Mind. Blown.

Some people gotta learn the hard way, and I guess I’m the kinda girl who has to find out for myself…
In one sense, that is pretty much the theme song of my life. OK… not in the way the song writer meant it.
But when it comes to learning pretty much anything, I’m the kind of person who actually prefers to teach myself by trying to do something on my own. I get bored by reading instructions or listening to someone explain things.
This is both a good thing and a bad thing. I’ve been able to teach myself a lot about computers and web site design and creating images in Photoshop and video editing and photography. When I get to a point that I can’t figure it out myself, I turn to the Internet to start watching tutorials and then test out new tips and tricks.
But sometimes, I reach a point of such complete frustration that I want to give up and quit trying, rather than asking for help.
So a few weeks ago, my husband and I were talking about some struggles I was having with photography, and he said a few magic words. “I really think you should take some kind of a class.”
Well, he uttered those words just at the right moment. I had been secretly wishing I could take a workshop from two amazing photographers in my area I had learned about through a friend. I had put the workshop out of my mind because it was too expensive and too much of an indulgence (in my mind) to spend an entire day and evening away from my family, focused completely on something I wanted to do just for ME!!
Within hours of hearing my husband’s words, I noticed on Facebook that they still had openings in the class that was coming up in a couple of weeks. I sent him all of the info, and before I had time to talk myself out of it, I signed up.
I attended the work shop on Saturday, and I am so incredibly thankful I was able to go. To sum up the day in two words: Mind. Blown.

I was part of a small group of photographers who got to follow these two women around as they worked through four real photo shoots. They would pose our subjects, help us set up our cameras, and then we got to shoot away. There were so many amazing things I learned through this process that are all of the little things I could never teach myself.
I loved watching them interact with a super shy toddler to make her feel comfortable. I loved seeing how they could make a whole family burst into laughter. We got to watch as they set up poses for a set of siblings. And we got to shoot along on a photoshoot for a beautiful senior.

As if that wasn’t enough, they then walked us through their editing process. I learned so many tips and tricks in Photoshop that my brain was on overload. By the end of the day, I felt like my eyes had been opened to so many things that had puzzled me before about photography.
It was an amazing day, and I’m so thankful I got to be part of it.
Here are a few of the more than 1,000 photos I took on Saturday! Oh, and if you would like to let me test out some of my new skills on your family, send me an e-mail! I would be happy to send you all the details about setting up a photo shoot.