Let’s go to the Wine Country!

A Sonoma Photography Workshop for Women

I’m am SUPER excited to announce the newest workshop! A friend and talented photographer named, Garrett Burdick, asked us if we wanted to come to the Bay Area for a workshop. His day job is setting up shoots in homes for Pottery Barn catalogs as well as weddings, so he knows where to stay, where to go, where to hold a workshop! Garrett has been the perfect person to help hammer out all the little details, and check this out!…Actually, you are going to go freak out!!

When Saturday and Sunday, April 25-27th 2008, with an AMAZING Add-On day from Garrett’s business partner, celebrity photographer, Rick Chapman, see below for more info. This third day will sell out fast for Monday, April 28th 2008. Wait till you see Rick’s stuff!

Where The beautiful Westerbeke Ranch in Glen Ellen, CA (5 minutes away from Sonoma).

To see even MORE photos of the grounds where we’ll be shooting at, click here!

Time 9:30am-4:30pm (both days) Breakfast served and open to everyone at 9am on the upper deck of the Chapel. Now get this, lunch is brought to you from a Cordon Bleu Chef who makes each meal using the freshest of ingredients from the Farmer’s Market.

(are you dying yet! I totally am!)

Workshop Schedule

Starting Friday, April 25th a Wine and Dine/Meet and Greet in the Wine Country! 🙂

(now this is going to be a fun wine and dine!)

Friday night, April 25th, we’ll have a cozy, casual Meet and Greet with Wine and Appetizers at a local spot in the quaint town of Sonoma. If you can make it, this is a wonderful way to begin this special weekend treat for yourself.

Day One Topics, Saturday, April 26th

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.

The first day is really about answering the question, “How does this big black thing work anyways!” 🙂 Plus, lighting, kid model shoots, and a photo assignment due for the second day!

We’re also excited to share that Garrett will be joining us both days to help assist hands on! Is that so AWESOME!

Optional Group Dinner Saturday Night, April 26th

If we have enough people wanting to commit, Garrett is setting to hook us up with a fabulous wine/dinner that celebrates being in the beautiful wine country. So let us know your thoughts on this one! This may be a fun evening to invite your partner/spouse to join the group and meet everyone!

Day Two Topics, Sunday, April 27th

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.

Optional Add-On Day, Monday, April 28th!

Rick Chapman is a phenomenal portrait photographer. This is Rick.

Now take a look at some of his subjects. You may recognize their faces.

and one of my favorites on Rick’s website. “Keys”

Rick has invited our group to his beautiful home on Stinson Beach for an extra 4 hour intensive day. I’ll be hosting a question and answer with Rick on how he takes the photos he does. What are his techniques, his secrets to drawing out people’s personalities, his lighting strategies. Then we will bring in a few models and head to the beach where Rick, Garrett, Brian and myself help you try some new techniques of portrait photography and have all four of us to assist you. It’s going to be a wonderful experience. We’re going to give the workshop attendees first come, first serve priority. And then after the new year we’ll open up the third day to outside photographers too.

Lodging Info

The Westerbeke Ranch was already booked up for the weekend. April is beautiful in the wine country, so you want to move on this fast. I had thought about blocking rooms somewhere else, but Garrett and I both agreed to scratch that idea. There are just too many wonderful, quaint places to stay in Sonoma and Glen Ellen. So here is my favorite link for a variety of Inns and B&B’s with a range in pricing (many of the places have spas!!! :)). Just be sure to not put your lodging off because it goes fast! Here’s the Sonoma.com link.

Workshop Cost

$999 pp for Saturday and Sunday (lots of women are making these workshops their Christmas or Birthday gifts! Be sure to let family know they can now purchase Gift Certificates at the Refuse to Say Cheese website. You can also request to have us gift wrap them real pretty! 🙂 But for Christmas delivery, you must order your gift certificate and then email your mailing address to mera@fioria.us by Monday, December 17th!

Optional Add-On Day for $299 pp on Monday from 10am-2pm. Eat a big breakfast because this going to be one jam packed four hour day! 20 spots reserved for the workshop attendees first. Meaning, you must be attending the two day workshop to register for the Add-On day.

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 workshops!

Payment Options and Terms

1. You can pay the whole balance at once at Refuse to Say Cheese.

2. You can use the coupon code: deposit. This will allow you to pay a deposit of $650 to reserve your seat. The remaining balance of $350 (total $999) must be paid in full 14 days before the workshop date. The fastest way to ensure your seat is by registering through the Refuse to Say Cheese website. Call 253-468-8913 if you have any questions.

3. The $299 for the Add-On Day is something you must register for separately. It is not included with the two day workshop fee, but is an Add-On option for your enjoyment.

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 we have plenty and a number of lenses, so we should be good!) What’s a Digital SLR camera? A camera that has the ability to swap out different types of lenses.

2. Notepad, Pens, Warm Clothing for Shooting Outside. April can be beautiful in the Bay Area, but it an also be rain. Better to bring layers so you’re prepared.

3. Laptop with Photoshop Elements or the bigger version of Photoshop being Lightroom or CS2. It’s not necessary to have this, but if you have it bring it. (We’ll be discussing what to do in post process to answer the question “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 just giving to myself for the weekend!” type attitude. 🙂 “Even if I’m a little overwhelmed, or intimidated, I’m going for it because I CAN do this!”

***You can also request to have us gift wrap your gift certificates really pretty! 🙂 But for Christmas delivery, you must order your gift certificate and then email your mailing address to mera@fioria.us by Monday, December 17th!***

Click Here to Register!

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 to Arizona to Florida to 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!)

Click below to see the Workshop Trailer!

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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 us in action for the VH1 wedding click My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding!