MODE: The World’s Photography Festival

Brooke Shaden is a fine art self-portrait photographer, writer, entrepreneur, and naturally curious spirit. Shaden’s work doesn’t shy away from the darker sides of existence, in fact, she is drawn to it. Her work explores grief, the self, and identity. She sells her work in galleries, licenses it for book covers and album art, and gives motivational speeches around the world in the hope of fulfilling her lifelong dream: to inspire creativity in others. She lives by the tenet of the great Jerry Uelsmann: if I have a goal it is to surprise myself.

Chris Burkard is an accomplished explorer, photographer, creative director, speaker, and author. Traveling throughout the year to pursue the farthest expanses of Earth, Burkard works to capture stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with nature, while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere. Spanning outdoor, travel, adventure, surf, and lifestyle subjects, Burkard is known for images that are punctuated by untamed, powerful landscapes. Through social media, Chris strives to share his vision of wild places with millions of people, and to inspire them to explore for themselves. His visionary perspective has earned him opportunities to work on prominent global campaigns with Fortune 500 clients, speak on the TED stage, design product lines, educate, and publish a growing collection of books. Along with his team, Burkard is based out of his production studio and art gallery on the Central Coast of California. At the age of 39, Burkard has established himself as a global presence and influence. He is happiest with his wife, Breanne, and their two sons at home in California.

Emmy-nominated director and National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski's unparalleled aesthetic for visual storytelling has earned him over 30 editorial stories, television productions, and branded projects for National Geographic, including 5 cover stories. His work has earned him a litany of awards in both photography and film. His insatiable hunger for creativity has taken him across all 7 continents — multiple times over — capturing films, advertising, and television content for clients such as Disney, Apple, National Geographic Channel, Oprah, The Discovery Channel, Canon, Dell, Adidas, ABC, Honda, The Weather Channel, and Red Bull TV, to name but a few. Keith brings a wealth of experience to every project through his instincts and expertise as a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and director of large-scale productions. He has worked as a director and director of photography in environments ranging from organized studios to chaotic and harsh locations — the Arctic, jungle, high-altitude mountains, underwater, and the driest deserts on the planet. His eye for imagery has garnered a following of over 1.6 million on Instagram and some of the highest engagement rates on the National Geographic Instagram hero feed.

Matthew Russell Rolston is an American artist and photographer known for his portraiture. Born in Los Angeles, Rolston studied drawing and painting there, at the Chouinard Art Institute and Otis College of Art & Design, as well as at the San Francisco Art Institute. He also studied illustration, photography and film at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, where in 2006 he received an honorary doctorate and in 2025 the College’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a distinction shared with notable photographers Hiroshi Sugimoto and Lee Friedlander, and multidisciplinary artists Doug Aitken and Diana Thater. In 1998, Rolston endowed the "Matthew Rolston Scholarship for Film and Creative Direction” at ArtCenter, and in 2024 he created the "Matthew Rolston Scholarship Fund for Product and Fashion Design” at Otis. While still at ArtCenter, Rolston was "discovered" by American artist Andy Warhol who immediately commissioned portraits for Interview magazine. Rolston’s photographs have appeared prominently in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and on over 100 Rolling Stone covers. Rolston’s works are in the permanent collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, NY, and the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian, Washington D.C., among others.

Sandro Miller is a Chicago-based photographer and video artist known for his compassionate approach to portraiture and cultural documentation. Inspired by Irving Penn at age sixteen, Miller has spent decades mastering light and exploring diverse subjects, from actors and athletes to bikers, matadors, and hidden tribal cultures. Miller has published eighteen books, including Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to the Photographic Masters (2020), Crowns: My Hair My Soul My Freedom (2021), and Steppenwolf 50 (2026). His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the globe and featured in publications including The New Yorker, Smithsonian, and The Guardian. Beyond his commercial and artistic practice, Miller is a committed advocate who lends his studio and skills pro bono to charitable causes addressing homelessness, health, education, and social justice.

Brooklyn-born and Queens-raised, Steven John Irby, also known as Steve Sweatpants, is a photographer, creative director, and co-founder of Street Dreams Magazine. For over a decade, he has built Street Dreams into a global creative community, recently expanding with Street Dreams Tokyo. Steve’s work is deeply rooted in the raw authenticity of city life, with a profound love for black-and-white photography that honors family connections and amplifies underrepresented perspectives. Influenced by legendary photographers such as Gordon Parks, Ricky Powell, Jamel Shabazz, and Joseph Rodriguez, his imagery captures timeless moments that resonate both personally and culturally. A Sony artist for eight years, Steve contributed his talents to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Part 2 and has work in the permanent collection at the Museum of the City of New York. In his TED Talk on street photography, he explores its power to foster empathy, connection, and storytelling—reminding others to pursue their passions and cherish the bonds that shape them.

Yik Keat (YK) is a self-taught urban photographer from Singapore, renowned for his ability to tell compelling stories and evoke extraordinary emotions through his work. With his unique artistic vision, YK has turned the world into his playground, captivating millions with the striking visuals he creates.

Abbie Parr is a staff photographer for the Associated Press based in Minneapolis. Abbie has a passion for sports photography and has covered some of the world’s biggest sporting events, such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, World Athletics Championships, Super Bowls and more. Abbie won first place in the NPPA’s 2023 Best of Photojournalism contest for her sports feature photo with her image of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrating after winning the Stanley Cup Final.

Alexandra Niki has been making pictures, building brands, and backing creators for 22 years. She came up as a prop stylist in New York, sourcing and constructing the worlds inside iconic campaigns for Dos Equis, Pepsi, Absolut, Kohler, Nike, and Disney. In 2007 she translated that obsession with the photograph into Resource Magazine, the photography publication she founded, ran for 13 years from a DUMBO waterfront office, and sold in 2020. She went on to co-found DUMBO Media Co., the ad sales operation that came to control more than 80% of the photography media space, and Agency 300, the influencer agency she built around 60 plus creators with a combined 75M monthly reach. She now runs Supply Media (builtbysupply.com), her brand and creative direction studio, and publishes Creators Network (creatorsnetwork.co), an online publication for the creator economy. She is the author of the six book Creator Playbook series, covering brand deals, audience, content, finance, the creator economy, and the nomad creator life. She lives between New York and Costa Rica.

Andy Best is an award-winning filmmaker, cinematographer, and photographer whose work spans wild landscapes and deeply personal narratives. A lifelong artist, he began in his grandmother's studio with pastels and oil paints before studying film in Portland, Oregon in the early 2000s. Over more than 15 years, Andy has built a career creating cinematic work for leading outdoor brands and publications. His travels and projects have taken him from Baja to Alaska and across the world — often alongside his two daughters — capturing the relationship between people and the wild places that shape them. He is a regular contributor to National Geographic Travel and Sony, and continues to produce films and campaigns through his independent production company, Lone Bison Films. His mission remains constant: inspire curiosity, stewardship, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Art Streiber is a Los Angeles-based photographer specializing in portrait, reportage, entertainment, and advertising photography. His portraits have appeared on the covers of Vanity Fair, Empire, Entertainment Weekly, Wired, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, and Variety, and his work has been selected for American Photography and Communication Arts Photography Annual for years. Streiber has photographed key art and promotional campaigns for major television networks, motion picture studios, and streaming services including NBC, CBS, ESPN, CNN, Netflix, Amazon, Paramount, and Universal. His advertising clients include Fabletics, Flecha Azul Tequila, Mazda, Chase, and Oakley. His fine art prints are represented by The Photo Gallery in Halmsted, Sweden, and The Fahey Klein Gallery in Los Angeles.

Ben Weiland and Brian Davis are the filmmakers behind Fielder Films, an independent studio known for award-winning adventure films that blend striking cinematography with deeply human storytelling. Working together for years, they have built a reputation for crafting ambitious stories in remote landscapes, with films including Island X, The Search for Volcano Island, and Return to the Bering helping define their distinctive voice in adventure cinema.

Beth Huerta is an editor, agent, educator, and AI artist whose practice merges choreography, photography, and generative image-making. She began her career in movement and performance before transitioning into photographic production and artist development, a path that shaped her approach to visual storytelling and curation. Huerta has worked with renowned photographers—including Howard Schatz, Art Streiber, Sandro, and Theo Westenberger—in roles that supported both their creative work and professional trajectories. Her editorial and agenting experience spans artist representation, production oversight, AI-driven creative development, and long-term career guidance. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Photography Program at Drexel University and has taught at University of the Arts as well as serving as a guest instructor at Columbia College Chicago. Huerta mentors emerging photographers through NYC Salt and serves on the Advisory Team for FreshLens Chicago. Her current work with generative tools exists alongside her long-standing commitment to photography and artist advocacy. She approaches AI not as a replacement for traditional image-making, but as part of an evolving conversation about authorship, methodology, and the future of visual expression.

Brace Hemmelgarn is a Minneapolis-based sports photographer entering his 16th season with the Minnesota Twins. A two-time recipient of the Professional Baseball Photographers' Association Portfolio of the Year award (2023, 2025), his work has been featured by Sports Illustrated, Nike, Gatorade, Apple, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Beats, and Topps. Known for blending peak-action moments with quieter, behind-the-scenes storytelling, Hemmelgarn explores the intersection of journalism, art, and storytelling through the lens of baseball. His photographs strive to show fans a side of the game they don't always get to see, capturing not only what happens on the field but also the personalities, emotions, and details that make baseball America's pastime. When he's not at the ballpark, Hemmelgarn can often be found traveling and photographing landscapes and cities abroad, finding creative inspiration beyond the game.

Ben Weiland and Brian Davis are the filmmakers behind Fielder Films, an independent studio known for award-winning adventure films that blend striking cinematography with deeply human storytelling. Working together for years, they have built a reputation for crafting ambitious stories in remote landscapes, with films including Island X, The Search for Volcano Island, and Return to the Bering helping define their distinctive voice in adventure cinema.

Brooke DiDonato (b. 1990) is a visual artist from Ohio based in New York. Her photographs explore the surreal within the everyday, using color, composition, and gesture to transform familiar settings into psychologically charged spaces. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Fotografiska in Stockholm and Berlin, and her client list includes Hermès, Apple, and Burberry.

Candace Gelman follows her heart. For the last three decades, she has made it her mission to inspire the artists who flock to her to trust their abilities and follow their hearts. Fine-tuned by years of school teaching, Candace has an uncanny ability to foster growth in her artists, particularly those who are new to the commercial world, who see Candace as their light and compass while navigating a new, demanding industry. Her gift for communication enables Candace to share her photographers' visions, spreading beautiful imagery throughout the world. As founder and director of Candace Gelman & Associates, an agency that represents some of the most prolific image makers of our time, Candace builds bridges from art to commerce. Her philosophy is simple: "Stay true to your vision, work hard, and keep evolving."

Chris Hau is a creator, entrepreneur, and marketing strategist based in Toronto, Canada. He builds high-impact digital stories at the intersection of creativity, technology, and adventure, helping brands turn attention into action. With a 15-year background in filmmaking, photography, and agency ownership, Chris now focuses on creating campaigns, content systems, and stories that don't just look good, but also drive real business outcomes. His work blends inspirational tech and travel storytelling, creator education, and practical tech-forward workflows to show both audiences and brands what's possible when creativity meets smart strategy. Trusted by top global brands, Chris specializes in translating complex products and ideas into aspirational, human stories that perform across platforms, fueling awareness, brand perception, and long-term results.

Chris McDuffie is a photographer and filmmaker based in Minneapolis who has been shaping the visual arts landscape for over a decade. His path into photography and film is rooted in a creatively diverse childhood where he dabbled in music, fashion design, and home movies. This eclectic background has informed his inquisitive approach and the distinctiveness of his work. His portfolio spans collaborations with high-profile clients like Nike, YouTube, Aveda, ESPN, GQ, StockX, and Target, among others. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is a passionate tech enthusiast, particularly fascinated by the rapidly evolving world of generative AI and its role in the future of image-making. McDuffie's career is not just a reflection of his skill but also his relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence in the dynamic world of photography and filmmaking.

Chui is a Kenyan-born artist based in Minnesota with a passion for photography and film. Committed to storytelling, he creates work that soothes emotions while challenging the feelings that keep you too comfortable. Chui has built an engaged audience through short films and micro-films online. His distinctive visual storytelling has led to collaborations with both local brands and major companies like the Timberwolves, Under Armour, the Twins, Organic Valley, Sprite, and Coca-Cola.

Director, photographer, collaborator, and hooded sweatshirt enthusiast Dan Saelinger is known for his colorfully creative work and collaborative spirit. He got his start in New York shooting conceptual imagery for major magazines, honing his creative ideation skills before relocating to Bend, Oregon, where he now works with global brands while enjoying a West Coast lifestyle with his family. Dan's work spans food, portraiture, tech, still life, animation, and motion—a mashup of pop cultural references and art history influences. His imagery is visually clean yet bursting with nuanced detail, and he brings a sense of creative playfulness to every set. Dan holds an MFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design and has taught at the School of Visual Arts.

Da'Shaunae Marisa (b. 1996) is a Cleveland-born, Los Angeles-based multi-disciplinary artist and creative entrepreneur working across photography, film, and public art. Through this practice, she reimagines traditional visual narrative by centering healing, joy, and creative expansion. Her practice spans photojournalism for international publications, fine art collage rooted in ancestral memory, and brand collaborations that merge storytelling with social impact. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic, Time, the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Aperture, the LA Times, the Guardian, and more. Her client roster includes Google, the Getty, Nike, Converse, Target, For Freedoms, and Snapchat, among others.

At his core, David Johnson is a storykeeper and creative bridge-builder. Chicago-based and shaped by life on the South Side and in the suburbs, Johnson is a creative storyteller and cultural translator whose work has taken him worldwide — first on a volunteer trip to El Salvador, then as a staff photographer for an Ethiopian newspaper. The creative freedom to "go cover the city" meant he could move at his own pace, stopping to meet people, hear their stories, and take part in their world, capturing it all in vivid color. These early encounters laid the groundwork for his understanding of himself as a cultural translator. Johnson communicates the visual language of the subject, audience, and brand, providing space for each group to see themselves fully within the work. Johnson's sense of what is meaningful also powered the formation of True Chicago in 2017, an arts nonprofit that empowers Black and brown youth in Chicago to own their creative futures. Born from a spontaneous workshop, the platform now hosts conferences and a quarterly mentorship program, equipping the next generation with the resources, knowledge, and opportunities needed to thrive. In 2020, he founded KNDRD, a creative agency built to help brands like Microsoft, Pepsi, and Coors show up more authentically in culture and build real relationships with growth communities. At the heart of KNDRD's work is the belief that translating intention into meaningful cultural connection isn't optional but essential. David's work has taken him across global cities including Shanghai and São Paulo, but his heart stays in Chicago, where he is committed to building creative infrastructure that lasts.

Diana Zalucky is a multifaceted artist and photographer with nearly twenty years of experience, who over the last decade has extended her practice to include direction for motion and integrated projects. Raised in the US Virgin Islands as the daughter of a Turkish mother and Ukrainian father, Diana brings a richly layered perspective to everything she makes. Her warmth and infectious energy have a way of drawing out the best in her subjects, infusing each project with authenticity and genuine spirit. It is this innate ability to connect with others, to transcend barriers and bask in the essence of their individuality, that sets her apart. Diana has called California home since 2014. A storyteller at her core, she is always pushing herself into new creative territory, most recently as the creator of a podcast and a bestselling children's author. When she's not on set in Los Angeles or traveling the globe for projects, she can be found surfing, writing, reading multiple books at once, or simply being in nature near her home where the mountains meet the sea.