Portraits
A few weeks ago, a few NAPCP Atlantans gathered together for coffee. We chatted about family, talked shop and discussed our strengths & weaknesses in photography and business. It was a wonderful little pow-wow amongst friends sharing a common love for photographing children.
One of the girls confessed that she was scared to death to photograph newborns. "How do you pose them?" "What equipment do I need?" "How do I soothe them so that they stay sleepy?" "Help!" We heard her plea, and before any of us could say anything, Crystal James, a local Marietta photographer, and honestly - one of the most caring & thoughtful photographers I know - opened her new studio for an impromptu newborn workshop. Wow. She arranged for all of us to come to one of two hands-on sessions where we would be able to photograph ("experiment") with her new niece and a friend's new baby.
What an incredible opportunity it was for all of us. The session, which Crystal could have easily charged hundreds of dollars to host, allowed each of us the freedom to challenge ourselves creatively. Even though most of us had been photographing for years, we all walked away with new ideas, a broader knowledge of our very unique craft, and most importantly - added confidence & assurance in what we do.
Crystal prepping Ally for her photoshoot...
5 Days Old.
Beautiful natural light coming from a south-facing window, bounced by a 60" reflector:
This is Danielle's idea. Although she didn't make it to the workshop, we wanted to try her idea...
And the result..
So much fun!
For me, Crystal and this impromptu workshop was a testament of what the child photographic community is all about. While most business owners shy away from giving away their secrets and techniques, our community has embraced sharing... And we realize that when we do share, grow, and connect - we are are bridging gaps and raising our industry's standards to another level.
Thank you again Crystal, Lisa, Danielle, and Kim! Looking forward to getting together again soon!
ps - if you're a child photographer in Atlanta and you'd like to meet some fun ladies for coffee & cameras, email me!
