Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club

General Membership Meetings With Guest Speakers

General Membership Meetings are held the 1st Monday of each month (except holidays) at the Manatee Fire Rescue Administration Office, 3200 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, Florida.

Our Foto-Focus training sessions start at 5:15 PM. During these sessions, a club member discusses a topic to help improve your photography.

The General Membership Meetings begin at 6:30 PM. Our monthly meetings include guest speakers, demonstrations of techniques, Image of the Month competitions, and a “Share Your Work” presentation.  There is also an opportunity before the  meeting and during the break to visit and share ideas with your fellow photography enthusiasts.

We welcome potential members, visitors and guests to attend our monthly meetings. There is no cost for attending one meeting. After that, a guest must become a member to attend additional meetings and enjoy other member benefits.

Click here for recordings of many General Meetings (for members only).

LWRDPC 2022 F3C 1st Triannual Digital Competition Ribbon Winners

Upcoming Meetings

    • January 12, 2026
    • 5:15 PM - 8:15 PM
    • 6305 FL-70, Bradenton - Manatee Technical College – Main Campus
    Register

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    NEW LOCATION, NEW TIMES

    New Meeting Location: Manatee Technical College – Main Campus, 6305 FL-70, Bradenton, FL 

    5:15 to 6:00 pm: Pre-Meeting Foto-Focus with Art Napolitano
    Topic: 
     Basic Computer Requirements for Still Photography.

    Photography is one of the most difficult tasks we ask our personal computers to perform. Here are some thoughts on how to set up your personal computer to ease its use for photography

    6:00 to 6:30 pm: Gather, Socialize, Buy 50/50 Tickets, Vote for People's Choice

    6:30 pm: General Meeting with Guest Speaker Joe Nuzzo 

    Topic: AI for Photographers: Creativity Meets Technology

    AI is changing photography—but it doesn’t 

    have to replace your creativity. In this presentation, “AI for Photographers: Creativity Meets Technology,” Joe Nuzzo shows how modern tools like Lightroom, Photoshop, Evoto AI, and Luminar Neo can speed up culling, enhance portraits, clean up distractions, and open up new creative looks—without turning your images into fake, overcooked cartoons.

    We’ll walk through live examples, including real-time portrait previews with the Evoto Instant App, discuss where AI shines, where it fails, and how to set your own ethical boundaries. You’ll leave with practical ideas you can use on your very next shoot and a clear understanding of how to let AI handle the boring stuff while you stay in charge of the art.

    About Joe:

    Meet Joseph "Joe" Nuzzo, of Lakewood Ranch, Florida! By day, he's capturing the perfect real estate shots, making brides and grooms look like movie stars, and herding families into frame with the finesse of a seasoned photographer. But Joe's photographic journey started in college. It was there that he faced a dilemma. He could work a job and make money, or eat less... a lot less. Clearly, food won that battle and Joe took a job working in the trenches of a camera store. Despite his culinary priorities, Joe's love affair with photography was born.

    He has since been known to snap a pic or two, or a few thousand, just for the sheer joy of it. Rumor has it he once photographed a particularly photogenic pizza just for fun – who knew sauce and cheese could be so camera-ready? When he's not behind the lens, Joe generously shares his photographic wisdom on his YouTube channel and website, offering a blend of education and humor that makes learning about f-stops and shutter speeds almost as enjoyable as devouring a well-photographed pizza. Who says you can't have your cake and photograph it too? Joe certainly doesn't – he's too busy making every snapshot a delicious masterpiece!

    Learn more about Joe on his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ShutterSpeak or on his website at https://shutterspeak.net/

    • February 09, 2026
    • 5:15 PM - 8:15 PM
    • 6305 FL-70, Bradenton - Manatee Technical College – Main Campus
    Register

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    Meeting Location: Manatee Technical College – Main Campus, 6305 FL-70, Bradenton, FL 

    5:15 to 6:00 pm: Pre-Meeting Foto-Focus
    Topic: TBD

    6:00 to 6:30 pm: Gather, Socialize, Buy 50/50 Tickets, Vote for People's Choice

    6:30 pm: General Meeting with Guest Speaker  Misty Jones

    Topic: Posing Women: Foundations for Flattering, Confident Portraits

    This presentation introduces photographers to the art of posing women with confidence and intention. You’ll learn how to guide clients naturally, create flattering shapes for every body type, and capture authentic expressions that convey beauty and strength. Through demonstrations, hands-on practice, and discussion of lighting and angles, you’ll gain the essential tools to make every woman look and feel her best in front of the camera.

    Speaker Bio

    Misty Jones, CPP, Award-Winning Photographer & Successful Business Owner

    Misty Jones, a Certified Professional Photographer, with over 16 years of experience, is the owner and creative force behind Misty Jones Photography. Known for her ability to create an amazing experience for her clients, Misty specializes in luxurious, magazine-style portrait sessions that empower women of all ages to see themselves in a new light.

    With her work featured in PPA magazine and a growing list of accolades, including multiple photography awards from Florida Professional Photographers and her local affiliate T.A.P.P.A., Misty's artistry and technical skill make her a sought-after photographer in the industry. Her recent initiative, a campaign celebrating women over 40, speaks to her passion for showcasing the beauty, strength, and elegance of women at every stage of life.

    In addition to her thriving business, Misty has served as Vice President on the TAPPA board, demonstrating her leadership and dedication to the photography community. Her warm and welcoming approach, combined with her keen eye for detail, ensures that every client feels like a celebrity for the day during their personalized photo shoot.

    Misty is excited to share her insights on portrait photography, running a successful business, and how to create lasting connections with clients through the lens. When she's not behind the camera, she enjoys collaborating with fellow creatives, mentoring emerging photographers, and continually finding new ways to elevate her craft.

    • March 09, 2026
    • 5:15 PM - 8:15 PM
    • 3200 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard (East Manatee Fire Rescue District Admin Office)

    Save the Date!

    Add to Calendar

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    Remember to wear your name tag!

    Meeting Location: Manatee Technical College – Main Campus, 6305 FL-70, Bradenton, FL 

    5:15 to 6:00 pm: Pre-Meeting Foto-Focus
    Topic: TBD

    6:00 to 6:30 pm: Gather, Socialize, Buy 50/50 Tickets, Vote for People's Choice

    6:30 pm: General Meeting with Guest Speaker 

    Topic: TBD


    • April 13, 2026
    • 5:15 PM - 8:15 PM
    • 3200 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard (East Manatee Fire Rescue District Admin Office)
    Register

    Add to Calendar

    Apple  •  Google  •  Office 365  •  Outlook  •  Yahoo

    Remember to wear your name tag!

    Meeting Location: Manatee Technical College – Main Campus, 6305 FL-70, Bradenton, FL 

    5:15 to 6:00 pm: Pre-Meeting Foto-Focus
    Topic: TBD

    6:00 to 6:30 pm: Gather, Socialize, Buy 50/50 Tickets, Vote for People's Choice

    6:30 pm: General Meeting with Guest Speaker Graham Smith

    Topic: Rocket Launch Photography

    Topics Graham will discuss include:

    • planning tips for photographing a rocket launch; 
    • where to shoot from; 
    • gear recommendations; and 
    • safety concerns.

    Graham Smith Bio 

    Graham worked 30 years with mainframe & PCs of which over 10 years on numerous Dept of Defense (NRO, CIA, NSA) installing, calibrating, repair of table imaging scanners in coordination with geospatial analysis & intelligence gathering of images taken in outer space.

    While stationed overseas, extensive traveling through UK I was able to photograph ecclesiastic old monasteries, abbeys, with stained glass windows as well as landscape photography.

    In late 1990s, started photography of one my loves (road racing) 
    As a contributing photographer for AFP (Agence France Presse) Traveling to Canada, New York, Connecticut, Ohio Georgia & Florida covering IMSA, Indy Grand-Am formats. This past March was my 27thyear covering the 12 Hours of Sebring, basically a 4-day event.

    In 2018, I accepted an offer to cover my first rocket launch (SpaceX Telstar 19). Since that launch, I’ve covered over 165 launches of SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA (Atlas& Vulcan), & Artemis at Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida & Wallops Island in Viriginia. 

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