Today is a fun blog post with a workshop announcement and fun photo tips on “Shooting from the Hip”!
but first things first…
I have to tell you I woke up Saturday morning, and Brian yelled “MEEEE RAAAAAA! THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THIS BLOG POST IN THE LAST 12 HOURS!!!”
Oh, I couldn’t stop laughing! Thank you for all the comments, you had me laughing all weekend! (and Brian too–he’s such a great sport)
So here’s some fun news! We’ve got our Sonoma Wine Country Workshop coming up at the end of April, and we had a few spots open up last minute. Our policy is that we don’t issue refunds for workshops once someone has signed up b/c we have to budget accordingly and put down deposits for the location, restaurants, etc long before the workshop. But a few of the women had some really tough things unfold in their lives–things you never plan for. Brian and I felt the best way to support them was to give them a refund.
With that said, Brian and I thought ‘Why don’t we offer a special discount for the Sonoma Workshop since we have new seats open.’ Here’s what we came up with!
We’d like to offer 25% off to those of you who sign up with a friend! Yep! That’s right! 25% off for each of you who sign up for the Sonoma Workshop! So find your favorite girlfriend and see if you can talk her into spending a weekend in the wine country, sharing a hotel room with you, sipping wine, nibbling on cheese, eating grapes and BEST of all, learning all about photography! We have women flying in from Florida, Colorado, Virginia, Missouri and Washington!
A new addition to our Sonoma Weekend is The Red Grape! We’ve reserved this quaint, sweet little spot for our Friday Night Meet and Greet! Gathering starts at 6pm, AND drinks are on our tab! Check out the awesome reviews for The Red Grape at the website.
this is all just something to think about….:) If you’re interested, email me at mera@merakoh.com, and we’ll set you and your friend up with the discount!
That being said, let’s talk about SHOOTING FROM THE HIP!
Garrett Burdick is a great photographer and friend. He is actually the mastermind behind our Sonoma Workshop. Garrett will also be with us all weekend to help out and offer coaching on taking better photos. Seriously, Brian and I love this guy. We can’t wait for you to meet him.
Garrett has two boys, Walker (5) and Cooper (3) and he says that they know dad would give anything for a great photo of his boys. But they are NOT interested in helping those photos happen. Anyone relate? 
Even though Garrett is a professional photographer who does photo shoots for families, brides and many of the Pottery Barn catalog spreads you see every month–he’s super down to earth and agrees with the fact that photography doesn’t have to be as hard as some make it out to be.
Here are his top four photo tips with some beautiful samples of his little ones!
1. Use a SLR Camera with Auto Focus Lens
2. Keep Auto Focus ON with Auto Selector
3. Use a Wide Lens (28mm to 50mm)
4. most important, Have Fun
Garrett says, go for it and Shoot from the Hip!! This means, with all your auto settings going, take a break from even looking through the lens and get crazy!
Shoot from under the table!
Use that wide angle magic and shoot from the side!
Or even under the water!
Request for Garrett!
Garrett, when you hop on the blog today, will you share your recipe for these shots in the comments? We know you mentioned having your settings on Automatic but we would still love any recipes. What was your aperture, shutter speed and ISO? Thanks friend!
Okay ladies! See you in Sonoma!!
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Later this week we’ll post the Top Five Finalists of the “Darkness and Light” photo contest! The Winning Finalist gets to come to the Sonoma Workshop for 50% off! The random voter will get to have their pick of any one of our five 101 Kits!
We are also working on announcing the Running on Empty Contest Winner for San Diego, so stay tuned in for that.
And a few other fun things coming–like shoe shopping with a seven year old!
Awww…the contest is over? I never knew what the deadline was! Shucks. But the 25% off isn’t that bad either…
Awww…the contest is over? I never knew what the deadline was! Shucks. But the 25% off isn’t that bad either…
Good Morning! The Red Grape looks awesome. I want everything on the menu! Great Choice!!
Hi Me Ra - I have searched your blog for a contest deadline and havent found one. Man - Oh well… next time Ill make sure to get it in early.
What a great place for a workshop! It sounds so relaxing and so beautiful.
And what a GREAT prize for the random voter award - I can’t wait to see the finalists
Note to Brian: I actually was responsible for seven hundred of those one thousand hits on your post, so you don’t have to worry too much.
Brian’s bringing sexy back!
Can’t wait to see the recipe! I too did not know when the deadline was. then again maybe I missed it..
Wine and Me Ra! I wish I could go to the Sonoma workshop… have fun, ladies! I’ll be changing diapers and doing dishes that weekend.
Some of my favorite shots have been just pointing the camera in the general direction of cuteness and clicking the shutter.
I’m with Denise - I don’t even know how many times I came back to check out the Brian post and all the EXCELLENT comments! Brian - your fans are calling for more!
Love you guys!!
Oooh the Red Grape sounds yummy! I can’t wait, only a few more weeks!!!!
Hello to all…
Info from Garrett:
Walker Swinging - Auto Focus without looking through the camera lens - (Kids love to be moving…most of my shots with Walker are capturing him in action)
Settings: Canon EOS 20D, ISO 1600, P Mode, 1/250 sec, f5.6, 28mm-70mm lens (50mm for this photograph)
—
Mia under the Chair (This was a portrait session and I needed to break the ice with Mia (so I drop down to the floor with her). After this image Mia and I had a blast and the family invited me back next year)
Setting: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, ISO 200, Aperture Priority, 1/100th sec, f3.2, 24mm-70mm lens (70mm) - love this lens!
—
Kaia’s 1st B-Day (Shot from the hip….I moved in with a 50mm lens Auto-Focus - there was no-time to compose)
Settings: Canon EOS 5D (favorite camera), ISO 200, Shutter Priority, 1/125th sec, f5.0, fixed 50mm lens.
—
Walker at Tunnels Beach - Kauai - Auto Focus - did not compose…(first time shooting underwater….what FUN and not that expensive with a Canon G7 (Today Canon has the G9…even better - Great pocket camera…Love this camera for underwater shots)
Link to Canon’s Underwater Housing at B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/1/wp-dc11.html/shs/wp-dc11/iso/y
Settings: Canon PowerShot G7, ISO 200, Auto Mode, 1/1600 sec, f2.8, about a 35mm lens
If you have any questions send me an email: garrett@garrettburdick.com
Thanks…
OMG! Did I not ever post a contest DEADLINE!!! I’m so sorry! I thought I did! Why don’t we make the contest deadline for this Thursday morning, and then hopefully we can post the finalists Friday! How does that sound?
Send those entries in!!
p.s. Thanks Garrett for the recipes! You’re a star!!
I’ve been looking at your posts for a few weeks now. Love the advice and the pic. you post. Thank you for the inspiration. Since visiting your site, I have had my camera out of the bag and taking at least 100 shots a day trying to capture my girls’ many moods. Looking forward to seeing the contest finalists. I actually sent one in, it was my first time. Not sure if it fit the contest, but thought I would give it a shot. Can’t wait to see what the next contest will be. Thanks again.
Yay! A deadline! I will get my shots in right away! Thanks Me Ra!
The Red Grape sounds like so much fun! I can’t wait!!!
I can’t wait to see the finalists or for this photo contest!
I’m sure relieved Brian thought it was funny. If I did that to my husband, dog housed or not, I think he’d cancel our internet!
You can send some of your vacation room or photos to
hotelroomphotos dot com
thanks
jason
ok i HAVE to confess..i’m really about to start praying to God now for a 1D….i have already put my request in to the Lord. hahahaahahhahahahaha Yea, itz only a CAR…but man, i want to have more ease of pictures without my stoopid flash! *smile* anyways…………last week i sent out a “beginner photographer’s prayer”…that laid it all out. lol *giggle*
Propecia….
Propecia….