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August 15th, 2021 | #BeAlphaLive

Thanks for joining us at #BeAlphaLive!

Replays of our best sessions will be posted here on AlphaUniverse.com over the next few days and weeks.

For more online learning opportunities check out the upcoming Alpha Female+ Workshops and on-demand 1-on-1 training with Sony Artisans of Imagery at Alpha Sessions.

There's even more in our Behind the Shot and What's In My Bag series!

Subscribe and listen to the Alpha Universe Podcast Network for exclusive interviews with Sony insiders and photographers from all disciplines and genres.

Workshops
All Workshops are open attendance - once you register for the event no additional pre-workshop registration is required.
  • HOW TO START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL (INTERMEDIATE)

    Presented By: Miguel Quiles

    With professional level gear becoming easier to use and access, there’s never been a more exciting time to jump into the world of content creation! In this course Sony Artisan and YouTuber Miguel Quiles will share the exact process he’s used to grow his audience to over 100,000 subscribers. You’ll learn everything from the gear he uses, settings, and approach that you can use to get started right away and grow your own audience.

  • The Voyage To Save The World

    Presented By: Cristina Mittermeier

    Artisan of Imagery and conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier will talk about her four-year global conservation expedition aboard the SeaLegacy 1, which is being documented in the series SeaLegacy | The Voyage. She will also offer up insights on the Sony Alpha Female+ program.

  • The Vlogging Gear To Pack & Its Impact

    Presented By: Pierre T. Lambert

    Pierre T. Lambert, shares what gear to pack to create vlogs effortlessly and maximise your creativity. What camera and lens should you use? For what purpose and do you really need a microphone for your videos?

  • The Advantages Of Working With A Compact Camera System

    Presented By: Ira Block

    Are you trying to travel light and be unobtrusive in your photography? Join Sony Artisan and National Geographic photographer Ira Block to learn about how he uses the new Sony compact lenses in his travel and documentary work. The new 24mm, 40mm and 50mm lenses are small, fast and really sharp - they are great new tools in your lens line up and they take up very little room.  And as Ira has found, they are  fantastic in combination with theSony Alpha 7C.

  • Wedding Photography With The 50mm And The Magic Of The 50mm F1.2 GM

    Presented By: Jose Villa

    Join Sony Artisan Jose Villa as he breaks down all the parts of a wedding where he reaches for the 50mm lens. Along the way you’ll learn why it’s a go-to lens for wedding photography, and get some insight with some never-before-seen images into just how special the 50mm GM is.

  • Tools Of The Trade: Wide-angle Shooting For Astro Landscapes

    Presented By: Rachel Jones Ross

    In this class, Sony Alpha Collective member Rachel Jones Ross shares her approach to photographing night skies over grand landscapes, including tips and tricks for shooting in any low-light situation.

  • The Impact Of Lenses On Street Photography

    Presented By: Pierre T. Lambert

    Pierre T. Lambert will share how lenses impact your street photography. He will cover which focal length to use for what purpose, what impact each has on the art and which lenses he chooses as his favorites.

  • Vlogging 101 With The Sony ZV-E10

    Presented By: Sidney Diongzon

    Vlogging is the best way to capture the behind-the-scenes of your life, but how exactly do you do it? From planning to filming to editing, YouTube Content Creator Sidney Diongzon is going to cover the basics and best practices of vlogging your life.

  • Elevating My Creativity With The Xperia 1 III: Alaska Edition

    Presented By: Colby Brown

    Join Colby Brown as he walks you through some of his favorite features found in the latest Xperia phone that allowed him to open up new creative doors and opportunities as it integrated with his current gear setup as a Sony Alpha shooter.

  • Landscape Photography With The Xperia 1 III

    Presented By: Mahesh Thapa

    Come Join Mahesh Thapa and learn how to capture beautiful landscapes using the Sony Xperia 1 III. In addition to fundamental techniques, the class will also focus on supplementary equipment such as filters, tripods and other key accessories.

  • Trading Spaces: From Wildlife to Weddings

    Presented By: Jermaine Horton & Colby Brown

    Join Sony Artisans Jermaine Horton & Colby Brown in a live discussion about their latest video series where they took turns swapping photography roles. With Jermaine taking his first stab at wildlife photography in a remote part of Alaska and Colby stepping far outside his comfort zone photographing models in Las Vegas, there are plenty of stories to tell, lessons to share and laughs to be had.

  • YouTube Panel – What Makes A Great Vlog?

    Panel: Sidney Diongzon, Terry Warfield, and Kristen Sarah and Siya Zarrabi of Hopscotch The Globe

    Our vlogging experts will share all things vlogging, including their top skills for vloggers, what it takes to run a successful vlog, and how you can make the most of vlogging opportunities. 

  • The Making Of Flight Of The Bumblebees - An Alpha Female+ Grant Project

    Presented By: Kristin Atwood

    See how Chef and Emmy nominated filmmaker, Kristin Atwood created her five-part video cooking series inspired by the beauty and magic of bumblebees in spring and summer. If you’re thinking about applying for an Alpha Female+ grant, this is a great opportunity to ask questions of a grant winner and to go behind the scenes and see how a project came to life. 

  • Video Creation For TikTok

    Presented By: Victoria Yore, @followmeaway

    See how to succeed on a video platform when you are used to creating images! Victoria has over 1 million followers on Tiktok and previously knew nothing about video creation so she has been in your shoes before. She will share insider tips and tricks on using Tiktok to your advantage as a photographer, specific video content ideas, editing tips and more. This is a great chance to ask questions and go behind the scenes on Tiktok!

  • Art Of Motion

    Presented By: Monica Sigmon

    From inspiration to implementation, discover the fundamentals of bringing a successful creative project to life as Monica shares a behind-the-scenes look at her most recent self-assignment: Art of Motion. Learn how different decisions work together to shape your end result, including how one simple change in Monica’s camera bag changed the vision for her project entirely.

  • 10 Tips And Tricks For Shooting Commercial Video

    Presented By: Elizabeth Cayouette

    Sony Alpha Female+ grant winner Elizabeth Cayouette will guide you through some of her top practical tips for shooting commercial video. She’ll share her experience as lead videographer & editor for Aerie by American Eagle and show you how to make impactful videos.

  • Storytelling For Social Good

    Presented By: Jake Viramontez

    In this session, Jake Viramontez shares his 15 years of experience telling stories for social good. A few topics he will cover range from creating cinematic content as a one-man band, making the journey from videographer to filmmaker, prioritizing substance over style, and how to create films that move to people to action.

  • Two Filmmakers, Two Coasts, One Lens

    Presented By: Ben Moon & David McLain

    Join Ben Moon and David McLain in a live discussion about the short films they shot entirely on the 35mm GM near their homes in Oregon and Maine. David and Ben share the films, discuss their creative process, challenges, and the joys of doing more with less.

  • Create Action Feature

    Presented By: Jake Viramontez, Youth Beat

    Learn more about the mission to Create Action.

HOW TO START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL (INTERMEDIATE)

Presented By: Miguel Quiles

With professional level gear becoming easier to use and access, there’s never been a more exciting time to jump into the world of content creation! In this course Sony Artisan and YouTuber Miguel Quiles will share the exact process he’s used to grow his audience to over 100,000 subscribers. You’ll learn everything from the gear he uses, settings, and approach that you can use to get started right away and grow your own audience.

The Voyage To Save The World

Presented By: Cristina Mittermeier

Artisan of Imagery and conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier will talk about her four-year global conservation expedition aboard the SeaLegacy 1, which is being documented in the series SeaLegacy | The Voyage. She will also offer up insights on the Sony Alpha Female+ program.

The Vlogging Gear To Pack & Its Impact

Presented By: Pierre T. Lambert

Pierre T. Lambert, shares what gear to pack to create vlogs effortlessly and maximise your creativity. What camera and lens should you use? For what purpose and do you really need a microphone for your videos?

The Advantages Of Working With A Compact Camera System

Presented By: Ira Block

Are you trying to travel light and be unobtrusive in your photography? Join Sony Artisan and National Geographic photographer Ira Block to learn about how he uses the new Sony compact lenses in his travel and documentary work. The new 24mm, 40mm and 50mm lenses are small, fast and really sharp - they are great new tools in your lens line up and they take up very little room.  And as Ira has found, they are  fantastic in combination with theSony Alpha 7C.

Wedding Photography With The 50mm And The Magic Of The 50mm F1.2 GM

Presented By: Jose Villa

Join Sony Artisan Jose Villa as he breaks down all the parts of a wedding where he reaches for the 50mm lens. Along the way you’ll learn why it’s a go-to lens for wedding photography, and get some insight with some never-before-seen images into just how special the 50mm GM is.

Tools Of The Trade: Wide-angle Shooting For Astro Landscapes

Presented By: Rachel Jones Ross

In this class, Sony Alpha Collective member Rachel Jones Ross shares her approach to photographing night skies over grand landscapes, including tips and tricks for shooting in any low-light situation.

The Impact Of Lenses On Street Photography

Presented By: Pierre T. Lambert

Pierre T. Lambert will share how lenses impact your street photography. He will cover which focal length to use for what purpose, what impact each has on the art and which lenses he chooses as his favorites.

Vlogging 101 With The Sony ZV-E10

Presented By: Sidney Diongzon

Vlogging is the best way to capture the behind-the-scenes of your life, but how exactly do you do it? From planning to filming to editing, YouTube Content Creator Sidney Diongzon is going to cover the basics and best practices of vlogging your life.

Elevating My Creativity With The Xperia 1 III: Alaska Edition

Presented By: Colby Brown

Join Colby Brown as he walks you through some of his favorite features found in the latest Xperia phone that allowed him to open up new creative doors and opportunities as it integrated with his current gear setup as a Sony Alpha shooter.

Landscape Photography With The Xperia 1 III

Presented By: Mahesh Thapa

Come Join Mahesh Thapa and learn how to capture beautiful landscapes using the Sony Xperia 1 III. In addition to fundamental techniques, the class will also focus on supplementary equipment such as filters, tripods and other key accessories.

Trading Spaces: From Wildlife to Weddings

Presented By: Jermaine Horton & Colby Brown

Join Sony Artisans Jermaine Horton & Colby Brown in a live discussion about their latest video series where they took turns swapping photography roles. With Jermaine taking his first stab at wildlife photography in a remote part of Alaska and Colby stepping far outside his comfort zone photographing models in Las Vegas, there are plenty of stories to tell, lessons to share and laughs to be had.

YouTube Panel – What Makes A Great Vlog?

Panel: Sidney Diongzon, Terry Warfield, and Kristen Sarah and Siya Zarrabi of Hopscotch The Globe

Our vlogging experts will share all things vlogging, including their top skills for vloggers, what it takes to run a successful vlog, and how you can make the most of vlogging opportunities. 

The Making Of Flight Of The Bumblebees - An Alpha Female+ Grant Project

Presented By: Kristin Atwood

See how Chef and Emmy nominated filmmaker, Kristin Atwood created her five-part video cooking series inspired by the beauty and magic of bumblebees in spring and summer. If you’re thinking about applying for an Alpha Female+ grant, this is a great opportunity to ask questions of a grant winner and to go behind the scenes and see how a project came to life. 

Video Creation For TikTok

Presented By: Victoria Yore, @followmeaway

See how to succeed on a video platform when you are used to creating images! Victoria has over 1 million followers on Tiktok and previously knew nothing about video creation so she has been in your shoes before. She will share insider tips and tricks on using Tiktok to your advantage as a photographer, specific video content ideas, editing tips and more. This is a great chance to ask questions and go behind the scenes on Tiktok!

Art Of Motion

Presented By: Monica Sigmon

From inspiration to implementation, discover the fundamentals of bringing a successful creative project to life as Monica shares a behind-the-scenes look at her most recent self-assignment: Art of Motion. Learn how different decisions work together to shape your end result, including how one simple change in Monica’s camera bag changed the vision for her project entirely.

10 Tips And Tricks For Shooting Commercial Video

Presented By: Elizabeth Cayouette

Sony Alpha Female+ grant winner Elizabeth Cayouette will guide you through some of her top practical tips for shooting commercial video. She’ll share her experience as lead videographer & editor for Aerie by American Eagle and show you how to make impactful videos.

Storytelling For Social Good

Presented By: Jake Viramontez

In this session, Jake Viramontez shares his 15 years of experience telling stories for social good. A few topics he will cover range from creating cinematic content as a one-man band, making the journey from videographer to filmmaker, prioritizing substance over style, and how to create films that move to people to action.

Two Filmmakers, Two Coasts, One Lens

Presented By: Ben Moon & David McLain

Join Ben Moon and David McLain in a live discussion about the short films they shot entirely on the 35mm GM near their homes in Oregon and Maine. David and Ben share the films, discuss their creative process, challenges, and the joys of doing more with less.

Create Action Feature

Presented By: Jake Viramontez, Youth Beat

Learn more about the mission to Create Action.

Presenters
portrait of Kristin Atwood
Kristin Atwood
Filmmaker, Alpha Female+ Grant Winner
portrait of Ira Block
Ira Block
Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Colby Brown
Colby Brown
Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Elizabeth Cayouette
Elizabeth Cayouette
Videographer, Alpha Female+ Grant Winner
portrait of Andrew Geraci
Andrew Geraci
Filmmaker, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Jessica Hirsch
Jessica Hirsch
Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective
portrait of Jermaine Horton
Jermaine Horton
Wedding Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Steven Irby
Steven Irby
Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective
portrait of David McLain
David McLain
Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Cristina Mittermeier
Cristina Mittermeier
Conservation Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Ben Moon
Ben Moon
Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Miguel Quiles
Miguel Quiles
Portrait Photographer & YouTube Personality, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Rachel Jones Ross
Rachel Jones Ross
Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective
portrait of Monica Sigmon
Monica Sigmon
Portrait Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Brian Smith
Brian Smith
Portrait Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Mahesh Thapa
Mahesh Thapa
Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective
portrait of Jose Villa
Jose Villa
Fine Art Wedding Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
portrait of Victoria Yore
Victoria Yore
Traveler, Digital Influencer & Writer
kando speaker Kristin Atwood
Kristin Atwood

Filmmaker, Alpha Female+ Grant Winner

kando speaker Ira Block
Ira Block

Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Colby Brown
Colby Brown

Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Elizabeth Cayouette
Elizabeth Cayouette

Videographer, Alpha Female+ Grant Winner

kando speaker Andrew Geraci
Andrew Geraci

Filmmaker, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Jessica Hirsch
Jessica Hirsch

Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective

kando speaker Jermaine Horton
Jermaine Horton

Wedding Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Steven Irby
Steven Irby

Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective

kando speaker David McLain
David McLain

Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Cristina Mittermeier
Cristina Mittermeier

Conservation Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Ben Moon
Ben Moon

Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Miguel Quiles
Miguel Quiles

Portrait Photographer & YouTube Personality, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Rachel Jones Ross
Rachel Jones Ross

Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective

kando speaker Monica Sigmon
Monica Sigmon

Portrait Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Brian Smith
Brian Smith

Portrait Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Mahesh Thapa
Mahesh Thapa

Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective

kando speaker Jose Villa
Jose Villa

Fine Art Wedding Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery

kando speaker Victoria Yore
Victoria Yore

Traveler, Digital Influencer & Writer

Live Shoots
All #BeAlpha Live Live Shoots are open attendance - once you register for the event no additional pre-workshop registration is required.
  • Portrait Lighting

    Presented By: Brian Smith

    Sony Artisan Brian Smith will show you quick and simple ways to create beautiful light to showcase your subject and make your portraits stand out.

  • A Modern Twist On The Classics

    Presented By: Monica Sigmon

    Watch as Sony Artisan Monica Sigmon brings a fresh perspective to classical portraiture. She’ll share her lighting, posing, and thought process behind creating iconic wall art for her clients that’s both classic and current.

  • Documenting Everyday Heroes With Steve "Sweatpants" Irby

    Presented By: Steven Irby

    From his personal experience, being able to adapt to multiple situations as a photographer opens up so many lanes of the creative process. With this session, Steve will walk through some of his techniques for documenting everyday people that do extraordinary things, with the intention of having every person feel empowered and not used. 

  • Tips, Tricks & Tools For Capturing All Your Cheat Day Worthy Content

    Presented By: Jessica Hirsch

    Join Sony Alpha Collective member and founder of Cheat Day Eats Jessica Hirsch where she will walk through her process on how she captures food photos and videos that will grab attention. She will discuss her favorite camera, lenses and settings, as well as her tips and tricks for content creation. 

  • Creating Vivid Lighting Scenes For Photo/Video With Constant Lighting

    Presented By: Andrew Geraci

    Join Drew Geraci in a session geared toward shooters who are filming for interviews, YouTube channels, video portraits and headshots from their home or small office studios. 

How To Step-Up Your Lighting Game

Presented By: Scott Robert Lim

Master your studio lighting skills. Join us for a live demonstration as Sony Artisan, Scott Robert Lim shares his secrets on how to create professional lighting quickly and easily. Watch live, as he starts with one light and adds multiple lights for different looks and effects. See how different skin tones can affect lighting setups. Get ready for a fun, energetic, styled, and interactive session. All your photography questions are welcome regarding; lighting, posing, composition, gear, etc. Sign up now for this informative and inspiring workshop with a true master of light.

Portrait Lighting

Presented By: Brian Smith

Sony Artisan Brian Smith will show you quick and simple ways to create beautiful light to showcase your subject and make your portraits stand out.

Live Music Photography

Presented By: Greg Noire

Greg Noire travels the continent pursuing his passion for live music and photography. In this live shoot, Greg takes us into the studio to demonstrate his techniques for capturing the sounds and energy of a musical performance in the pixels of a photo frame.

How To Shoot Model Tests Like A Pro

Presented By: Anita Sadowska

Anita Sadowska is a fashion photographer currently based in London, but traveling between Bali and Europe. Anita will share her technical knowledge and experiences of working in the fashion industry for over ten years.

A Modern Twist On The Classics

Presented By: Monica Sigmon

Watch as Sony Artisan Monica Sigmon brings a fresh perspective to classical portraiture. She’ll share her lighting, posing, and thought process behind creating iconic wall art for her clients that’s both classic and current.

Puppies & Pixels

Presented By: Jeremy Cohen

Tune in to watch Alpha Imaging Collective member Jeremy Cohen take portraits of puppies in a studio. He will be shooting with a simple lighting setup on the new Sony a7IV. Woof!

Documenting Everyday Heroes With Steve "Sweatpants" Irby

Presented By: Steven Irby

From his personal experience, being able to adapt to multiple situations as a photographer opens up so many lanes of the creative process. With this session, Steve will walk through some of his techniques for documenting everyday people that do extraordinary things, with the intention of having every person feel empowered and not used. 

Tips, Tricks & Tools For Capturing All Your Cheat Day Worthy Content

Presented By: Jessica Hirsch

Join Sony Alpha Collective member and founder of Cheat Day Eats Jessica Hirsch where she will walk through her process on how she captures food photos and videos that will grab attention. She will discuss her favorite camera, lenses and settings, as well as her tips and tricks for content creation. 

Creating Vivid Lighting Scenes For Photo/Video With Constant Lighting

Presented By: Andrew Geraci

Join Drew Geraci in a session geared toward shooters who are filming for interviews, YouTube channels, video portraits and headshots from their home or small office studios.