I taught my Light & Commerce workshop last year and it went extremely well. The feedback was amazing. I’ve stopped them for now. I’m honestly tired of teaching the same thing over and over (it’s not you, it’s me.) I’ve thought about Light & Commerce 2.0 but I don’t really feel like it would be much different.
I absolutely love teaching. I do private one-on-one workshops for people all the time and I mentor in various other ways at my studio and online. I was even told by someone who came to both a L&C workshop and a private one, that he came from a family of educators and thought I had a real gift for it. That really, really inspired me that what I do does help people achieve their goals.
I mention all of this to say that I am really itching to do another day or two of educational learning, but I really want it to be something where the curriculum is driven by the people attending.
I don’t want to pretend to know what aspiring photographers need to learn. I have my clues but the industry is changing so fast, there seems to be a new thing to learn every day.
So with that in mind, I am introducing a yet-to-be-named workshop where you the attendees choose what gets taught. No photography-related subject is off-topic. Pre-production, post-production, workflow, lighting, business are all pretty vague.
Be specific about what you would like to learn. Do you want to go on location, be in the studio, both? Work with models, musicians? No idea is a bad one.
Leave comments below about anything you would like to see covered. If I can get a good curriculum that meets the needs of everyone and can be put together in a cohesive way, I will introduce one soon.
Everyone who submits an idea below will receive $50 off the price when it does launch.
-How to snag a location! The ethics of permits, “it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission”, etc etc. Especially for ‘new’ photographers who can’t justify insurance policies that many places want to see proof of.
-How to interact with people when you’re behind a camera. I know it’s different for everyone, but just some ice-breaking tips would ROCK.
-some overall workflow examples would be cool. (actually, not even workflow, but digital organization- how you organize the files beyond the initial “originals” dump- but keeping edits straight and stuff)
-how to stay on top of your initial vision. I can get good images, but it’s rare that I end up getting the *exact* image I go in wanting to take, whether that be because of location issues or what…I don’t know…this is harder to explain what my exact problem is- but maybe just overall comments on finding, committing to, and executing an overall idea/vision.
-legal junk. It’s boring, but when you’re in the amateur region, it’s hard to know what applies to you- copyrights, location legal stuff (insurance, permits, etc), just…all of the really dry legal stuff…how do you know what to put into play when you’re just starting out?
…hmm…I’m sure I’ll be able to come up with many more questions. Ever since I found out about your one-on-one workshops I’ve been trying to keep a mental list of everything I would ask…but a normal group workshop based off questions would be really cool as well!
You are SUCH an inspiration- thanks for being so willing to teach!!
maybe a 2 day workshop showing the workflow in both the studio and in the field? Personally, I’d really like to see the before and after aspects of the shoot on the operational sides of it like location scouting, getting permissions, etc.
I’ll second most of what Ashley said above.
One of the biggest interests for me is getting some help with methods for developing the look of a shoot - the location, set, wardrobe, props, etc. In other words, you get the assignment to shoot music artist “X”, but how do you arrive at the creative palette you use for the shoot? (I realize that’s a little like asking how to write a hit song. But like that, I would assume there are steps and methods that can help with the process.
I’m so looking forward to the day that I can attend one of your workshops or mentoring sessions. Thanks for all that you share with the photo community!
Post production–retouching techniques for various types of photography
How to find locations in Nashville, where locations are, etc.
If you can teach the hard to find line that separates a technically proficient picture and art then I’m in.
That being said, I always love seeing the process from start to finish. Budget negations, concept drawing, location scouting, crew, models/subject acquisition, legal, instructing the subject, scene, gear, lighting, capturing, saving, backups, post, proofs, delivery, and lastly the pay-ola. *whew*
I would love to observe a project in it’s entirety from beginning to end. Client > Concept > Location Scouting > Shoot > Post > Delivery. Someone else mentioned this already, but I would also love to see what all goes into creating the look for a shoot (location, set, props, style…etc).
Also, it would be great to learn about what goes into making a photo “art” vs. just a nice photo (if that makes sense). Maybe ways to separate yourself as a photographer from all the other “everyday joes”.
Oh yeah and how about some kind of discount for those who are traveling far!! =P I still have never been to a workshop ’cause once I figure in the gas money, hotel, and food expenses it’s impossible for me to go. Maybe turn your studio into a hostel???
I think following along on a location shoot would be really helpful. Learning how to get great shots/poses out of people who are NOT models. And learning more about pre- and post-production.
I would love to observe an on location shoot, not just the shooting aspect but the process as a whole. For example, what is the process for finding your concept/vision for a shoot, scouting tips, how you work with the client during a shoot, post production…
It would also be cool if you could touch on budgeting a shoot or how to place a bid for a shoot.
Thanks in advance for the willingness to share your amazing talent!
How to improve your odds for getting from Point “A” to Point “B” - aka “Stop Accepting $200 Jobs” or even thousand dollar jobs and get higher paying ones or get more thousand dollar jobs. I feel stuck in between “A” and “B” and while knowing about contracts and such is great it seems (for me) to be putting the cart before the “B” horse.
Portfolio reviews! That would be very helpful. Look at our websites and tell us what we absolutely must remove that may be scaring off potential clients. How we can cause someone in another city to want to call us for consideration of a project they are doing.
Stuff like that - business and marketing.
This is all good stuff so far. A lot of it is along the lines of what I was thinking. Keep it coming.
I like Alan’s point about improving your odds for getting from Point “A” to Point “B” - aka “Stop Accepting $200 Jobs”. Better yet, how to get paid jobs if you’re someone who’s JUST starting out (like myself).
…Sorry I didn’t mean to submit the post above (wasn’t finished). I was going to say, I’m in a small town, so I’m competing with the “$50″ photoshoot. I’ve tried to get paid work here, but every time I tell someone my fee (and it’s cheap) they run away scared.
Adam - you need better customers
Seriously I’ve shot for a few national magazines doing editorial (supporting photos for stories being done about people) work and it has paid ok - local magazines wanting something Advertorial would only pay 1/5 what I have already done. Having said that, how do I parlay those experiences into more work, better customers, better paying jobs and advertizing work?
I learned a lot from the few I’ve done that’s for sure.
@ Alan - Haha I’ve never had a customer to begin with
I’m just starting out, and I haven’t had much luck finding people who are willing to pay for photos. Don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but I need to figure it out!
Thanks for the opportunity to voice.
I’m looking for a L&C 2.0 that is beyond the intro to lighting workshops that I see and frankly, also reach. An advanced lighting. For me it would be ideal to spend a day (or two) mid week, going through the process of conceptualizing the shoot, scouting the location, lighting it.
James
Hey David, loved the Light & Commerce Workshop. Whatever is next will be well worth another trip to Nashville.
I love the idea of doing another split kind of workshop. I saw someone mentioned post-production and another mentioned how to stop accepting the $200 shoots. Both of those together would be a great follow up to Light & Commerce. Look forward to seeing what you decide upon and a reason to get back in Nashville for a minute.
There are some great ideas here and not much that I could add other than to maybe suggest a two day course. Day one could be the business side, day two the shooting, post processing etc side. Price them individually and maybe offer a discount for the two together? I would personally want both sides but it does appear that there are a those that maybe don’t.
As for the $200 shoots… how about some advice on GETTING the $200 shoots.
Personally, I get all geeked about someone wanting to pay me (at all) for what I really love doing. Maybe thats just me. 
David,
I started photography about a year ago and need business sense. I follow Chase Jarvis’ blogs and videos a lot and look up to his work as a creative and businessman. I put the both of you in the same category and look up to both of you for different aspects of photography that fit right into what I believe I can uniquely offer my clients. With this said, I mention Chase because he recommends all who are looking to go pro to understand photography is 75% business and 25% photo. I need both but hold true to his word and need that 75%. That includes processing, marketing, networking, etc. I don’t know much about your Light and Commerce Workshop but it sounds like what I am looking for. I believe I speak for a lot of aspiring photogs who are looking for the “A to B ” (as mentioned by Alan Matthews) and think the B is business.
I also like Ashley’s comment about how to interact with clients when behind the camera. Pictures are often reflected by the emotion the photographer creates and then captures in the subject. I need more of that know how!
Location environmental photography with a music group. Please.
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