In front of the camera- eekkk!!

For a photographer, we feel so comfortable shooting, we put a barrier up in front of us called a camera, shoot away and just feel normal. But when you put us in front of the camera, it's a whole new ball game.
On Saturday a few of us got together to take pictures of each other. We all needed some headshots taken for our website, blogs, whatever we needed them for. I have one headshot of myself on my website and my husband the non-photographer took it after I told him what to do and set the camera settings up. Needless to say, as much as I didn't want my pictures taken, I needed them.

Here are a few I took of other photographers that day that really caught my eye....

Amelia Southworth

I think this was my favorite of the whole day... :)

Andrea Whittle

Darcy Jacobs Martin

Becky Eden

Kelvin Leung

Free to Suceed!

Last night my good friend Jennifer with Ograce Photography and I went to a photography seminar hosted by David Jay and Jasmine Star. Two photographers who I've looked up to in this industry. Both are really inspirational and I just enjoy going to seminars.

There may be a few things I've heard before but I always get at least 1 thing from each seminar and that alone is worth expanding my education, knowledge and motivation to continue to push myself harder and more creatively.

David Jay spoke a lot about making choices to have Freedom. Photographers usually are spending way too much time behind computers editing, learning the next software and we really lose track of what's really important in life. We need to ease up our work flow to still produce great images but just to do it in a faster way. The extra time we aren't editing we need to be out learning, marketing, creative new options for you the client.

Editing is one of those things that we all really hate to do and it's a must and really it takes up all your time. I'm guilty of spending about 20 hours or so on each wedding afterwards. David Jay helped us to see we could spend about 2 hours getting the same effect. So I was all for his way and I'm looking to try it for my next set of edits. It's kind of like- which option do you choose- 20 hours or 2 hours?-um duh!

Jasmine Star spoke about how important your branding, logo, website and how you reflect yourself on each of these. It's something I've been working on for awhile and I really hope my personality shows through this blog and through my pictures. I hope that each time I take a picture it reflects me and everything I have based my company and myself around.

All in all it was a wonderful seminar and I did learn a lot. These two photographers are truly giving and so generous to lend a hand out to help us all.

I got home pretty late last night so I'm still trying to get my body and brain up and running. With kids at home I'm never usually out on a Sunday night that late and if I wasn't turning 30 this year I probably would "let lose in the city." But since I'm officially old now

(whine whine) and my kids will wake me up at the crack of dawn because they love me that much, I called it a night and drove home, sang as loud as I could in the car so I could keep myself from falling asleep at the wheel, dragged myself upstairs, brushed my teeth and hit the pillow. I looked at my clock and it was only 11:27pm- pretty sad huh? I swear it felt like 4:00 am.

Phoenix's simple workshop

Yesterday I attended a workshop given by Kevin Swan and Nathan Holrwitz. They flew out here this weekend to give a workshop at Ograce Photography's studio. My good friend Jennifer owns that studio.

Kevin talked a lot about marketing and his album company Kiss books. Nathan spoke to us about making your workflow easier. This was such a big help to me. He gave out a lot of ideas and tips to help us all in that department!

Most people think wedding photographers show up at the wedding, shoot a few images and they're done. It really is not the case at all. In fact I wish it was that easy.

I think this is the hardest job I've ever done. Not only are you on your feet for 10 hours at an event. You are running around, trying to be creative, trying to stay on with the time line, trying to make your bride and groom feel comfortable and trying to make pictures that should be shot in 1 hour to fit into about 15 minutes. You carry around luggage, heavy things on your back, your sweating, and constantly on your toes looking for that great moment to happen so you can capture it.

Then after you go home, pass out and try and recover the next day, you have the hardest part of all to begin. Editing! Yuck, I hate this word more than any other word in the dictionary. I probably spend 20-30 hours after a wedding working on the images. There is the slideshows, blog postings, editing images of about 3000, color balancing, fixing images, uploading the images, working on album designs, blah blah. It's many many hours away from my kids. My biggest goal this year is to fix that. To some how come up with a plan so I still give you awesome images but am still a wonderful wife and mother. And that doesn't include all the time you have to market yourself, take people to lunch, drop off stuff to clients.

Unfortunately me being a good mother gets cut first so I need to do something about that.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, I love what I do and the people I get to do this for. I wouldn't trade this job in for anything in the world. It's just one of those things when you own your own business that you have to sort through. When you own your own company there isn't much time that you aren't thinking about your business, how to better it, make it run smoother, or keep marketing it. So coming up with a plan to make me a better wife and mother is on the agenda but also it will free up more time to be a better photographer, and be able to spend more time with clients.

This workshop was really awesome and it helped a ton for my business. I'm looking forward to putting these tips and ideas into place.

Thank you so much Jennifer for hosting, and Kevin and Nathan for coming out and giving us a new look on things. It will help so much! :)

Check out this picture of us yesterday that Kevin shot!

PS- why do I always slouch like that in pictures- ugh!! I should really make myself stand in the back and stand up tall- it makes me look awkward! :)

Get Simple Workshop

My good friend Jennifer Radack with Ograce Photography is hosting a workshop at her studio on May 5th. Kevin Swan and Nathan Horlwitz will be doing a presentation on marketing, workflow and Kevin's Kiss books. I hope you all can make it, I'll be there for sure. It's going to be really informative and I can't wait to meet them.

Workshop Day 4

Our last day was yesterday, another long day. We had class in the morning and then drove to a tiny dirt road and we were able to shoot a model. This was pretty exciting for me since I don't usually shoot models, or at least professional ones. :)

It pretty much rained on us the entire time and we would all hide our cameras underneath our coats, shoot a few shots and then hide it again.

I was really sad to leave last night- but really excited to come home and see my family. I missed them so much.

Things are pretty much back to normal now but I will always have those 4 days and will never forget them- it was awesome.

Here are of few of my favorite images from yesterday...

Check off #15- Take Mike Colon's Workshop in Newport Beach

This one feels so good to check off my list- I still can't believe I was able to attend- It really was a once in a lifetime experience for me that I will never forget. Not only was Mike Colon awesome but so were the other photographers. I am so blessed to have met them and they are truly wonderful people. Mike was so giving, so informative and so caring for all of us to learn everything. We tried to inhale everything we could and believe me it was a ton of information. But so many things I've learned will make me a better photographer. I'm excited to share and try everything I learned. Mike also makes you want to be a better person- to treat people the way you want to be treated. He is the type of person you want to associate yourself with and be around professional and personally. He was a true inspiration.
I also met a ton of really great photographers from around the states that made a huge impact in my life and will have a connection with forever.
I'll be posting the last day session later today so stay tuned for that- it was an awesome day even though it poured on us. :(
Also you can check out some videos and pics from our workshop at
Kenny Kim's Blog
Mike Colon's Blog
Check out some of their sites.
Courtney Fries- Zoombug Photography
Steve Goldhaber-Steve Goldhaber Photography
Crystal Petersen- Crystal Petersen Photography
Amy Wellenkamp- Amy Wellenkamp Photography
Tammy Marcelain-Marcelain Photography
Tony Blake-Antonio Sanazri Occasions
DeeDee Dallas- D2Photo
Justin Wesbrooks- Justin Wesbrooks Photography
Chris Diset-Chris Diset Photography
John Loyola- John Loyola Photography
Nathan Dang-Lightyear Studio
Philip Glickman-Envisionography

Workshop Day 3

Today was a night shoot. We were all really looking forward to it but it poured rain. It was so cold and we were all pretty bummed that the rain was letting up. But Mike took us to a parking garage in Costa Mesa so we could still do a little night shooting. He had 2 sets of models there and we all felt so sad for the brides. I was freezing in a jacket and they both had tiny little dresses on.

The night techniques were a little difficult for me and I wasn't sure if I got any shots I liked but when I came back to the hotel last night and started editing I found some I liked. I tried to do some dramatic lighting and I think they turned out pretty cool.

Today is our last day which I'm pretty sad about but I know I have learned a ton coming here and also met some amazing photographers. I can't say enough about this workshop.

Here are a few of my favorites...

Workshop Day 2

Yesterday we had a full morning of class and then drove down to San Juan Capistrano to take some pics at the Mission. It was so awesome. Such a beautiful couple and beautiful backdrop. The weather worked out for us too- no rain. It was perfect. I am learning so much from Mike and learning so much from the other photogs too.

Here are some of my favorites from the day-

Here is Mike getting the shot