I am BEYOND THRILLED to announce my guest speaker for September's Dallas workshop. The beautiful, talented Molly Hilton is a gifted newborn photographer whose work inspires photographers across the nation.
Here are some samples of her beautiful newborn work.
Also, we are looking for two expectant moms living in Dallas (due to give birth in the second week of September) who would like to have a free session and full resolution digital files in exchange for bringing their baby to the studio on September 19th from 9-11 am. We would love to show the workshop attendees how Molly and I work with newborns. If you know anyone who would be interested, please have them email me at thesecretworkshop@gmail.com.
Workshop seat availability: 3 seats remain.
I am happy to announce another Secret Workshop September 18-20, 2009, back in beautiful Dallas, TX. If you are interested in sharing, laughing, learning and shooting beautiful kiddos in the art district of downtown Dallas as a backdrop, please join us in September.
General registrations open on Monday morning at 9am CST. There will be a register tab on the website and a Paypal button here on the blog that you can click to register. Please email if you'd like to pay by check and I'll get you added to the roster.
A couple of images from the free shoot portion of the last Dallas workshop (shot in the tornado!!) and the live newborn shoot.
I realized not too long ago that no one ever gets to see the images that *I* take at the workshops. I know that I always love to blog-stalk after workshops....where I get to see the beautiful images our attendees have taken. But since I only have FOUR workshop images on my business website, and I don't blog nearly enough workshop images, I realized that no one has ever seen these! So I'm thinking that I really should share some of mine from the past year....
....so you know what this post is??? It's like pulling your favorite jeans out of the dryer and finding a TWENTY DOLLAR BILL!!!! Because I just opened up a folder and images of beautiful kiddos starting falling out that I forgot that I had!
STAFF NOTE: Staff positions for Dallas are full! Thank you so much!!! I can't wait to see you all again. Also, please note that we really need our staff to arrive either Thursday night or Friday early morning and be able to stay with us until Sunday evening after clean-up.
...I miss you already. It has been a whirlwind month last couple of months with workshops and travel sessions.
Don't forget to order your new blog today. Has everyone seen this? The Most Amazing Blog Templates On Planet Earth from our friends at Into The Darkroom. I seldom find things that I love as much as I love these, but truly I do.
I'm also going to be ordering myself one of these new funky camera straps today so I can be like this Southern California photographer who rocks the coolness factor to the next level....and truth be told, because one of my cameras is apparently jealous of the other one who already owns one of Emily's fab straps. Who knew?? Plus, I suspect I'll feel the way that I do when I get a pedicure....like I have indulged on something for myself without breaking the bank. That is a delicious feeling...those little things we can do that make us feel all warm and fuzzy.
I can't blog without one shot from Boston. We will be also posting interviews from past attendees over the next couple of weeks because HOW FUN ARE THOSE.
I will also likely be combining my two blogs over the next couple of weeks because I keep dreaming about the Into The Darkroom one that I need with a neediness that is all consuming (!!!), so please stay tuned for the announcement on that and update your bookmarks once we are set.
::::Voting::::: Thanks so much for those of your who voted in our poll about where you'd like to see the workshop in 2009. We are in the process of trying to figure out how to work a few workshops into our lives at this point. I'm no longer on maternity leave, so that makes my shooting/working/living/mothering/wifing schedule a bit different-slash-BBBBBUUUUUUSSSSSYYYY. I love teaching more than I ever anticipated that I would though, so I simply must find a way to offer even just a couple of workshops next year even if it means I have to give up sleeping altogether. For those of you who will not be able to attend a workshop in 2009, I am going to be releasing the complete workshop on DVD, which will include everything that you get at the workshop minus the in-person-ness, hopefully this fall as soon as it's ready.
I love you all. Thank you for being a part of my life.
Our final workshop for 2008 will be held this coming weekend in Boston. It's been sold out for months, but one of the attendees is sick and is trying to sell her seat. First person to email me at thesecretsharon@gmail.com gets it! Ready, set... go!
update: HOLY COW, You guys are fast!! SEAT HAS BEEN FILLED. THANKS, EVERYONE!
In other Boston news, all staff should have gotten their info emails, so if you're Boston staff and didn't, please let me know. All Boston attendees will be getting an email tonight with all the final info as well.
And just to whet your apetite, here is a photo of the fabulous studio where the workshop will be held.
The guest is confirmed, Cheryl is already in New England... we're all set!! Can't wait!
...and it's this Orange County Photographer. That's right folks. It's Southern California family photographer extraordinaire, Tara Whitney, who guest spoke at The Secret Workshop this past weekend in Seattle. :::faints::: I am totally addicted to her blog....aren't you? Doesn't get much better than that, does it?? No, I didn't think so.
When I asked her to guest speak at our Seattle workshop, I thought surely she would say no. Little did I know that all of the planets aligned...or the groundhog saw his shadow...or I threw some salt over my shoulder...or whatever the heck means that TARA WHITNEY IS COMING TO SEATTLE!!!! She said yes. So, after I crapped my pants, I jumped up and down and shrieked loudly in my living room. Once I calmed the baby, who had just been awakened from a deep sleep by her hysterical mother, I screamed "GUESS WHAT KENNEDY?!?!? TARA WHITNEY IS GOING TO COME TO THE SECRET WORKSHOP IN SEATTLE AAAAAAND TAKE OUR FAMILY PICTURES! HOW EXCITING IS THIS?!?!?!?" Well, let me just tell you. That Kennedy does not impress easily and even she proceeded to celebrate Tara's "yes" by giggling uncontrollably and shoving a corn chip in her mouth. And the rest.....is history. Tara came to Seattle. Tara rocked Seattle. Tara shot my family's pictures in the rain in Seattle. Tara is my new friend. Tara for president.
Oh, how I miss blogging. I am going to start blogging again. But this time, I am thinking of combining my work blog with my workshop blog. Would that be okay with you guys?
Wanna see some pictures? Here are a couple of mine from the workshop. This sweet beauty. Oh how I loved her.
And this glowing new mama brought her 11-day-old baby for us to shoot live in front of the group. What a treat he was. I almost accidentally tucked him in my pocket to bring him home with me.
And this little dude was 5 weeks old. Amazingly enough, he slept for us...but check out his baby blues in this awake shot.
And here I am with Tara...she is as beautiful as she is kind. And as humble as she is talented.
So unbelievable that we're only about a week away!! Can you people believe it!?!?!
Seattle peeps: Please check the forum! I posted all the mixer info on there for you. We've made some changes to the plans and I want to make sure as many of you as possible are there! If you're a Seattleite and can't access the forum, please let me know immediately if not sooner so that I can remedy that ASAP!
Seattle Staff: your emails have gone out, so if you're staff and didn't get one, please let me know. You all rock and it's so cool that you're helping out at the Seattle Workshop!
And here are 2 cuties you're sure to meet in Seattle!
I've gotten a few emails and a few PM's on our forum asking to see the Phoenix Group photo. As most of you know, at every workshop we have an amazing group of mostly women and 1 or 2 men. When I was taking the group shot in Phoenix, our token male, Gustavo, jumped out and sat on the sidewalk in front of the women. It cracked me up (I'm easily entertained) so I decided to open the aperture all the way and this was the end result. 
Oh, and I have wonderful news!! Cheryl has secured a wonderful guest speaker for Seattle. You Seattle folks have no idea how lucky you are. Seriously... you will just be BLOWN AWAY when you find out who it is. Only a few weeks to go!
I get emails every day from photographers wanting to know which lenses I think they should buy. So in the true spirit of enabling sharing my thoughts, here is a post about it. I know every photographer has their own opinions, so your mileage may vary!
Cameras:
Fuji S5 and Nikon D3. I also own a few other cameras because I have lots, but these are the two I shoot with at every shoot. I like them both for different reasons, which is why I usually end up shooting with both. The Fuji has incredible color and dynamic range, while the Nikon has amazing clarity and high ISO capabilities. In the past, I shot with a Canon Rebel, a NIkon D70, a Fuji S3 nd a Nikon D2X.
Lenses:
A good, long portrait lens. I recommend the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.4. (I shoot with the 85)
A macro lens for newborns. I use the inexpensive 60mm 2.8 and it enables me to get in nice and close to capture those baby parts without having to stand super far away to get the whole baby in. I usually shoot the majority (if not all) of my newborns sessions with just this lens alone.
A zoom for all purpose use. I have the 24-70 2.8 which is currently sitting on this fabulous Orlando Photographer's camera because hers is broken. I'll be honest when I say I don't miss it. But she is honest when she says she can't live without it. If you shoot super wide apertures (as in 1.2-2.8) this is obviously not going to be your favorite lens on planet earth. That being said, I will probably use this more once hers is fixed because shooting at 24mm on a full frame camera is pretty and I like the idea of having a zoom! Shhhh....don't tell my primes!!!
Something wide and fun. I have the Tamron 17-50 2.8 and the Nikkor 12-24 4.0. Believe it or not, I prefer the Tamron. At 17, it's very fun and very wide and the color is wonderful. I do have lens envy for the new wide angle Nikkor that just came out and if I could justify buying it, I would.
Here are a couple of non essentials. Before I had the D3, I really needed a great lens for shooting in caves my clients' homes. So the Nikon 28mm 1.4 found it's way into my bag. I still use it from time to time, but not as often as I used to. I also have the 35mm 2.0 and I literally shot with that lens once before getting the 28mm 1.4 and haven't used it since.
So, that's a glimpse into my camera bag. And here...is a glimpse into my heart.
Hello!
Ok.. so... only 2+ weeks left until TSW goes to Michigan! It'll be here before you know it.
Attendees: Please please please please (just one more) PLEASE register for the forum. It's the best way for us to communicate with you, so thanks to those who are already there and posting, and to those of you who haven't, please make you way over there. We have a group rate available at the Courtyard Marriott in Flint, so call them to make your reservation as soon as you can. The mixer will be held at the hotel on Friday night at 7. We will have drinks, and snacks/desserts. Eat dinner before hand so you can chill and drink with everyone at the mixer. On Sunday the workshop will wrap up at around 3 pm.
I wanted to add some of Cheryl's images. She took these during the free-shooting portion of the San Francisco workshop.
That's all for now! My internet has been temperamental, so I want to publish this before my computer kicks me out (again!)
Please email me if there is anything I can do for you
Sharon
Your name: Nicole Zumaeta
City and State: Naples, FL
Website: www.nicolezphotography.com
Blog: www.nicolez.typepad.com
What was the most important thing you learned at the workshop? It is hard to narrow down one thing that is the most important thing that I learned from the Secret Workshop. I certainly walked away with a refreshed attitude towards my business and a heightened drive to succeed in my photography business. I guess if I had to pick one thing that was the most important...it would have to be that I must "preserve my joy". That one statement that Cheryl uttered over and over again, really stuck with me. I went into the workshop frustrated and unsure of exactly what direction I was going to take my business, but Cheryl's amazing motivation and her undeniable love for her family first and photography second, gave me a newfound respect for 'family' and how important it is to always put my family first!
Did you make any changes in your business as a result of attending the workshop? Yes. Actually the Secret was at the very beginning stages of my business so I was able to mold my business and business philosophy around what I learned at the workshop. For example, marketing, style, procedures, policies, etc.
If you could give one tip to a new photographer, what would it be? Take it slow. There is no need to rush things where your business is concerned. Take your time, perfect your craft, and learn all you can about the business before rushing into it!! Set your policies, goals and have a target market in mind before you start your business.
Do you have any new goals you would like to share? Well, I have just started my Spring 2008 marketing campaign, so my goals are short term at the moment. I hope to go full force with my business this spring and summer. It will be a true test for me and my business!
Now, let's look at some before & afters.
Here are the befores:
And now, the afters:
Thanks, Nicole!!! You ROCK!!
We've been soo super busy with the Workshops in Phoenix and Austin, that we got behind in blog posting, and in posting the contest winner!!
We got an INSANE number of entries... so overwhelming, but so so awesome. Thanks to everyone who participated. And we LOVED so many of them. After much deliberation, the winner was deemed to be:
We just thought this was such a powerful image. Congratulations to Eddy Saldivar!!
Here are some of our other favorites:
My dear friend and past Secret attendee Laura Siebert, a St. Louis photographer and St. Louis commercial photographer, recently opened her first gallery exhibit, Entwined, at the Belas Artes Gallery and Multicultural Center in St. Louis, Missori. She sent me just a few images to share (there are a TON in the exhibit) and I nearly fell to the floor with how breathtakingly stunning they are. I can't remember the last time I was this proud of someone that I know and love.
If you are near St. Louis, I'd invite you to stop by and visit. I'm sure these are even more beautiful in person....especially since they are printed on huge canvases by our wonderful friends at Pixel2Canvas. Laura will be selling limited edition prints after the exhibit closes as well. You can find more information about purchasing prints here at her website...Entwined Exhibit.
Meet Natasha Cuevas...an amazingly talented Florida photographer who is ALSO our guest speaker for the Austin workshop. Natasha is best known for her fresh, contemporary style and her unique family portraits. She travels across the country shooting commercial, editorial and portrait sessions. I am so excited that she'll be joining us in Austin....and sharing some of HER secrets with us!
Q: How long have you been a photographer? How long have you been in business?
A: All my life. And 4 years.
Q: What is your favorite lens?
A: 50mm 1.4
Q: What is your best tip for getting those amazing family images?
A: I want them to feel comfortable so I tell them that they might feel awkward throughout this, but that EVERYONE feels like this so its normal...I stress on them that they must act like I am not even there and for them to "interact" with each other.
Q: What business advice would you give to someone else starting their photography business?
A: Not to sell yourself short. If you are starting out, don't give everything for free. Charge for something. This will make you feel good and will put value on your work. People will appreciate you more.
Q: What is something you MUST have?
A: LOTS OF sleep. I need lots of hours of sleep.
Q: Something about you that nobody knows?
A: I like eating late at night. I am a night owl. The night inspires me for some reason.
Q: What is one thing you are addicted to?
A: I am addicted to my child. I cant get enough of that curly haired little girl!! Oh, and I love PRODUCTS...love Sephora...I can spend hours in that store.
Q: If not a photographer what would you have been?
A: Hands down, a movie director!
Q: What photographer inspires you?
A: The one and only Mario Testino.
Q: One guilty pleasure?
A: Chips with lime!
No interview post would be complete without a few images. Here are some recents from Natasha. Am I the only one drooling over here?? No? Okay, good.
Your name: Melanie Batarseh
City and State: Baltimore, Maryland (OK it's really Eldersburg, Maryland, but who knows where that is??)
Website: www.melaniebphotography.com
What was the most important thing you learned at the workshop? Pricing and marketing. Without really raising my prices, I restructured my price list to follow Cheryl's example, and my sales jumped way up! Before the workshop, my goal was to get every customer to spend $200, but I wasn't really doing anything to achieve that goal, and it wasn't happening on it's own (big surprise). Now my goal is to get every customer to spend at least $500, and most are spending $1000! And this is without actually raising my prices at all! Imagine what will happen when I decide I'm ready to raise them! Before the workshop, I was HOPING that someday photography would be a career for me and would actually give me a real income (but I feared that it wouldn't). After the workshop, I KNEW it could work! What an incredible feeling! I can do what I love and make enough money to support myself and my family! Wow!
Did you make any changes in your business as a result of attending the workshop? Prices, like I said above, and I changed my editing a lot. I learned about correct skin tone and how to give images pop and life...richness....that's what it feels like to me. My images are rich now; and they were flat and lifeless before. I've also added new products to my price list that I didn't know anything about before.
If you could give one tip to a new photographer, what would it be? There's so much you can learn from the internet. I had no idea all the resources out there before the workshop. Now I'm constantly reading forums and articles and blogs and learning so much great information all the time! Read Read Read!
Do you have any new goals you would like to share? So so many...wanna see my list? There's so much more I want to learn about photography itself (different lighting, trying out different lenses, perfecting exposure,....), there are still new products I want to look at and maybe sell, I want to expand the type of work I do (right now I'm just newborns and babies)....I could go on and on.
Now let's look at her (incredible!!) befores & afters:
Newborn before: 
Newborn after: 
Here is another before/after set showing the "curl" in a newborn image.
And just to show how much she learned in photoshop stuff, here is the same image processed both before and after the workshop. Wow! Such a big difference!
Thanks for sharing with us, Melanie!
I have updates for all cities. Ready, set, go.
Phoenix folks: Amy and I are so excited for the Phoenix workshop, which will be here before you KNOW IT! You'll be receiving an email next week with your itinerary and all the little details you need to know before arriving at the workshop. We'll post an update to the blog when you should be expecting that email.
Austin attendees: I am finalizing your catering menus this afternoon at our super cool urban venue. You'll be receiving detailed info soon as well. I am going to interview your guest speaker this week on the blog. She is beyond awesome and I can't wait for you all to meet her.
Michigan: I hope you are doing great! I have no updates for you but didn't want to leave you out of this post. HA!
Seattle: Seattle is sold out, but I have begun a waitlist. If you wish to be added, please let me know. Oh and wanna see the studio where we are having the workshop?
Note to self: STOP looking at the picture above IMMEDIATELY. It will only cause you intense feelings of jealousy and envy!!! STOP! Ok, one more little look. Gosh it's beautiful. Now I must move on before I start phoning realtors and trying to get myself a place like this to call my very own.
Boston: We are not sold out yet and we do have some seats remaining for your city, which is our last workshop of 2008.
The cute newborn I posted yesterday: I have received several emails asking me to post more from that session and so here are a couple more.
I also wanted to share a SOOC image, since I know that I love seeing everyone else's other people enjoy seeing those. Here is a SOOC image from a shot I showed yesterday.
Also, I forgot to say, these were all taken with the D3 and most, if not all, with the 60mm 2.8 macro lens opened as wide as it will go. All taken with window light in a very, very small space. Now that I'm back in the saddle again, you'll be seeing more work from me on a regular basis.
I get emails every day asking for my schedule for 2009. I do have a few exciting things to announce in the future, but at this point, I really have no idea if or when I'll be doing any workshops in 2009.
I think now it's time for a contest. We are going to have a photo contest this week. Details tomorrow!!
We are so excited to announce our September 12-14 Boston workshop, which will be held in the Framingham suburb (17 miles from the airport...a $22 roundtrip shuttle ride for those of you who like to know those things) is open for registrations!! Our studio is amazingly beautiful and is located within free shuttle distance to the hotel. Does it get any better than that?!?!? I'll be updating as to the status of registrations as they fill up.
Also, in happy news of the day, I am officially off maternity leave and accepting clients on a very limited basis. And guess what that means? It means I actually have recent images to share. *GASP* I know. I know. Wonders never cease.
NEWS FLASH: Which SECRET WORKSHOP graduate had a baby last week? Find out SOON! (I may or may not have photographed her newborn.) Hint: Signs point to YES Stay tuned to the blog for those images and also coming soon...our very popular "recent attendee post-secret interviews"!
For now, I will leave you with the newborn I shot last week. A beauty queen she is to my eyes. Couldn't you just eat her with butter and a biscuit??
