Out of Chicago LIVE! 2026

An Online, Global Photography Conference

February 6-8, 2026

What is Out of Chicago LIVE!?

Out of Chicago LIVE! is a three-day, online photography conference designed for photographers who want more than one-way presentations.

Across February 6–8, you’ll choose from 100+ live sessions led by working photographers, including presentations, image reviews, portfolio conversations, live demonstrations, post-processing sessions, photo challenges, and informal social gatherings.

LIVE! is interactive by design. You can submit images, ask questions, join discussions, or simply listen and learn. Whether you attend a handful of sessions or immerse yourself for the entire weekend, you decide how deep you want to go.

LIVE! 2026 Session Guide

Right click the button to download the Session Guide pdf to your computer. The session guide is designed to be viewed in Two Page mode.

INSTRUCTORS

David Akoubian

Tony Baldasaro

Dan Ballard

John Barclay

Greg Benz

Gabriel Biderman

Beth Buelow

David Cobb

Tim Cooper

Dusty Doddridge

Chrissy Donadi

Rad Drew

Albert Dros

David Duchens

Donna Eaton

Franka Gabler

Francesco Gola

Isaac Grant

Viktoria Haack

Ray Hennessy

Mary Jo Hoffman

Michael Hollender

Kai Hornung

Huibo Hou

Caroline Jensen

Stephanie Johnson

Solli Kanani

Chuck Kimmerle

John Kosmopoulos

Benjamin Maze

Angie McMonigal

Colleen Miniuk

Anna Morgan

Charles Needle

Kristi Odom

Nick Page

Joseph Rossbach

Kristen Ryan

Alan Shapiro

Nick Sinnott

Michele Sons

Talor Stone

Matt Suess

Tony Sweet

Emilie Talpin

Sharon Tenenbaum

Cole Thompson

Karen Waller

Dawn Wilson

Beth Young

What a wonderful group of presenters on a wide and varied selection of topics. Reading through the list and synopses was like opening a box of chocolates. So many choices and a whole year to watch and revisit presentations and post processing sessions. Presenters were knowledgeable and inspiring. Thanks to all involved in organizing and bringing this conference to fruition.

– Susan

Highlights

Sessions for Every Style of Learning

With 100+ live sessions to choose from across a wide range of photography topics, you can shape your own LIVE! experience. LIVE! includes many attendee-favorite session formats from past years, such as presentations, post-processing help sessions, image reviews, shooting demonstrations, panel discussions, and Zoom Parties.

New for 2026 are Inside the Mind: A Portfolio Conversation and Show and Tell sessions, adding fresh ways to explore creative process and personal approach. All sessions are recorded exclusively for Out of Chicago LIVE! attendees to watch for 12 months.

50+ World-Class Photographers

Learn from a diverse lineup of working photographers across genres including landscape, wildlife, nature, travel, street, architecture, creative, and post-processing. In addition to favorite returning instructors, LIVE! 2026 welcomes new voices who bring fresh perspectives, approaches, and creative insight, including Beth Buelow, Isaac Grant, Chuck Kimmerle, Benjamin Maze, Kristi Odom, Dawn Wilson, and Ray Hennessy.

Attendee Takeover

The Attendee Takeover is a LIVE! tradition that celebrates the creativity within the community. Any registered attendee may submit an idea and volunteer to present a short, fast-paced talk sharing a technique, project, or meaningful “aha” moment from their photographic journey, offering inspiration and insight from peers.

B&H Photo Video

B&H Photo Video brings industry-leading expertise to LIVE!, offering deep knowledge across photography genres, insight into gear and tools, and access to special conference offers. Their presence gives attendees a trusted resource for understanding equipment choices that support creative and technical growth.

Time to Connect

LIVE! is designed to be social as well as educational. Organized social hours, Zoom Parties, and community spaces create opportunities to relax, share images, ask questions, and connect with instructors and fellow attendees in a more informal setting.

Such a joy to be immersed in photography over three days! Wonderful presenters with amazing imagery. I loved the Chat room and Q/A features. They really contributed to the participatory nature of the conference. And it is great to know that the recordings are accessible so that I can look at the sessions that I didn't attend.

– Felicity

Conference Price

$300

What You Get with LIVE!
100+ live photography sessions across three days
One full year of access to every recording
Presentations, Image reviews, post-processing sessions, and more
Learn from a diverse lineup of instructors and voices
Attend live or watch on your own schedule

I have been attending Out of Chicago LIVE! since it's first year and they just keep getting better and better each year. This group has figured out a way to make you feel like you are making friends online during this conference. The presenters are always top notch and go above and beyond. There is so much useful information, that it's a good thing you have a year to watch all of the sessions which are always recorded. Definitely worth the money.

– Lisa

Frequently Asked Questions