A day of learning & shenanigans…that’s the best way I can describe The Image Is Found ShootShop I attended on 3/5/10 in fabulous Las Vegas.  *Link updated with photos from the workshop*

I learned TONS of good stuff, but here are few pearls of wisdom from the day.
1. Garbage in garbage out. Stop looking at & comparing your photos to every other wedding photographer. ONLY look at the work of wedding photog friends and mind-blowing photographers outside the wedding industry (e.g. editorial, travel, fashion); this will keep your work unique by not engraining in your head that wedding photos need to look a certain way. Strive not to create great wedding photos, but great photos period. This will help step the creative game up for the entire wedding industry.

2. Change your perspective. If you normally shoot with a 70-200mm, switch it up and shoot a 16-35mm. 16mm is much closer to our natural field of vision and allows us as photographers to experience the day more intimately with our clients.

3. Outsource anything you don’t love to do and more specifically anything that doesn’t require your special touch. I’ve heard this before, but having yet another source preach it was enough to push me into actually doing it. e.g. Rather than wrestling with Quickooks and RAW conversion, I plan to offload these tasks to experts as much as possible this year. This is a tough mental leap for me as I was always taught ‘you’ve got more time than money‘, but when I think of it in terms of time spent doing something I don’t enjoy vs time I can spend with my family it becomes perfectly clear.

4. Be yourself! From your website to your client communication to the photos you create…keep it real & consistent! Not every bride is looking for the stereotypical über romantic wedding photos; there are brides looking for YOUR exact personality….quirks and all!

Below are a few photos from the day…which were taken in a drainage ditch in mostly wide open sun.

Not the Image is Found…my wife

Nate demonstrating during a ‘teachable’ moment…keep the mood light and your clients having fun.

Lighting…

Matching colorful outfits…true to their brand!

As seen in the drainage ditch…and set as my current background.

Demonstrating off-camera lighting with a sweet action shot.