SPAC 2026: High volume, high energy, and the motley crew

It was a real privilege to join our international colleagues as a guest speaker at the SPAC Pre-Track conference this year. This was a day built specifically for the volume photography industry, and the energy in the room was a great reminder of why getting together in person matters so much.

Connecting face-to-face with global leaders and hearing how everyone is navigating the unique challenges of high-volume work was incredibly energising. Here are the highlights that really stuck with me:

Business transformation – Focus on the bottom line

Listening to Jason Butcher break down the transformation at Arthur Reed Photos was a standout. He shared how they boosted net profits by 72 per cent – not by chasing more schools, but by rethinking their operating model and cutting unnecessary costs. It’s a masterclass in smart leadership. (He’s also a great person to grab a beer with!)

AI – Practical ways to save time

AI was everywhere, but the best advice was to stop overthinking it and start using it to kill off manual labour. Rodrigo Alvarado from Magic Photography shared some brilliant real-world examples. They’ve actually removed their phone number and email from initial parent comms, using an AI chatbot as the first line of support. It has completely streamlined their workflow. (Side note: Rod is a surprisingly good singer, as we all found out while having some fun on Fremont St!)

AI – New revenue streams

I had a very productive sit-down with Heath Lassiter from Niche AI. We looked at how AI-driven "immersion experiences" can actually drive sales. We are planning to trial this technology with some of our partners immediately – if you’d like to be one of the pilots, please reach out to me directly.

Protecting your work

We also met with an innovative tech company specialising in digital theft prevention. They’ve developed a way to block screenshots and stop watermark removal entirely. Our technical team is already digging into this to see how we can put it to work.

A massive thank you to the SPAC organisers for having us and for the incredible hospitality.

Finally, a special shout-out to Harri Olkinuora from Netlife. He not only wrangled our "motley crew" of international speakers, but also received the 2026 SPAC Award of Recognition. Congratulations Harri, the award could not have gone to a better guy.

P.S. There are already whispers about the international team heading to the German Alps for 2027. Watch this space!

Members of the international contingent making the most of their time together between sessions.

Members of the international contingent making the most of their time together between sessions.

Members of the international contingent making the most of their time together between sessions.