What Visual 1st does

Visual 1st is a privately organized B2B events and media company operating in the photo and video industry, founded around 2011-2012 and hosting its 14th annual edition in 2026. The company is led by co-chairs Hans Hartman (also president of affiliated Suite 48 Analytics market research firm) and Alexis Gerard (former founder of Future Image Inc and the 6Sight Future of Imaging conference). Its flagship product is a 1.5-day annual executive conference in San Francisco featuring panel discussions (notably without PowerPoints), fireside chats, Show & Tell product demos, and the Visual 1st Awards competition, with approximately 30% of attendees drawn from overseas markets.

The company's product portfolio extends beyond the annual conference to include the Visual 1st Perspectives bi-weekly newsletter, Flash Viewpoint short-form video interviews, topic-specific online Spotlight meetups (covering AI, content authenticity, photo print innovation, and sustainability), and the Visual 1st Awards program. The underlying technology is minimal — Visual 1st is not a software company — but its content distribution relies on a Squarespace-hosted website, email newsletters, and online event platforms. Related revenue is generated through Suite 48 Analytics, which provides custom market research, focus groups, and strategic workshops for the photo and video industry.

Visual 1st's business model rests on two revenue streams: one-time conference ticket sales (with tiered pricing including full conference passes and networking reception-only tickets, plus discounted cross-tickets via DMLA partnership) and multi-tier sponsorships (Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Media/Association tiers). The company sells to a horizontal segment spanning photo/video software companies (Adobe, Google, Shutterstock, Zenfolio), photo print providers (Fujifilm, CEWE, Mixbook, Gooten), camera manufacturers, photo/video social media platforms, and stock media companies. Marketing is conducted primarily through the website, newsletter, industry networks, and partnerships with media associations including DMLA, Dead Pixels Society, and TIPA. The company operates without external institutional investment as a founder-owned lifestyle business.

Name

Visual 1st

Legal name

Visual 1st

Website

https://visual1st.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Visual 1st organizes an annual executive conference in San Francisco plus year-round online programming, newsletters, and awards for the photo and video industry, serving software companies, print providers, and camera manufacturers through ticket sales and multi-tier sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Conferences and Executive Events

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Congresses (THAHAJAE), Virtual Trade Shows & Expos (Digital Booths, Lead Capture) (MPAGAOAB)

Keywords

• Photography industry conferences
• Visual AI events
• Imaging executive events
• Photo technology summit
• Visual media networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Conference Tickets: Revenue generated from selling tickets to attend the annual Visual 1st conference. Various ticket tiers exist including networking reception-only tickets and full conference passes.
2. Sponsorships: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Media/Association sponsorship tiers provide revenue. Sponsors receive visibility and brand placement at the conference.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Visual 1st runs an annual executive conference in San Francisco for senior leaders in the photo, video, and visual AI industries, governed by the Chatham House Rule and limited to approximately 150 attendees. The company also hosts smaller online Spotlight events throughout the year, publishes the Visual 1st Perspectives newsletter, produces the Flash Viewpoint video series, and runs the Visual 1st Awards program recognizing industry innovation.

Product overview

Visual 1st is an executive conference company that operates as a B2B event platform for the photo and video industry. The core offering is an annual 1.5-day conference in San Francisco (14th edition in 2026), supplemented by online Spotlight meetups on specialized topics, the Flash Viewpoint video interview series, and the Visual 1st Awards competition featuring Show & Tell demos. Related services include the bi-weekly Visual 1st Perspectives newsletter and Suite 48 Analytics market intelligence. The company connects industry executives through panel discussions, fireside chats, networking events, and Birds of a Feather roundtables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Visual 1st Awards: Annual awards program recognizing innovation in photo and video software, technology, and business potential.
• Visual 1st Perspectives
• Visual 1st Spotlight

Products and services

• Visual 1st Annual Conference An intimate, Chatham House Rule-governed executive conference held annually in San Francisco for senior leaders across the photo, video, mobile imaging, cloud, and visual AI industries. Limited to about 150 attendees, it is designed for candid peer-level exchange, partnership development, and strategic benchmarking.
• Online Spotlight Events Smaller, focused online events held throughout the year on specific topics within the photo, video, and visual AI industries, complementing the annual flagship conference.
• Visual 1st Perspectives Newsletter A recurring email newsletter providing news, analysis, and commentary on the photo, video, and visual AI industries for executives and industry followers.
• Flash Viewpoint Video Series A video content series featuring interviews, viewpoints, and commentary from executives and experts in the photo, video, and visual AI industries.
• Visual 1st Awards An annual awards program recognizing innovation, products, and companies across the photo, video, and visual AI ecosystem.
• Conference Sponsorship Packages Tiered corporate sponsorship packages (such as Gold, Silver, Bronze and other levels) offered to vendors, platforms, and service providers seeking visibility and access to senior executives at Visual 1st events.

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, gold, media and core.

• ViesusplatinumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. Viesus provides AI image enhancement technology and participates in conference programming, including Birds of a Feather roundtable on introducing AI-based solutions to photo printing partners.
• CloudprinterplatinumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. Cloudprinter provides print-on-demand infrastructure and participates as expert panelist in Photo Print Innovation discussions.
• FujifilmplatinumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. Fujifilm is a major player in photofinishing and personalized photo products, showcasing their latest innovations at the conference.
• EyeQ (Perfectly Clear)goldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. EyeQ provides AI-powered image enhancement technology through Perfectly Clear platform.
• MediaclipgoldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. Mediaclip provides product personalization SaaS solutions for the photo print industry.
• PrintboxgoldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. Printbox provides photo product personalization platform and has participated in panel discussions on generative AI.
• Nations Photo LabgoldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. Nations Photo Lab provides professional photo printing services.
• Dead Pixels SocietymediaGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media sponsor and co-organizer of pre-conference Dead Pixels Society Meetup at Visual 1st conferences. Gary Pageau, Editor in Chief of Dead Pixels Society, co-moderates conference panels.
• TIPA (Technical Image Press Association)mediaGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. TIPA is a prestigious international photographic and imaging press association.
• ipi (International Photographers Institute)mediaGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. ipi is a professional photography association.
• KapturmediaGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media sponsor for Visual 1st 2026 conference. Kaptur is a media outlet covering the photo industry.
• DMLA (Digital Media Licensing Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Strategic partnership offering cross-ticketing between Visual 1st and IDMLC (International Digital Media Licensing Conference). DMLA badge holders receive discounted access to Visual 1st, and Visual 1st registrants receive 20% off DMLA tickets. Transportation provided between venues for networking reception.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PhotoPlus Expo: Annual U.S. trade show and conference for the photography and imaging industry, organized by Emerald (now Informa). Directly comparable to Visual 1st as a B2B gathering serving photo/video professionals, though significantly larger in scale and broader in scope.
• DMLA / International Digital Media Licensing Conference (IDMLC): The Digital Media Licensing Association's annual conference on stock media, licensing, and content distribution. Closely comparable to Visual 1st as a small executive forum for the photo/media industry and an actual cross-ticketing partner of Visual 1st.
• The Photography Show & The Video Show (UK): Long-running UK-based trade event for photographers and videographers. Comparable as a dedicated photo/video industry conference, but broader scope and larger scale than Visual 1st's executive-focused format.
• Mobile Photo Connect: Annual executive conference focused on mobile photography and imaging. Founded by the same Visual 1st principals and directly comparable as a small, intimate B2B event for the photo/video industry, though focused on the mobile sub-segment.
• PhotoVogue Festival: Annual photography festival hosted by Vogue Italia in Milan, bringing together photo industry leaders and visual storytellers. Comparable as a curated photography industry event with executive programming, though more editorial/fashion oriented.
• 6Sight Future of Imaging Conference: Imaging executive conference founded by Alexis Gerard (Visual 1st co-chair) and predecessor event to the Mobile Imaging Executive Summit. Directly comparable as a small executive forum for the photo/imaging industry.

Regional players

• CP+ (Camera & Photo Imaging Show): Japan's flagship camera and photo imaging trade show held annually in Yokohama. Comparable as a major photo/imaging industry event but serves primarily the APAC market and is much larger in scale than Visual 1st.

Broad incumbents

• Adobe MAX: Adobe's annual creativity conference, a major industry gathering for creative and imaging professionals with significant overlap in audience (Adobe is also a Visual 1st attendee/sponsor). Much larger scale and broader scope than Visual 1st.
• CES (Consumer Electronics Show): The world's largest consumer technology trade show, with significant imaging and camera industry participation. Comparable as a major photo/visual tech industry venue but vastly larger scale and broader scope than Visual 1st.

Others

• Suite 48 Analytics: Market intelligence and custom research firm for the photo and video industry, run by Visual 1st co-chair Hans Hartman. Listed as a related service on Visual 1st's own site and serves the same audience as the conference.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visual-1st

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Visual 1st