ASMP Chicago/Midwest

Roundtable - Wednesday, July 8, 12:00 - 2:00pm

Offset BBQ - 1720 N California, Chicago, IL 60647

Join us for Roundtable, a new regular event series designed for photographers to gather in a relaxed, casual setting and dive into the real-world topics that matter most. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your pitching skills, master estimating and pricing, navigate legal issues like copyright, or just chat about gear, accounting, insurance, personal projects, and sources of inspiration - Roundtable is your space to share, learn, and connect.

Each session invites open discussion and peer exchange, helping you grow your photography business and creative practice with practical advice and community support.

We will be in a private dining room and it is optional to order beverages or lunch. Do what feels fun and easy.

Free for ASMP members / $10 non-members

RSVP link in bio – we hope to see you there!

On April 28 we hosted a sound bath around a unique intention - Embracing Your Creativity. Facilitated by Jacki Angeletti and Greg Archer, this was a peaceful, immersive session that restored balance and gently calmed participant’s nervous systems.

As the session unfolded, the resonant tones of crystal singing bowls, chimes, and sea drums surrounded us, inviting deep relaxation and a meditative state to support rest, renewal, and inner calm. We ended feeling grounded, refreshed, and at ease.

Big thanks to .chicago for hosting the event and our board members for organizing this special session, and for the photos 📸

Join us on Tuesday, April 28 .chicago for Setting Creative Intentions, a peaceful, immersive experience designed to restore balance and gently calm your nervous system. This session is a wonderful way to connect with your creativity and community. Registration link in bio 🔗✨

Setting Creative Intentions - Tuesday, April 28 - .Chicago

Join us for an evening of stress relief and intention setting for the spring season. Together, Jacki Angeletti and Greg Archer will provide an hour of mind-body and spiritual wellness, combining restorative/gentle yoga for the body, taught by Greg, followed by a sound bath healing meditation guided by Jacki to soothe your soul. After the session, share reflection and community building with fellow photographers. Link in bio ✨

AI is changing photography.
So are the contracts that determine who owns an image.
Across the industry, photographers are receiving contracts that classify our work as “Work Made for Hire.” It sounds like legal boilerplate. It isn’t.
Work Made for Hire means the publication — not you — is the legal author of your photographs.
This matters for four reasons:
You lose your copyright.
You lose your archive.
You lose control of how your work is used — including for AI training.
And you lose the ability to protect the people you photograph.
For photographers working in vulnerable communities, that last point isn’t secondary. Using editorial images to train AI can fuel surveillance tools that put sources and entire communities at risk. WMFH removes your ability to prevent this exploitation.
This impacts all photographers. Photojournalists and commercial photographers face parallel risks – through stock agreements, client contracts, and sublicensing terms that increasingly permit AI training use without consent or compensation.
We’ve already seen AI ad campaigns by major companies including Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Skechers. It’s not hard to imagine a future in which AI takes the place of photographers, models, stylists, creative directors, and designers.
This isn’t hypothetical. The Wall Street Journal recently introduced exactly this kind of contract to its freelance photographers — while its parent company negotiated a $50 million a year deal to license editorial content to Meta for AI training.
The more photographers who know about this, the harder it becomes to ignore. Let’s protect each other.

Roundtable - Monday, April 13 @ noon at Firehouse Grill 

Join us for Roundtable, a new regular event series designed for photographers to gather in a relaxed, casual setting and dive into the real-world topics that matter most. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your pitching skills, master estimating and pricing, navigate legal issues like copyright, or just chat about gear, accounting, insurance, personal projects, and sources of inspiration - Roundtable is your space to share, learn, and connect.

Free for ASMP members / $10 non-members RSVP at link in bio – we hope to see you there!

Open Photo Share Friday, February 27, 6-9pm
Join us for Open Photo Share, a relaxed social event where you can share some recent work and get feedback from fellow Chicago photographers! You’re welcome to attend, whether you want to present or join the conversation.

Attendees who want to present images MUST register and upload their work in advance. RSVP and we will send you an email with a link to upload 5-10 images you’ll talk about for about 10 minutes. We will have refreshments available, and if you would like to bring a snack to share you’re welcome to. Do what feels fun and easy.

ASMP members - free // Non-members - $15
https://www.asmp.org/chicagomidwest/event/february-open-photo-share/

We’re excited to invite you to this must-attend mini-masterclass with LA headshot photographer and educator, Vanie Poyey .mentor

If you’ve ever felt invisible in a saturated market or if you worry that raising your rates would kill your business, this training is for you.

It’s time to stop chasing leads and start attracting the right clients. Join us live to learn the system that actually works.

Register today, ASMP members are free: https://www.asmp.org/chicagomidwest/event/client-magnet-method-webinar/ ‎