Every off-season I make a point to attend a photography workshop in a new location. Last year I spent a week in January at Nirav Patel and Ed Peers' workshop in the Marin Headlands of San Fransisco. You can read more about that life-changing experience here.
This year, I flew out to the Los Padres Mountains (two hours north of Los Angeles) for Ben Sasso's FOSTER Workshop with Benj Haisch. Afterwards, I spent five days with best gal pal heading up the coast to San Fransisco. Can you tell I am a big fan of this part of the country?
About a week out from the trip I realized that a photog friend from Nirav's workshop would be attending FOSTER too -- Marina George, one half of the duo Two Foxes Photography. We really connected at the previous workshop but we only stayed in contact through the likes of Instagram and the inter webs.
Then there was FOSTER. Little did I know I would spend most of my time with Marina and my other soul sister Steph Crocker. Oh, and that I would meet so many other ah-mazing people. Seriously, these workshops are invaluable to the creative process and the building of creative community.
There is way too much to share. Ben and Benj crushed it. They both were so open about their process and approach -- it was refreshing to say the least. Here are the points that I took home that affected me the MOST:
1. My photography style isn't made up of what I shoot, it's made up of what I share.
2. Experimentation fosters progression. Time to get out there and try something different.
3. As my taste changes, my style should too.
4. My brand is the sum of everything connected to my business. Cough, cough...reality check.
5. Comparison fully minimizes anything I am doing. Can't let that thief in anymore!
I could go on about what else I learned... like the "why" behind my work, the new understanding of different elements of Adobe Lightroom, the addition of Alien Skin Exposure grain to my workflow, finally learning the Brenzier Method, etc. Seriously guys, workshops are the best.
Also, Ben introduced us to this video and it blew me away. Just gotta keep hustlin' to close the gap.
Here are some of my favorite images from the first part of my trip out west.
