Abilene: Wedding Portrait Posing Workshop - Feb 8th

[HotHolly]

Holly Ward, the artistic director of Belle's Photography, will be hosting the first of three Portrait Posing Workshops on February 8, from 2:00-5:00pm, at Willow Creek Chapel, in Abilene, TX.

Each three-hour workshop will teach you how to pose brides of different body types, and with different gown styles for fabulous, flattering bridal portraits. The model will be provided. The 1st model is a size 8 and will be wearing a designer gown.

The result for you will be portfolio quality images and skills that will carry over to other venues of photography. And for this first workshop, you will also have the opportunity to submit your best images for display in Willow Creek Chapel--which will look great on a resume!

The cost is $99 per person (per session) if you sign up ahead of time. At the door, the cost will be $125 per person (per session). Abilene Christian University students will receive a $25 discount for signing up ahead of time. Class size will be very limited so sign up soon!

For more information or to sign up for this great opportunity, you can contact Holly or Mike Ward at (325) 201-7458 or info@bellesphotography.com or just go nuts and sign up at: www.bellesphotography.com/workshop.htm A registration form is at the bottom of the page. A contribution will be made to the TPF for each member that attends.

Thanks!

[HotHolly]

To answer a few questions that I've gotten about the workshop:

The cut off date for pre-registering: Jan 31st Your registration form and payment must be received by this date. A registration form will be posted at the web address listed above ASAP.

A nice hotel that is on the same side of town as the chapel:
Fairfield Inn by Marriott Abilene
3902 TURNER PLAZA Abilene, TX 79606
Their rate is $77-$89 per night.

The Courtyard is nearby and is also nice. It may price cheaper. Check travelocity for prices.


Triple Wedding Posing Workshop Details:
There will be 3 different workshops, with different brides, in different gowns, on different dates. This is the 1st workshop. We will only focus on issues with 1 bride at this workshop. No need to overwhelm anyone.

All 3 brides will have different body shapes (pear, apple, etc) and be different sizes. We'll focus on issues with each shape and size to get the most flattering portraits. The 1st model is a size 8, the second will be a 16, the 3rd will be a 24.

My background is in composition and painting. So this is my "thing." Getting curves to translate from your eyes to the camera can be difficult, and wedding gowns are so large, it is really easy to make a bride look larger than she is (even if she's a size 2). So, we'll talk a lot about that, formal poses, and poses that hide imperfections.

The other workshops are yet to be announced, but will occur prior to wedding season (contingent on interest). Each section should have a similar price tag. They will also be held at other locations in Abilene. We have a few ballrooms and historic locations that are beautiful - and challenging.

Perks:
Contest: Attendees of the 1st workshop (The Feb 8th workshop) will have the opportunity to submit their best portrait of the bride into a contest. Willow Creek Chapel may use the images on their website, for advertising, or to hang in the chapel. All entries from attendees of this workshop need to be submitted to Belle's no later than Feb. 16th, 2007.

Portfolio Pieces: If you are in need of quality portfolio pieces, this will give you a good range of images. We'll do traditional, contemporary, stylish, funky - and try to draw on your emerging style.

Hands-On Learning: This is not going to be a 3 hour lecture. You'll spend most of the time shooting, critiquing, and trying to impliment basic rules of thumb to create flattering poses.

Limited Class Size: Since there will be mostly shooting, and there is only 1 model, the class size will be very small. I did this on purpose. I wanted you to get the most out of this. I've been to workshops where I walked away not knowing what to do or afraid I'll forget everything. With this workshop, you'll be diving in head 1st and get to DO what we talk about right away.

Prerequisite:
You need to have a DSLR and be fairly familiar with how it works to get the most out of the workshop. If you have a flash, bring it. If you don't, don't freak out. And yes, you can still come and get a lot out of this. The chapel is well lit with lots of natural light.

If you have any more questions, PM me or email. When this section is full it will be posted here. Thanks! :o)

[rusty_tripod]

I would love to come and participate, but no one wants to pay my way roundtrip and cover my classroom for a couple days. Drat! Guess I should never have left Texas. Sounds like loads of fun and progress.

Rusty Tripod

[HotHolly]

Sorry you can't come to this one! I'm guessing a classroom full of unattended kids wouldnt go over well. :o)

The feedback on this type of gig is really good - leaps and bounds improvements in a short time. Its our interns favorite thing to attend b/c she gets so much help and time shooting. Its the difference b/t studying how to do something and really doing it. There's a gap there - this type of help fills the gap, and then some.

Hope you can come to the next one!

[HotHolly]

Tomorrow is the last day to attend at the $99 price...

There are only 3 slots left...

[HotHolly]

A few people asked who the model is for session #1. She had a fitting for the gown and is all ready to go. I'm thinking we may have her bring along a pair of pink Chucks and do some funky shots too...

Here's her pic:


:o)