Conference is SOLD OUT as of 3/11/25

APAG’s 25th Anniversary Conference and Awards Party

Reimagining Photography Archives for the 21^st Century

Join Us to Celebrate 25 Years of the American Photography Archives Group!

When: March 22nd and 23rd 2025

Where: School of the Visual Arts, 214 East 21^st Street, NYC

2-Day fee: $450

The conference includes networking opportunities, breakout sessions and all panels. There is also an awards party on Saturday night, March 22nd. Additional cost: $40.00 which includes 1 drink plus appetizers. Awards will be given out for lifetime achievement in photography, lifetime achievement for an archive, member of the year and other awards.

Please pay:

2-day Conference fee: $450

2-day Conference plus Awards party: $490

(to pay just for conference fee, go to the membership page and put in $450 in donate button)

THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS:

The Andre and Elizabeth Kertesz Foundation

MUUS Collection

The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History

Gordon Parks Foundation

The Photo Review/The Photograph Collector

Digital Silver Imaging

Keynote Speakers

We are thrilled to announce PETE SOUZA, former Chief Official White House Photographer for President Obama, as our keynote speaker on Saturday, March 22nd. Known for capturing iconic moments in American history, Souza will share insights on his career and the challenges of managing his archive.

Joining Souza is RICK SMOLAN, celebrated photographer and co-creator of the best-selling “Day in the Life” series. Smolan will deliver an inspiring keynote on Sunday, March 23rd, exploring how storytelling through photography continues to evolve in the digital age.

Featured Panelists and Moderators

Edward Burtynsky – photographer, Founder, ARKIV360
Leah Hokenson – Managing Director, Advisor, Estate Planning Baldwin Wealth Partners
Daile Kaplan – Certified Photography Fine Art Appraiser
George Kocis – Director, Staley Wise Gallery
Mark Lubell -Former Magnum Director/Former Executive Director ICP
Michelle Dunn Marsh (Minor Matters Books)
Laura Paterson – Consignment Director, Photographs/Heritage Auctions
Stephen Perloff – The Photo Review / The Photograph Collector
Fred Ritchin – Author, “The Synthetic Eye: Photography Transformed in the Age of AI”
Neal Slavin – photographer
Charles Traub – Chair, MFA Photography and Related Media, School of Visual Arts
David B. Wolf -Attorney
Alice Sachs Zimet – Founder + President, Arts + Business Partners

Conference Topics

This year’s conference will focus on the evolving landscape of photography archives and offer practical strategies for photographers, archivists, and estate managers.

Saturday – March 23, 2025

8:30am – 9:15am -Registration/coffee and pastries

9:15am – 10:30am – Keynote Speaker – Pete Souza

**10:45 – 12:00pm –Pathways to Publishing a Photography Book – Neal Slavin, Rick Smolan and Michelle Dunn Marsh**

Moderator: Mary Engel

12:00 – 1:15pm – The Impact of AI on Photography – Fred Ritchin (Includes book signing for his new book)

1:15 – 2:30 Lunch

**2:30 – 3:45pm– The Marketplace: Auctions and Galleries – Laura Paterson, George Kocis**

Moderator: Alice Zimet

3:45pm – 4:00pm – snacks

4:00 – 5:00 Breakout sessions

The Marketplace – led by Alice Sachs Zimet

5:30 – 7:30 Awards Party @Barnjoo

Awards at 6:30pm

Sunday – March 23, 2025

8:30am – 9:15am – coffee/pastries

9:30 – 10:45am– Keynote Speaker – Rick Smolan

11:00 – 12:15pm – Protecting Your Legacy: Contracts, Estates, and Trusts – David B. Wolf, Leah Hokenson

Moderator: Stephen McCamman

12:15 – 1:30 lunch

1:30pm – 2:45pm – Innovations in Technology – Advanced digital capture and AI label and search for photo archives – Edward Burtynsky

Introduced by Richard Grosbard

2:45pm – 3:15pm In Memoriam and Award Winners Montage

3:15 – 3:30 snacks

**3:30 – 5:00pm –The Future of the Photography Industry and Implications for Archives – Mark Lubell, Charles Traub, Daile Kaplan**

Moderator: Stephen Perloff

End of Conference

Join us for the APAG Awards Party on Saturday evening, where we will honor outstanding contributions to the field of photography and archives and toast to 25 years of preserving photographic legacies.

Registration

www.apag.us/conference

Don’t miss this milestone event celebrating the American Photography Archives Group’s 25th Anniversary.

For more information, visit our website at www.apag.us or contact us at info@apag.us

We can’t wait to see you in New York City for this unforgettable celebration of photography archives!

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2024 Conference

LAST YEAR – FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024

Our Fifth Annual APAG Conference was held on March 9 and 10, 2024. It was a wonderful event full of engaging panels and speakers and our First Annual APAG Awards. We began our weekend with our keynote speaker, Lynn Goldsmith who gave a very inspiring talk about her career and shared many of her amazing photographs.

It was followed by two panels one on Artificial Intelligence and Social Media and followed up with a panel on museums and institutions. That evening we held our First Annual Awards party at Barnjoo, and gave out seven awards for Lifetime Achievement in photography, (Chester Higgins and Neal Slavin) archive management (Estate of Tseng Kwong Chi and the Arthur Rothstein Legacy Project) member of the year (Leslie Smolan/Rodney Smith Archive), distinguished service (Alice Sachs Zimet) and the Beacon award (Lynn Goldsmith).

We want to thank our host Charles Traub and The School of Visual Arts for sharing “The Big Room” with us for the weekend, as well as our major sponsors Robert Gurbo and the Andre and Elizabeth Kertesz Foundation, Muus Collection and the Leonian Foundation.

Thank you to all the panelists and attendees who traveled to NYC from California, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont and New Jersey to attend. Look forward to next year!

Join us for APAG’s 5th annual weekend conference

The Art and Commerce of Photography Archives

on March 9th and 10th, 2024
at the School of Visual Arts, NYC

www.apag.us/about

$450 – 2 day – (includes cocktail party) / $295 – 1 day

We are especially honored to welcome our keynote speaker, Lynn Goldsmith, an acclaimed photographer whose work has significantly influenced the landscape of contemporary photography. Lynn’s insights and experiences are sure to inspire and enlighten our discussions.

Conference Highlights:

Engaging sessions covering a range of topics such as galleries and auctions to the latest trends in photography commerce. Opportunities for networking with fellow photography professionals. Also, included breakout sessions, and a Saturday night cocktail party with the first annual APAG Awards!

Saturday March 9, 2024

8:30am Registration can coffee/pastries

9:30am – 10:30am KEYNOTE SPEAKER – LYNN GOLDSMITH

10:45 – 12:15pm

PANEL 1 From Disruption to Transformation AI and Social Media Trends in Photography

Cara Erdman (Licensing Executive, Artists Rights Society)

Andrew Smith (Andrew Smith Gallery)

Moderator: Stephen McCamman

Lunch – 12:30 – 1:30 (on your own)

1:45pm – 3:30pm

Panel 2 – Curating the Future: Innovative Approaches in Museum Exhibitions and Collections

Don Carleton (Executive Director, Dolph Briscoe Center)

Sean Corcoran (Curator of Prints and Photographs, Museum of the City of New York)

Moderator: Mary Engel

Breakout Sessions 3:45

Awards Party – 5:30 – 7:30pm (Awards at 6:30pm)

Sunday March 10, 2024

9:15 – 9:45 am check in/coffee

9:45 am Awards review / “In Memoriam”

10:00 – 11:30am

Panel 3 – State of the Art Market: Navigating Galleries and Auctions Today

Stephen Perloff (The Photo Review)

Alice Sachs Zimet (Arts + Business Partners)

1145am – 1:15pm

Panel 4 – Navigating the Legal Landscape: Contracts and Copyright Essentials

Nate Kleinman (attorney, McCulloch Kleinman Law)

Patrick K. Lin (Center for Art Law)

Lunch 1:15 – 2: 15 (on your own)

2:30 – 4:00

Panel 5 – Best Practices in Archive Management

Margit Erb (Saul Leiter Foundation)

Robert Gurbo (Andre Kertesz Estate)

Amanda Smith (MUUS Collection)

Moderator: Stephen Perloff

4:15 – 5:15pm

Breakout sessions

5:30 Conference ends…

2018 Conference at ICP

Fourth Annual 2018 APAG Seminar – Copyright Grayson Dantzic Photography

Our Fourth Annual 2018 APAG Seminar was held on December 8 and 9, 2018. It was another successful event for the attendees, panelists and our new sponsors. We were very pleased to have the support once again of our incredible host, the International Center of Photography, ICP. Our new sponsors were the Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation, Uovo and Picturae. Most of the panelists traveled to NYC from seven states, and we had a full house. We have almost outgrown ICP and just in time, as hopefully at the new location downtown, there will be an even larger space for us to have our seminar next year!

“KUDOS on a wonderful conference, well run, fascinating speakers and cutting edge with Bitcoin panel. I learned much and connected with friends new and old. Thank you again for doing so much for families of photographers like me. I’m so grateful to have connected with you and APAG – it’s going to be a real slog but now I feel that I’m in a community, not alone doing it.” Jessica Seigel

“Mary, I just wanted to thank you for an a wonderful seminar – what a wealth of information and expertise! APAG has truly become an invaluable resource for me and a treasured group of colleagues and friends. THANK YOU for all you do!!” Margaret McCarthy

All photos below – Copyright Grayson Dantzic Photography

: Curator Panel, Loren Miller and Alla Efimova

: Mary Engel, Sara Ickow, Cornelia Kalischer, Tanya Kalischer, Julie Grahame

: Julie Grahame, breakout session

: Jeanette Alvarez, Patricia Miranda, Jeanine Altongy

: Alla Efimova, Mary Engel

: Legal panel – Hanoch Sheps, Katie Wagner, A.D. Coleman

: Mary Engel

: Judith Lane, Jaclyn Miller

: Marketing/Licensing panel – Mary Viginia Swanson, Stella Kramer, Julie Grahame

: Marilyn Nance seen here at an APAG meeting at ICP in 2018 © Grayson Dantzic

: Harris Fogel, Stephen Perloff

: Registration table

: Jessica Seigel, Jennifer Stoots

: New Technology panel – Loni Efron, Maria Kessler, Julie Grahame

: Melissa Stevens, Tom Houghton

: Stephen Perloff, Mary Engel. Loren Miller

: Appraisals panel – Jennifer Stoots, Ellen Boughn, Andrew Smith

: Attendees

All photos below – Copyright Harris Fogel

: Rachel Liebling, Stella Kramer

: Grayson Dantzic

: Mary Viginia Swanson

: Martine Fougeron, Janine Altongy, Jill Waterman

: Curator Panel – Loren Miller, Alla Efimova

: Peter Angelo Simon, Julie Grahame, Daniel Kramer, Larry Schiller

: Conservation Panel- Dennis Inch, Monique Fisher

: Betsy Hunt, Mary Virginia Swanson, Andrew Smith, Leslie Smolan

: APAG Board, Grayson, Mary and Julie

: Breakout session with Andrew Smith

: Maria Kessler

: Breakout session

Fourth Annual APAG Seminar 12/8/18 and 12/9/18 at the School at ICP at 1114 Sixth Avenue, NYC.

PANELISTS:

Ellen Boughn – ellenboughn.com

Alla Efimova, PhD – thekunstworks.com

Loni Efron – ilon.com / intagliogroup.com

Monique Fischer – nedcc.org

Julie Grahame – juliegrahame.com / karsh.org

Dennis Inch – Archival Methods.com

Maria Kessler – bloctechmedia.com

Dr. Loren E. Miller – nmaahc.org

Hanoch Sheps – mazzolalindstrom

Andrew Smith – andrewsmithgallery .com

Jennifer Stoots – Stootsllc.com

Mary Virginia Swanson – maryvirginiaswanson .com

Katie Wagner, Esq. – Katie Wagner, Esq

MODERATORS:

A.D. Coleman – A.D.Coleman

Mary Engel APAG / orkinphoto.com

Julie Grahame – juliegrahame

Stella Kramer – stellakramer

Stephen Perloff – photoreview.org

Andrew Smith – Andrewsmithgallery

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Panel #1: 10:00 – 11:30am

Museum Curators: How Do They Find Work For Their Exhibitions and Collections.

Panelists: Dr. Loren Miller, Alla Efimova, PhD – Moderator: Mary Engel

Panel #2: 11:45 – 1:15pm

Conservation and Preservation: What You need to Know to Protect Your Archives

Panelists: Monique Fischer, Dennis Inch – Moderator: Stephen Perloff

Lunch: 1:15 – 2:15pm (on your own)

Panel #3 : 2:30 – 4:00pm

Licensing and Marketing: Learn All About It From the Experts

Panelists: Mary Virginia Swanson, Julie Grahame – Moderator: Stella Kramer

Coffee break: 4:00 – 4:30

Breakout Sessions: 4:30 – 5:30pm

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Panel #4: 10:00 – 11:30am

From a Legal Perspective: Contracts and Copyright

Panelists: Hanoch Sheps, Kathryn E. Wagner Esq. – Moderator: A.D. Coleman

Panel #5: 11:45 – 1:15pm

What’s it Worth? Appraising Prints and Copyrights Associated with an Archive”

Panelists: Jennifer Stoots, Ellen Boughn – Moderator: Andrew Smith

Lunch: 1:15 – 2:15pm

Panel #6: 2:30 – 4:00pm

The Internet: New Technology and How It Will Impact Our Industry

Panelists: Loni Efron, Maria Kessler – Moderator: Julie Grahame

Coffee break: 4:00 – 4:30pm

Breakout Sessions: 4:30 – 5:30pm

SPONSORS:

Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation

UOVO

Picturae

SEMINAR FEES:

(Includes 3 panels each day, breakfast, afternoon coffee, breakout sessions and Sat. evening party)

One Day- APAG member $225 / non-member $250

Two Days – APAG member $ 400 / non-member $450

Additional attendee from an archive/photo studio – member $175 each day

HOTELS: Below are hotels in Midtown that are within walking distance of ICP. There are many other Manhattan hotels that are also convenient by subway, bus, or cab. ICP is located at 1114 Sixth Avenue, at 43rd Street.

Large Chain Hotels:

Millenium Broadway, Times Square

Marriott Marquis

Small Boutique Hotels:

Paramount

Night Hotel, Theater District or Times Square

APAG 2017 Seminar on March 11 & 12 a success!

Photo Copyright Ron Sherman

Thank you to everyone who attended the 3rd Annual 2017 APAG Seminar this past weekend! We had 45 attendees and 15 panelists. The response was amazing, and I appreciate all the kind remarks about how inspiring and educational it was! I really appreciate the assistance from our fantastic tech Francesco and Alejandro from ICP, and Efrem, Lily, Pamela and especially Annie, one of our charter members. A huge thank you to my board who is always there when I need them to lend their expertise and unwavering support, Grayson Dantzic, Julie Grahame and Ernest Londa.

I was very pleased to release an advance copy of THE PHOTO ARCHIVE HANDBOOK. Thanks to the contributors to the book, Andrew Smith, Kenneth Falcon, Robin Moore, Julie Grahame and Jennifer Stoots and to the photographers who loaned photos. Also, to my editor Judy Herrmann, and especially my longtime collaborator and wonderful graphic designer, Christine Zamora of CZ Design, whose professionalism, friendly and patient manner always helps us get the job done on deadline! Additional copies will be at our table at AIPAD, and they will also be available online at that time.

I am always appreciative to our generous hosts ICP, who help us every step of the way. Including Mark Lubell who has supported APAG and its mission for many years, and Deirdre Donohue and Maya Benton who were fantastic panelists, and Erica Somerwitz who handled all the logistics, and was a pleasure to work with.

– Mary Engel, Founder and President

Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciated the seminar this weekend on legacy management. The panelists, the flow of information, were truly precious. Everybody gained a better understanding of the end of life issues facing us image makers. Chester Higgins Jr.

Huge appreciation for the most wonderful and beneficial program you made happen. Truly brilliant!! Susan May Tell

All photos copyright Grayson Dantzic

: Group photo, Saturday

: Lily and Annie

: John Pelosi, Eugene Mopsik, Daniel Kramer

: John Pelosi

: Lisa McCarty

: Cynthia Matthews and Stephen Perloff

: Andrew Smith, Robert Gurbo

: Lauren Wendle, Patricia Fried

: Efrem, Lily, Annie and Julie

: Mary Engel

: W.M. Hunt, Alice Sachs Zimet

: W.M. Hunt

: Mary Engel, Maya Benton, Alice Sachs Zimet

: Alice leading breakout session

: Ron Sherman and Eugene Mopsik

: Peter Angelo Simon

: Grayson, Mary, Daniel Kramer, Gregory and Bob Gruen

: Toast at the reception

: Deidre Donohue

: Daniel Cooney

: Stephen Perloff

: Emily Bierman, Stephen Perloff, A.D. Coleman

: Leslie Squyres, W.M. Hunt

: Robin Moore, Robert Gurbo

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Panel: 10:00 – 11:30am

What is the current state of copyright given the political climate, and how do we protect our photographs?

Panelists: Eugene Mopsik, John Pelosi

Panel: 11:45 – 1:15pm

Inside the collector’s mind: branding, marketing and getting your collection…placed.

Panelists: W.M. Hunt, Alice Zimet

Lunch: 1:15 – 2:15pm (on your own)

Panel: 2:30 – 4:00pm

Organizing and working with archives: how to make them accessible for critics, curators, historians and researchers

Panelists: Maya Benton, A.D. Coleman and Douglas Sheer

Breakout Sessions: 4:15 – 5:15pm

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Panel: 10:00 – 11:30am

What are institutions looking for and how do they build their collections?

Panelists: Deidre Donohue, Lisa McCarty, Leslie Squyres

Panel: 11:45 – 1:15pm

Legacy of an archive: how to protect and manage it.

Panelists: Robert Gurbo, Robin Moore, Andrew Smith

Lunch: 1:15 – 2:15pm

Panel: 2:30 – 4:00pm

Auctions, Galleries and the Press 101: What you need to know.

Panelists: Emily Bierman, Daniel Cooney, Stephen Perloff

Breakout Sessions: 4:15 – 5:15pm

SEMINAR FEES:

(Fees include all panels, lite breakfast and afternoon coffee, and Saturday night party!)

See below for info on payment by credit card via PAYPAL, or by check

One Day – APAG member $175 / Non-member $200
Two Days – APAG member $325 / Non-member $350
Two people both days, member $575
Two people both days, non-member, $600

2nd Annual APAG 2015 Seminar a success!

Sunday, September 20, 2015

The seminar concluded last night as I went to a classroom, and found a breakout session still going strong, and I had to inform them that it was 6:30 and everyone else had left already! I think they might have stayed all night listening to George Miles from Yale, Lisa McCarty from Duke and Jennifer Watts from The Huntington, the esteemed panel who graciously stayed late answering all their questions.

I appreciate all the kind words I have received, and I am so pleased that the 2nd Annual APAG seminar was a great success! Thanks to all the attendees and panelists who travelled from 13 states and Canada! I am so appreciative to my wonderful volunteers, Bryan, Ryan, Danny, Ronnie and Stephanie! I could not do this without the passion and support of my board Grayson Dantzic, Ernest Londa and our newest member Julie Grahame! Our wonderful accountant David Aron deserves our appreciation for his help all year. Andrew Smith from the Andrew Smith Gallery of Santa Fe, New Mexico was a big help in all the pre-planning of the event, and moderated several panels.

Of course, our host ICP helped make the entire event run smoothly, including Erica, Christina, Nicole and Kemal who videotaped the entire event, and I am eternally grateful for Phil Block and Mark Lubell’s continued support, who were both able to welcome everyone on Friday morning! Thank you also to all the APAG members who support APAG throughout the year!

Mary Engel, Founder and President, APAG

“The APAG seminar is a must for anyone wanting to know more about preserving and presenting an archive. The two day event took place in a most cordial atomosphere where all were welcome and information flowed freely. Great people to be with and learn from.” -Laurence Salzmann, photographer

“Thank you so much for those two wonderful days. My head is full of information, it will take me a while to digest it all.” -Ariel Borremans, Director Guy Borremans Archive

PRESS/BLOGS

“Holding On and Letting Go” by A.D. Coleman, Photocritic International

“In Appreciation” by Judith Thompson, Harold Feinstein’s wife

RADIO INTERVIEW

In this interview with Mary Engel and Executive Vice President Grayson Dantzic we discuss the creation of APAG, and the 2nd Annual APAG Conference in New York, held at the International Center of Photography, ICP, in September 2015. The conference featured leading curators, archivists, librarians, foundations, and photographers on the topics of preservation, strategy, and contemporary concerns and approaches.

With so many families of photographers and professionals trying to understand how best to pass on their legacy, and what to do with an inherited archive, and a myriad of approaches and options, the task can be daunting. If you are interested in photography, estate planning, leaving a legacy, and preserving a photographic archive, then listen in! Recorded at ICP in New York City, in September 2015 by Harris Fogel. Mac Edition Radio

VIDEO

See all of our videos on the APAG Youtube Channel.