Connecticut Slam: Meeting Creatives to Collaborate
Portrait Slam hosted the 2025 #ConnecticutSlam on Sunday, August 17. The event, held at the American Mural Project (a place rather familiar to me), gathered photographers and models from Connecticut and nearby states, who worked together in a friendly and collaborative environment.
Run by Travis and Courtney Toll, Portrait Slam travels all over the United States organizing this kind of collaborative event, getting photographers and models together, and providing a suitable and friendly location for several shoots to take place at the same time.
When I first heard about it, I was a little reluctant to join in, but before I gave it a second thought I was already signed up and planning my drive to Winsted.
First Impressions
Upon arriving, I must say that I felt a little out of place. Many models and photographers knew each other and there were greetings and catching up taking place, while I had very little to do but introduce myself and have a casual chat.
However, the organizers and the attending creatives were so friendly and welcoming, that I instantly felt like I had been participating in this type of event for a long time. Meeting Tiana Correa —a young photographer who had interacted with me on social media, and even shared a phone call the day before— made me even more comfortable, as I was no longer a stranger. Fortunately, I was not the only “rookie” in this type of event.
At the beginning, Travis made an introduction of what was going to happen, which included teaming up photographers and models, and borrowing lights from sponsor Nanlite, lenses from sponsor Tamron Americas, gear from guest Canon USA, and getting any type of tech support from Milford Photo. Angelllcb (Angelina Hamm) a modeling coach, helped models get acclimated and warm up, while also offering herself as to pose and even hold any of the lights if need be.
I ended up teaming up with Elise Bothelo (also in her first slam) and Fred Max, and we were all lined up and assigned a model for the fist minutes of the shoot. After that, we would rotate.
The Shoot
Our first model was Victoria. We borrowed a light from Nanlite and started working with her. One of us would hold the light while the other two took shots. Then we would switch positions. The shoot was very organic, and Victoria was very friendly and easy to work with. She also provided ideas on a couple of our shots, and those ten minutes flew by like they had never happened.
Fortunately, but not surprisingly given our model, all three of us ended up with excellent images. Although we were sad to part ways with her, we were all very happy of the work that had been done, and also excited for who our next model was going to be.
Cassie joined us for the second session. We decided to take things to the exterior and use one of the beautiful brick walls of the old mill as a backdrop. Cassie was also very welcoming to our ideas, and we shot for quite some time, until other photographers came in and we added Tavis to take duo photos that were outstanding. Tavis happened to be the first model who greeted me and introduced himself when I arrived.
From then on, we would be teaming randomly with people, and I seized my opportunity to take some behind-the-scenes photos, as the journalist in me kind of took over.
We did some frolicking photos with Bianca (whose challenge turned out to be movement), following an idea pitched by Elise. Other photographers joined in, and as the heat took over, we moved back into the mill.
Elise and I stayed with Bianca, taking photos on the third level, using a couch and books, as we experimented with the Nanlite device and I tried to catch a sense of drama (which was my challenge for the event).
After that, I moved downstairs and captured a couple of shots of Tavis sitting on a couch, holding the light to illuminate his face. Took my time and talked to other photographers and saw how everybody was taking pictures. It was like being a kid in a candy store.
Then, I went and borrowed an RF 28-70mm f/2 lens from Canon USA: a true gem. The lens (my first experience using RF lenses) was fast, easy to focus with, and had a great light and color.
I took the moment to photograph Bianca and Tavis playing the piano, and then moved to a group shot that included Mason, April, Adriana and Christine having fun with a colorful background. Several photographers were taking their moment with these amazing models, who were not only posing but also having fun and making sure each one of us had a unique capture.
Adriana first, and Gloria later, would be the last models I would work with. Adriana and I decided to shoot together and I asked Elise to join us. The three of us went upstairs for a few minutes of natural light shots sitting on an armchair and using the brick wall as the background, until Gloria came in for the final moments of the shoot.
Final Thoughts
The organizers (Travis and Courtney) did an amazing job. Even though the photographer-to-model ratio was more than two to one, they managed to make everyone get together and cooperate to create good images. Also, the sponsors (Tamron Americas and Nanlite) were incredibly cooperative with the gear they brought in, and Canon (as a guest) was amazing as well. Milford Photo was at hand for anything that we might possibly need.
I became friendly even with people I didn’t work with at any moment, and that was a testament of the kind of people Portrait Slam attracts.
Perhaps, my only regret was not having worked with the other models, but I can state for a fact that they were as amazing as the one I had the privilege to work with. The good news is that these events continue to happen, and I can’t wait for another chance.
Will I work with the same people or will I pursue others? That is a very difficult question to answer. Yet, the only truth I know is that if I run into the same people again, no matter who chooses to work with me, I will end up very happy.
Notes:
The first time a model is mentioned, click on the link to visit their Instagram page.
Special thanks should be given to the following:
Host: @Portrait_Slam
Location: @AmericanMuralProject
Lenses and Slam Sponsor: @TamronAmericas
Lighting and Slam Sponsor: @NanliteUSA
Special Guest: @CanonUSA
Tech Support: @MilfordPhoto
Model Support: @Angelllcb
