The cost of the main workshop series is $500 plus GST, with the option of adding on the Mock Wedding and/or the ALL NEW Bookkeeping Workshop. A $250 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration, with the balance due on or before December 31, 2012 or your space WILL be given to someone else. Snacks, water, & coffee/tea are provided throughout the day, however you will need to bring your own bagged lunch. Workshops are held at My Edmonton Studio located on the 2nd floor at 3460 - 91 Street. Please send an email requesting a registration package to h [dot] walls [at] shaw [dot] ca or call 780.906.3668 for more information. Find the Studio on Facebook here, and all the courses here!
Sunday, January 20, 2013 - it's NOT about the camera
Start time: 10am
Finish time: 5pm
We'll learn a bit of photography history and by the end of the day you'll know what all the beeps, bells, and buttons on your camera are for, and have a basic understanding of photography lingo. You will understand how every camera on the planet is built on precisely the same technology, then learn what separates SLR cameras from P&S cameras. You will learn to love(hate) the phrase "Reciprocity Failure." We'll also go over a comprehensive list of the basic types of lenses on the market, what their benefits and drawbacks are, and what their common applications are. You'll probably go home with the urge to shoot everything that moves, and a rather pricey shopping list. Which is why it's good that you just learned that it's NOT about the camera... and will survive and thrive just fine without the $2800 IS f2.8 70mm-200mm lens...
Sunday, February 3, 2013 - composition, understanding light
Start time: 10am
Finish time: 5pm
This is the one that makes your brain ache, folks. While the composition portion is a relative breeze and one of the building blocks of taking great pictures, understanding how light works and how you can manipulate it to your advantage when creating different moods and effects is the key to unlocking all the greatest secrets of natural/available light photography. Whether you plan to use studio, natural, or available light, or a combination of all three, you also need to know how your camera's internal meter works, and what to do when it fails you. You'll walk away with a headache, and a burning desire to move all the furniture away from your windows.
Sunday, March 3, 2013 - technical critiquing, photo manipulation (in Adobe Photoshop) demo
Start time: 10am
Finish time: 5pm
I know - it sounds SO dry and boring... BUT - technical critiquing is a huge part of photography. We'll spend the first part of the day going through the process of deconstructing images using proper terminology so that you can develop the diagnostic tools that will be instrumental not only in looking at other photographer's work and being able to draw technical instead of just aesthetic inspiration, but in how YOU will master your OWN style and technique. Following this, we'll begin exploring some of the basics of Photoshop. I will do a brief demonstration of: skin smoothing, using unsharp mask, creating and using layers, tinting (vintage, antique), actions, and as much else as we have time for. This portion of the workshop is meant to give you enough basics that you have the confidence to explore and discover more on your own; you are welcome to bring your laptop and play along :)
Sunday, March 24, 2013 - portraiture and controlled lighting
Start time: 10am
Finish time: 5pm
Get ready for LIVE MODELS! Once we've gone through the fundamentals of how and why portraits are done (the easy part) and look at a couple of different controlled lighting set-ups (OCF and continuous) we're going to hone our skills on making the connections that are so important to separating cold and heartless snapshots from gorgeous, engaging portraits that have as much meaning to you as they do to your client. We will then have a group of models at our disposal for you to work individually and in teams with doing a variety of individual and group portraits. Always a fun workshop, be prepared to be surprised! If you have a flash for your camera, this is a great workshop to bring it to as we'll have a bit of time to play around with them!
Sunday, April 14, 2013 - breaking the rules, the business end of things
Start time: 10am
Finish time: 5pm
While we spent the first 4 sessions learning shooting skills, there comes a time when we get to break all the rules and just HAVE FUN! If we decide as a group we'd like to do a final project together, this will also be our opportunity to plan and discuss those details. The last portion of the day will be spent going over the NEW and IMPROVED Business End of Things - taxes, copyright, business licenses, professional printing, model releases, contracts, blogs, websites, marketing, advertising and promotion, and all other manner of things you need to consider if you intend to charge money for your services, whether as a portrait photographer, stock photographer, or art photographer. Even if you do not intend to shoot for full-time or supplemental income, there is a lot of valuable information to be taken away from this workshop that can help protect your interests even as a straight-up hobby photographer. Lastly, we'll look at something I like to call the "photography pyramid" which breaks down into simple terms the different types of clients and photographers, and how to get (or not get) yourself to where you want to be on that pyramid.
NEW! Saturday, May 4, 2013 - bookkeeping for shutterbugs ASK HOW YOU CAN EARN THIS FREE!
Start time: 10am
Finish time: 5pm
Shoebox accounting is for hacks! The Business End of Things covers the broader aspects of business management, but bookkeeping for shutterbugs is a walk through, hands-on experience with free or cheap accounting programs, apps, and peripherals that will help you keep your books in order. We will also cover how and why it's important to do bank reconciliations, how to track and calculate GST remittances, and how to read common business reports (income statement, general ledger, etc.) Your accountant will love you...
This workshop is NOT limited to previous workshop participants. Up to 10 persons can be accommodated - please bring your wifi enabled laptop and your smartphone. Registration and payment deadline for this workshop is April 15th, 2013. Cost for workshop is $150 ($125 for previous series participants.) Join us on Facebook here!
May 25-26, 2013 - all-night field trip with Team Clickin' Cancer's Butt at the Relay for Life
Start time: 3pm May 25
Finish time: 7am May 26
Location: University of Alberta's Foote Field
This has become a highlight of the workshops, where participants are given the opportunity to contribute their skills to an amazing event in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. Their largest single fundraising effort, which spans across Canada in countless cities, the Relay for Life is a powerful experience. If you are able to come and if you are interested in learning what photographilanthropy is from the ground up, slap on some comfy shoes and your camera, and let's go! FREE!!!
June 9, 2013 - WEDDING WORKSHOP: wedding photography, mock wedding
Start time: 10am
Finish time: 5pm
Location: My Edmonton Studio
This is wedding photographer bootcamp. Instead of the love and marriage aspect, we're going to dive right in to the finer points of what every person dreaming of becoming a wedding photographer needs to know, from pricing strategies, wowing your client at your initial consultation, and contract inclusions/exclusions... to knowing the 'money shots' and some of the classic pitfalls of working with weddingpartyzillas and obnoxious guests. We'll spend a bit of time looking at some trends and tactics that work like a charm and others that fail miserably, discuss how to avoid getting price-point pigeon-holed, and then open the can of worms on all those little things you need to consider like bad weather contingency plans, assistants vs. second shooters, and to take or not to take destination weddings. You'll have the insider's look at the grit and the glory of shooting weddings, from start to finish, and once we've had the in-class theory, we'll waste no time in having you shoot a mock wedding ceremony & formals. And, of course, while we're hoping for good weather, if it decides to rain... you'll be getting your feet wet for real...
This workshop is NOT limited to previous workshop participants. Up to 20 persons can be accommodated. Registration and payment deadline for this workshop is May 15, 2013. Cost for workshop and wedding: $175 ($150 for series participants) and INCLUDES a pizza lunch for all models and participants. If you are interested in shooting the wedding just for fun, it is $25 for the mock wedding portion ONLY and does not include pizza lunch (unless you want to come a bit early and chip in a few extra bucks or bring dessert or something...)
This workshop is NOT limited to previous workshop participants. Up to 20 persons can be accommodated. Registration and payment deadline for this workshop is May 15, 2013. Cost for workshop and wedding: $175 ($150 for series participants) and INCLUDES a pizza lunch for all models and participants. If you are interested in shooting the wedding just for fun, it is $25 for the mock wedding portion ONLY and does not include pizza lunch (unless you want to come a bit early and chip in a few extra bucks or bring dessert or something...)
