It’s a couple of weeks away and if you like photography, whether you’re an amateur or professional, shoot with a DSLR or iPhone, and want to improve your skills, have a hands-on play with some of the newest gear, or just want to chat with some people who have the same hobby as you, this is where you’ll want to be. It’s the PhotoLive Expo and it’s now been running for 12 years.
It’s Western Australia’s biggest photography and videography event, hosted by our favourite camera shop, Camera Electronic. They’re a family-owned Perth business that’s been in the game since 1968 through multiple generations of their family. They’re passionate about photography and that shows. Which is why they started this expo, which has now grown bigger that even they could imagine.
This year’s program is no different — it’s the biggest the expo has run in its history. There’ll be eight speaker sessions, nine hands-on workshops, nine brand photo walks throughout the day, and an expo floor full of the latest gear.
Beyond the expo floor, where you can get your hands on the latest cameras, lenses, and lighting from the world’s leading brands, here’s what’s on, so you can plan the day around what you want to see the most.
Wedding Photography with Norman Yap — 9:00 am
Luxury wedding photographer Norman Yap (one of the best in the game) opens the speaker room with a session on performing under pressure. He shares how to stay calm in fast-paced, high-stakes environments and capture weddings with emotional depth and editorial storytelling.
Documentary Storytelling with Sarah Pannell — 10:00 am
Melbourne documentary photographer Sarah Pannell walks through how observation, storytelling, and human connection come together to make images that capture culture, place, and everyday life.
Astrophotography with Roger Groom — 11:00 pm
Perth astrophotographer Roger Groom covers shooting the southern night sky, from the Milky Way and nightscapes to planets and deep-sky objects. He gets into practical techniques, gear, and how modern smart telescopes stack up against traditional DSLR and mirrorless setups. Pitched at all levels, so worth a seat even if your last night-sky attempt was a blurry smudge.
Landscape Photography with Tony Hewitt — 12:00 am
One of the most awarded photographers in the country, Tony Hewitt takes the late-morning slot on creativity, light, composition, and making landscape images that connect emotionally rather than just document a view.
This session will benefit anyone who likes photos (everyone), and it will sell out very quickly. You’ll view every photo you take after this session in a whole new light.
Visual storytelling with Hiroki Rule — 1:00 pm
Hiroki Rule opens the afternoon with a look at the craft of visual storytelling — how to make photographs that carry emotion, meaning, and connection rather than just a clean exposure. If you’ve ever seen a photo that just moves you, and you’ve wondered why you just can’t stop staring at it, this is the session for you.
Travel Photography with Rachel Claire — 2:00 pm
In my opinion, this is one of the hardest types of photography. How do you capture the emotion you feel while travelling in a photo so that every time you look back at the image, it brings back those memories and joy?
Well, Rachel Claire shares her approach to travel photography through storytelling and authentic connection, and how to capture the people, places, and moments that make a destination feel special rather than generic.
Birding with Col Roberts — 3:00 pm
Col Roberts gets practical on bird photography: how to find birds, anticipate their behaviour, work with light and backgrounds, choose gear, and come home with sharper, more compelling wildlife images.
Family Photos with Anna DeBenedictis — 4:00 pm
Closing the speaker room, Anna DeBenedictis covers authentic family photography — capturing connection, personality, and the real moments rather than stiff, posed set-ups.
The hands-on workshops
The workshops are the first thing to sell out every year, and it’s easy to see why: each is a 90-minute, hands-on session limited to just 24 people. There’s everything from learning how to photograph food well — foodies, you’ll get a lot out of that one — to the in-depth expression of fine-art nude photography and the art of shooting video in low-light situations.
Join a photo walk with a brand expert
The photo walks take small groups out to shoot alongside a brand pro. Each one runs for about 45 minutes, and are a fun way of learning to take better photos, and learning directly from a professional photographer in the moment.
Dates, details, and how to get tickets
Tickets are available from PhotoLive Expo here.
When: Sunday, July 26th, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Novotel on Adelaide Terrace
Early bird ticket pricing:
- $18.00 for early bird ($25.00 full price)
- $58.00 for all speaker sessions and expo entry ($79.00 full price)
- $88.00 for Workshop and expo entry ($119.00 full price)
10% of every ticket sold goes to Telethon.
