Following its debut in Sydney last year, FUJIFILM Australia is hosting the second annual Creator Summit: Powered by Fujifilm in Melbourne. On Saturday 9 May 2026, Australian creators, storytellers and industry voices will join a jam-packed day of talks, workshops, live shoots and hands-on experiences.
The one-day festival will head to Melbourne, turning The Timber Yard into an immersive creative hub where attendees can step behind the lens, experiment with new techniques, and connect with photographers, filmmakers and content creators.
Leading the 2026 program is podcast duo Toni Lodge and Ryan Jon, who will open the day with a keynote on building genuine communities that show up beyond the algorithm and Jord Hammond, who will delve into how he journeyed beyond the influencer economy to build a purpose-led photography career.
They are joined by Zara Seidler and Sam Koslowski, co-founders of youth media publication The Daily Aus, who will unpack how they built a scroll-stopping modern newsroom.
Adding an industry-wide lens, Pinterest ANZ will take the stage with head of content partnerships Jace Molan and a line-up of the country’s top Pinfluencers, revealing the visual trends shaping content creation in 2026 and beyond.
Across more than 20 talks, panels and workshops, the program spans culture, craft and career. From navigating longevity and diversification as a creator with Tara Chandra, to reflections on risk, instinct and career-defining moments with surf and Fujifilm X-Photographer Russell Ord, the day blends big-picture thinking with practical insight.
Documentary photographer and Fujifilm X-Photographer Dr Michael Coyne will also share stories from a career spanning National Geographic, TIME and The New York Times.
Guided through the program by Melbourne-based creator and host of Shameless Media’s Style-ish podcast, Maddison Sullivan-Thorpe. Additional sessions will be led by visual specialists and creative leaders from across photography, filmmaking and content creation, including Emilie Hill: Travel photographer and creator of @helloemilie; James Tran, photographer; Vueey Le, food photographer leading ‘Sip, Shoot, Repeat’, a hands-on workshop dedicated to capturing cocktails and colour.
Other sessions include Leslie Liu, portrait photographer blending fashion, theatre and editorial storytelling, hosting Café de Paris, a stylised Parisian café set where fashion, portraiture and performance collide; Laz Smith, photographer, filmmaker and founder of creative studio Coeur Visual, hosting Hit Record Live, where attendees can step behind the lens to help film a real music video; Andrew Hall, action and motorsport photographer, leading ‘Freeze the Moment,’ focused on mastering speed, movement and action photography; Charlie Blevins, photographer and national training and events specialist at FUJIFILM Australia, hosting practical sessions designed to help attendees get more from their gear.
Beyond the stages, Creator Summit also includes all-day access to the Partner Hub, where creative brands, including ALPAKA, BenQ, Adobe, ATOMOS, RØDE, NiSi, Leofoto and Nanlite will host hands-on demos and workshops. The Fujifilm House of Photography Pop-Up will offer event-day deals, complimentary sensor cleans, and the chance to get up close with Fujifilm’s latest X Series, GFX, and FUJINON gear.
“Whether it’s developing a signature photography style, honing your visual artistry, or mastering the algorithm to turn culture into a viral moment, Creator Summit is about celebrating visual storytelling in all its forms, and our lineup for the 2026 event reflects this, featuring incredible talent from the likes of viral podcast sensations Toni and Ryan to Jord Hammond,” FUJIFILM Australia’s general manager electronic imaging and optical devices Shaun Mah said.
“After the incredible response to our sold-out Sydney event last year, we’re excited to bring the next chapter to Melbourne — going bigger while keeping the experience hands-on and welcoming. It’s an event created by creators for creators, so we’re excited to see the inspiration, collaboration and learning that will take centre stage at The Timber Yard this May at what is fast becoming a must-attend event for Australia’s creative community”.
