The Secret Workshop

September workshop updates!!

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.

 

 

 

 

  

Molly's Website
Molly's Blog

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 have a new friend...

...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.      

A look back at the Natural, Clean & Honest Photography of Nicole Zumaeta

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!!

An interview with Austin guest speaker Natasha Cuevas...

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. 

A very important interview....

...with our secret guest for the studio portion of the Flint workshop. 

Cheryl:  What is your favorite part about being a photographer?

Secret Guest:  my love of creating...I love challenging myself to create something new.

Cheryl:  What is one photography product that you couldn't live without?

Secret Guest:  my huge ass Apple 30" monitor and my Wacom tablet (giggle)

Cheryl:  If you could give one piece of advice to a new photographer, what would it be?

Secret Guest:  that success is 95% failure - hands down

Cheryl:  What is your favorite lens to use outside?

Secret Guest:  135/f2.0

Cheryl:  What is your biggest challenge in photography?

Secret Guest:  employees...always has been...

Cheryl:  What is one thing in photography that is overrated?

Secret Guest:  reflectors.  I have never used one.

And now...the very important questions begin.

Cheryl:  What did you have for breakfast?

Secret Guest:  a stuffed ancho pepper

Cheryl:  Paper or plastic?

Secret Guest:  paper

Cheryl:  Tell me a secret.

Secret Guest:  I was afraid to fly for 10 years...like, I would drive to England afraid.   

Cheryl:  What's your most embarassing moment?

Secret Guest:  My button on my pants broke and my zipper wouldn't stay up and I had to photograph the whole session with one hand basically because I couldn't tell them that my pants were falling off.

Cheryl:  Thank you Secret Guest.  You rock.

Secret Guest:  No.  You do.

Cheryl:  Muah.  Muah.  You are beautiful.

And here are two fabulous recent studio images from our fabulous guest.