Wedding photography season in Denver

Wow! as a starting out wedding photographer in denver the wedding season is here. The last seven days I went to three workshops with several more in the next coming weeks.

It seems like everyone is having a workshop lately. The running joke being- shoot 5 weddings, then go on a national tour with a workshop.

Here's an overview of the ones I went to and what I thought about them.

Start the week off was David Ziser's Digital Wakeup Call. This to me was your typical dog & pony show. It was priced at $79 if you couldn't find the $20 off discount code. There was a dozen sponsors supplying all the door prizes.

I knew going in it would be a "Wow them, then sales pitch them" event, based on the price and heavy advertising. David truly takes great images and is one good salesman. It seems all I need is a good camera, a flash on a pole, an amazing studio and the brides will be beating down my door. Oh, and to make my life extremely easy he has several software programs (for several hundred dollars) I can buy from him to make my album design & prints look better & easier to make.

I left there feeling like I watched a four hour infomercial. Plus over the past week I've been subjected to spam from the vendors that promoted the show. Thanks but no thanks!



Next was Becker's Party of Five. Kim Nordurft hosted this event for Five photogs to spend six hours with one of Orange County's leading wedding photographers.

The day was very casual and quite enjoyable. Granted there was only six people (Kim Nodurft,
Christina Gressianu, Jackie Blair, Ash Marie, Mark Hayes, & me) plus [b]ecker. But his style & humor plus his openness to share everything was unbelievable. [b]ecker really pushed sharing information & helping other photogs out. That's what made his career blow up. It wasn't the old way of thinking that "if I share, I'll be out of business". He states most referrals come from previous brides or other photogs that are booked already.

We stopped for an hour to shoot a couple for an engagement session and then an hour for workflow. There was No sponsors. No my software promotions. No my way or the highway. Granted I paid a hell of lot more money for this workshop but I walked out of there with the confidence I can shoot a wedding and make the experience enjoyable.

If you want to learn more about [b]ecker check out his blog or go to thebschool.com for a great community [b]ecker is building.

This brings us to the third workshop I went to in a week. It was put on by the Mile High Photographers club. A local club getting together to help local photographers. They brought in Stephanie Peters with >Premier Bride Magazine of Colorado. She explained their publication and how it's different from other mags. Then let everyone there know that they want to help local photogs grow so they're taking photo submissions of Colorado weddings for their next edition.

Then Jessica the host for MHP introduced Russ & Kammi Bothwell from Elegant-Image. They gave a wonderful demonstration of how they handle shooting over 50 weddings a year plus shoot portraits & seniors. They keep it all extremely organized.

They explained their workflow & the companies they have used and why they continue to use them. It wasn't a sales pitch either it was honest business. Since I slammed David for it I have to mention it here -They did give away some discounts for the online print company they use. However, it was sincerely hoping to help other photogs out.

Mile High Photographers meet up once a month to discuss different aspects & styles of photography in the Rocky Mountain area. With this one being my first, I met some great people and am truly planning on making the next meetings.

Illuminate's February night out

For February's, Illuminate Workshops night shoot, we had quite the turn out. Seventeen photographers of all caliber, creativity, experience, and gear, all got together to run through the night with tripods and cameras in hands.



We started off shooting the Denver skyline off a parking garage off Spear & 14th. After it got dark, our band of merry photogs lugged their sticks & glass around to shoot the Cherry Creek bike path.



Once done trolling under the 14th street bridge we moved east towards Pints Pub for some red phone booth shots, a group shot and a pint.



Along the way we stopped at interesting places to photograph things that cought our eye. Here, I asked Wendy to model for us, which she greatfully did. When we get the model release I'll show her face. (since she's a minor).



Then whisking right along onto the Denver Art Museum for some flash fun using the the talents of the other photographers to do jumping jacks or attempting that YMCA thingy. (Mary, ? , Kris, Efrain, ? , Armondo, ? , Sage)



Then some portraits in front of these giant rocks. (Kris, Mary, Efrain, Me)





Heres the set up: one Vivitar 285hv, Efrains PocketWizards (sonce mine broke), Sages white jacket as a reflector to bounce some light back into the subject. (Thanks everyone for your help!)



Finally, we arrived at the capital building about 10pm before everyone called it a night.



For those of you out there wanting to get some more saddle time with your camera, lenses or want to meet some unique like minded individuals. Maybe your worried about going out at night. You know what they say "about safety in numbers".

Contact Efrain at Illuminate to get more info on the next night outing. We usually go out once a month.

Sloan Valve @ Benders

I finally made it to a Sloan Valve show. For years I've been promising these guys I'd go see them rock it out. So last Saturday night I went down to Bender's Tavern to watch them play.



I work with three of the four members that make up the band. Which makes it so I know when there's a gig going on. There just seems to always be something going on when they're playing.



They were super stoked that not only did I show up with my wife but that I brought the camera gear too. These fellas are super cool guys who will lwt you you buy them drinks and play some good ol' rock & roll. They were even cool enough to share the stage with two of my Vivitar 285hv flashes.



Check out their myspace to find out when the next show is.