Hi and Welcome!
We are Shanda, Martha & Jeanie, the brains behind Outdoor Photo Alliance
Ever wondered why we created the Outdoor Photo Alliance? So did we—at first! But the idea actually took root after an amazing trip to White Sands National Park in New Mexico, organized by our friend Brie Stockwell. The trip was unforgettable: we connected with incredible people, made new friends, and fully immersed ourselves in photography. That experience inspired us to create something bigger—a way to help others enjoy the same kind of magic.
After some digging, we realized there aren’t many conferences dedicated to nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. Sure, there are workshops here and there, but conferences? Not so much. And that’s how the Outdoor Photo Alliance was born.
We can’t wait to meet you at one of our conferences!
Together we have more than 30 years combined photography experience in a variety of genres and techniques. We have been featured in F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Pixels: Exploring the Heart & Art of Photography, On Landscape Magazine, Wild Women in Photography Podcast, Shout Out Colorado, Landscape Photography World Podcast and more.
We have repeatedly heard others in the field express the desire to connect so we founded a company to address just that.
We aspire to bring you together and provide opportunities to connect so you may have the chance to create endearing relationships as we have found…
CONNECT ~ IMAGINE ~ CREATE
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Shanda Akin
Shanda is a freelance photographer based in Durango, Colorado. Her photography and art are the result of the need to explore remarkable and depleting natural places, narrate a vision through imagery, and to share her unique and personal point of view. She is an adventure-seeker with an insatiably nomadic soul and experienced world traveler who has ventured into far reaches of the earth seizing exceptional moments in 48 countries and counting.
In 2019, Shanda transitioned from a successful 25-year career in the United States Air Force into entrepreneurship to fulfill her passion for photography. She published her first photography book, The Beauty of Durango and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in photography through the Academy of Art University.
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Martha Montiel
Martha is a nature and landscape photographer born and raised in Mexico City and now based in Colorado.
Martha’s fascination with photography started at a young age. As an adult, it grew as a way to show others the beauty of our natural world. Her background and university classes were focused in art and graphic design but her love of photography was solidified after participating in a black and white photography class where she learned to develop her own film.
Photography has continued to fuel her love of the outdoors, her sense of adventure, her love of connecting with others and a desire to inspire others to conserve and protect our planet.
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Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero
Jeanie has a diverse background, including roles as a software engineer, massage therapist, English teacher, and photo restoration artist. Jeanie recently co-ran a software business with her husband, gaining recognition in books, magazines, and on PBS. She is intensely curious and loves learning new things.
Since 2017, she has channeled her creative energy into photography, believing it can transform our perception of the world. While some see her as hiding behind the camera, she feels deeply connected to the moment when framing a shot. Her goal is to inspire others through her photographic journey.
Jeanie lives in the Rocky Mountain foothills near Fort Collins, Colorado, volunteering as a photographer for Larimer County Natural Resources.