RootsTech 2020 (Wednesday, February 26–Saturday, February 29)

RootsTech is a global family history event where people of all ages learn to discover, share, and celebrate their family connections across generations through technology. At RootsTech, there is something for everyone, no matter your experience in family history or your skill level in technology. Don’t miss this 10-year anniversary event, packed with photo organizers, storytellers, and family historians from around the globe who come together to help you discover and celebrate your story. Moving keynote speakers and delightful entertainers headline the conference, and with more than 300 breakout sessions, there truly is something for everybody. Discover the thrilling possibilities sitting on the horizon of modern DNA testing, hear about new genealogical research tools, learn best practices for protecting and preserving your priceless family photos, and find new solutions to organizing old documents and stories.

The Expo Hall at RootsTech is where you’ll find your friends from pictureline and Canon. Ask our friendly staff of professional photographers all of your questions about capturing new memories and preserving old photographs, then explore the hundreds of exhibits from around the world, brought together to help you discover new ways to interact with family history.

Expo Hall hours:

• Wednesday February 26, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday February 27, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday February 28, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday February 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Not only are there lecture sessions, classes and workshops tailored to a wide variety of topics, but there are cultural events scheduled throughout the conference designed to celebrate your family heritage and connect with friends and colleagues.

pictureline-sponsored sessions

Making a Masterpiece: How to Capture the Best Family Portraits

Featuring Drake Busath and pictureline’s own Jens Nielsen and David Ward

Your family portrait should be a unique work of art that reflects an important moment in the lives of everyone in it. This one-hour session is filled with great tips and tricks that are used by real photographers to create portraits that are packed with personality. Learn from photography professionals how to choose the right camera, find the best light, and how to pose and dress your family so that shooting your next family portrait is an enjoyable experience—and you create that masterpiece worthy of the spot above your fireplace.

Photography Past, Present and Future

Featuring Jamie Broderick and Jens Nielsen

Photographs play such an important part in our lives—we count on them to remember the past and use them to celebrate the present. But have you ever considered how the photographs you take today will shape the tomorrow for future generations? Come learn why photography plays such a critical part in establishing a strong family history. Gain the skills you need to preserve past photographs and find out what you should be doing today to preserve your family story for the future.

RootsTech 2020 Keynote Speakers

Leigh Anne Tuohy, Inspiration behind the movie, The Blind Side, Thursday February 27, 11 a.m.

Leigh Anne Tuohy’s inspirational story was popularized by the book and film The Blind Side, wherein she and her family helped a homeless, traumatized boy rise to become an All-American NFL player (Michael Oher) for the Baltimore Ravens. Tuohy graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and was later given an honorary doctorate from Christian Brothers University. She is a New York Times best-selling author. Her most recent book, Turn Around: Reach Out, Give Back, and Get Moving, provides practical ideas to become a daily difference maker in meeting the needs of those around you with love and purpose. Leigh Anne and Sean Touhy adopted Michael Oher in his youth and supported and nurtured him as he overcame personal challenges from his childhood and achieved incredible success as a first-round NFL draft pick and a Superbowl champion. Tuohy’s message is one of inspiration, inclusion, and helping one another achieve that potential.

David Hume Kennerly, Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographer, Friday February 28, 11 a.m.

David Hume Kennerly has been a photographer on the front lines of history for more than 50 years. At 25 he was one of the youngest winners of the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism. Kennerly’s 1972 award for Feature Photography included images of the Vietnam and Cambodia wars, refugees escaping from East Pakistan into India, and the Ali v. Frazier “Fight of the Century” World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden. Two years later Kennerly was appointed President Gerald R. Ford’s personal White House photographer. Kennerly’s photos have appeared on more than 50 major magazine covers, and he has documented history in over 100 countries. He has photographed 10 U.S. presidents, covered 12 presidential campaigns, served as a contributing editor for Newsweek magazine for 10 years, and a contributing photographer for Time & Life Magazines for more than 15. American Photo Magazine named Kennerly “One of the 100 Most Important People in Photography,” and Washingtonian Magazine called Kennerly one of the 50 most important journalists in Washington, D.C. His work has been exhibited widely and he maintains a busy publishing, appearance and lecture schedule.

Ryan Hamilton, Comedian, Friday February 28, 8 p.m.

Ryan recently released his first stand-up special. The one-hour Netflix original Happy Face follows a wealth of television appearances and a non-stop headlining tour. Armed with the unique perspective of growing up in rural Idaho to become a favorite in the New York stand-up comedy scene, he’s one-of-a-kind. He’s been named one of Rolling Stone’s Five Comics to Watch, and recent appearances include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, and opening spots for Jerry Seinfeld. Ryan is endearing stand-up lovers, and his future is bright.

Emmitt Smith, Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back, Saturday February 29, 11 a.m.

Emmitt Smith is a professional football icon and one of the greatest to ever play the game. In his 15 seasons in the NFL, Smith amassed many records that still stand today, including the most career rushing yards and the most career rushing touchdowns. Smith’s impressive resume includes three Super Bowl championship rings and his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. As a first-round pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, Smith was the cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys offense for 13 seasons. The eight-time Pro Bowler was the first player in the NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons and on October 27, 2002 he surpassed Walter Payton as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Currently, Smith has transitioned to the role of businessman and entrepreneur and runs several companies spanning real estate, construction and technology. Active in charitable outreach both in the Dallas area and on a national level, Smith founded Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities with his wife to provide unique experiences and educational opportunities to underserved youth. Smith currently resides with his wife, Pat, and their five children in Dallas.

After the conference

Join pictureline for some one-on-one training on how to scan, organize and store all your precious family photos at our exclusive Epson Scanner Class on March 12. Click here to register.