Today I’m sharing a handful of shots from an amazing workshop I was able to attend in March! I love learning – always have – and since I went to college for my BSN (aka not photography), I try to do as much as I possibly can to learn about photography, both technically and the business side. I’ve spent hours scouring countless photography blogs, watching CreativeLive classes, and learning from the many amazing free webinars available from top wedding photographers! It’s pretty rare for workshops to be held in the Detroit area, so when I saw that Sam Hurd was going to be hosting one here, I jumped at the chance! Seriously, go check out his incredible work here!

My goodness, it was so good. First of all, it was awesome to learn in person, surrounded by peers! We spent time learning new, unique photography methods, such as the Breziner method, free-lensing, and using prisms. He explained his business, from the moment a couple inquires, until after they receive their gallery. He taught about editing, websites, gear, social media, the 5 “L’s”: (light, lines, look, layers, and luck), and so much more. After multiple hours of learning (and a delicious Chipotle lunch), we were able to go outside, watch, learn, and practice with a darling couple!

I think one of the most important things I took away was how much I love photography, the raw, technical art of it. It can be easy to get caught up in the trends and fluff that saturates the wedding industry scene, and be swept away into the “insta-world” of perfection. But like Sam mentioned, “the end of the night matters most”. What’s SO important is capturing that final kiss of the evening, a grandparent’s hug, the joyous celebration of dear friends and family: as you never know how much those images may mean to someone in the future. My goal as a wedding photographer is to be passionate about every single aspect of the day, from the carefully curated, ethereal images, to the candid, in-between moments.

I am truly thankful for the chance to attend this workshop, learn so many new skills, and remind myself and other photographers of the reason behind why we do what we do. 🙂

Hope you enjoyed a little glimpse into the day!