Photographers, I Need Your Feedback :::

[Dman65]

Originally Posted by DeanCapture

Hi folks - I would like your feedback on something........

"Do you feel that you cannot get your moneys worth at a workshop unless you are able to shoot some girls at the workshop?"

"What would be the ideal workshop for you?"

Hello Dean,

This is my two cents worth (may not be worth quite that much)

1. This entirely depends on the workshop and why I would be taking it. I have never been to a glamour photography workshop, so I don't have an educated opinion on these. I have attended workshops related to wedding and portrait photography. Generally these workshops have not been at all expensive in the $50-$100 realm because they are actually being paid for by the sponsors rather than the attendees. Most of these workshops have been concerned with the business aspects and how to increase bookings and individual sales. For these types of workshops there is obviously no need for the attendees to take pictures. I did attend one of these about 15 years ago that included a technique part. There were about 200 people in the seminar so obviously we did not shoot, but we were provided with a handout that included pictures of the setups as well as an image that was taken using the setup.

My personal feeling about this is if you are teaching photographic technique, then the participants should be able to either take pictures of the setup or be provided with pictures of the setup. I think it would be best if the participants were somehow involved in the actual production from a learning stand point. I believe there is an old saying "Tell me I will forget. Show me I may remember. Involve me and I will remember." or something like that.

I would have to say it is possible to get your money's worth out of a $400 workshop if it is business related and you learn some tips that make your product better, increases your sales, or helps streamline your workflow. The problem is that not many photographers are actually making money at glamour photography. That makes it a little more difficult to quantify.

2. The ideal workshop for me would include some instruction and then some hands on application. That is just my learning style. I often don't know what questions I have until I have tried to do something.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by DeanCapture

Hi folks - I would like your feedback on something........

I've been doing Glamour Photography Workshops since back in the summer here in Los Angeles. Out of all the folks who have attended..only a few have complained that I don't allow the attendants to spend time photographing some models. Most of those who attend understand my position on this which is....nobody wants to go to a workshop and sit around watching a bunch of other guys who know less than they do about photography - take turns shooting a model.

I've attended numerous workshops over the years and one thing that really pi$$ed me off when attending some of these workshops is sitting around watching other people shoot a model who know less then I do about Photography. I would much rather spend my time watching someone shoot a model who has reached some level of success and who has mastered some of the things that I want to master. I want to watch, take notes, ask questions and walk around the set looking at the setup from every angle. Then take that knowledge back home, hire a model and start practicing. This was the process that I most liked when attending a workshop.

The few folks who have complained about me now allowing them to spend time shooting models are folks who want to take what they have learned and practice it immediately while I watch and critique their performance. This I can understand and appreciate. But there are still a lot of guys standing around waiting their turn and that seems like a waste of time for me.

The few workshops that I've ever been to where I feel that I got my moneys worth were workshops where I watched, listened, took notes and asked questions. All the other workshops were a complete waste of time and money.

So here's my question(s) to you:

"Do you feel that you cannot get your moneys worth at a workshop unless you are able to shoot some girls at the workshop?"

"What would be the ideal workshop for you?"

Thanks guys,

-Dean

My February 2008 Penthouse Magazine Cover featuring Bree Olson

Hi... I am in the works of planning a work shop here in Montral....to help solve that prblem of wait and watch..we are attempting to set up six station and have the class work in teams of 4 to set up and use what they learned that day.... i the teams the week will get extar guidense from the more advanced...and as a team some will act as ..well stylist..and assistants to the shooter.... Now this is new for me too... so I will let you know how it goes...

[kgphoto]

Dean,

I have never been to your workshops, but I have 25 years of professional photography experience in the private portrait sector. I have been to your site and was turned off by the "rules", but based on your request:

So here's my question(s) to you:

"Do you feel that you cannot get your moneys worth at a workshop unless you are able to shoot some girls at the workshop?"

"What would be the ideal workshop for you?"

Here is my response.

I would want a hand out that details a lot of the technical aspects. This could be paper, prints or a DVD. I would like drawings of sets and lighting positions and f:stops of each light and a picture of the set up and a picture of the pose that came from the set up. If it was a nude workshop, then a nude pose. I would like more than three set ups.

I would like some lecture that covers the basics of your approach and then a refreshment of them as you set the shot up and execute.

Part of the learning process of shooting nude models is shooting them, and learning how to communicate respectfully and without embarrassment, so some shooting would be ideal.

While I agree that waiting for other to shoot can be boring, it can also be enlightening and is part of the price you pay for education.

One way to avoid that is to break the class into groups. One listens to a slide show and lecture, perhaps given by another or narrated by you. A DVD is included or offered at a nominal price for their review at home.

The other group watches you go through a few set ups with a model(s). you supply the technical notes and images described above. 2 hour lunch break. After the first hour of the lunch break, one group does some shooting with the model and the other watches the slide show. Then they go to shoot with some models and the other group watches you put the models through their paces. You can use two pairs of models, one pair experienced and one not. That way you can show the difference of handling both types. I would mix them 1 experienced and one not.

Then a group question and answer period with perhaps a review of all student captured images projected.

That to me would be an ideal workshop.