Joel Grimes

Joel graduated from the University of Arizona in 1984 with a BFA in Photography, and soon established a commercial studio in Denver,  Colorado.  Joel has been selected as one of Canon’s exclusive Explorer Of Light photographers and a Westcott Top Pro Elite photographer. He has also been selected by Adobe as one of their Photoshop Feature Artists. 
For over 40 years Joel has worked for many of the top advertising agencies and corporations across the globe for clients such as AARP, AES, Abbott Labs, Archer Daniels Midland, Arizona Office of Tourism,  AT&T, Broncos, Comcast, Febreze, Fiat Chrysler Automotive, Goldman Sachs, Hewlett Packard, Hyatt, Kodak, Nikon, Pentax, Phillips 66, Philip Morris, Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, Sony, Sturm Ruger & Co, United Global, USA Boxing, Visa, Volvo, Xcel Energy, and most recently Red Bull.   Over the years his assignments have taken him to every state across the USA and to over fifty countries around the globe. 
In 1990 Joel produced his first coffee table book, ‘Navajo, Portrait of a Nation’ which received a number of photographic and design awards and produce an eighteen-month solo exhibit at the Smithsonian American History museum. 
Driven by the creative process, Joel views himself as an illusionist, creating portraits larger than life. “There is no face on the planet that is the same, and my vision as an artist is to capture that individual uniqueness through the creative photographic process.” 
Joel is also an ambassador for this process by teaching workshops and lectures across the country.  “I feel that by being an open book with my process I have an opportunity to inspire others to follow their dreams and passions to create”.  
Joel currently goes back in forth between his photo studio located the Arts District in Los Angeles, and his home in Wickenburg Arizona.

Keynote - Building a dynamic portrait

If you are looking to learn how to take the mystery out of lighting and build a dramatic portrait, you’ve come to the right place. Follow along as Joel reveals his secrets to working with strobes and modifiers and, most importantly, how he works through the creative process. In addition, Joel will talk about working with his favorite lenses and how choosing the right lens can make the shot.