So before I say anything about this workshop, after everyone’s comments to yesterday’s post, it looks like we’re making you a Banking 101 Kit! More on that later!

Now for the workshop!

I’m always excited to see what group of women will come together for each workshop; how the women will mesh, what new friendships they’ll find with each other, what things we’ll laugh about. This last weekend far exceeded my expectations! It was simply amazing.

The majority of the group was made up of women who didn’t even own a SLR camera yet. I have to underline this because wait till you see what these women captured!! You are going to be blown away. By the end of the first day, these women were shooting in Manuel and adjusting their own shutter speeds like nobody’s business! That’s pretty awesome when more than half of the group borrowed one of our cameras because they didn’t have their own yet. As I said, they were simply amazing women! Talk about going for it–they totally did!

One of the most moving parts to the workshop for Brian and me is when we do the critique of their images. Taking their favorite images from the baby shoot, we ask each woman to share one or two. Seeing the diversity in each woman’s eye is proof alone that each is a unique artist.

The image above and below was taken by Judith. I was struck by how specific her framing was. Notice how she unintentionally framed the image by using the mom. What I mean by this is see how the mom’s arm is framing the photo. And below, again, the mom’s hair is framing the baby. I love how Judith decided to focus on their hands.

Addie and her 16 year old daughter made this workshop a special weekend. They flew all the way from Maryland. Both these ladies had such different eyes in how they took in the mom and baby. This was especially fun for me to see how the mom’s eye differed from her daughter’s eye.

Here is Addie’s image (the mom).

Isn’t the simplicity of this breathtaking. Again, I love how Addie focused on the intimacy of the hands and blurred the baby. Same concept as Judith above, but totally different images.

Now check out Chelsea’s image, Addie’s 16 year old daughter.

Is this amazing or what! Many of us are afraid to get in this tight. Brian is so good at this, while I often shoot the wider frame shots. I love how Chelsea took the mindset that less is more and filled the frame. We don’t even see the full eye of the mom, but we know she adores her baby. Here’s another one by Chelsea. Again, beautiful in it’s simplicity. Can you believe those eyes! Great job Chelsea! (Wouldn’t you agree that Chelsea has a SERIOUS future in photography! )

This next image is super special to me because of the story behind it. Julie came up to me at the end of the first day and said that she couldn’t believe how changing her shutter speed helped her make the BBQ disappear.

Above is one of Julie’s beautiful shots. See the window in the background? If you were to look out the window with the naked eye, you’d notice a big BBQ. During the workshop we were teaching how creative you can be by manipulating your light with the shutter speed. You can make things disappear even by adjusting your settings! And Julie totally got it and captured it! Great job Julie! Here’s one more by Julie! I love how she caught mom holding the baby–those hands! Love those hands!!

When we went around the room and introduced ourselves, Sarah said this workshop was for her to give something special to herself–a weekend just for her. Sarah and I met during the Microsoft Small Business Show, and I was thrilled when I heard she was going to take the workshop. Now look at what she captured! This expression is timeless!

We all said our favorite part of this shot is the two orange lights in the empty space to the left. Guess what these lights were? A lamp!! Sarah brought her Fstop low so the lamp would blur in the background and the effect is wonderful!

Sarah also took this image below, and we went crazy over how beautiful the mom’s eyes were. Again, wonderful framing of the mom surrounding the baby, filling the whole frame, and the focus is on mom’s soft eyes. (Sarah, I think you’ll do great taking photos of your hubby mountain biking! )

Okay, before I show you any more photos, can you believe that Sarah, Addie, Chelsea and Julie all borrowed cameras because they don’t have their own yet!! These women, with point and shoot cameras, picked up SLRs and shot on Manuel! Can you see why Brian and I were so excited!

Tracy has the sweetest spirit. At the Wine/Meet and Greet, I could tell it was hard for her to leave her 10 year old son and hubby, and make the trip to Seattle from Santa Cruz, CA. But we’re so glad she did because she is the sweetest woman. Her husband had actually called me right before Christmas and asked about what camera to get her, so it was fun to see her show up with all her new gear! Look at her results!

Her lighting is darker than some of the others. This is based on shutter speed and white balance. I love these images being a bit on the darker side. I feel like the darkness really lends to how quiet the shots are and the simplicity of mom’s hands. Tracy you are wonderful!

Arlene flew out from Florida. The workshop was a Christmas present from her sisters! Arlene is not only one of the easiest people to laugh with, but she’s also got this FANTASTIC English accent!! Arlene has seen much in life, and I know that all these things lend to the emotion in her images.

This was one of the first images Arlene took. But then she came to me and said that it was a bit cold for her. Beautiful image of mom and baby, but she wanted the image to be warmer.

We took a look at her White Balance and changed it from Auto White Balance to Cloudy. Brian and I especially like to use Cloudy or Shade White Balancing when we are shooting in the Northwest because of how many blue and green tones are in our daylight, as opposed to Southern CA’s warm light. Look at what happened in skin tone when Arlene made the switch in her White Balance! Again Arlene, way to go on capturing the perfect faces on mom and baby!

Dorian was another lady in our workshop. Dorian actually took our one day workshop earlier in the year, and she decided to come back and soak it all in again since the workshops are now two day. I don’t know if someone can give us a better compliment.

Like Arlene, Dorian was in a similar spot and captured the above shot with a bit of a twist on it. Her shutter speed was a tid bit slower than Arlene’s which is why the image is a little darker. But look at how light and the amount of light can change an image. I absolutely love how the design of the fabric, lighting, and mom’s hair adds to this image. And then you can’t beat how cute the baby’s face is!

Here is another one of Dorian’s. She did a wonderful job of filling the frame with baby! Look at those eyes and see the blurred kiss of mom in the background. What mom wouldn’t love this for their memories?

Brian and I really wanted to teach the concept of manipulating light and how our camera is a tool to doing this. Below is an image I took where I wanted mom to be hidden in the background, but I wanted enough of mom for the story of the image.

So many of us see these beautiful moments that we want to capture but because we have a point and shoot camera or we’re on the Green Box (auto mode), the camera decides the lighting for us and the depth can’t be captured. If I had shot this image on Auto, the camera would have made sure my shutter speed lit up both mom and baby. More on these concepts on Beyond the Green Box.

These concepts may sound overwhelming, but these wonderful women are proof that all of us can capture the concepts as well as the images we so desperately want (no matter how beginner you are).

Okay, I know this blog is long, but I’ve got two more great stories to share about this workshop!

In the middle of the workshop, one of the moms gets a call that her sister is in labor and having a baby! So she heads out half way through with her camera, pumps up the ISO, turns off her flash, and VOILA! Look at what she captures in the hospital right after her nephew is born!

Can you beat those newborn wrinkly feet! I’m dying!! Michelle, you did an amazing job–especially with dad and baby Jack! The images make me want to cry. Check out Michelle’s website!

Crazy story #2! Remember this baby, the winner of the “New Beginnings” contest?

Turns out the winner is Judith–who attended the workshop!! I try hard not to notice names on the contest submissions, so I didn’t even put the two together! AND, here’s the even crazier part! The baby model for the workshop is the little baby in Judith’s winning photo! Benjamin is Judith’s nephew!

He was two weeks old when Auntie Judith took the winning photo of her nephew. And now he’s two months! Can you believe the difference!

Well, when Brian and I realized how small the world is, and that this was Judith’s sister and her nephew, we had to bust out our cameras and capture some images of the sisters together.

We had such a great time together! The group even wanted to take their own CD cover group shot! We couldn’t stop laughing. Doesn’t Brian look intense up front! (his moment of fame )

And the second day, the group totally surprised Brian and I with a gift of Vera Wang’s Wedding Book. They each signed the book and had it wrapped and everything!

I have to give a special, special thanks to all the women who attended this workshop. Brian and I fell in love with all of you! Thanks for being a part of this workshop! It was incredible to be with all of you and watch you grow and gain confidence in just a weekend together! And thanks especially for laughing so much with us. Those coconut martinis are calling us to a reunion somehow!

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Interested in Future Workshops?

We still have some spots left in the next two 2008 workshops. One is in Sonoma, CA and the other is going to be in San Diego. If you’d like more details, click on the cities and you’ll be redirected to more info and the registration instructions.

Can’t wait to meet many of you!!

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Have you attended a previous workshop?

If yes, guess what!!! We are almost done with building a forum so all of you can stay in touch with each other! Time and time again, we see how beautiful friendships are started at our workshops, and we’re so excited to provide a forum for all of you to stay in contact and keep growing together, despite the miles that separate us all! Stay tuned for the forum’s release in the next couple months! (or sooner-fingers crossed!)

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Unable to Attend a 2008 Workshop?

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