I first met Maddie from Etta Photography a while back at a Kelly Brown (Little Pieces) workshop. Maddie a well established wedding photographer, was looking for a change of direction to give her more time with her young children. I was still at college at the time and looking for .... well ..... any direction really!! lol......
I have heard time an time again to try and specialise in one area you enjoy most.
I have thought about this constantly over the last year or so, without reaching any conclusion. Because, every time I shoot a wedding and spend the day in the emotional wrap of two blissfully happy people in their moment - I think this it, "this is where I'm meant to be" ... wedding photography :) sharing special days with beautiful people. Heaven.
But then ... I shoot a family portraits ... and we have 'so' much fun and I laugh so much, that I come home thinking "this is where I need to be" spending quality time marking moments in time with happy families. I love children .. the good, the not so good and the really cheeky and I know these moments captured are so special to the parents, its just beautiful.
But then ... I'm asked to do a newborn photography session and I just adore babies, love having sneaky hugs and cuddling a new life. I love giving new mums adorable images of their precious little ones. And then I'm confused again and think ... "maybe I should concentrate on this area it makes me all warm and fuzzy".
See ...
really I love capturing any of these moments for happy loving people. I love capturing moments in time. Moments we can never repeat, moments that mean so much to the people I shoot for. So I have decided that I cannot possibly at this stage pick one field ... just one field ... no way!!!
I love them all.
But anyway back to Maddie at Etta Photography :) Maddie and I hit it off straight away at Kelly's workshop, we are both straight talking, caring people and so we remained in touch over the months and when Maddie mentioned she was preparing a wedding workshop, I thought this is just the perfect scenario for me, to show support for a great friend/person and to see how someone I have come to admire worked.
The workshop was very informal/low key which .. I loved .. as I felt so comfortable to ask precisely what I needed to know, those who know me can imagine this scene lol - but there was plenty of time to really discuss each attendees specific queries. I'm positive everyone came away with so much relevant info. Maddie had also organised two stunning models and this was the best part for me ....... as it was raining and miserably wet, capping that off we went to the most un-obvious place to shoot; a small muddy, grassy verge at the end of a cul-de-sac.
FANTASTIC!!
what an awesomely great idea to really test us and show/push us to be creative ... I loved it. We had to work out where would be best to shoot the couple, how to pose them and how to avoid obstacles and the muddiest parts (as best as possible)in order to create a great portrait etc etc. A really down to earth realistic scenario. We don't always have the luxury of beautiful settings that shout photo op here!!.. photo op there!!! , and so it was great experience and unlike any workshop I'd been to before.
I think its important to keep attending workshops - however experienced you are. Its important to your creativity and you can always learn something new from others. One is never perfect ! I am not vain enough to think I can not learn from others !
All in all it was a great day and I can highly recommend it to anyone.
These are my images from the day ... I think considering what was going on behind the scenes they are awesome :))))))(even though I say myself..lol .. vain? who mentioned vanity? lol )
LAUREL ALEXANDRA PHOTOGRAPHY
contact: laurelalexandraphotography@live.com