Explore the
Universe

Step 1 of 2

Create your profile to get all your Alpha Program notifications in one convenient location.

The Basics

Must contain at least 8 characters, an uppercase character, a lowercase character, a number and a symbol.
By joining the Alpha Universe community, you agree to the Terms and the Sony Electronics Inc. Privacy Policy and certify that you are a U.S. resident. (CA Privacy Notice).
Next

Personalize Your Profile

Step 2 of 2

Create your profile to get all your Alpha Program notifications in one convenient location.

Your Specialty *

(Select All That Apply)


I am a... *

(Select All That Apply)


(Optional)


What kind of camera(s) do you shoot with? *

(Select All That Apply)

Aug. 15-16, 2020

#SonyKandoEverywhere

August 15-16, 2020

#SonyKandoEverywhere

Our Sincere Thanks...

In this challenging time, so many of us have yearned for the connection and community of Kando. Making the decision to make the event virtual was a difficult one, and with it came new challenges for us. Would the technology work? How do we bring the unique sense of togetherness to a virtual space? Could we still have an event that engages while educating?

The result for all of us at Sony Alpha has been simply, wonderfully, amazing.

To all of our instructors, hosts, and guests - thank you for your patience and participation to make sure the technology could work.

To all of our sponsors and participants in the Expo - thank you for your continued support, and for bringing so much great programming and access to Kando. Each of you found creative ways to be engaged with our virtual community.

Lastly, but always most importantly, we thank all of YOU who spent your weekend (or part of it) with us. The response to the event was incredible, and it was such a joy that photographers, filmmakers, and creators from around the world could join us. Community has always been at the core of Kando; watching all of the networking, sharing, and communication in the online chats brought the fond memories of past Kando Trips around campfires and dinner tables. We know there were technical challenges for some of you, and for that we commit to doing better.

In the coming days and weeks we will be presenting replays and highlights of Kando Everywhere sessions here on Alpha Universe.

Kando Everywhere
Sponsors & Supporters

    Panel Members

  • Jermaine Horton : Jermaine Horton is a Naperville (Chicago) area wedding and portrait photographer who enjoys creating dynamic images via off-camera flash and natural light. His passion for telling his clients stories has garnered him clients throughout the U.S., feeding his love of travel and his drive to create. He's an ambassador for Westcott, Stella Pro, Fundy, Spider Holster & SLR Lounge.

  • Eli Reed : Eli Reed joined the legendary photo collective Magnum Photos in 1982 and is also a member of the elite collective, Kamoinge. The award-winning photographer was also a 1982/83 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. He joined the University of Texas at Austin as a Clinical Professor in 2005 and continues to contribute to writing, photographic and motion picture projects worldwide.

  • Dr. Tomayia Colvin : Tomayia Colvin, EdD has been photographing high school seniors for more than eight years and was a classroom teacher for more than 10 years. She’s been an educator on Creative Live, WPPI, Imaging USA, United hosted by Showit, and a host of others. She is also the founder of Tomayia Colvin Education, an online photography community created to empower photographers of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and be a safe haven of inclusion and diversity. Additionally, she’s the host of The Photo Cookout.

  • Endia Beal, Moderator : Endia Beal is internationally known for her photographic narratives and video testimonials that examine the personal stories of women of color. She lectures about these experiences, which also addresses bias in corporate hiring practices.

  • Online Resources

  • Tomayia Colvin Education – The Community : Facebook community that celebrates and supports black female photographers, photographers of color, diversity, and is a safe space for all photographers!

  • Black in America : Eli Reed's photo-study reveals a poignant portrait of black life in America during the 1980s and 90s.

  • Magnum Flow : A new, photographer-initiated project which allows the Magnum collective's members to share both contemporary and historical work relating to world-changing events, in near-real-time.

  • Books

  • "Performance Review" – Endia Beal : The first monograph by North Carolina-based artist, educator and activist Endia Beal, brings together work from first-hand experiences that highlight the realities and challenges for women of color in the corporate workplace.

  • "Black in America" – Eli Reed : Eli Reed has been documenting the black experience in America from the time he began taking pictures, forging a reputation for the unflinching coverage of events both large and small. This lifetime’s work builds a portrait of life in the United States for African Americans.

Keynote: Only One Ocean
Instructors: Cristina Mittermeier, Paul Nicklen

An extraordinary first-hand account of the power of visual storytelling to save our oceans. Sunday 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT - Orange Stage

Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier have dedicated their lives to exploring some of the most remote places on Earth and are two of the most influential visual storytellers in the world. As Marine Biologists, conservationists, photographers, videographers and co-founders of SeaLegacy, they use the power of imagery to inspire a global community into active ocean protection.

Join them on a dynamic journey filled with first-hand accounts that shine a unique and personal light on what lies beneath The Thin Blue Line.

With deep understanding and compassion, a strong scientific foundation, humor, and unparalleled passion, Paul and Cristina will take you on an adventure you will remember forever. 

Synopsis
Keynote Panel: Moving Forward Together
Instructors: Endia Beal, Tomayia Colvin, Jermaine Horton, Eli Reed

An open discussion about equal representation in photography. Saturday 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT - Orange Stage

Join a panel of illustrious visual creators for an open discussion on the diversity issues that continue to challenge our industry, and solutions on making equal representation the norm in the photography industry. 

Synopsis
The Storied Brand
Instructor: Brooke Shaden

Transform your business and legacy into a story with impact. Saturday 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM PT - Orange Stage

Brooke Shaden will teach her techniques for transforming your business into a story people want to hear and building a legacy you're proud of.

Synopsis
Inside The Portrait Studio
Instructor: Miguel Quiles

Tour Miguel's studio and see his tools of the trade for portraiture. Saturday 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM PT - Blue Stage

Join Miguel Quiles in his own professional studio and see the tools of the trade he uses to shoot portraits with impact. 

Synopsis
Maximizing Social Media Potential
Instructor: Tiffany Nguyen

Learn how to maximize the potential of Instagram and use it with intention. Saturday 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM PT - Purple Stage

Social media can be a powerful tool for your business. Tiffany will teach you how to maximize the potential of Instagram and use it with intention so that you can make the most out of the time you spend on social media.

Synopsis
Xperia 1 M2 Photo Pro
Instructor: Mahesh Thapa

Saturday at 12:30 PM ET / 9:30 AM PT

Synopsis
Portfolio Review
Instructor: Brooke Shaden

Saturday 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT

Synopsis
Secrets Of Architectural Photography
Instructor: Tobi Shinobi

Tag along with Tobi as he navigates the legendary architecture of the Windy City. Saturday 1:30 PM ET / 10:30 AM PT - Orange Stage

Tag along with Tobi as he navigates the legendary architecture of the Windy City. Join his second class of the day to learn how he edits.

Synopsis
Documentary Filmmaking
Instructor: Chris Burkard

Go through a behind-the-scenes look at documentary filmmaking. Saturday 1:30 PM ET / 10:30 AM PT - Blue Stage

What does it take to tell a real story? Chris will take you through a behind-the-scenes look at documentary filmmaking.

Synopsis
Inside Travel Video Production
Instructor: Louis Cole

An inside look at a successful YouTube travel channel. Saturday 1:30 PM ET / 10:30 AM PT - Purple Stage

Learn the strategy, practical advice and processes Louis has learned from running a successful YouTube travel channel for ten years.

Synopsis
Adobe Lightroom
Instructor: Katrin Eismann

Saturday 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT

Synopsis
Creating Content In Your Pocket
Instructor: Crissi Beth Cooper

Saturday at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT

Synopsis
Portfolio Review
Instructor: Tobi Shinobi

Saturday 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT

Synopsis
Portrait Psychology
Instructor: Miguel Quiles

Learn the secrets to stunning portraiture. Saturday 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT - Orange Stage

Learn the secrets Miguel Quiles uses to take stunning portraits and his tips to elevate your work to new levels.

Synopsis
Evocative Fine Art
Instructor: Brooke Shaden

Creating fine art series that provokes and lingers in everyone's minds. Saturday 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT - Blue Stage

Learn from celebrated fine artist Brooke Shaden the secrets behind creating a fine art series that provokes and entices.

Synopsis
Understanding Composition
Instructor: Tiffany Nguyen

learn how to capture unique and well-balanced photos that strike a chord with your audience. Saturday 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT - Purple Stage

Learn the most important techniques of composition and how to use them to tell engaging stories with your photos. You’ll learn how to capture unique and well-balanced photos that strike a chord with your audience.

Synopsis
Creating Travel Content On A Mobile Device
Instructor: Crissi Beth Cooper

Saturday 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT

Synopsis
Portfolio Review
Instructor: Miguel Quiles

Saturday, 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT

Synopsis
Making The Perfect Pitch
Instructor: Chris Burkard

Everything you need to know about pitching your dream project and getting paid to do it. Saturday 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT - Orange Stage

Telling stories is hard. Getting them funded is even harder. Chris will share everything you need to know about pitching your dream project and getting paid to do it.

Synopsis
Editing Architectural Photography
Instructor: Tobi Shinobi

Learn how to get the most out of your files by editing with Adobe Lightroom. Saturday 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT - Blue Stage

As a follow-up to his morning class on architectural photography, Tobi will teach how to get the most out of your files by editing with Adobe Lightroom.

Synopsis
Creating Video For Social Good
Instructor: Louis Cole

Explore how online platforms can spread positivity and have a deep powerful impact on the world. Saturday 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT - Purple Stage

Explore with Louis how we can redeem online platforms to spread positivity, inspire meaningful action against injustices, and have a deep powerful impact on the world.

Saturday 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT - Stage 3

Synopsis
Long Exposure With Xperia 1 M2
Instructor: Mahesh Thapa

Saturday, 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT

Synopsis
Capturing Magic Hour
Instructor: Brian Smith

Learn how to make the most of this special light and take your nightscape images to the next level. Sunday 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM PT - Orange Stage

"Magic Hour" occurs at twilight, when artificial light balances with the night sky, but is at its peak for only a few minutes. Brian Smith will explain how to make the most of this special light and take your nightscape images to the next level.

Synopsis
Wedding Lighting On The Fly
Instructor: Kesha Lambert

Capture a wedding at its best regardless of lighting conditions. Sunday 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 PM PT - Blue Stage

The moments of the wedding day flicker and unfold quickly. Lighting conditions range from soft diffused to hard sun to low light within the span of one day. In this class, we will explore quick and simple lighting techniques to create dynamic images on the fly.

Synopsis
Cinematic Timelapse At Home
Instructor: Drew Geraci

Learn how to create beautiful timelapse photos/videos at home, ready-to-share on social media. Sunday 11:30 AM ET / 8:30 AM PT - Purple Stage

Learn how to create beautiful high-resolution timelapse photography/videography at home, ready-to-share on social media.

Synopsis
The Cinema In Your Pocket
Instructor: Jeff Berlin

Sunday, 12:30 PM ET / 9:30 AM PT

Synopsis
Portfolio Review
Instructor: Brian Smith

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT

Synopsis
How To Do A Style Shoot
Instructor: Jermaine Horton

Learn the importance of Style Shoots and how they can lead to more work. Sunday 1:30 PM ET / 10:30 AM PT - Orange Stage

Learn the importance of Style Shoots and how they can lead to more work. Jermaine will share his approach on lighting subjects in different locations and when to use lighting along with the right lens selections. He will shared his tips for building relationships with venues and inspiring them to bring you new clients.

Synopsis
Production in Place
Instructors: Ben Lowy, Marvi Lacar

Expand your creativity under any circumstances (including isolation!) Sunday, 1:30 PM ET / 10:30 AM PT - Blue Stage

Lowy+Lacar used their willing children (and dogs) to create an irreverent parent’s guide to surviving the lockdown. They will take the audience through the creation of this mind-blowing book.

Synopsis
Astro Landscapes
Instructor: Rachel Ross

Shoot into the night without missing a single detail. Sunday 1:30 PM ET / 10:30 AM PT - Purple Stage

Learn the challenges of photographing in near-complete darkness, and techniques for overcoming low light limitations. Rachel will also discuss her favorite apps for planning, her gear for night shooting, and setting up your Sony camera for a night under the stars.

Synopsis
Adobe Lightroom
Instructor: Tobi Shinobi

Sunday, 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT

Synopsis
TetherTools Panel
Instructor: TetherTools

Sunday, 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT

Synopsis
The Cinema In Your Pocket
Instructor: Jeff Berlin

Sunday, 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT

Synopsis
Portfolio Review
Instructor: Jermaine Horton

Sunday, 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT

Synopsis
Tips For Staying Creative In Challenging Times
Instructors: Ben Lowy, Marvi Lacar

Stay creative in weird times and thrive in your new environment. Sunday 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT - Orange Stage

You are stuck at home, there are no gigs, the fridge is empty, but Instagram seems full. The fog of creative depression is setting in. How can we take this opportunity of being mostly broke and destitute and create new work? Ben Lowy will take you through his approach to staying creative in "weird" times.

Synopsis
Better Portraits Begin With Better Backdrops
Instructor: Brian Smith

How to improve your portraiture by beginning with the background. Sunday 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT - Blue Stage

Paying attention to what’s behind the subject is the key to great environmental portraits. Brian will show you how improving the background makes the subject shine. Learn how to overcome a bad location and take great locations to the next level.

Synopsis
On Location In The Canadian Rockies
Instructor: Rachel Ross

Plan a great photographic adventure that leads to exquisite landscape shots. Sunday 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT - Purple Stage

Join Rachel for a behind-the-scenes look at how she plans for an adventure, finds unique compositions, and uses the properties of wide-angle lenses to capture the grand landscapes of the Canadian Rockies.

Synopsis
Special Q&A With Marie Jacobson, EVP at Sony Pictures' Gemstone Studios
Instructor:

Sunday, 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT

Synopsis
The Cinema In Your Pocket
Instructor: Jeff Berlin

Sunday, 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT

Synopsis
Portfolio Review
Instructor: Ben Lowy

Sunday, 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT

Synopsis
Ocean People
Instructor: Cristina Mittermeier

The future of the world is in our hands--we're all Ocean People! Sunday 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT - Orange Stage

One in every seven people around the world depends on the ocean as a primary source of food. Cristina shares her work in coastal communities standing up to protect and restore the bounty of their ancestral shores, and creates an experience that will open your heart and mind, concluding that we are all ocean people.

Synopsis
The Ultimate Wedding Photography Bag
Instructor: Jermaine Horton

Create the ultimate wedding photography bag and never miss key shots again. Sunday 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT - Blue Stage

Jermaine will answer the frequent question of what gear he always brings to never miss a fabulous shot during a wedding, and will help you select the right tools to get it done.

Synopsis
Monetizing Your Video Content
Instructor: Drew Geraci

Put your video to work and generate more passive income. Sunday 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT - Purple Stage

Learn the best methods to take your passion for photography & video to the next level and generate passive income with your creations.

Synopsis

kando speaker Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin
Photographer, Filmmaker
kando speaker Chris Burkard
Chris Burkard
Photographer, Filmmaker, Author, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
kando speaker Louis Cole
Louis Cole
Filmmaker & YouTube Personality
kando speaker Tomayia Colvin
Tomayia Colvin
Photographer & Educator
kando speaker Crissi Beth Cooper
Crissi Beth Cooper
Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective
kando speaker Andrew Geraci
Andrew Geraci
Filmmaker, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
kando speaker Jermaine Horton
Jermaine Horton
Wedding Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
kando speaker Marvi Lacar
Marvi Lacar
Documentary Photographer & Filmmaker
kando speaker Kesha Lambert
Kesha Lambert
Wedding & Portrait Photographer, Sony Artisan of Imagery
kando speaker Cristina Mittermeier
Cristina Mittermeier
Conservation Photographer, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
kando speaker Tiffany Nguyen
Tiffany Nguyen
Adventure Travel Photographer, Alpha Imaging Collective
kando speaker Miguel Quiles
Miguel Quiles
Portrait Photographer & YouTube Personality, Sony Artisan Of Imagery
kando speaker Eli Reed
Eli Reed
Photographer & Photojournalist
kando speaker Rachel Jones Ross
Rachel Jones Ross
Photographer, Sony Alpha Imaging Collective
kando speaker Tobi Shinobi
Tobi Shinobi
Photographer, Alpha Imaging Collective
kando speaker Brooke Shaden
Brooke Shaden
Fine Art Photographer & Author, 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