Photography Boot Camp

Photography Boot Camp Resources

Speaker bios:

JENNIFER BAKER, MFA, Professional Faculty, WCC Digital Media Arts
Faculty Organizer/MC

Jennifer Baker is a practicing fine art photographer and photographic educator located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Photography from Rhode Island School of Design, a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan and an Associate degree in Photographic Technology from Washtenaw Community College where she has taught photography full time since 1995. She is passionate about supporting and promoting creativity among her students.

CHERYL BYRNE, PhD, Professional Faculty, WCC Business and Computer Technologies
“Time Management and Strategy”

Cheryl joined Washtenaw Community College (WCC) as a full-time faculty member of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship in the fall of 2002. Later, as WCC’s first Dean of Distance Learning, she helped to create online learning at WCC.

Cheryl has created the Retail and Business Operations certificate, the Retail Management Associate degree, the Supply Chain Operations Certificate, and the Supply Chain Management Associate degree. She also revamped the Entrepreneurship certificate and created a Core Business Skills certificate. She is currently partnering with the Computer Information Systems instructors in creating an Applied Data Analytics program.

Cheryl has 35 plus years in the corporate world. Prior to joining WCC, she was the owner of her own consultancy business working with mid-size businesses on strategy, organizational design, and communication. Cheryl received her B.S. in Marketing and Economics from Ohio State University, her MBA from Pepperdine University, and her Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University.

JAMES PARKER, Parker Parker Design Photography
“Time Management and Strategy”

James Parker has always been fascinated by the architectural detritus and geologic history of the West. As an explorer, he uses his lens and camera to examine interesting manmade and natural subjects. As an artist, he’s interested in the effects of the passage of time on a human scale. His most recent work, “Stories Told in Things Left Behind,” and “DakotaMontana” focuses on interior spaces and prairie landscapes in color, and monochromatic palettes.

Quirky juxtapositions & peaceful grasslands highlight Parker’s images. Whether photographing patterns of wind and water in a desert canyon, or focusing on the interior textures of a faded ranch, the photographer’s visual commentary echoes the politics, history and cultures that collided in America’s Westward expansion. Parker also shoots closer to home, where currently he is developing a series of photographs portraying his home state of Michigan.

Using small format cameras to photograph his subjects, Parker handles his own edition printing, using Epson printers & fine art papers. He mats and frames his work personally, using reclaimed materials, conservation glass and archival mats. All of his prints are signed & numbered.

Parker has won numerous awards in the eleven years he’s been actively participating in art fairs, including two awards at Winter Park; Best in Show at Ann Arbor, State Street; and many other national festivals. He lives in Rochester Hills, with his wife, Karyn Kozo. You can see more of his work at http://photo.parkerparker.info

BRITTANY BARNHART, Just Curious Co.
“Marketing, Branding and Websites”

Brittany Barnhart attended Washtenaw Community College from 2011-2013, and after graduating worked at a local print shop for two years. When the two-year mark was approaching, she decided that being a prepress technician was not the right fit, and created her own business that had been her dream for years. Brittany created Just Curious LLC, an illustration & design studio based in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She has worked to build her business from the ground up (through design, website, social media presence, networking, etc.) to acquire clients. Since then, she’s designed the 2015 Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Poster, has worked with small businesses to create unique branding, custom illustrations, and more. Find her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook: @JustCuriousCo or email her at: [email protected].

TAMARA MORRIS, Silver Thumb Photography
“Marketing, Branding and Websites”

Tamara Morris is the founder and co-owner (along with her husband, Steve) of Silver Thumb Photography. This is her 10th year of photographing weddings and 8th year of running a successful photography business. Tamara received her Associate in Photographic Technology from WCC in ’08. She is a wife, mother, cancer survivor, health foodie and lover of all things authentic and beautiful.

STEVE RICH, Phototonic Legal PLLC
“Pricing, Proposals, Contracts and Copyrights”

Steve Rich has practiced law in Massachusetts since 1997 and in Michigan since 2004. He draws upon experience as a musician, arts representative, laser lightshow technician, software product manager, housing advisor and poverty law advocate. In 2012 Steve founded Photonic Legal® PLLC, a specialized firm serving creative and innovative clients, named to evoke inspiration and luminous art. Early this year he launched Sambatyon Arts Expeditions, a non for profit enterprise supporting transcendent performing artists. Steve enjoys professional affiliations with Dawid & Gatti, PLLC in Ann Arbor and Cannabis Counsel, PLC in Detroit.

BEN WEATHERSTON, Photographer
“Pricing, Proposals, Contracts and Copyrights”

Ben is a commercial and editorial photographer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He’s also the photographer and photo editor of The Ann magazine. Ben works for businesses and sees his job as communicating in creative ways what they do, and how they do it. He’s been shooting professionally since 1997 and spent 9 years in the marketing department of a large health system. Ben’s downtown studio is where he meets with clients and does his portrait and product work, while at least half of what he does is on location. He also regularly does public speaking engagements and teaching, both privately and in workshop formats.

DR. KIM HURNS, Dean, WCC Business and Computer Technologies
“Sales and Getting Leads”

Dr. Kimberly M. Hurns is the Dean of the Business and Computer Technologies Division at Washtenaw Community College (WCC). She taught in the business department for over 13 years teaching general business, management and marketing courses. Her work at WCC has included work in student retention, faculty professional development and entrepreneurship.

Prior to Hurns’ career change to education, she worked in the technology industry in sales, marketing and project management positions. Hurns has been a part of multiple entrepreneurial endeavors including social media consulting and part ownership of a micro-blog site. She was instrumental in the development of WCC’s Entrepreneurship Center as part of the college’s strategic plan.

Kimberly earned a BBA in Marketing from Eastern Michigan University and an MBA from Loyola University in Marketing and Strategic Information Systems. She received her Doctorate in Management and Executive Leadership from Walsh College.

JAKOB SKOGHEIM, Jakob Skogheim Photography
“Sales and Getting Leads”

Jakob Skogheim is a still photographer and filmmaker with a passion for the great outdoors and showing others the natural beauty of our world. He has over 10 years of experience as a visual artist, and brings a great level of attention to detail and storytelling to every project he works on. He has traveled on assignment across the globe and hopes to continue the adventure through photography and film making projects. He is also an entrepreneur and has recently launched a marketing and design firm serving clients ranging from local businesses to large organizations.

MILLIE CHU, Business Counselor, Small Business Development Center
“Networking and Mentorship”

Millie works as a Business Counselor at the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and is a part-time Business Instructor at Washtenaw Community College. She serves on the Board of Directors and Co-Chair of Marketing for the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw, on the Public Policy Committee for the A2Y Chamber of Commerce, and is the Founder and Executive Director for A2 LEAP. Amongst her many speaking engagements, Millie has presented on entrepreneurship, diversity, education, leadership and business formation. She has coached and taught over a thousand entrepreneurs, executives, and business students throughout her career.

KORY SCHEIBER, Intake Consultant, Small Business Development Center

Kory Scheiber is currently the Intake Consultant for the Michigan Small Business Development Center. Kory works with all types of clients, through a spectrum of industries, to help them plan, and grow, their businesses. Recently, he was the Business Development Representative for the Detroit Micro-enterprise Fund Corporation where he maintained relationships with the local community development corporations, local businesses, and training programs. He took applicants through the loan process from business planning through launch and growth. He has worked in Retail as a Certified Lawn and Garden Specialist, and in Design and Build to Order Manufacturing where he served in many capacities. He has been teaching entrepreneurship with The Business Side of Youth for over seven years.

STEVE PEPPLE, Photographer and Assignment Editor, Detroit Free Press

Steve Pepple is an enterprise and general news assignment editor at the Detroit Free Press. He has a long background in journalism as an editor, reporter and photographer. Besides the Free Press, he has worked at AnnArbor.com, Ann Arbor News and the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Herald-Palladium. In addition, Steve owns his own wedding and portrait photography business. His photos have appeared in newspapers, magazines and hundreds of advertisements both online and in print. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and has taken additional photography and design courses at Washtenaw Community College and San Francisco State University. He lives in Detroit.