We leave DC today after a wonderful week of adventure with the kids and powerful workshop with the DC CONFIDENCE ladies.  Every time Brian and I walk in to the workshop room the morning of Day One, to meet all these beautiful women for the first time, I wonder what magic will happen.  What stories will unfold?  What glass ceilings will be shattered?  And what will transformation look like for each of them on the other side of the weekend.  Each workshop unfolds in its own way.  I can’t help but think this is too amazing to happen again.  But it does happen, and I know it’s because of the fact that powerful transformation comes when women come together wanting more for themselves.  Yes, they are all nervous the beginning of Day One.  Whether she is a beginner-beginner with her camera or charging money to beginning clients, each woman is nervous because she has chosen to do something very courageous.  She has chosen to say “I want more.  I know there is more to learn.  I know there is more for me.  And I want it not only for myself but every woman here.”  Vulnerability mixed with courage equals transformation that is inescapable.

We walk through many exercises together.  As many of you know, on Day One we bring in baby models and work with indoor lighting as we push ourselves to get out of our own creative box and try set ups we may have never thought of.

To celebrate the courage our Seattle women have, to acknowledge the confidence they gained and the many shifts that happened for them over our weekend, I want to show you some of their beautiful photo results.  But these wonderful photos are only the tip of the iceberg for what happened internally.  I wish I could share ALL their stories with you.  For now, you will probably see their stories reflected in the magical photos they captured.  (And I say magical because these were all shot in the hotel lobby and restaurant…but you’d NEVER guess it!)

Robyn…this is pure parenthood bliss that you captured!  I LOVE mom’s expression!  Simply beautiful!

When you find great light and your exposure is spot-on, you can get really crisp images like this one that Neyssa Lee caught!  I love the catch light in his eyes.

The next two images are fantastic “tiny toes” shots with so much more!  Take a look at how different the eyes of Michaela Hundahl and Maria were on this shot.  Compositionally, oh so different, but both so lovely.

Kristy H. was able to capture this little guy feeling safe and secure in his father’s arms.  Sometimes we can get caught into thinking we always need to say everyone’s faces, but having the hint of their presence can often make dad or mom’s presence that much more powerful.

I love the composition on this image.  Mom is looking gorgeous in this very tight shot with the light just pouring in on to baby’s face.  What a great moment Krista!

Katie, your image is very similar to Krista’s.  I am digging how sharp this little baby’s face is with mom slightly blurred out in the background…all up against a very simple colored wall.  That type of simple background really makes us focus on the little boy!

Babies over the mom’s shoulders are just a great way to start a baby shoot!  The mom is probably feeling a little self-conscious, so turning her away from the camera, putting her at ease, while getting the amazing shoulder line always works.  Great shot Karyn!

What wonderful composition this image has to it!  Great job Julie Wray!  Mom looks beautiful in this shot!  Baby isn’t in focus, as it should be because the story is so powerfully about mom’s joy.

Wow, Jill Ulander, you found some really even, perfect light by this big window.  I also love that we can see mom totally smiling in the background.

This is the same set up but a different perspective!  Amaris, GORGEOUS!

Jacki, I am so impressed that you turned the baby’s face toward the light.  That is awesome!  The plain wall really makes us feel the love mom has for her little girl.  Very nice!

The warmth of this image really draws me in.  The warm tone and the warmth of the emotion from both parents as they play with their little guy.  Again, just pure joy is displayed on their faces.  What a wonderful moment Genny Kothari caught.

What a sweet portrait of this little girl!  I love how Gargi placed herself a perfect distance away, yet still keeping that nice, even light on the little gals face.  That, my friend, is “Finding the Light”!  I’m thinking your weekly photo sessions with your own baby are a different story now.  🙂

You can’t go wrong with fingers and toes.  Christy Cowan, your focal point of the finger grabbing the toes is spot-on!  I just want to eat those toes up!!!

I’m really proud of this photo because an orange couch with brown wall can be tricky with white balance.  But the group unpacked this set up and look!  Just priceless!  Look at the fabulous catch lights that Carrie caught in her eyes!  Yeah Carrie!

Danielle Kindelberger, this is such an amazing shot of sleeping baby.  I love how sharp the tiny fingers are!  Just precious!  You would NEVER guess what the setting was of this shot–the hotel lobby!!  It looks like you did this in a studio, love those prepared “black backgrounds”.  🙂

The tenderness and security exudes from this image that Amy Swank captured.  It is so peaceful. Love!

Here are some more of my favorite Behind-the-Scene moments from Day One!

And I LOVE this shot because Brian is a walking manual for EVERY camera out there, regardless of what brand the camera is!  Every time I turn around he is trouble shooting technical glitches on some of the cameras, and the relief on women’s faces when that glitch is finally gone is PURE ECSTATIC JOY!!!  That’s what I need to take a photo of next!

To all the Seattle CONFIDENCE Ladies from September…I LOVED our weekend together!  I still find myself laughing when I remember Gargi’s introduction!  Thank you for bringing all of yourselves to the workshop, for pushing your limitations and going after confidence with everything inside you.  It was an amazing weekend, and I can’t wait to show everyone what Day Two looked like.  So proud of all of you!

And a VERY BIG THANK YOU to all the mama’s and their gorgeous babies!  We appreciate you so much!!  I can’t wait for you to see the dozens and dozens of amazing photos these ladies captured of your babies!!!

xoxo,

m

p.s.  Winter CONFIDENCE Workshops have started the Early Bird Registration and are filling!  Christmas is looking REAL GOOD for some special ladies!  🙂   CLICK HERE to find the city nearest you!