MODE: The World’s Photography Festival

Bio coming soon!

Brace Hemmelgarn is a Minneapolis-based sports photographer entering his 16th season with the Minnesota Twins. A two-time recipient of the Professional Baseball Photographers' Association Portfolio of the Year award (2023, 2025), his work has been featured by Sports Illustrated, Nike, Gatorade, Apple, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Beats, and Topps. Known for blending peak-action moments with quieter, behind-the-scenes storytelling, Hemmelgarn explores the intersection of journalism, art, and storytelling through the lens of baseball. His photographs strive to show fans a side of the game they don't always get to see, capturing not only what happens on the field but also the personalities, emotions, and details that make baseball America's pastime. When he's not at the ballpark, Hemmelgarn can often be found traveling and photographing landscapes and cities abroad, finding creative inspiration beyond the game.

Driven by a relentless curiosity and a love for the whimsical, Brandi Nicole’s photography invites viewers into a world where light and creativity converge. Brandi is a Kansas City native who has called New York City home for over a decade. She channels the energy of both cities into her work, always striving to inspire others to embrace their own creativity. Brandi has developed a distinctive artistic voice through self-portraiture and creative portrait projects, using intricate lighting, illustrative editing, and multimedia techniques to bring her visions to life. At the heart of her practice is a deep passion for bringing beauty into the world and encouraging others to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Brett Florens is a Nikon Ambassador, photographer, author and educator with more than 30 years behind the camera — although photography was never actually the plan. He stumbled into photography in 1992 and spent six years as a police photographer, photographing crime scenes and forensic evidence. That experience taught him the importance of observation, light, and getting the shot right when there is no second chance. Since 2008, Brett has been teaching and inspiring photographers around the world. He has written five books on photography and spoken to thousands of photographers at major events, conferences and workshops across the globe. Today, Brett’s teaching goes beyond camera settings and technique. He focuses on helping photographers see differently, understand light, connect with people, make confident creative decisions and build photography businesses that actually work. Energetic, honest and highly practical, Brett shares what he has learned from three decades in the industry — including plenty of mistakes, so you hopefully don't have to make quite as many of your own.

Ben Weiland and Brian Davis are the filmmakers behind Fielder Films, an independent studio known for award-winning adventure films that blend striking cinematography with deeply human storytelling. Working together for years, they have built a reputation for crafting ambitious stories in remote landscapes, with films including Island X, The Search for Volcano Island, and Return to the Bering helping define their distinctive voice in adventure cinema.

Brooke DiDonato (b. 1990) is a visual artist from Ohio based in New York. Her photographs explore the surreal within the everyday, using color, composition, and gesture to transform familiar settings into psychologically charged spaces. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Fotografiska in Stockholm and Berlin, and her client list includes Hermès, Apple, and Burberry.

Bio coming soon!

Candace Gelman follows her heart. For the last three decades, she has made it her mission to inspire the artists who flock to her to trust their abilities and follow their hearts. Fine-tuned by years of school teaching, Candace has an uncanny ability to foster growth in her artists, particularly those who are new to the commercial world, who see Candace as their light and compass while navigating a new, demanding industry. Her gift for communication enables Candace to share her photographers' visions, spreading beautiful imagery throughout the world. As founder and director of Candace Gelman & Associates, an agency that represents some of the most prolific image makers of our time, Candace builds bridges from art to commerce. Her philosophy is simple: "Stay true to your vision, work hard, and keep evolving."

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Chris Hau is a creator, entrepreneur, and marketing strategist based in Toronto, Canada. He builds high-impact digital stories at the intersection of creativity, technology, and adventure, helping brands turn attention into action. With a 15-year background in filmmaking, photography, and agency ownership, Chris now focuses on creating campaigns, content systems, and stories that don't just look good, but also drive real business outcomes. His work blends inspirational tech and travel storytelling, creator education, and practical tech-forward workflows to show both audiences and brands what's possible when creativity meets smart strategy. Trusted by top global brands, Chris specializes in translating complex products and ideas into aspirational, human stories that perform across platforms, fueling awareness, brand perception, and long-term results.

Chris McDuffie is a photographer and filmmaker based in Minneapolis who has been shaping the visual arts landscape for over a decade. His path into photography and film is rooted in a creatively diverse childhood where he dabbled in music, fashion design, and home movies. This eclectic background has informed his inquisitive approach and the distinctiveness of his work. His portfolio spans collaborations with high-profile clients like Nike, YouTube, Aveda, ESPN, GQ, StockX, and Target, among others. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is a passionate tech enthusiast, particularly fascinated by the rapidly evolving world of generative AI and its role in the future of image-making. McDuffie's career is not just a reflection of his skill but also his relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence in the dynamic world of photography and filmmaking.

Chris Poplawski is a freelance photographer born and raised in Southern California. Chris dedicates most of his time to travel and landscapes and has been represented by OM System Cameras as an Ambassador since 2019. He’s also the founder of The Untold Narrative, a creative agency specializing in visual storytelling for tourism boards, luxury hospitality and experiences, financial institutions, and global brands. His work blends a cinematic perspective with a strong sense of place, shaped by years of shooting across diverse landscapes and cultures. Poplawski travels full-time with his wife, Meagan, who curates for Travel and Leisure, and their dog, documenting remote corners of the world while leading photography workshops that educate and inspire the ever-revolving social landscape for creatives.

Chui is a Kenyan-born artist based in Minnesota with a passion for photography and film. Committed to storytelling, he creates work that soothes emotions while challenging the feelings that keep you too comfortable. Chui has built an engaged audience through short films and micro-films online. His distinctive visual storytelling has led to collaborations with both local brands and major companies like the Timberwolves, Under Armour, the Twins, Organic Valley, Sprite, and Coca-Cola.

Dani Jackson-Smith is founder of The Cre8tors, a creative talent and production management company. Over a career spanning Edelman, Havas, and Leo Burnett, she has led work for brands including Starbucks, Nintendo, Samsung, and Kellogg's. Today, she helps brands, agencies, and creators build culturally relevant partnerships and productions.

Director, photographer, collaborator, and hooded sweatshirt enthusiast Dan Saelinger is known for his colorfully creative work and collaborative spirit. He got his start in New York shooting conceptual imagery for major magazines, honing his creative ideation skills before relocating to Bend, Oregon, where he now works with global brands while enjoying a West Coast lifestyle with his family. Dan's work spans food, portraiture, tech, still life, animation, and motion—a mashup of pop cultural references and art history influences. His imagery is visually clean yet bursting with nuanced detail, and he brings a sense of creative playfulness to every set. Dan holds an MFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design and has taught at the School of Visual Arts.

Da'Shaunae Marisa (b. 1996) is a Cleveland-born, Los Angeles-based multi-disciplinary artist and creative entrepreneur working across photography, film, and public art. Through this practice, she reimagines traditional visual narrative by centering healing, joy, and creative expansion. Her practice spans photojournalism for international publications, fine art collage rooted in ancestral memory, and brand collaborations that merge storytelling with social impact. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic, Time, the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Aperture, the LA Times, the Guardian, and more. Her client roster includes Google, the Getty, Nike, Converse, Target, For Freedoms, and Snapchat, among others.

At his core, David Johnson is a storykeeper and creative bridge-builder. Chicago-based and shaped by life on the South Side and in the suburbs, Johnson is a creative storyteller and cultural translator whose work has taken him worldwide — first on a volunteer trip to El Salvador, then as a staff photographer for an Ethiopian newspaper. The creative freedom to "go cover the city" meant he could move at his own pace, stopping to meet people, hear their stories, and take part in their world, capturing it all in vivid color. These early encounters laid the groundwork for his understanding of himself as a cultural translator. Johnson communicates the visual language of the subject, audience, and brand, providing space for each group to see themselves fully within the work. Johnson's sense of what is meaningful also powered the formation of True Chicago in 2017, an arts nonprofit that empowers Black and brown youth in Chicago to own their creative futures. Born from a spontaneous workshop, the platform now hosts conferences and a quarterly mentorship program, equipping the next generation with the resources, knowledge, and opportunities needed to thrive. In 2020, he founded KNDRD, a creative agency built to help brands like Microsoft, Pepsi, and Coors show up more authentically in culture and build real relationships with growth communities. At the heart of KNDRD's work is the belief that translating intention into meaningful cultural connection isn't optional but essential. David's work has taken him across global cities including Shanghai and São Paulo, but his heart stays in Chicago, where he is committed to building creative infrastructure that lasts.

Diana Zalucky is a multifaceted artist and photographer with nearly twenty years of experience, who over the last decade has extended her practice to include direction for motion and integrated projects. Raised in the US Virgin Islands as the daughter of a Turkish mother and Ukrainian father, Diana brings a richly layered perspective to everything she makes. Her warmth and infectious energy have a way of drawing out the best in her subjects, infusing each project with authenticity and genuine spirit. It is this innate ability to connect with others, to transcend barriers and bask in the essence of their individuality, that sets her apart. Diana has called California home since 2014. A storyteller at her core, she is always pushing herself into new creative territory, most recently as the creator of a podcast and a bestselling children's author. When she's not on set in Los Angeles or traveling the globe for projects, she can be found surfing, writing, reading multiple books at once, or simply being in nature near her home where the mountains meet the sea.

Edwina Hay is a photographer and avid music fan born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Ever since attending Fordham University, she has captured musicians performing on stage for more than two decades. Her images have appeared in outlets such as BrooklynVegan, Creem, Gothamist, Impose Magazine, and Rolling Stone. She has also documented performances for Bowery Presents, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Museum of Modern Art, and Pioneer Works. She is a member of Black Women Photographers, The Photo Ladies, and has been a member of Flickr since 2004.

Éléonore Menga is a Congolese-born, Swiss-raised, Montréal-based photographer whose work explores memory, belonging, and human connection through portraiture, documentary photography, and experimental image-making. Drawing from a life lived across the Congo, Switzerland, and Canada, she creates images that reflect on cultural continuity, identity, and community. Her practice often incorporates double exposure and the layering of digital and analog processes, weaving together temporalities and perspectives to connect individuals with their environments and histories. Menga is a recipient of the 2025 Flickr × Black Women Photographers Grant. Her work has also gained international recognition, including distinctions from the BBA One Shot Award (2025) and the FotoSlovo Awards (2026).

Ellie Pritts is a new media artist whose practice fuses analog and digital processes across photography, video synthesis, experimental animation, and code. Grounded in biology, perception, and embodied experience, her work explores transformation, instability, and the boundaries between the organic and technological. Pritts’ interdisciplinary approach was shaped by an unconventional early education spanning microbiology, film photography, and classical music. Her practice is also informed by her experience living with the rare genetic disease DADA2, which has deepened her engagement with the body, technology, and slowness. In 2017, TIME named Pritts one of the top photographers to follow on Instagram in the United States. Her work has been featured in publications including Forbes, WIRED, Smithsonian Magazine, and The Art Newspaper, and she has collaborated with clients and brands including Adobe, Apple, and Microsoft.

Emily Teague is a photographer & director based in Brooklyn, New York. She began photographing at 16 in Northern California, quickly developing an obsession with storytelling, light, and color. Deeply influenced by cinema, photojournalism, and human connection, Emily’s work is rooted in collaboration, play, and creating space for others to feel seen. She is passionate about creativity, politics, animal rights, and mission-driven work, using visual storytelling to celebrate people and amplify causes that matter. Her work has taken her to over 30 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Ecuadorian-born, NYC-raised Erick Hercules has redefined photography with viral techniques, blending fine art and pop culture. His work has been seen in Hollywood, on billboards, in VOGUE and Rolling Stone, with brands like Converse, Diesel and Puma and artists like DJ Khaled and the Hamilton Cast on Broadway. As a Sony Alpha Ambassador and the founder of Hercules New York, Erick continues to inspire the next generation, spearheading multiple communities and leading creative strategies for brands like Red Bull and HBO. Fun fact: He's also a retired opera singer who has performed at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall before turning 16.