Wow! In the first few minutes of the Workshop Registration opening, we had three women sign up! That is a serious record breaker! Tracy, Michelle and Judith, you are AMAZING! Lighting fast!

Can’t wait to meet each of you!

Click here to Register your spot!

You would not believe the number of things that went against me today. I’m so sorry it’s taken till 4:30pm to have Registration Open! But YEAH!!! We’re here! Below is the scoop!

You Asked. We Listened!

A Beginner’s Photography Workshop for Women that Lasts TWO Days!

taught by Me Ra and Brian

When: Saturday and Sunday, January 12th and 13th 2008

Where: The beautiful Villa B&B in Tacoma, WA

Time: 9:30am-4:30pm (both days) Breakfast served and open to everyone at 9am.

Meals: Wonderful catered lunches will be prepared and served to us by our hostess, Kristy House.

4 Things to Bring

1. Digital SLR camera if you have one (don’t hesitate to come if you don’t have one b/c I have 8 cameras and a number of lenses, so we should be good! J) What’s a Digital SLR? A camera that has the ability to swap out different types of lenses.

2. Notepad, Pen, Warm Clothing for Shooting Outside

3. Laptop with Photoshop Elements or the big version of Photoshop is great, but not necessary. (we’ll discuss post process “What do I do with these photos now that I’ve taken them?” the 2nd day of the workshop)

4. Last, but most important! “I’m going to go for it and have a blast” attitude! (even if this camera stuff overwhelms me b/c I know I can do this!)

Workshop Cost: $999 pp (a couple women are making this there Christmas or Birthday gift!)

The class size is limited to 20 women. We like to keep the group small so that we can maximize your learning experience. Twenty was a great number with the last two day workshop!

Day One Topics: We’ll spend the first half of the day going over the mechanics of your camera and learning about indoor lighting so you can get great shots of your kids in the kitchen, living room and bedroom! The second half of the day we’ll do some hands on shooting as we process all the things we’ve learned throughout the morning.

Basically, camera mechanics (’how the heck does this thing work?’ fully answered :)) plus, lighting, kid model shoots, and a photo assignments due for the second day.

Day Two Topics

Strategies for tougher lighting that confronts us in daily life (like all the frustrating indoor stuff of how to light the birthday cake or our family by the Christmas tree without a black cave behind them b/c of your flash ). We’ll also cover what to do with your photos (post process), editing photos (softwares to use and how), and the in’s and out’s of starting a side business for yourself, and much more that is signature stuff to me and Brian.

Extra Events that are Optional

Friday night, January 11th, we’ll have a cozy, casual Meet and Greet with Wine and Appetizers by the big fireplace in the Villa. If you can make it, it’s a wonderful way to begin this special weekend treat for yourself.

Saturday night: Depending on the group, we’ll either order in or go out together.

Payment Terms/Options:

1. You can pay the whole balance at once.

2. You can make a retainer (non-refundable fee) of $650 to reserve your seat. The remaining balance of $350 (total is $999) must be paid in full 14 days before the workshop date. You can pay by check or credit card at our e-store (the fastest way to ensure a reserved seat for yourself!). Call us if you have any questions at 253-468-8913.

Lodging: If you call Kristy House at the Villa and tell her you’re with us, she’ll include 15% off her already fabulous rates. We’ve been told from past attendees that they loved staying overnight at the Villa.

More Options for Lodging: Five minutes from the workshop is a new hotel on the waterfront called The Silver Cloud Inn. The room rate is $159 plus tax. This rate comes with a water view from every room (the whole inn is literally over the water ), complimentary breakfast, King Size bed or two Queen Size beds, Free Parking and Free Internet Access. The Silver Cloud Inn is only two miles from the Chihuly’s Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, Point Defiance Park and Zoo. There is a beautiful boardwalk right outside the doors of the hotel that follows the beach (a 3.5 mile jog my husband and I often do! ). One block away is the center of Old Town, filled with coffee shops and tea houses, and a couple quaint restaurants. There are also bigger restaurants all along the waterfront boardwalk (The Lobster Shop, The Ram, Katie Downs, etc). There were a handful of people in the last few workshops that stayed an extra night to enjoy how sweet this part of the country is!

Reserve Your Workshop Spot! Every workshop we’ve held has Sold Out, and the Waiting List grows. Women fly in from all over the country from Vermont to New Jersey and Texas. I know some of you have been waiting a long time for this announcement! Yeah! It’s finally here! And we’ll have lots of fun surprises!)

Very Short “recent” bio: **Where can you see Me Ra and Brian and their work in 2007? VH1’s Fabulous Wedding, Martha Stewart Television, Microsoft’s Small Business Show, Northwest Afternoon, a spotlight “Master of Their Craft” in Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style, featured spread in Pacific Weddings magazine, editorial spread in Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom and a featured wedding in Seattle Bride magazine, November 2007! Phew!!

To read our bio and see our work, visit the website.

For the latest news, click on the Press category in this blog to the left!

To see a fun trailer of them in action for the VH1 wedding click My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding!

**Click here to Register!!**

We had the most wonderful time yesterday at the Microsoft Small Business Show!

The guests were so awesome, the staff and film crew were just incredible to work with. A gal Lisa Margaret did our makeup, and she was AWESOME!! All brides, email Lisa for makeup on your wedding day! Lisa’s email is hellalov4u@aol.com.

But the best part, everyone had their kids everywhere! Here’s me backstage trying to french braid Pascaline’s hair. She needed her hair just right.

Then after the show Brian and I were totally blown away at all of you blog readers who came to be in the audience! It was so fun to see familiar faces and meet new friends!

The couple to my left flew all the way from Texas to be in the audience! Brian and I about fell over when they told us! Dana has the most amazing story of how she left her long career of real estate after our Texas workshop last April and started photography. I asked her to share her story in the comments (when she gets back home of course :)). And the gal in white that is two over from my right is Amanda! She was the winner of the Pumpkin Contest and Sony Camera. It was so fun to meet her in person and her friends!

On an empty set, some little guy found his own empty Producer’s chair.

Thanks again for ALL your support, comments, emails and even coming to the show! You guys are awesome!

Can I just say I have the sweetest little girl!

I asked Pascaline last night while we were doing dishes if she wanted to come and watch mom on the talk show. She was quiet for a second, and then she launched into this beautiful explanation of how she loves learning her letters, but she feels that it’s important to skip a day to show me how much more she loves and supports me. (unreal, left me speechless) Pascaline went on and on about how proud she is of her mom, and if her mom is going to be on another talk show, she should be in the audience with a big smile.

And then she said, “And don’t worry mom. I’ve figured out this whole talk show thing. I just need to pack some snacks for Blaze and I so that way we’re not starving in the back room (green room :)).”

See it today at AM PST!! The trailer on the link below is pretty great too!

www.themicrosoftsmallbusinessshow.com

And don’t forget, the January workshop registration for Seattle starts tomorrow!

Did 7 different people really request a workshop in Louisiana? Or is there one committed person in Louisiana?

You did hear it right in the first post today!! DVD 2, Beyond the Green Box, is TOTALLY on it’s way to us this week. I almost started crying when I got the call. At one point, I really didn’t know how this would all come together. And yet, it’s coming, a finished product that turned out so great!!! If you liked DVD 1, Refuse to Say Cheese, you’re going to love DVD 2, Beyond the Green Box!! Notice the subtitle–thanks to all of you and your help on that one! Don’t you love the cover!!! Wait till you see the booklet inside!

When can you order DVD 2?

We are going to first package and ship the dvd’s to those who pre-ordered. Once we get caught up on those orders, we’ll open up ordering to the general public. Fingers crossed that this will be sometime around Thanksgiving, and shortly after you will see the new www.refusetosaycheese.com website live. We’ve been working on this one for months! :)–oooh, I can’t wait for you to all see the new product site!

Workshop City Tour: 8 in 08!

The invitations to bring the Women’s Workshops to different cities has blown us away! I’ve tried my best to narrow the cities/states down that we are getting repeat requests from. Now we’d love to hear from you! Thanks for voting!

**Registration Opens for the Seattle/January and San Diego/May Workshops on Thursday this week! **

Live Talk Show Tomorrow!

On Wednesday, 11am PST, catch us on this great new show, the Microsoft Small Business Show! To watch it visit www.microsoftsmallbusinessshow.com or www.entrepreneur.com.

If your in the audience, make sure you say hello to me and Brian! We’d love to meet you!

Speaking to MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers, on Thursday!

It’s hard to believe that the idea for the DVD series started with a speaking invitation I had from a local MOPS last September. A year later, the idea of speaking to moms metamorphosed into something I never expected. So when I was asked by a workshop attendee to speak at her MOPS group, I couldn’t turn it down b/c of how special this organization is. If you are wanting to meet other Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) and have a good laugh or be inspired, check their national website to find your local chapter.

Next Week’s News?

Something fun Brian and I got to do this weekend for Martha Stewart and a special friend!

I’ll spill the beans next week…got to save something for next week!

Lots happening this week with the live talk show airing tomorrow and a speaking engagement on Thursday, AND Beyond the Green Box, DVD 2, being shipped to us this week!!!! Details below, but first…

Meet this little guy: Baby Jayden. He just turned one!

Do you remember when your little ones were one?

All the “dressing up” that goes on whether you like it or not.

The focus and steady balance it takes to walk on your own.

The safety in his arms, and the joy in his great laugh.

Knowing mom is always behind you no matter where your curiosity takes you.

The stolen kisses they thought you never noticed.

And the naps, ohhhhhhhh, those wonderful naps.

It’s all about being one.

Happy Birthday Sweet Jayden. May your life be filled with awe and wonder, and may you witness the impossible happen countless times. Love, Me Ra

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Details on this week’s events coming in a second post later today sometime around 1:10pm.

I wanted to open this opportunity up on our blog. We have a half dozen women/moms who have connected with us about this idea, and I think it’s fantastic!

You know how we’re planning on holding 8 workshops in 8 cities for our 2008 City Tour. 8 in 08′! Fun ring to it huh!

These three places are for sure:

1. Seattle, January 12th and 13th (Meet and Greet Friday night on the 11th) Registration Starts Next Week!

2. San Diego, May 24th and 25th (Bonus “Business 1/2 Day” on Monday 26th) Registration Starts Next Week!

3. Burlington, Vermont (tentative for October)

But we have other cities and possible hostesses that we’re talking with about where the other 5 cities should be. If you think your city would be a great place for a 2 Day Women’s Workshop for Moms and Aspiring Photographers, keep reading.

And yep, you heard right, we’re making this event “2 Days” after the high volume in requests to do just that.

Day One Topics

Camera mechanics (how the heck this thing works!), lighting, model shoots, photo assignments due for the second day.

Day Two Topics

Strategies for tougher lighting that confronts us in daily life (like all the frustrating indoor stuff of how to light the birthday cake or our family by the Christmas tree without a black cave behind them b/c of your flash :)). We’ll also cover what to do with your photos (post process), editing photos (softwares to use and how), and the in’s and out’s of starting a side business for yourself, and much more that is signature stuff to me and Brian.

For every workshop, we’d like a hostess. This hostess will help us find the best location for the workshop (a cozy B&B or Inn that women will love). She’ll also help us find the right place for catering (if the location doesn’t provide food), and help work out details for the Wine and Dine/Meet and Greet the night prior to the workshop starting, plus brainstorm ideas with us for a Saturday night dinner. And most of all, the hostess will start spreading the word to her community that the workshop is coming to their town.

In gratitude that we cannot express in words, Brian and I would love to offer the Hostess a spot in the workshop free of charge ($999). Yep, that’s right! Her spot is totally reserved and waived of the workshop cost.

We’re doing this right now with a couple moms, and I can’t tell you how much fun I’m having! It’s like planning multi-city parties. Two of the women have offered to do the Wine and Cheese, Meet and Greet at their home! Don’t you just love women and the spirit of hostessing that so many have! And yes, if you’d like to team up with a friend to be hostesses together we have no problem splitting the discount between the two of you! The workshop fee split would be $499 for each of you.

There are cities that are still under consideration, but we are open to your suggestions. The workshops will have a maximum of 20 spots (except San Diego’s workshop).

If you’d like be a workshop hostess, email me with this info:

1. Your name, contact info (including email and phone number)

2. What city you think we should come to?

3. Websites to locations you think would be good for holding the workshop.

4. What month in 2008 is ideal weather for your city?

5. How would you suggest spreading the word in your city and surrounding cities?

Can’t wait to see where this post leads us!!! Time to jump again!

To see recent workshops, click here and even here!

Here’s the trailer!

This is the first of two posts today! Yep, that’s right, TWO posts!! Yeah!!! The second post is coming later today and it’s called “How to Bring a Me Ra Koh Photography Workshop to Your City!” We have a couple spots open still for our city tour, and I have to tell you, we’re so open to “wherever” the cities are that we’re supposed to visit. So if you think your city is one of them, check back today for the blog on how to make it happen and of course, how we want to bless you if you help make it happen!

But for the first post, I had to answer Liza’s question in the comments from yesterday blog. In reference to the Live Talk Show I’m doing next week, she wrote;

Question: Do you get nervous before something like this? Is it scared nervous or excited nervous?

Answer: Great question Liza! You are so sweet to even ask!!! I was going to answer in the comments, but I thought everyone would get a kick out of this answer. It began with Beauty Restored’s book tour.

I first started speaking and doing talk shows when the book was published (same day Pascaline was born). (You can see where this may go…)

(me, Pascaline at 3 wks., my mom and brian)

I was a new mom, totally overwhelmed, and trying to figure out how to get my baby to latch on so I could nurse her! In the midst of this, I was doing one or two live radio show interviews a week and 1 or 2 live talk shows a month in different parts of the country. Let’s not even get into what kind of party my hormones were having!

For the radio shows, I’d nurse Pascaline, put her down for her nap, and then race into my home office with two minutes to spare before they called to do the radio show (praying to God she wouldn’t wake up and start crying). It was hard to fathom that in my feeling of chaos we were doing a show that thousands of people were listening to.

(a radio interview in Atlanta, GA)

I also didn’t know the “thing” about how women LEAK when they’re nursing if they hear their babies cry. Yeah, that would have been nice to know.

I learned this lesson on National TV when I was in the middle of a live talk show and heard Pascaline start crying back stage, and yes, I started leaking on TV–BUT DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IT–because I was so focused on the interview. And then I saw my mom’s flush face and her hand signals that I was in fact leaking milk and well…what the heck do you do? Needless to say, I wore black for all the rest of my TV talk shows–and tried to stay clear of crying children in grocery stores.

So the answer to Liza’s great question (in a long round about way) is;

“I used to get nervous, but now that both my kids are done nursing–piece of cake!”

See you all later today with the next post!

(one of my first book signings, check out my hair–look how high my bangs are!!! and isn’t Pascaline so sweet and little!)

(a shot after our interview with Northwest Afternoon–hair is getting better and wow, look at how old Pascaline got, and where did that other munchkin come from, and who is that hottie in between the kids? :))

We’ve been asked to be guests on a live talk show! Want to be in the audience?

Microsoft is launching a new show called “The Microsoft Small Business Show“. This is their first episode, and I’m so honored that they’ve asked us to be one of the guests, especially when I hear that Tom Douglas, the local famed chef and restaurant owner is also a guest!

This show will air live over the web, and they’re projecting 1 million viewers! If you want to catch it, you can watch too on www.entrepreneur.com!!

The passion behind the show it to inspire and encourage small business owners. They’ve asked me to come and talk about how our business went from a hobby to national wedding photographers and now production and workshops. And I get to talk about being a mom in the midst of it all!

The other four guests are also amazing business owners!

Mike Dillon, CEO of Dillon Works

Nicole Donnally, CEO of babylegs.com

Have you tried these sweet things on your babies? They are so AWESOME!! And when your babies out grow them, I think they’re cool to wear on your arms! Check out what Nicole, and awesome mom and entrepreneuer, has created!

David Holcomb, CEO of Chefn’

Rick Woodbury CEO of Commuter Cars

Cause Hahn, CEO of See Kai Run ( Children’s shoes, mamapreneur) (are these not the cutest shoes ever!)

AND…because I love you all so much I asked if I could get some free tickets for my wonderful blog readers. They said “YES!”. We have 20 seats on hold for the first 20 people who call in and reserve their spots!

Here’s the details you need to reserve one of the Me Ra Koh guest seats.

Call: 206-660-4907

Where: Microsoft Studios, Redmond, WA

When: Wednesday, Nov 14th 2007

Time: 9:45am-12pm

Make sure you say hi if you’re there! It would be so fun to meet you guys in person if you can make it!!

And I’ll make this a post all on it’s own later, but I have to say something today!!! I just found out that DVD 2, Beyond the Green Box, is supposed to arrive the same day as the show!!!!!! Freaking out! Right now as I type, freaking out!!!!!

We laughed, we cried, we went out of our comfort zones, we tried new things, we drank wine together by the fire at night, and then we laughed some more! The 2 day workshop was wonderful!! Here’s a tribute post to the wonderful people that came, 19 women and 1 brave man (lol of John, Brian’s got your back! :)). Get ready for 20 plus photos in today’s post!

Our first day was focused on Indoor Lighting with using flash or window light. We had two beautiful models come in so the group could practice different shooting techniques. The variety in their results were AWESOME!

Maggie flew in from Arizona with her husband and little ones.This is a gorgeous shot she captured. And yes, Maggie did this with her flash! Even though natural light is by far the most wonderful light, we experimented with the beauty of flash lighting (but keeping it simple and not all techy–just the way I like it!). Check out Maggie’s beautiful work on her website!

Carol took a different angle and used the white bathroom door to look like a perfect high key lighting background! Who needs to bring in backdrops when you have a bathroom door?! Carol, you know we all LOVE this shot!!

Amanda from TX caught this one. It’s just perfect flash lighting! No shadow and beautiful color. Amanda, you should be proud!!! I also love how you caught the green behind her with the texturing.

While people were practicing flash upstairs with Brian, the rest of us were pr acting light metering and adjusting our shutter speeds so we get that blasted out background look.

Tammy from the Bay Area in CA came with her sister Alice. These two ladies cracked me up, total fun and super sassy! I loved it, and I know everyone else loved them too! Look at this great shot that Tammy captured. I love how she found this unique angle!

Misty, from Tacoma, has such an incredible eye for vibrant color! This is a total Misty shot! I love that she’s diving into photography, check out her new blog! It’s super new for her, but look at what she’s capturing already! Misty you are a star!

Lindsay is another local lady and caught a different angle. She teaches photography at a local high school. I love that only half of the model’s face is present, totally adds to the drama of the shot. So wonderful to see how we all take in the world differently.

Jessica is from Redmond area and took our Beginner Workshop in January. Now she’s starting to book portrait clients and is blowing me away!! Check out this AMAZING shot she caught! The post process editing on the image is beautiful too! Jess, you are AWESOME!!

Jennifer was another gal that came to the Beginner Workshop in October and kept going into the Advanced. When she sent me this photo, my mouth dropped open. The composition is beautiful and so unique!! Great job Jen, I just love it!

On the second day we did a bride and groom shoot with Marissa and Akash. They were married Sept. 1st and since Brian and I were already booked to be in CO for a wedding, our wonderful associates captured their wedding event. But I have to admit I was sad we never got to do their photos. So who better to invite as our models! What a blast! Marissa was so beautiful and Akash was so perfect in how he just adored the fun Marissa was having. It was almost like being a part of their wedding day weeks later.

Karry, from Maryland, did the most wonderful job at capturing Marissa’s beautiful spirit. Doesn’t she just glow in this photo! More on Karry at the bottom of the post.

John from Orange County, CA caught this wonderful, full frame shot. The lighting and color is perfect! It almost has a “far away land” feel to it. John, you couldn’t have set this up any better. Seriously, this rocks!

John’s wife, Lauren, has a totally different eye. I love that she was the only one crouched behind the hedge shooting this unique angle.

On a side note, one of the biggest compliments Brian and I receive from our wedding clients is when they surprise us and sign up for one of our workshops. If we have played a part in their passion or discovered joy of photography from their time with us on their wedding day, wow, what a total honor. I know John and Lauren are going to be a phenomenal team together!

Be sure to check out their blog and watch their business take off! We love you two! If you want to see their wedding photos, you can check them out here!

Back to the photos, Julie is a wonderful photographer out of Seattle. She’s taking her business to the next level, and when I saw the shots she was getting I have no doubt that her schedule won’t be full for 2008! She got up on the deck and shot down. Love what she captured!

Marianne is another local photographer that is launching her business. She is the sweetest thing and has such an incredible eye. Just look at the emotion she captured between Marissa and Akash. Wouldn’t you love this type of pure joy shot with your spouse?!

Dinea is from the Olympia area and is also getting her wedding and portrait business off the ground. I loved that she sent me something unique to everyone else. No faces in this shot, but you can totally feel the love and passion between the two from the hands and body posturing. By Dinea’s composition of this shot, you just know that Akash is so gentle with Marissa and that Marissa is totally at home with Akash. Wonderful Dinea!

Taking photos of men can be tough. How do you pose them? How do you get natural shots out of them? Believe me, they haven’t been dreaming about their pictures being taken on their wedding day since they were little boys. These were some of the issues we discussed when we split Marissa and Akash up.

Connie did a fantastic job of going for it and capturing a shot of Akash that looks like it belongs in a magazine! Angles are every thing, and I love how many different lines you can see in this image and how the turn of his head makes it all work.

Jen is another woman from Seattle area. She is getting her business off the ground right now, and she is going to be another hit in our area. Her great personality combined with her eye for the “moment” is powerful! She grabbed a totally different angle that is much more documentary, and you have to love it! I like that his ring is in the shot, that he’s laughing, but the laugh is totally him and his personality. Way to go Jen!!!

Sara is such an inspiration to me! She came to one of our Beginner Workshops earlier this year, and now she’s doing photos for families at the pumpkin patch! I love her courage, and her eye for simple beauty is priceless.

Alice is also from CA and came with her sister Tammy. Two moms, two sisters, one passion for photography. They were so much fun to have, and wow, the lighting behind Marissa is stunning in this shot. Beautiful Alice, just beautiful!!

Jennifer, owner of Memory Journalists from Folsom, CA, is one of those people that you meet and never forget. She, like many of us, has endured her fair share in life, and yet she’s turning it all into this amazing documentary of people’s lives. Jennifer is a well respected photographer in her area and how can you not respect this woman. She says things like they are, cuts to the point, and then turns beauty into every thing she sees around her.

One of the other wonderful pieces to this workshop was finally getting to meet Jess. She flew in from New Jersey and was the 2nd winner of our Running on Empty contest. Jess has so much on her plate with all the up’s and down’s of her little one’s health, and yet love and graciousness still pour out of her. It was a complete honor to have her join us and to get time to talk with her, laugh together, cry a little (yep, we cried Jason :)) and then laugh some more.

On top of all this, she is a wonderful photographer! You have to check out her website!

It was so hard to choose “one” photo from each person. Jess especially made this hard, but here’s the one I wanted to share. Both the sharpness and color are such wonderful attributes to Jess’s work.

At the end of the second day, we gave away a Shootsac to the person who traveled the farthest to get our workshop. Thanks to Jessica Clair and Shootsac supporting these workshops, we got to make Karry’s day. She came to us from Maryland and got to take the Shootsac home! I grabbed all the other ladies who already have their own Shootsacs, and we made Karry get out in front and show off her prize! I wish I had enough room to show you all these shots! What a kick! Bottom line: if you don’t already have a Shootsac, you are seriously missing out!

Check them out ladies at the Shootsac website! (We love you Jessica!!!–seriously check out Jessica’s site if you haven’t yet, you will fall in love with color!)

Thank you all for such a wonderful time! It was beautiful from our Friday night Wine and Cheese Meet and Greet by the fire to our workshops days to our Saturday night pizza/wine/soup dinner :), Brian and I loved every minute of it. We must have a reunion of the workshops somehow. Hmmmmm…:)

2008 Workshop Schedule coming next week!