Speaking.

Through photographs and firsthand stories from Extended Stay, Karen invites audiences into a world many have driven past but few have entered: low-budget motels as America's hidden housing market. Her ongoing project explores housing insecurity, belonging, and what it means to witness another person’s life.

With warmth, dark humor, and more than twenty years of professional photography experience, Karen offers illustrated talks for non-profits, universities, museums, libraries, conferences, and community organizations.

Engagements can include fundraising events, audience discussions, classroom visits, exhibition conversations, book signings, podcast interviews, and social media appearances, with each program tailored to your audience or platform.

Programs are available in person or virtually. A typical engagement includes a 45-minute illustrated presentation followed by questions and discussion. Shorter conference talks, classroom visits, workshops, exhibition conversations, and book signings can be arranged.

Bulk book orders are available for event and educational programming.

COLLABORATIVE FUNDRAISING >

HOST AN EXHIBITION >

KEYNOTE SPEECH, "SAFE TONIGHT, HOME TOMORROW" FUNDRAISING GALA. PONTIAC, MI. OCTOBER 2026.

presentations include:

Extended Stay: America's Hidden Housing Market

What happens when a place intended for a night becomes a place to live? Meet the people making homes in motel rooms and explore the distance between having shelter and having a home.

Perfect for: Housing organizations, social work / public policy programs, libraries, museums, community forums.

The Photographer in the Room

A camera can open a conversation. It can also change one. A candid look at access, consent, trust, and the responsibility of telling someone else’s story—including the photographs we choose not to take.

Perfect for: Photography and journalism programs, arts organizations, students, working photographers.

Rooms, Roads & Revelations

“I began with a simple idea: photograph people in rooms.” Follow the unexpected encounters, wrong turns, dark humor, and personal reckonings behind Extended Stay. Photographs and readings from Extended Stay Field Notes: An Unfinished Journey reveal a documentary project still taking shape.

Perfect for: Book clubs, literary events, photography groups, arts communities, general audiences.

Inquiries.

Please be in touch with dates, event format, and budget and inquire by
calling Karen at 248 320 1943 or emailing at karen@karenlippowiths.com.

PURCHASE THE BOOK >