The Secret Workshop

Man oh man...you Orlando ladies..

Well, I am not an overly weepy person, but these posts are doing a number on the stockpile of Kleenex in my house.  Reading all of these and the love letters you all have sent and the testimonial I received from one of my attendee's MOMS (!!!!)...is turning me into a big pile of mush! 

Oh, and completey unrelated note:  Could I hold my mouth into MORE of a contorted position when I shoot?!?!  Note to self:  Practice making cute, non scary faces when pushing the shutter!  HA!!

Orlando!!!

...was amazing.  What an incredible group of women!!  Seriously, incredible.  I didn't want the workshop to end.  I trust everyone arrived home safely.  And I thank you for the sweet love notes you have sent.  I believe I may just print them out and glue them to my refrigerator....right next to the note that says "Release and make room".  A special thank you goes out to my staff...generous, patient, hardworking and kind...Sharon, Lisa, Patti, and Sonya.  And my special guest, Amy Smith, one of the greatest people I know and Jodie Otte, whose talent and gift for studio lighting never ceases to amaze.

Here's a shot that I edited in front of the group using just my color proofing action on your DVD.  I thought you might want to see it on your monitors and not just on the oh-so-accurate screen!

SOOC:

EDIT:

Californias - Can I just say how EXCITED I am to hug my dear friend Jinky around the neck when she gets off the plane?!?!?  I cannot WAIT for our natural light workshop.  We are busy working on making the natural light workbook and getting all of the little details ready to make your experience an amazing one.

San Francisco - FINALLY!!  I got the email this morning!  Here's your hotel booking information for the San Francisco Marriott Courtyard.  $194/night.  You can make reservations by phoning 1-800-321-2211 before February 29th and giving special code:  CRM Or you may book a room with one king bed by clicking here or two queen beds by clicking here.

Austin folks - I should have another post for you later today. 

Phoenix folks - I am still working.  Now that I'm home from Orlando, I will be able to continue the search for the perfect place for us!

I am traveling for a photography assignment this weekend, and email response times will depend on how awesome or non-awesome my internet service is!

2 days.

...until Orlando....are you READY?!?!?!  I am.  And I can't WAIT!  I received an email from someone wanting a list of things to pack, so I thought I would go ahead and write a blog entry devoted to that very topic.

Here's what I would bring if I were coming to the workshop:

my camera and memory cards

my one or two favorite lenses

my laptop (if I had one)

a pen

chewing gum or altoids (for the folks next to me moreso than for myself)

pocket wizards or a hot shoe adapter (if I: A. knew what these were and B. had them...otherwise I wouldn't worry about it)

a sweater (just in case the A/C is blasting)

my ladyluck (for winning one of the fabulous door prizes I am in the process of packing up)

I think that about covers it.  Can't wait to see you all!  See you at the mixer!!!

Happy New Year and other Ramblings!

Happy New Year Everyone!
Today I sent out hotel info to all Orlando attendee's. Please email if you haven't received it. Also an email went out to EVERYONE letting them know how to register for the secret forums and also about our exciting new contest which ends tonight. It's a fabulous prize so please play along :)
The [secret] contest :
Send a web-sized image of yourself holding  a sign with your New Year Resolution for 2008.
Deadline is midnight January 1, 2008.
Send entries to Isabel@thesecretphotographyworkshop.com
Entries will be posted and winner announced tomorrow and you'll get to find out both mine and Cheryl's resolutions as well!

Orlando - SOLD OUT!!!

The Orlando workshop is full.  We thank you so much!!

Hotel in Orlando.

Rate for Embassy Suites downtown:  $142/night

Please phone 1-407-841-1000 after 3 o'clock today and you'll able to book! 

Life is in the details.

Wanna see what I look like?  Would you like to know what I want for Christmas?  Interested in winning a free seat in Sausalito?  Click HERE. <---fixed the link!

Ok...now workshop details.

Guest speakers.  I just want to make sure that everyone understands exactly who is going to be at which workshops.  Orlando is a studio+natural light workshop and the guests there are Jodie Otte and Amy Smith.  BOTH California workshops will be me (of course) and my special guest for BOTH is Barb "Jinky" Uil.  The California workshops are natural light only.  We WILL be covering shooting newborns in natural light as well, for those of you wondering about that.

Orlando.  We do have just a couple of spots left for Orlando.  Email me if you wish to register.  There was a miscommunication with the hotel for the room block and just as soon as I can get that straightened out (hopefully today) I will let you all know the deal there!

San Diego.  Also almost sold out.  We only have a few seats left and we'll be closing this city as well.  Hotel information for San Diego will be coming very soon.  I should be getting at least some rate information secured by the end of the day today.

Sausalito.  Is now open for registration!  There is a CONTEST to WIN A FREE SEAT at the Sausalito workshop now accepting entries on the Blu blog.   See link above.

Orlando is open!!!

Our new site is live.  Wooooohoooooo!!!  The Secret Photography Workshop

Orlando registrations are now open.  California opens soon.  I can't wait for next year!

Orlando opens next week. And other ramblings.

Great news!  I hope that I can answer some of the questions that you all are having right now. 

Our website - Should be complete and live by the end of next week.

Pricing - Workshop pricing will be $995 for registrations made within the first 2 weeks of opening each city and $1195 thereafter.  Fees are nonrefundable but will be transferable in the event you should have something come up and are unable to attend.  We accept paypal, checks and money orders.

Orlando info - Orlando's workshop will be held in the very hip and cool arts section of downtown Orlando on January 11-13, 2008, and is within walking distance of the hotel where we have a room block (the Embassy Suites downtown).  Registrations will open as the website goes live.  Orlando's workshop is the natural light portion PLUS Jodie's studio lighting segment.  For those who have asked, the studio lighting portion is about a 3-4 hour block of the weekend.

California - We are still in the process of booking our venues for California.  We will post that information as we have it available.  I promise.  Both California workshops are natural light ONLY. Joining me to delve even deeper into the secrets of mastering the sun will be world famous photographer and one of my dearest friends in the world, Barb Uil, of JinkyArt.

Schedule - We are adding sunny Phoenix, Arizona to the list of destinations for our 2008 US tour.  Here's the latest schedule.

January 11-13, 2008 - Orlando, Florida  (and of course as you know, you are welcome to come with us on the 14th for our very unofficial secret Disney World outing)

February 2008 - Southern California

March 2008 - Northern California

April 2008 - Phoenix, Arizona

May 2008 - Flint, Michigan

June 2008 - Austin, Texas

And Orlando is it.

Remember that part about where we were going to have to move the workshop to Miami?  Um, just kidding about that apparently.  Due to the diligent work of the famous photographer Amy Smith, we are hooked UP with a sweet studio in the eclectic little arts section of downtown Orlando!!  It's within walking distance of a wonderful hotel and some fabulous restaurants (and BARS for those interested) 

I'm still signing the final contracts, but wanted to give you all a heads up for those of you who are already making your plans for January.  The dates for Orlando will be January 11-13. 

(And January 14th, we will heading out to Disney World for the day....not part of the actual workshop agenda, but hey!   Who wouldn't want to spend the day with Amy and I and all four of our kidlets under the age of five!??!?!?  Come on!  Bring the family.  It'll be fun.)

Our new website is still coming.  Promise!