COME TOGETHER
the virtual offbeat creativity conference
INFO
MAGGIE HOOD VIDYA MENON*
Live exchange rate • Approximate conversion only
This November , OFFBEAT invites photographers, creatives, and visual storytellers from around the world to gather online for a one-day celebration of inspiration, creativity, and connection.
The Come Together: Virtual Creativity Conference is designed to spark your imagination and give you the tools, ideas, and motivation to tell more powerful stories through your lens. Whether you’re a hobbyist exploring your voice or a professional looking to push your craft further, you’ll leave with fresh perspectives and practical skills you can put into action right away.
Throughout the day, a lineup of engaging speakers, each with a unique style and story, will share their creative processes, behind-the-scenes insights, and hard-won photography advice. Expect interesting presentations, thought-provoking conversations, and an open exchange of ideas that go beyond camera settings and right into the heart of storytelling.
True to OFFBEAT’s spirit, this isn’t your typical photography conference. The summit blends education with energy, encouraging participants to connect, share, and have fun while learning.
All you need is your curiosity, your passion for storytelling, and a willingness to see the world a little differently.
What You'll Learn
One day. Six photographers. A whole lot of ideas. Come curious and leave with new ways to see, create, experiment and tell stories with your camera.
Elevate Your Photography
Discover practical ideas and fresh perspectives that can help you make stronger, more intentional photographs.
Tell Better Stories
Explore how photography can communicate ideas, emotions and experiences beyond simply making a beautiful image.
Find Your Creative Voice
Learn from photographers with distinct styles and approaches, and find inspiration to develop your own visual language.
Push Past The Safe Shot
Challenge familiar habits, experiment with new approaches and give yourself permission to make something unexpected.
Learn From Real Experiences
Hear honest stories, lessons and hard-won insights from photographers working in the real world.
Connect With Your Community
Meet photographers, share ideas and discover the inspiration that comes from learning alongside other creative people.
Meet Your Speakers
Photographers, artists and storytellers from across Canada and beyond, each bringing their own perspective, experience and way of seeing.
Kris Andres
Curtis Jones
Renee Robyn
Wayne Simpson
Maggie Hood
Vidya Menon
CONFERence Schedule
One day of photography, inspiration, ideas and community
In this talk, Kris explores the idea of pushing beyond the obvious and taking creative risks with your photography. From changing perspective and breaking composition rules to embracing movement, imperfection, experimentation and the possibility of failure, discover how stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to more meaningful and memorable images.
Through stories, examples and lessons from his photographic journey around the world, Kris shares how he has learned to stop asking “How do I get the shot?” and start asking “What else can I create here?”
Because sometimes the photograph you almost didn’t take is the one that becomes your favourite.
Recently, through examining my own work, I’ve begun to wonder what really makes an image “good,” and I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d rather make an interesting image than a “perfect” image. As a wedding and portrait photographer, that sentence alone would likely scare off some clients. But the more I shoot, the more I want to make the case for the benefits of aiming for an interesting photograph over a simply pretty one.
Through this presentation, we’ll explore what makes an image interesting, from the technical aspects to the more human ones, and how we can apply these ideas to our own work.
In this talk I'll share my unlikely (and unplanned) switch from commercial and fine art photography into product management for Optics, a plug-in I used for years. We'll go over 3 of my favourite tools, the problems they were designed to solve, and the thinking that went into building them. It's a peek behind the scenes at product development from an artist's perspective, and how I aim to make your images stand out with software that thinks outside the box.
Wayne’s journey is a powerful testament to the transformative and healing potential of the arts, offering an experience that is both moving and profoundly human.
In this session, Curtis explores how personal projects can create momentum, deepen your connections, and lead you toward unexpected ideas, skills, and opportunities. Through stories of projects that endured, evolved, or were eventually left behind, he’ll look at what happens when curiosity becomes difficult, when discomfort is mistaken for failure, and why making the work nobody is asking you to make can become one of the most powerful forces in a creative life.
Join Us For
COME TOGETHER: THE OFFBEAT VIRTUAL CREATIVITY CONFERENCE
One day of inspiration, honest conversations, creative ideas and a whole lot of photography. Grab your spot before the early-bird window closes.
Early Bird
Regular Price
Can't make it on the day?
If unforeseen circumstances arise and you cannot attend the conference live, don't worry! We'll be recording the sessions and you'll be sent a link to watch the video whenever you like.
WHAT OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT OFFBEAT WORKSHOPS
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“Curiosity, kindness, and light. What more could you want from your guides and other members of your community? Our trip was incredible: people, places, and personalities. From chasing the light in a ditch off the side of the road, to finding horses to rub noses with, even the most seemingly insignificant moments were memorable. And that's the beauty of Offbeat, in a nutshell: finding the impossible in the most improbable places.”
-Dave G.
“The workshop was amazing - great instruction and professionalism by the instructors. They did a great job handling the group's variety of experience and took time to help each one of us individually. They prepared well for a variety of conditions and had great locations scouted out before we arrived. Kris and Paul are excellent instructors and loads of fun!”
- Tracy B.
“I have attended a number of OFFBEAT Workshops and have loved them all. The co-founders are two of the most genuine people I have met and they are both so enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. They always ensure that you have the best time and are always willing to share their time and experience with you. My photography has definitely improved since learning from these two. I have also only meet decent and friendly people on these workshops. Everybody is there for the common goal - photography and everybody has such fun. I can not recommend Offbeat highly enough.”
— Claire C.
“I felt the level of collaboration and support among the participants in this one was exceptional and so was the size of the group. It is easier to hide in bigger groups when I feel insecure with my skills and talent. The content was timely, appropriate and exceedingly well organized. The facilitators’ presentation skills were exceptional. I came away with a little more confidence and a lot more knowledge. Thanks, Dave and Paul!!!”
-Jan L.