What do you get when you take four Nikon photography ambassadors and give each of them a Nikon Z 9 with instructions to interpret the same exact scene differently with no prior preparation? (Oh and did we mention that it all takes place in front of hundreds of people?) You get a fun and fast-paced WPPI Nikon Z 9 shootout, hosted by Mr. Emcee himself (and also a Nikon Ambassador), Jerry Ghionis!

With only a few minutes on the clock, the four participating photographers—Charmi Patel Peña, Kristi Odom, Jen Rozenbaum and Julia Kelleher—had to think on their feet (and on the stage) to create unique images with their Z 9s using the same model, equipment and props.

[Read: Nikon Z9: Peek Inside this Mirrorless Speed Demon!]

I love that Nikon chose four photographers who all shoot different in photo genres to work within the same set. Charmi is a wedding photographer, Jen shoots boudoir, Julia does family photography and Kristi is a wildlife photographer. They each had access to as many lights as they needed and were allowed to bring up props if they wanted to. Jen seemed to have the most cheers for her images as they flashed on the screen. For one of her shots, she used an overlay option in the Z 9 ( where you can combine two images into one for cool effect, all done in-camera with no need for post-processing). 

The crowd’s energy amped up even further as they watched her do it in real time as her camera was tethered to the screen. She made it look very easy as she merged two images—one from earlier that day, of a puddle and water droplets, and one from the stage of the model in silhouette—and created a new image. It was fun and fast and the crowd cheered her on, as they did all of the photographers who participated.

Scott Stockton is a wedding photographer based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also a one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography nominees from 2020. He loves love and readily admits that he is a huge fan of the Hallmark Channel. In his spare time he writes and takes photographs for Rangefinder.