Marisa + Pelt (Fall in Love Workshop)

My first one day workshop was a success! We had 7 photographers with one of them being a husband and wife team, so we had a total of 8 students. It was wonderful to have the group small so that we had ample time for discussion and questions. All of the photographers that came were amazing people full of love for weddings, photography and people. My aim was to inspire, encourage, enrich and teach. I talked a lot about what it takes to run a business for the long haul. How to find your voice as a photographer, and how to work with ‘ordinary’ people to capture both real and extraordinary images. I really tried my best to make the workshop about the students journey rather than about my own. As I shared my story we took breaks for them to reflect on the gifts they have been given, what their dreams are and how they define success and failure. My hope was to challenge and encourage them to overcome any obstacles that blocked the road to their success and to give them some tools to grow their gifts.

Discussion time was held in the beautiful offices of the 805 Collective. Cana VP + Samuel Potter Photography were generous enough to lend us their meeting space. While we had lunch on the back deck of Novo, Sunnie Brooke Jones was doing hair and makeup for our afternoon engagement shoot. Instead of hiring models we used Marisa + Pelt, a real couple who’s wedding I am shooting this summer. I wanted to demonstrate how to take an actual nervous couple, who claims not to be photogenic, and get the most real and beautiful images possible. It turned out to be easier than I expected because Marisa just lit up in front of the cameras; all 9 of them! Because of this, I had greater difficulty explaining to the class how I help my clients overcome awkwardness and insecurity. Thanks Marisa! ;) Pelt said during the shoot that she has been studying my work for so long that it was no wonder she knew exactly what to do.

Jen Slot working it; nice form!
Ellie Grover getting up-close and personal.
I unleashed the wolves…
We had lots of incredible support from some great friends and vendors to make this workshop all that it was. These people offered their time, resources and products to the students and to me. A big fat THANK YOU is in order. You guys rock!

Models: Marisa + Pelt
Hair + Makeup: Sunnie Brooke Jones
Print Lab: Pro DPI
Web + Design: 805 Collective
Mobile Websites: Mobile Digs
Meeting Space: Cana VP + Samuel Potter Photography
Wedding Photography Unveiled: Jose Villa
Flowers: Adornments
Engagement Session Venue: Holland Ranch
Operations Coordinator (A.K.A. Hot Assistant!): Anna Ingalls

The class from left to right. Click on their links to see their shots from the workshop. Jen Slot (+ husband Antoine), Samantha Gardner, Me, Pelt + Marisa, Katie Scott, Terilee Dawn, Ellie Grover, (bottom row) Emily Perello, and Lori Chambless.

What an amazing group of photographers you all are. Thanks so much for sharing your day, your hearts and your lives with me. I hope that you were as challenged and encouraged as I was. May you continue to fall deeper in love with people, photography and weddings and may your business be blessed for many years to come!