behind Portrait Lighting That Pops

    Class Description:
    Let’s shed some light on portrait photography! In this engaging presentation, we’ll explore how lighting shapes the mood, depth, and personality of a portrait. You’ll learn the classic lighting patterns—Rembrandt, loop, butterfly, and side lighting—and how each one brings out different facial features. We’ll also dive into short versus broad lighting, helping you understand how placement and direction can flatter your subject. And yes, we’ll tackle the inverse square law in a way that actually makes sense—no calculators needed!

    We’ll compare flat and directional lighting, discuss the difference between hard and soft light, and talk about how each affects the emotion of your image. You’ll see why catchlights are the sparkle that makes every portrait feel alive. Throughout the session, you’ll gain clarity on how to make intentional lighting choices that enhance your creative vision. This class is designed to simplify lighting theory while giving you practical insight you can apply right away. Come ready to see your portraits in a whole new light—literally!

Stephanie Richer, PPETN

  • Stephanie was born and raised in the Bronx, NY, the child of itinerate gypsies who mended post and stole chickens on the streets of that city.  As she advanced in age to the point of decrepitude she has now achieved, she has had careers in the US military, IT consulting, and fun, light-hearted work as a divorce lawyer (California State Bar Number 221928).  However, during all these times, she has maintained a love of the camera and now employs photography as both a mainstay and a base for digital illustrative art.  She is also a kingmaker as she once met Arnold Schwarzenegger in Florence, Italy and told him he should run for governor of California . . . the rest is history.

    Class Description:

    Don’t Fear the Machine: How to Make AI Work for You.  This will be an introduction to how a photographer can incorporate the use of various AI models into both their work as well as running their business.  This will also include an update on the state of copyright law regarding AI.

Susan Rauach, PPETN

  • Susan Ruach began to make photographs in the late 1980s to share the beauty she saw in her life and travels. She soon also began to work with macro images. And in 2010, she fell in love with abstract photography, which is more about feelings than about pictorial representation.

    Since joining TNPPA around 2014, she has competed in most of the TNPPA competitions, earned the TNPPA Certified Degree and was inducted into the TNPPA Hall of Fame in 2024. She has exhibited in solo exhibits and in group exhibits. Her images have appeared in two books and in magazines. In 2011 she helped start an online, daily, photo devotional called “Sight Psalms”. Susan has also taught classes and workshops on abstract photography, including two online classes, a photography workshop for OSHER, hour-long introductory sessions and longer workshops for both local photography organizations as well as for TNPPA.

    Susan says “If I’m not creating, my soul dries up.”  Photography is her best and favorite way of creating, and most of her images now are abstracts.  She believes abstract photography (and abstract art in general) can surprise people and invite everyone to think and feel differently, to move us to a different place, by bypassing some of the barriers we put up to being in touch with our deepest selves. She hopes her images cause viewers to break through some of the numbness and distraction that our fast-paced, care-less culture often causes.

    She says, “Some images have the power to change us:  to reduce stress, to inspire us, to teach us, to energize us, to heal us, to be a ‘thin place’” in the Celtic sense and to reconnect us to our souls. My art is about inviting myself and others to pause, to breathe, to go beneath the surface, to feel and think more deeply, to wander inside our own souls, to reconnect with our creative energy and to touch the Mystery.”

  • For over twenty years, Teresa Anderson has explored the people, places, and moments she loves through the lens of a camera.  Her interest in photography began when her daughters were young, sparking a drive to continually improve her craft and push each image to the next level. That longing never left.  She has been a member of PPA for eleven years and a member of TNPPA for several years as well. These two professional organizations helped mold her into the photographer she is today.  She earned a Master of Photography degree through PPA and is currently working on her Photographic Craftsman. She has also taught photography classes through PPA in local areas and has served as a judge for various local photographic competitions.  Anderson has received over twenty awards in print competition.  She is primarily a portrait photographer with a studio in the small town of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, photographing a wide range of subjects and genres: newborns, children, seniors, families, pets, and lots of mini sessions. She loves capturing the stories that her subjects are trying to tell, because everyone has a story!