more workshop fun

When I learned that Shannon Sewell was coming to my state there was no way I could miss out on the chance to learn from her. Her work astonishes me. So a week or so ago I spent all day at a workshop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee with several other photographers absorbing her philosophy and approach to working with and styling children’s portraiture at the gorgeous Lodge at Buckberry Creek.

It’s amazing what photographers will do to get their shot. Most of us shucked off our shoes and waded into a creek to capture photos of our beguiling model Katie.

Working with Katie was a blast. Meeting children and learning how they love to spend their time, their quirks, and their personalities is the funnest way to spend my time, other than spending it with my own family. Since Elsa is almost four, working with nine year old Katie s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d my comfort level, so for this shot I asked her to give me non-stop-pouting. I told her that my Elsa was the Queen of Pouting. That Elsa scrunches up her mouth and wrinkles up her nose, cross her arms, and gives the floor-jolting stomp. I asked Katie for me her pouty look. This was the partial pout. No doubt Katie could have worked it a bit more. Of course, I managed the “pole sprouting from her head” mistake that most experienced photographers avoid. Duh. And I probably need to learn to edit out the circles under her eyes too, to make this a more “high fashion style” polished type photo. I like a light touch with the blur tool and clone stamp though. Over-processed photos are not my style. Geez, I guess I’m just too lazy to edit. Now you know my dirty secret.

And then serious Abe was such a dream to work with; any pose you want, you got. And he’s a master at making eye contact. His mom is a photographer, so he knows how to work the camera. But getting him to crack a smile was nearly impossible. By the end of the day he showed his pearly whites. He’s a cutie pie, plus. Gorgeous with such fantastic skin. Oh my. Don’t you wish you had lips like his? Such a vibrant and natural color without balm or gloss or anything.