Art that captures life. Workshops for the modern photographer, by Shelby Lane.

Updates!

The studio is closed till after the first of the year, so if you're calling for workshop info, I will not be there to answer.  If you email, I am likely to get it, though!  It just may take a few days.  I'm trying to get my house and the studio back in order after the Christmas Craziness.

Just wanted to update, though:

Coeur d'Alene, ID has 12 spots remaining

Delano, MN has 12 spots remaining

San Diego, CA has opened for registration

Chicago Area is still up in the air, as far as dates and location go.  I'll give it another few weeks so we can get past everyone's crazy time and we'll see what we can do about pinning down a time, date, and place.

Here's a quick shot of some of our New Braunfels workshop attendees, for Valerie.  Aren't they a cute bunch?  I would love to show some of the lighting tests but I have to get some permission first.  ;)  Abbey showed us a good example of why the 50mm lens is not ideal for headshots, but I'd like to keep her as a studio employee so I'll have to run those by her first.  Hope this posts okay... it looks icky on the preview so I might have to run my little "for the blog" action on it and reupload.

Happy Holidays, everyone!!!

What are you teaching?

It boils down to photography and business -- anyone who knows me can tell you that I can't talk about one without talking about the other.  My two day workshops are split about half and half between the two.  We will have models and will be doing some shooting, but we will also be talking a lot about business, marketing and pricing.

So here are some of the main points we talk about.  It's a lot of information packed in to two days, and we bring in lunch so we don't have to stop learning.  We usually have a mix of about half "newbies" and half established photographers.  The pre-requisite for this particular set of workshops is that you know how your camera works and how to use it in manual mode.  I would highly recommend bringing a light meter along with you!

Style, Philosophy, and Inspiration.  Learn to look in new directions to find inspiration for your style, to help keep things fresh and updated while creating your own unique vision.

Simple Lighting and Posing.  Good studio children’s work doesn’t have to look stiff and unnatural.  Learn techniques to help make your studio light work look more like natural light and how to create clean, well-lit and posed baby and child images without losing the spontaneous feeling that is so popular right now.  We will be working with one light and a reflector, and adding on an additonal accent light.

Outdoor Lighting and Location Choice.  Making your life easier and shortening your post-production time by learning what to look for in a location.  Using just "natural" light, adding a reflector, when you need fill flash and how to add it, and how using your strobe outdoors for family portraits can help take your outdoor portraits to the next level.

Shooting for Style: Lighting, Posing, and  Simple Set Design to Promote Your Look.  Find inspiration in new places!  How to use what you see around you to help define your style and build unique but simple sets.

Tips and Tricks for Maternity and The First Year.  Create images your clients will fall in love with and talk about all year long.  Poses. lighting, and hints for some difficult to photograph ages, families, and techniques for making expectant moms look their best.

Pricing for Profit. No, it's not just guesswork.  A step by step process for determining your break even point, and what you need to make to survive.

Creating Your Brand.  It's about more than just a slick logo.  Learn how the way you present yourself sets you apart from the rest of the pack.

Baby Plans: Little Blessings, Big Rewards.  Your baby plan doesn't have to be a pain!  Learn how to organize your program to offer good benefits to your clients without giving away the studio.

Relationship, Community and Web Marketing.  Want to know how to find and keep those ideal clients?  Learn simple, effective, and inexpensive ways to promote your business and your style to your target market.

One more date: San Diego, CA

The lovely and talented Melissa Perkins-Weisbrod will be our hostess for two days of learning fun in San Diego, CA this spring.  Her studio is gorgeous and is located in the Little Italy section of San Diego -- so count on some good food!  We are now accepting registrations and this workshop will fill up at 20 attendees.  So all you southern West Coasters mark your calendars now for May 3rd and 4th!

Registration will be $450 now, $550 after April 1.  As always, this includes the two day workshop, the 2008 materials kit, and lunch in the studio both days.  To register, download the form below and email it to workshops@shelbylane.net  We will call you to complete registration.  Remember that all registration fees paid between now and the 31st can be written off on this year's taxes.  ;)

Download registration_sandiego_2008.rtf

Delano MN!

Well, Twin Cities, you have a date by popular demand.  :)  Angie Kalthoff will be our host for a two day workshop on March 29th and 30th. 

Again, we will cover lighting (both in-studio and outdoors), posing (focusing on first year, families, maternity), branding and marketing to build your business, making a baby plan work for you, and of course, pricing.  Saturday night we will have an optional porftolio and pricing review.  For more details on what we cover, check out the workshop end of the site.  Registration will be $450 before March 1st, $550 after and we will be taking 15 registrations for this one as well.  You can download the registration form at the end of this post to email back.

(Rock Island/Chicago -- I am still working on things.  If you are in the Chicago area, we have had a generous offer from a Rock Island photographer -- please send me an email if you would be "in" for this.)

Download registration_delano_2008.rtf

Bruce Hudson's New Directions Tour

I took a class from Bruce at Texas School a few years ago and it was amazing.  So when we heard he was coming to town for the night, Laura and I decided we HAD to go.

I'm so glad we did.  Even though I spent a week learning from him, his one-night program still an inspiration.  He covered marketing, getting organized with your business, outdoor lighting, and so much more.  And we got a nifty little notebook to take home.  :)  One of the things that I love in his programs is that he urges you to create an Action List, which is kind of a to-do list with deadlines.  I am really bad about jotting down ideas, even down to the "how we would implement this and what needs to come together to make it happen" details, but these inspirations often get stuck in the "in my dreams" phase.  I have gotten more done, more efficiently in the past couple of weeks just by tacking a daily Action List to my wall.  Thanks, Bruce!

His New Directions Tour is likely to be coming to a city near you.  If you have the chance, GO.  You will leave with some great new ideas and inspiration to get busy on your own "in my dreams" projects.  :)

Coeur d'Alene, ID Workshop: Host Studio

I had to share these images of Ellie Irvin's studio with y'all.  Thank you, Ellie!  This is going to be a great venue for working with both window light and strobes.  We are taking registrations and already have one on the books, so please get with me asap to reserve your place.  I am so excited to come out to your area.

A Photographer's Christmas Wish List

So what do you get for the photographer who needs everything?  ;)  To help out those clueless-but-wanting-to-be-thoughtful significant others out there, here are my top picks for must-have photo gear.  For those of you who might be buying for little ol' me: I already have all this stuff.  This is not MY wish list, LOL.  But it's the workshop attendee wish list and I hope it helps all of you last minute shoppers.

1) Larson 4x6 Softbox.  I looooove this softbox.  I use the 6x8, but for most newer studios, the 4x6 is ideal.  The light is so incredibly soft and even if you have another softbox already, once you try this one you'll wish you bought it first.  It spreads the light better than any other 4x6 I have used.  If you're interested in buying one, email me and I'll give you my friendly rep's contact info.  And for all of you who say, "I already have an Alien Bee giant box and it is huge" let me tell you something you're not going to like: it is actually really small.  :)  The 4x6 isn't that much bigger, and it has a very shallow profile.  But the light is SO MUCH SOFTER that if you want to re-create that window light look with strobes, it's going to be much easier to do it with a 4x6 than with the 2.5x5 Bee Box.  Invest in one.  You won't regret it.

2) Aurora Reflector, available at Tallyn's.  Why this and not another reflector?  Well for starters, it's a great size for studio work.  I love how the stand is sturdy and how you can swivel the reflector around, and move it up and down, because of the ballhead and stand combo.  I also love how inexpensive it is.  I would not want to be without this in the studio.

3) Aurora Titan Sidekick Light Stand.  Again, available at Tallyn's.  This puppy is sooooo sturdy.  And for all of you who say, "I just can't get my softbox down that far!" this is what you're looking for.  It is inexpensive, but a very nice quality stand.  The pistol grip lets you raise and lower the heavier softboxes easily, and you can mount any light that has a regular light stand mount on it (I have mounted both Alien Bees and Photogenics on mine).

4) Larson Silver Reflector.  I have the 36 inch version and the frame makes it great for outdoor work.  It closes like an umbrella and is so light that if you do a lot of location work, you will thank me.  No more wrestling with those giant oval reflectors that look like they should be blocking the sun on your dash in the summer. Does it pinch your fingers?  You betcha.  Might want to add on that wind brace, if you can.  BUT, the frame makes it easier to use and maneuver outdoors.  You can set it up on it's little kickstand, but I still prefer having an assistant (either Abbey or a mom) so that you can get the light right where you want it.

5) Alien Bee 400s.  Sure, I use a Photogenic 1250DR as my main light and I wouldn't go back.  But for kicker lights and for those who are just starting out with studio work, the 400 is more power than you'll really need.  Plus, they're awfully cute.  Like I said: I no longer use mine as a main light in the studio, but I do take it on location (for really difficult light days, I take the 800, but that is rare) with a smallish softbox and the Alien Bee Vagabond System.  For me, it is a great way to get natural looking, directional light outdoors.  In the studio, you can use that 400 with the softbox shown above and it's a sweet combination.  In the studio, if you use it the way I did, you probably won't ever use more than 1/4 power anyway.

And for those who already HAVE a great studio and location setup, you might think about the Studio Titan Camera Stand (I use mine in the studio every day and I absolutely love it... but don't forget to order a ball head).    

First 2008 Workshop Date Announced! (Western Idaho, here we come!)

And... we're off!  I just finished working things out with the wonderful Ellie Irvin, who has graciously agreed to host our first 2008 workshop.  Her studio in Coeur d' Alene, Id, (just 25 minutes from the Spokane, WA airport) is gorgeous and has some beautiful natural light, and she is in a great touristy town so there will be plenty of locations for outdoor work.   Thank you, Ellie!  I can't wait to meet you in person!

I am changing some things around for the 2008 workshop, to include more hands-on work and more take-home materials, but we will cover the same basic information that is listed on the site.  We are opening registration early so that the early birds can get this in as an education expense under the 2007 tax calendar.  ;)  Here are the details so far:

WHEN: February 16th and 17th 2008

WHERE: Ellie Irvin's studio in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

HOW MANY: We are keeping the 2008 workshops a little smaller, so we will limit this to 15.

HOW MUCH:  $450 before Jan 25th.  $550 after.

We will be providing lunch and snacks both days and a chance on Saturday night for portfolio and price list review.

HOW TO REGISTER: Email me the registration form (below) , and I will call you to get payment info over the phone.  If you email and do not hear back within two days, I did not get your email.  You can also call the studio at 210-745-0142.  We will be back in starting Tuesday, December 11th.

Download registration_coeurdalene_2008.rtf

Setting dates for 2008

Okay, so it's that time of year.  I am talking with a few people and have tenative plans for four workshops next year.  As some of you already know, I limit these to one a quarter, pretty much, so that I can plan for the studio as well.  So, right now it looks like I'll be up in the Pacific Nortwest in February (still working on dates) and in Southern California sometime this spring.  I have hostesses for both of these.  I am still working on getting up to Chicago but I need a host or hostess!  Chicagoland photogs: do you have a studio that will fit about 15-20 people comfortably?  Are you in an easy to get to area?  Could you give up sessions for two days this summer?  Would you be interested in hosting a photographer who talks non-stop for the four days she's there?  If so, let me know.  I have had several requests to come up there, but as of yet no one has had a studio that will hold enough people, so we either need a hostess or I need to find a hotel meeting room before I can set the Chicago date.  As it's one of my favorite cities, I'd love to come up and spend a few days with you guys.  ;)  I have gotten requests from a few other areas, BUT, if you are dying to have someone come up to your area and do a workshop, send me a note right now so maybe we can work something out.  I will be looking for ONE MORE AREA to nail down for the fall, preferably on the East Coast, since we're doing so much on the West already.

Lost and Found

Paging workshop attendees... paging workshop attendees... .

Someone left a notebook over by the shooting area yesterday.  We looked for a name but did not see one.  SO, if you are looking for your notebook, we have it at the studio.

Thank you again, everyone, for coming out last weekend!  And thank you for the sweet emails.  I am thriled that you learned so much!  I can't wait to see how you apply all this -- don't forget to write down FIVE THINGS that you are going to do, and make sure you give yourself a deadline to get them done.  Please pin that up where you can see it and actually put these new ideas into practice!  Y'all are so talented, and I think that you'll do really well with your businesses once you get everything organized and on track.