Interested in a portrait/natural light workshop?

cjnicolai

cjnicolai

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Hello, all -

After getting the approval of the mods (because I am such a forum good-girl!) I am asking for a show of interest.

I am seriously considering doing a two-day TalkPhotography portrait workshop very soon. I think it would be a great opportunity to meet everyone and to do an intense, hands-on workshop.

This would be the tentative agenda:

On the personal/psychological aspect of portraiture:

- connecting with your subjects and establishing rapport
- learning to work WITH your personality, rather than against it
- getting past personal space barriers (both yours and your subject's)
- handling difficult subjects, including behavior issues in children
- the importance of body language

On the technical side:

- creative metering (taught via handheld meter)
- how to position subjects while avoiding the look of stiff posing
- lighting for effect
- learning to create flattering light for different face and body shapes
- composing multiple subjects
- working with the subject's natural environment
- handling low light
- interpreting the print

This workshop will be beneficial for all levels of photographers, and will be particularly friendly to those who are new to photographing people. It is not necessary for you to be a professional or even aspire to be a professional. I do not plan to cover the business aspects of portraiture, although I'm open to discussing those issues over dinner and a good bottle of wine. ;)

What I need right now is a show of serious interest, so I can gauge whether it's a viable idea. I am targeting mid- to late October. Cost is currently an unknown, but I'm committed to keeping tuition as reasonable as possible. Location will be determined after I get an idea of the locations of those interested in attending.

If you are interested, please reply with the following information:

- a rough idea of your geographic location (remembering, please, that I'm a simple Yank armed with a map only ;))

- any dates during which you would absolutely not be able to attend, including whether you'd only be able to attend on a week-end, etc.

- whether you'd be willing to travel to another city to attend. Obviously, I can't accommodate every request, but I do my best to find a happy medium. (That said, I have a great and inexpensive venue in Brighton, and it ain't a half bad city to visit!)

- any other piece of information you think would be helpful.

Thanks in advance for your quick reply! I would love to see this happen.

- CJ
 
You do this after I leave England???

YOu comeing to the East coast anytime soon??
 
CJ - October is possibly the worst month for me, but if that is when it happens, I'll be there.
Fingers crossed for enough interest..!
 
Great idea Cheryl but as a Far Norther (Inverness) I doubt I will be able to attend. Also anniversary in Oct so hope to slope off with the good lady for a few days.

Will watch with interest.
 
Northener here too, but have friends in Brighton so if I did come I could use it as an oppurtunity to visit them.
 
I'm interested
Location not a problem - Denver would be nice :)
Date not a problem - unless the day job calls me away - which always happens at short notice
especially if I have something planned!!!

Is it a "theory only" or "hands on" workshop?
(it says workshop - that means hands on dumbo!)
 
Depending on time, location and cost I'd be interested. Obviously it should be held in the capital, London ;)
 
count me in, i need all the help i can get. I am South West, but South East isnt a problem for me to get to.
 
Unfortunately, I can't make it.. I live in England.

Maybe someone could video it? And sell copies or something?
 
I may be interested depending on where/when and cost - but I'd certainly be delighted to learn any tips from you.
 
I might be interested too. London or South East.
 
I'd be interested, it'd have to be north of the M25 though, Brighton is a looooooooooong way away from here.

Yorkshire would be spot on ;)
 
Might be interested depending upon location, cost :)
 
Definately intrested, obviously depending on date, place etc (Maidenhead would be nice;) ) keep us informed of proceedings.
Would not want to miss a chance to learn from the best.
Dean:)
 
I'd love to do this :) Anywhere in the South East is good for me but can be flexible (within reason lol). The only weekend I could do in October is 20/21st. Could possibly do a week day though.
 
chewyuk said:
Would love to come put October is out for me Marriage and Honeymoon !! I'll look forward to seeing the results.
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Come on Chewy, where's your sense of priority? :lol: :p
 
:eek:you got THE stare:eek:

mention it once more and you'll definately be able to come:lol:

Dean:)
 
OK, it definitely looks like there's sufficient interest to get the ball rolling. Thanks for the replies! The more replies, the better I can plan.

Brighton is, as previously mentioned, the simplest thing in the world for me to do since I've already got a venue I've worked with before at a very reasonable cost. If we had between ten and fifteen participants in that location, I believe I could keep the cost around £300, including a workbook and lunches both days, which is actually less than most US workshops I've done.

I'd be happy to look into Yorkshire venues if anyone could give me ideas? Typically I find that hotel venues are quite expensive. Community centers and churches have served the purpose quite well before, too. I'm open to suggestions.

As much as I would love to hold the workshop in London, I've never in three years managed to find a venue that wouldn't force a ridiculously high tuition. Not a cheap city you have there, is it? LOL.

- CJ
 
CJ - I think the £300 scared them off. ( I think thats cheap for a specialist 2 day course inc food )
 
It'd be £600 for both me and Sue - thats a lot of money for us, 3/4 of the way towards a 70-200 f/2.8 or most of the way to a 40d.

You'd best stick to the south for them that earn more money ;) Us Yorkshire folk are tight as a duck's arse (so the saying goes) ;)
 
Mho, LOL. I don't necessarily see any signs of fear just yet, but it could be so. ;)

Yes, actually, £300 is less than I charged for the first UK workshop I did three years ago. Last year's workshop was £500, if it makes you feel better. I can guarantee that you will be so full of information by the time you go home that your head will hurt.

I should mention that I also do portfolio critiques during the workshop for anyone who is interested. Usually just about everyone wants a critique, and it's an incredibly valuable learning tool.

- CJ
 
Matt Charlton said:
You'd best stick to the south for them that earn more money ;) Us Yorkshire folk are tight as a duck's arse (so the saying goes) ;)
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Its better if you say your thrifty with money. :lol:

You have the wrong hobby to be a tight ass. ;)
 
Book me in - Whilst I am supposed to be in Spain for most of October, I will do my utmost to be there (I can cancel visitors, change hospital appointments and re-arrange work commitments if it means 2 days of intensive work with one of the best photographers I have been exposed to recently..
I have never done any kind of workshop, left school aged 15 about 3000 years ago, so am not likely to be the best student, but for my type of photography, this seems to be a better idea than a new lens or whatever, and some small repayment of the time CJ has already invested in me here on TP...
The later the better for me please !

Cheers
Steve
PS - who cooks lunch..?
 
cjnicolai said:
Mho, LOL. I don't necessarily see any signs of fear just yet, but it could be so. ;)
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CJ you have to remember us Northeners, will only spend money if its a life and death situation (usually our own, dont bother with others) or if its photo kit, or a pint, or it saves us more than we spend in the long run. :lol:
 
mho said:
Its better if you say your thrifty with money. :lol:

You have the wrong hobby to be a tight ass. ;)
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LOL :)

Doesn't my credit card know it ;)

In all seriousness though, faction in travelling down to wherever it is, a weekend stay in a b&b/hotel and you're easily looking at another £200-£300 for that.

I'd love to, and if we win the lottery we would do, I know its a great price for the level of expertise and instruction on hand/available but I don't think we'd be able to source the funds.
 
See now, that's the spirit, Steve!

Seriously, though, I will say that knowledge is the best tool a photographer (or anyone else) can ever have. I see a lot of people buying a lot of equipment that they believe will help them take better pictures, only to be disappointed. You may find in the course of this (or any) workshop that the issue is not your equipment, but rather how you're using it. Or you may find that your style of portraiture requires a totally different lens than the one you thought you needed. You may decide that you actually need to invest in a simple light meter, when you thought you needed to upgrade your entire kit. No joke.

Steve, you'll fit right in. I teach very non-traditionally, as I've never learned well by simply being told what to do. Workshops are really a lot of fun. If they weren't, I wouldn't teach them. ;)

Lunch....as if I'd gotten that far! LOL. Too bad my husband can't come with. He's the best chef you'd ever want to meet. Unfortunately, it's (American) football season, and he's a sports photog, so no time off for him in October.

- CJ
 
CJ - we've not met (yet), but already you are talking about me not having the right equipment - most girls wait till after the first date to do that...
As you say, knowledge has to come first, and I don't care what we get to eat.
Just don't make my head hurt too much..
 
steveinspain said:
CJ - we've not met (yet), but already you are talking about me not having the right equipment - most girls wait till after the first date to do that...
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I know your sort. I'm bringing my whip.

(For teaching purposes, purely. Get your mind out of the gutter.)

- CJ
 
CJ, I was in two minds but if you're bringing your whip then there's no longer an element of doubt.... I'M IN!

But seriously, £300 for a weekend masterclass from a photographer of your class? An absolute bargain imo :thumbs: And Brighton is not a problem for me, it's about and hour and a half drive, traffic permitting :) I just hope enough people will commit to this to make it viable :shrug:
 
Matt only send one of you and that person needs to take very good notes!

I'm jealous!
 
Excellent! The whip will be packed, then. Oooh, and I got an incredible corset from a Brighton corsetmaker in March. (No, I won't be wearing it, but if a whip got that much attention, I figured mentioning the corset might be worthwhile. ;))

I'll be checking in with my venue tomorrow. If they have the dates of October 20 - 21 available, I will aim for that.

I just need at least ten people who will be willing to commit very shortly after I reserve the venue and confirm dates. If we can do that, we will officially be on.

If you would like to attend a workshop in Brighton, October 20 - 21, for a tuition of £300, please let me know as soon as possible via post to this thread or PM. If you need flexibility with payment options, that is not a problem at all. Just ask. Also, please let me know if you would be UNABLE to attend on a weekday, in case the venue is booked on weekends.

Thanks, all!

- CJ
 
cjnicolai said:
Amnesia, this is a UK workshop I'm talking about. ;)
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Doh!

Well, I'd certainly be interested. I'll re-read the bullet points later and post in more detail.

Again, it would depend on location, cost, date/time etc.

However, will we have to be of a certain quality? As I'm a total newb, even though I've had my camera for a good year and a half now... I've only spent around 8 months shooting with it!
 
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