Meet My Seattle Sistas

Remember in June when I posted about attending a workshop in Washington? It was with the amazingly talented Me Ra and Brian.

Without knowing what we were in for during the weekend left us feeling like this…

Fortunately, after an AMAZING weekend together learning more about photography, each other, but most importantly about ourselves, we felt like this…

We went from confused by our cameras to shooting in MANUAL! All in just a matter of 2 days.

Aside from the knowledge about photography and my camera that I took away from the workshop, I also walked away with new-found lifelong friendships. Yes, we did only spend 2.5 days together, but we also opened up to each other in a way that many of us probably don’t even open up to our closes friends. The insecurities, fears, apprehensions about photography, motherhood, life, etc. I felt so at ease with this group of ladies and am so thankful for the new friends that I have made. Many of us still keep in touch and I think that is just awesome!!!!

Me Ra posted a link about my Seattle Sistas yesterday and I would love for you to meet them. You can view the post here – Seattle Sistas.

Please check out their blogs and/or websites to see more of their beautiful work. Many of them have started their own photography business since attending the workshop in June. It is so heartwarming to watch everyone build their businesses and already find success in such a short period of time!

I miss you  my Seattle Sistas and can’t wait to have a reunion! =)

Workshop Assignment

I have said it many times before…my children are definitely the hardest for me to photograph. I think it is because they are so used to having a camera in front of them that they are growing tired of it….NAH! =)

One of our assignments before the workshop was to photograph a subject for 15-20  minutes and list what came easy and what didn’t come easy.

Because DJ was in school, I chose Cody for this assignment.

He had woken up grumpy and characteristic of his new 3 year old behavior, he wanted nothing to do with my camera.

These are all SOOC (straight out of the camera) so the lighting is not optimum. BUT I do like how it kind of reflects the mood that he was in.

 

He is signing for milk here. =)

 

As angry as he is at me, isn’t this such a sweet face?

Even when he’s mad he’s cute… 

And then he got tired of me and just left. =) Ah…to be 3 again!!!!

I Shot in MANUAL!!!

That’s right! I learned how to shoot in manual mode!!! I have been an AV shooter for awhile  now so Manual was outside my knowledge zone. Actually, I just was intimidated by it and didn’t think I could conquer it. I came, I saw, I conquered. =) 

For the 2nd day of the workshop, we went outdoors for a family session.

While watching MeRa demonstrate how to photograph a family of 7 (yes, 7), I happened to look to my right and saw this tender image of a father and his daughter. (They were also one of the model families for the day).

This gorgeous little guy is MeRa and Brian’s little one, Blaze. Isn’t he just adorable?

We were separated into 4 groups and each had our own family to shoot.

I was ECSTATIC when I was assigned to MeRa and Brian’s kids, Pascaline and Blaze.  These two are such naturals in front of the camera and made it comfortable for us to take pictures of them.

They each have such different personalities, but the interaction between them is admirable. I love the “love” big sister has for her baby brother.

As if trying to shoot in manual, metering light and photographing your instructors’ children weren’t a challenge, we also photographed MeRa and Brian with the children.

How do you photograph one of your idols without being nervous?

The answer was to just keep shooting!!! =)

Their family dynamics was refreshing. You could feel their love for one another and see how much fun they all have together.

Blaze striking a pose…

Hey Blaze, give me your meanest Batman look and pose!

Superheroes in the making…

  

Thank you, Pascaline and Blaze, for being such great teachers during this photo session! You guys ROCK!!!!!

What Are You Feeling Today?

Day 3 was THE single most powerful day of the entire trip. 

We started our morning by writing about how we felt at that moment. I don’t like to show my feelings so this was different. I used to keep a journal and write about my feelings, but abandoned that long ago when life became busier.

Oddly, the feelings were flowing so easily onto the paper and I found myself tearing as I wrote.

MeRa and Brian invited us to share what we wrote. A couple of the ladies shared their feelings and had us tearing because we could see ourselves in their feelings.

I REALLY did not want to share what I wrote so I didn’t volunteer. Then I remembered what my friends, Sharon and Carrie (previous workshop attendees), told me about being open and getting outside of my box and comfort zone.

So with tears streaming down my face…I shared. It was a bit uncomfortable to expose myself to women I hardly knew, but when I looked up to see others crying, it reminded me that I was not alone in my insecurities, my fears, my search for my identity other than someone’s mom and someone’s wife.

When you feel these insecurities and fears, it is hard to believe that others feel that way, too. These women helped me to realize I was not alone and that they had the same insecurities, fears and identity conflicts as I did.

For the first time in awhile, this workshop had given me the opportunity to be “Michelle” for a few days. I don’t remember the last time I had that identity. I love being a stay at home mom, but at the same time, I feel like I lost some of my identity when I stopped working full-time. 

I think this was the turning point for me in the workshop when I felt a sisterhood amongst us.

The rest of the day, although our last day together at the workshop, was AMAZINGLY powerful. We had a confidence in us that you can feel and smell. The writing exercise helped us get in touch with our inner feelings and I could feel the excitement, confidence and hope in everyone.

Thank you, MeRa, Brian and my Seattle Sistas, for helping me to rediscover Michelle, for building a new excitement for my photography business, for helping me gain just that much more confidence in my skills, for listening to my “feelings”.

It has been over a week since the workshop and not a day goes by that I don’t think about that weekend. It was more than just a photography workshop. It was therapy! =)

To make this feeling continue….I’m going to save pictures from Workshop Day 2 for another day….. =)

Me Ra Koh Workshop Trip – Day Two

In my last post, I forgot to mention the cool menus that were in my hotel room. I’m not talking about the room service menu either. I am talking about…

The Pillow Menu…YES…really, there was a pillow menu!

And the Spiritual Menu…

This was the day I had been waiting for. The first day of the workshop!!!!

We were greeted with Me Ra Koh Workshop tote bags with goodies and this beautiful folder.  (As a scrapbooker, I LOVED this handmade folder.)

After a few hours of learning, we had our first model shoots. There were 4 mothers there with their babies.

The group I was with were assigned a baby, mother and father. The baby was only 6 weeks old and as adorable as could be!

We first got to enjoy watching MeRa do her thing!

I was as nervous as could be. Indoor lighting is something I am still learning and the lighting in the museum was pretty challenging.

Although I had doubts on what I had captured, I was pleasantly surprised to see some images that I really liked.

Baby Finley just had THE sweetest face. The little guy did great considering he had a bunch of strange women circling him with our cameras! =)

Aren’t his cheeks just tooooo adorable?

This is my favorite image from the session. You can feel their admiration and pride for their new baby.

Thank you for being our models that day. You guys were so patient!!!

I’m Famous!

Well, not really.

BUT Me Ra Koh did post a blog entry about the workshop and the Seattle Sistas (that’s us, ladies!) and I am in both pictures.   Considering she has had over 350,000 hits on her site, I think that qualifies me as being famous, right? =)

Visit Me Ra's blog to check out the post.

Me Ra Koh Workshop Trip – Day One

If I could pick one phrase to describe my weekend at the Me Ra Koh workshop, it would be “life changing”. The workshop did not just focus on photography, but it also helped us discover the artists within us. I honestly didn’t even know I had an artist inside me!!!

Instead of bombarding you with images from the entire weekend, I will do a post for each day. =)

This was the first time I had left my family behind in a year so I was nervous and sad to be  leaving them, but excited and nervous about the weekend. I was meeting one of my photography “idols”, Me Ra and Brian, and going to spend the weekend with 17 women that I did not know (but came to admire tremendously).

While flying into Tacoma, I was shocked to find snow on the mountain tops still. It is June, right?

From the outside, the hotel wasn’t too exciting. It looked like a “pretty” hotel, but when I walked in, I was WOWED!

This was the entry

This chandelier was overhead the check-in area

THEN I went to my room and instead of getting settled in, I grabbed my camera to take pictures of everything. To say the room was beautiful is an understatement.

The first thing you see when you walk in is the bathroom…

 

(note…this is the same sink and faucet we have at this house! LOVE IT)

 

The bedroom area was amazing (warning – you will hear me use this word A LOT when it comes to describing the weekend!)…

 

My most FAVORITE part of my room were the glass lamps! They were lit inside as well and put off a beautiful glow.

When I checked in they asked if I wanted a mountain view. Of course, I said. And although I didn’t see any mountains, the view was of a redesigned and beautiful downtown Tacoma.

That evening we had a meet and greet at MeRa and Brian’s home. Brian kept us in stitches and my stomach hurt from all the laughter! Thank you MeRa, Brian, Pascaline and Blaze for welcoming us into your home!

That evening was our first chance to meet our fellow workshop attendees and it was an instant connection between everyone.

I was too busy enjoying myself so I didn’t take pictures that night. =)

When I returned to my hotel room, I was greeted by the most beautiful sight. The room was dark except for the beautiful light coming from the glass lamp. And they must have known my favorite color was pink because it gave off a pink glow. =)

I can’t wait to share the rest of my weekend with you…

My Dream Photography Workshop!

I am beyond excited about the upcoming workshop I will be attending.

I first heard about Me Ra Koh a couple of years ago through my favorite San Diego photographer, Barefoot Memories, and started following her blog.  I had received her awesome DVDs for parents for Christmas and that is what helped give me the confidence to start my own photography business last year.

She often holds contests and I entered her “love” one last year with this image…

….and won. =)  (WOW….just realized I still can’t look at this picture without crying even though it was 3 years ago!)

She also holds workshops for women and I have been DYING to go since first hearing about them. I am beyond ecstatic that I will be attending her next workshop! It is just a few weeks away and I am very anxious about it. I have heard from a few fellow photographers that it is a powerful workshop – emotionally and photography-wise – so I cannot wait!

It will be held at the beautiful Hotel Murano and I am SUPER EXCITED about that as well!

Look how beautiful the rooms are!

They feature glass art throughout the hotel and it is like walking into a museum!

Only 14 more days to go…….

My Fun Camera Workshop with Carey of Barefoot Memories

I had an amazing opportunity to take a photography workshop at the beach with Carey of Barefoot Memories. Through her fun website - www.myfuncamera.com, she offers workshops for using your digital SLR camera.

The information I learned was invaluable! I HIGHLY suggest taking this course if you have a digital SLR and want to learn how to use it properly. Whether you are an aspiring photographer or a parent documenting your child's life, this is a great and FUN workshop to take.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day:

\