Introducing Our 2026 Key Note Speaker Paul Zizka
Paul Zizka is an award-winning mountain landscape and adventure photographer and photo educator based in Banff, Canada. A prolific adventurer, Paul’s journey to capture the “under-documented” has taken him to all seven continents, as well as to each of Canada’s provinces and territories. He is frequently published in some of North America’s top magazines, including National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, Alpinist, Maclean’s, Summit, Canadian Geographic, and Outdoor Photographer, and has published four coffee-table photography books. His client list includes leading national and global brands such as Canon, Apple, Dell, NHL, WestJet, Arc’Teryx, Panasonic and MEC. In his latest project, Cryophilia, Paul is documenting vanishing ice around the world to showcase its beauty and raise awareness of our changing landscapes.
A sought-after educator, Paul hosts a robust photo community of over 24,000 subscribers on Substack called Fuelled by Creativity. Join for free at paulzizkaphoto.substack.com. He also leads workshops and creative retreats in the Canadian Rockies and abroad, focusing on the technical aspects of photography, as well as the “intangible” elements of the craft. In 2016, he co-founded OFFBEAT Photography, a global photo community based in Canada that offers an online forum for photographers and workshops in far-flung locations around the world.
Paul enjoys life in the mountains with his wife Meghan J. Ward and their two daughters.
2026 Guest Speakers
Alison Carlino, CR. Photog., CPP
Alison Carlino photographs and educates around the world. As a former master degreed elementary teacher, she can relate to students both technically and personally.
In her 22nd year of business, she hosts multi and single day workshops on the topics of off camera lighting, modern posing, team sports, high school seniors, and night sky photography. She is a member of and teaches/judges for WPPI, PPA/Imaging, SWPP London, PPGH, Texas School of Professional Photography, TxPPA, and SYNC Sports. Alison Faith Fine Art Photography showcases Alison’s landscape & night skies photography.
Alison is proudly sponsored by and a member of Miller’s Professional Imaging speaker team and is an ambassador for MagMod, Evoto, Elinchrom, and Atmosphere Aerosol.
Chris Sikorsky
“Ambitious and energetic, Chris is the original force behind Sikpics, where he’s spent nearly a decade livin’ the dream. A graduate of the Western Academy
Broadcasting College, Chris started his career as a Video Journalist with CTV News Saskatoon, covering everything from hard-hitting news to human interest
stories. His curiosity and drive led him to the world of video production and commercial photography, and he’s never looked back. Chris’ hope is to create as much
visual intrigue and impact through story as possible for his clients. Beyond the lens, Chris is deeply rooted in his local community and heavily involved in
charitable events. He can also be found lighting up the stage as a touring musician with Guns N’ Roses tribute band, ‘The Nightrain’. Chris lives by the mantra, “You
can’t make interesting art, if you don’t live an interesting life,” and it shows in everything he does—from his love for traveling (25 countries and counting!) to his
commitment to helping clients tell their unique stories. When Chris sets his mind on something, you better believe he’s going to tackle it with unmatched enthusiasm
and grit.”
Dee Potter, CPA.
In 2025, he represented Team Canada in two categories at the World Photographic Cup in Quito, Ecuador, where he earned a spot among the Top Ten Nature Landscape Photographers.
Since just 2024 alone, Dee’s work has been featured in galleries across the U.K., U.S., South Africa, and Japan, and he’s claimed first place prizes in 12 national and international competitions such as those from 500px, Life Framer, ON1 and Photoshop World.
His photography has taken him across Canada, through Vietnam, Antarctica, Iceland, Indonesia, France, South America, the U.K., Mexico, Alaska, and the U.S. Lower 48, always with an eye for storytelling, beauty, and connection.
His love for nature and travel photography goes well beyond just capturing the moment, it fuels his fervor for sharing those moments with others. Dee hosts immersive photo tours to some of the world’s most exotic and exclusive destinations, offering fellow photography adventure-seekers unforgettable opportunities to create their own stunning imagery. Upcoming tours include the Amazon Rainforest, the Galapagos Islands, and the vibrant colour and culture of Japan in Autumn.
Grant McConnell, BFA, MFA.
Grant McConnell resides in Saskatoon, SK and Vancouver, B.C., working as an artist and educator. He studied Fine Arts at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick before moving to Saskatoon where he completed a B.F.A and a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Saskatchewan. He currently teaches at the University of Saskatchewan and St. Peter’s College where he specializes in Canadian and Modern Art History and Visual Culture, Professional Practices and Studio Art. He has served as the National Chair and spokesperson of CARFAC, (Canadian Artist’s Representation), and on the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Arts Board, ACCESS Copyright, and the Remai Modern in Saskatoon, Sk.
He is known primarily for his painting and drawing which is derived from an ongoing investigation of subject matter related to history, social beliefs and evolving truths.
Jay Terry, MPA, SPA.
A portrait and commercial photographer in London, ON, Jay serves a wide range of clients from new families to international corporations. Bringing more
than three decades of experience with illustration, painting and graphic design to his photography, he has been a 7x Photographer of the Year finalist, Ontario’s
2012 and 2016 Portrait Photographer of the Year, and is a recipient of the Tibor Horvath Award of Excellence.
Joe Desjardins, MPA.
For nearly three decades, Joe Desjardins has chased the wild through his lens. From the rugged peaks of the Rockies to the frozen edges of the Arctic, he has built a reputation for capturing the untamed beauty of wildlife and landscapes across Canada and beyond.
His work has earned multiple national accreditations with the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) in wildlife, nature, landscape, equine, portraiture, and others—along with the prestigious designation of Master Photographer in Nature (MPN) with Master Photographers International. Award-winning and nationally published, Joe’s images serve as both inspiration and reference for photographers at every level.
As co-host of The Nature Photo Guys Podcast with Chris Gibbs, Joe blends humour, insight, and hard-earned field experience to connect with a wide audience of nature enthusiasts.
Above all, Joe’s greatest passion is teaching. Through workshops, seminars, and speaking engagements, he thrives on helping photographers refine their technical skills and uncover their creative voice. Whether in a classroom, along a trail, or waiting quietly for wildlife to emerge, he finds energy and inspiration in the enthusiasm of his students.
For Joe, the true reward is when his photography inspires others to step outside, explore, and experience the wild for themselves.