Welcome to Part 2 of the Orange County CONFIDENCE Workshop!  Today is a post FULL of inspirational photos!!  Enjoy!!

To give you a little background, on Day Two of the workshop, we have a Family Photo Shoot.  Several families volunteer their time so that our attendees can get some great practice without the pressure of it being a “real” shoot.

I like to start by having one of the families be my example, and then I walk the ladies through every decision I’m making from my camera settings to brainstorming creative ideas of how to tell the family’s story.  Sometime the kids have the BEST ideas!  (Angela! Thank you so much for the moment below!)

Together, we get our camera settings set and then the workshop ladies have a chance to shoot along with me.  It’s always a BLAST as creative boundaries are pushed right and left!

Meet one of my favorite little girls!  She is such a sweetie!!!

And every little girl deserves the right to twirl!

The California beach and sunshine is so WONDERFUL, especially at sunset.  But that would be way to easy!  🙂  So we up the challenge and take the ladies out in the sun when it’s right over our heads.

I don’t want to have a perfect lighting situation because as photographers, we so rarely have perfect lighting-perfect any thing really!  This way, the ladies gain confidence in learning how to meter, capture rim light,

deal with harsh sun and so much more!

Be inspired as you scroll down and see what these ladies captured!  For many of them, it was their first time shooting in Manual Mode–but they ROCKED IT!

I’m also so excited for you to see the people they captured!  A handful of the moms who brought their families took our CONFIDENCE Workshop in San Diego three years ago.  Some of them have gone on to pursue portrait businesses, and wow, they are doing incredible!  The family above with that sweet little girl, is Rhonda Kane’s family!  They drove almost six hours to come and be with us!  What a total honor!  (love you Rhonda!)

Now comes inspiration from women just like you and me!  Enjoy!

Lacy Edwards has a great eye!  I love that she captured this fleeting moment of baby between mom’s legs.

Does anyone know who shot this next photo!  It’s such a great different take on that exact same moment!  I love that we have a sense of how small this little one is with mom’s boots on either side.

Lacy also captured this of big sister.  Look at those beautiful EYES! The lighting Lacy is awesome!

These first four families are all women who have attended the CONFIDENCE Workshop.  It was wonderful to give them the opportunity to be on the “other” side of the camera.  Susanne–gorgeous photo of you by Angela Ray!

These next two are by Rose. I love the unique angle and persepctive that Rose had with both photos!

I mean Rose!!!  This shot below could be the cover of a kid’s catalog or magazine!

Michelle Meiner, this photo is just lovely.  LOVELY!  I love how the little girl is looking right at the camera but the little boy is watching sand fall.  Mom looks soft, gentle and a presence that brings peace to her kids.  Way to not only meter this shot, but great job on giving each person freedom to express their own feelings.

And Melisa Navarro captured this shot of father and son!  Wow!!  Look at those eyes!!  I love the soft, muted feeling of the whole image.  So incredible!

Roxie from CanvasRox came with her two sassy, beautiful twins!  I love what Portia Harris captured of Roxie’s daughter!  Portia, way to meter that amazing sunlight on her hair!  You rocked this girl!

Look at the sweetness that Amy Barnes captured!

One of the things I love most about children is their dozens and dozens of expressions–each one being so genuine and authentic to who they are.  Robin Fuehrer did a couple in a row, and I had to show you the diversity.

It’s expressions like this that family’s treasure for years to come.  Wonderful job Robin!

Laura Falcon!!  I love the composition of this shot.  I love that you allowed for lots of empty space with all the sand because it draws our attention to his sweetness that much more.  Great job!

Samantha Jones, our ROE winner, did some great work with Rhonda’s whole family!  Way to shoot into the sun GIRL!

Jamie Backlin captured this priceless, sweet moment of Rhonda and her daughter.  I LOVE it.  It says L-O-V-E all over it!

As the workshop ladies are experimenting, stretching their own creative boundaries–lots of emotions run through them.  Sometimes they are so overwhelmed with fear that we wonder if they also recognize how much fun they are having.  You know how it can be so intimidating to step out of your comfort zone–all you are aware of is that fact that you are not the most comfortable–and yet, joy is their too.  Joy is impossible to hide when we are following a passion, no matter how uncomfortable or challenging it can feel.

Just to prove it to you, Brian walks around and collects evidence!  🙂

Had to do this last one!  Couldn’t resist!  🙂

This next part is so vital.  When you follow your passion, you often venture into a land that is unknown, unfamiliar.  You wonder if you are lost.  You wonder if your passion is true.  All these feelings can make you want to run the other way. But before you do, pause.  Close your eyes and let yourself sink in to your creative spirit.  Yes, there is fear and uncertainty.  But can you also feel the joy–the joy that comes from a creative spirit who is set free to be adventurous!  Imperfections, mistakes, stumbles, all the above will happen.  But silliness, laughter, reward and more passion than ever–also waiting.

Proud of you ladies!  The joy on you is BEAUTIFUL!

xoxo,

m

p.s. Early Bird Discount for Spring CONFIDENCE Workshops ENDS Thursday!!

Spring is in the air, and new life is starting to bloom everywhere! What better time to gain confidence in your photography, whether you are a stay at home mom or aspiring pro!  We’ve got limited spots left in our Spring CONFIDENCE Workshops! We are coming to New York, Seattle and Chicago! Click on your city below for more details and regiatration info!

New York / New Jersey
Seattle (5 spots left!)
Chicago (4 spots left!)