HomePhotoConnect Annual

2026 PhotoConnect Annual Convention

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Get Your Polly Frye Drawing Tickets Here!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, February 27th
9:00 am – 5:00 pm | Pre-Con with Shannon Squires-Toews $ LEARN MORE - Fine Art Children’s Portraits: From Capture to Creation REGISTER NOW
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Dinner on your Own
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm | Rachael Boer - Photography Business Accelerator: Marketing & Sales Strategies That Work
9:00 pm – 12:00 am | Hospitality

Saturday, February 28th

9:30 am – 12:30 pm |Alison Carlino - Sportraits

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch on your own or onsite Option for $

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm | Past President’s Luncheon (guests $) in Tavern

2:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Kenny Richard - Creating the Perfect Commercial Client Experience

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Member Orientation

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm |TRADE SHOW

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner on your Own

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner Reception before the Party $

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm | Party

11:00 pm – 12:00 am | Hospitality

Sunday, March 1st

9:00 am – 12:00 pm | Angela Hughes - Failing Your Way To Success

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch on your own or onsite Option for $

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | CPP Luncheon $ in Tavern

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | PPA President, Makayla Jade Harris - Attracting & Converting High-Paying Clients: Stand Out, Book Big, Sell More

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Marketing & Sales Round Table

7:00 pm | Group Portrait

7:30pm – 10:30 pm | Dinner, Awards Banquet and Presentations $

10:30 pm – 12:00 am | Hospitality

Monday, March 2nd

9:00 am – 12:00 pm | Kevin Lamarque - The White House and Beyond...
12:00 pm | Prize Drawings

SPEAKER PROGRAMS & BIOS

Friday Pre-Con Class ($) 9am-5pm

Shannon Squires-Toews

Program Title:

Fine Art Children’s Portraits: From Capture to Creation

Friday 6:30-9pm

Rachael Boer

Program Title:

Photography Business Accelerator: Marketing & Sales Strategies That Work

Saturday 9:30am-12:30pm

Alison Carlino

Program Title:

Sportraits

Saturday 2-4:30pm

Kenny Richard

Program Title:

Creating the Perfect Commercial Client Experience

Sunday 9am-12pm

Angela Hughes

Program Title:

Failing Your Way To Success

Sunday Afternoon Speaker

Makayla Jade Harris

Program Title:

Attracting & Converting High-Paying Clients: Stand Out, Book Big, Sell More

Monday 9am-12pm

Kevin Lamarque

Program Title:

The White House and Beyond...

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration is NOW Open

Please Note - when you register you cannot go back and edit or add to your registration please email andee@reallifeevents.net to make any changes. Thank you for understanding!

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM

VPPA room block expires Friday 2/13/2026

Friday, February 27 - Monday, March 2, 2026

Virginia Crossings Resort & Conference

1000 Virginia Center Pkwy, Glen Allen, VA 23059

BOOK TODAY!!!!

NOTE : The link defaults to arrival Friday 2/27. If you are arriving Thursday night, you will need to adjust the calendar date at the top.

If you have any issues contact Mary Fisk-Taylor (mary@hayesandfisk.com)

MEALS

What you need to know!!

Order your Meals BEFORE 2/9/2026

We have a STRICT deadline with the Hotel!

Saturday and Sunday Hot Buffet Lunch - $32
Plenty of options for every taste, and yes there are options for any dietary needs.
**Past President Lunch - Saturday (You can designate Past President during checkout) (DO NOT ADD this to your checkout, answering the question at checkout will qualify you for lunch)
**CPP Lunch - Sunday (Order your lunch and the you can designate CPP during checkout)

Saturday PreParty Dinner - $32
Join us for a relaxed dinner before the party gets rolling!

Sunday Banquet meal choices - $64
A. Mushroom Ravioli, Herbed Cream - Vegetarian
B. Chicken Piccata
C. Gluten Free Vegetarian Option
D. Gluten Free Chicken Option

Please email Andee if you need help adjusting your registration: (andee@reallifeevents.net)
1. If you have registered and need to add a meal option
Or
2. You have a guest for a MEAL only, they will not be attending education classes (we have to register them different, so they are not charged the event fee)
Or anything else you can think of!

Unfortunately we cannot go in and edit our own registrations once placed.

EDUCATION AWARDS AND DRAWINGS

Memorial Education Award Over 3 Years
Memorial Education Award Under 3 Years
Memorial Education Award
Memorial Education Award Polly Frye
Bruce Hobbs Education Award

Convention Grand Prize

Polly Frye 50/50 Drawing

CPP 50/50 Drawing

Memorial Education Awards

VPPA Education Awards must be used at PPA-accredited courses or approved by the Board of Directors. (Exception: Bruce Hobbs Education Award)
Active and Life Members of VPPA are eligible.
In all cases, the recipient has EIGHTEEN MONTHS from the announcement date to use the award, but must inform the Executive Administrator of the intended course within SIX months.
Education Award recipients must be VPPA members in good standing at the time of use. Further, within 30 days of usage, the scholarship recipient is encouraged to send a brief note to the Board describing how they used the award and what it will mean to their business or personal growth.

Memorial Award Over 3 Years Membership

Each year, application forms are distributed by email and are available at the vppa.org website to Active and Life members who have been members of the Association for three or more years.
The completed applications are then submitted to the Executive Administrator for consideration and selection. The Executive Administrator is the chair and chooses two members in good standing (usually Past Presidents) to serve on the committee.
The recipient is announced at the Annual Awards Banquet.

Memorial Education Award Over 3 - 2026

Memorial Award All Members

This scholarship is drawn at the Annual Awards Banquet from a pool of all Active members who have attended the convention.
The recipient is announced at the Annual Awards Banquet.
Members must be Pre-registered for Convention and be in Convention attendance to be eligible.
Recipient does not need to be present at Banquet to win.

Memorial Award Under 3 Year Membership

This scholarship is drawn at the Annual Awards Banquet from a pool of all Active members who have less than three years of tenure and have attended the annual convention.
The recipient is announced at the Annual Awards Banquet.
Members must be Pre-registered for Convention and be in Convention attendance to be eligible.
Recipient does not need to be present at Banquet to win.

Memorial Education Award Polly Frye

The Polly Frye Scholarship honors Polly Frye and is drawn from a pool of all Active and Life members who have attended the annual convention.
Members must be Pre-registered for Convention and be in Convention attendance to be eligible.
The winner is drawn on the last day of the convention.

Memorial Education Award Bruce Hobbs

Members must be Pre-registered for Convention and be in attendance to be eligible.
Members may only receive the Bruce Hobbs Award once.

50/50 Drawings

CPP 50/50 Annual Drawing

The annual CPP 50/50 drawing is open to all current Certified Professional Photographers.
50/50 tickets are sold to CPPs, and a drawing is held at the yearly CPP Luncheon.
You do not have to be present to win.

Get your CPP tickets here!

The Annual Polly Frye 50/50 drawing is open to all VPPA members.
50/50 tickets are sold, and a drawing is held on the last day of the annual convention.
You do not have to be present to win.

Grab your tickets here!!

Convention Grand Prize

All Members Pre-Registered and in attendance will be entered into the drawing.
MUST be present to WIN!
Winner will be drawn at the conclusion of PhotoConnect.

HOSPITALITY

"What happens in Hospitality STAYS in Hospitality!!
The party don't stop!
Join us for snack and fellowship!
Friday 9pm-12am
Saturday 11pm-12am
Sunday 10:30pm-12am

Be on the lookout for more information from David Foltz on what items are needed!