Tag Archives: photography workshop

Shoot the Shot Workshop

May 10, 2010 – 3:41 pm

It started with a dare. A double dog dare.  Which, of course, you know you can’t pass up. Mike had challenged me to host my first workshop.

I’m a firm believer in paying it forward. In helping out. In going above and beyond.  In an industry where you can throw a rock and hit 30 wedding photographers, competition is fierce, but I am determined to look to other photographers as my peers and not my competition.  After all, there’s more than enough to go around. When I first started my business, I was discouraged.  I found it hard to find the answers I was looking for.  I found it even harder to connect with other photographers to seek their guidance, pick their brains, see what it was all about.  But, when I felt uninspired and ready to give up, my ever constant cheerleaders (my husband, my nieces and my sisters) propelled me forward and I put in tons and tons of hours in research to find answers to the questions I wanted answered.  I found couples that saw past my inexperience and towards my creativity and passion. I reinvented the wheel and my business grew…leaps and bounds beyond anything I have ever dreamed of it becoming.

That inspiration, that passion that fuels, those answers to those questions…all of those things combined is what the Shoot the Shot Workshop was all about.  I didn’t want anyone to have to reinvent the wheel like I did.  I didn’t want anyone to feel alone. I didn’t want anyone to not chase their dream.

I hosted the workshop on my 35th birthday.  Where I’m one to not even acknowledge the day, I wanted this day…this birthday…to be spectacular.  I wanted details, I wanted wow, I wanted cake and flowers, and a gorgeous couple, and lots of laughter, and friends and exhilaration. And it was all there….and then some. All the countless hours in details that were put into the workshop were a success.  All of my favorite vendors that helped me out when I first started were a part of it.  My fantastic friends were there at my side to help me out. And my husband…well, I couldn’t have done this without him.

Welcome to the Shoot the Shot Workshop…hosted at the Elkins Estate.

The boxes contained information and goodies from my favorite vendors…Album Crafters, Shootsac, Kubota Image Tools, Totally Rad Actions, Collages and WHCC.  These vendors have been the cornerstone of my business and I *heart* them!

The first half of the workshop was all about branding and marketing and networking and photo shoots and gear and inspiration and questions and answers…

I’m Cuban…we speak with our hands :)

Our lunch table was set up as if it were a table at a wedding reception.

Melissa and I chillaxin’

Melania workin’ it!

The ever amazing, Alli

After lunch, the second half of the workshop was shooting a mock wedding.  Alli and her husband, Zack, were our ever animated couple.

The Village Bake Shoppe and Floral Design went above and beyond in designing bouquets and cake for the workshop.

Heather…doin’ her thang…

The light inside the Chelten House was AH.MAY.ZING!

Taking the action outside.

Posers… :)

Talk about an amazing birthday cake!

The fabulous thing about hosting such a small group was the ability for everyone to connect and chat.

We’re missing a couple of people, but this is by far my favorite picture of the day… :)  Thank you so very much to everyone that came out!

Right up there with this one… :)

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The Monday that blurred right by me, a.k.a. The Shoot the Shot Workshop

March 2, 2010 – 9:50 am

Pay it forward.  That’s always been my motto.  And while others disagree with my philosophy…I’m all for sharing and helping and encouraging others to move forward.

When I started out I had tons of questions. Notebooks full of questions.  Questions that would have me researching on the computer for hours, reading copious amount of books, asking anyone that I knew.  Questions that cut my sleeping hours short since I can’t stop until I find the answer. And over the course of time I came to the conclusion that I had to figure it all out by myself…in order to do things the way that I wanted to do them…that super picky, amazing way that I’m accustomed to doing things. And it was hard.  It’s still hard.  What I find incredible, though, is that I open my inbox every day and find emails from peers that ask me questions…you know, as if I know the answer.  Oddly enough, though, I do — whether it’s the right answer or not, I don’t know…but it’s what has worked for me — and it makes me smile to know that I’ve helped someone and made things just a little bit easier for them.

So, one day in conversation over some soup and crackers, I giggled when I told Mike, “I should just host a workshop so that the newbie after me doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel.”  He didn’t laugh though.  Instead, he looked up from his bowl and said, “Do It!”  Much like he said when I suggested that I quit my day job to pursue this crazy dream of becoming a wedding photographer.  And so it was born.  The Shoot the Shot Workshop.  The place where I’ll share what I know, tips and tricks that I’ve learned along the way AND we get to do it at the ever gorgeous Elkins Estate. Half of the day will be centered around business and then after lunch we’ll recreate a wedding day complete with cake and an uber fabulous couple to photograph.  At first, I thought that it should be geared towards wedding photographers, but really, it applies to any type of photographer who’s trying to get a handle on their ever growing business.

So, if you wanna come hang, make sure you sign up.  Space is limited to 20 attendees and imagine my shock when spots actually started filling yesterday.

I promise you cake and good times :)

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