First Day of School | Getting great smiles out of your own kids!

Yay! School has started. Like most other moms here (at least by what I've seen on Facebook), I have to take the "first day of school" holding the sign/kid in a backpack picture. However, this time, I thought I'd do at least one good portrait of my kiddo before he got on the bus.

Now, here's the trick: make it a game. My son knows that when the camera comes out, silly/crazy/funny pictures are OKAY! If he wants me to take it, I shoot it, and boy, does that get the smiles going. Then, once we've had some fun, the beautiful smiley pictures are easy because he feels happy. The top portrait was picture #20. I have to admit though, those other ones are keepers too!

Contact me if you are interested in learning more tips about photographing your kids. I teach photography workshops and offer mentoring to cool moms and dads like you who want to learn!

A Day of Photography Workshops | Alpharetta GA Photography Workshops

I'm happy to announce A Day of Photography Workshops event coming up on Saturday, November 17th! This is a hands-on, intensive day of workshops designed for people who want to improve their photography skills with their digital SLR. From 9:00 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon, I'll be teaching participants how to go from point-and-shoot to taking well-composed, beautiful photographs. We'll work with models (real people that pose for us that day), eat, visit, learn, and make friends! Since I limit the number of participants to 5, I'll spend time with each participant to practice the principles I'm teaching that day. The Day of Photography workshops costs $143 and includes lunch, the workshop, and workshop materials.

If you are interested (or have a friend or family member that would enjoy this workshop), please drop me a line. Also, I am planning a second Day of Photography Workshops Event in January, so if this date doesn't work for you, let me know so I can add you to my January contact list.

You can read more about the workshops here: http://www.butlerfamilyphotography.com/p/workshops.html

Got a camera? I've got a workshop! | Atlanta GA Photo Workshops

I'm holding another workshop! Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 9th, and join us for a fun, hands-on learn-and-shoot workshop in Cumming GA.

Bring your camera (digital SLR or point-and-shoot) and be prepared to have fun! During the workshop, we’ll cover improving your composition, creating beautiful portraits, and taking photos outdoors and indoors using available light. We’ll shoot together so you know how to apply these with your digital camera, no matter what model! It's a hands-on, in-depth learning experience that will change your photography for the better.

Minimum 3 attendees, maximum 8. $45.00 per person

(Price includes a non-refundable retainer of $20.00. Gift purchases require entire workshop price.)

This is the last time my portrait photo workshop will be offered at this price. Please contact us for more details or to register!

 

And some of our workshop participants' photos. Please note that these photos are straight out of the camera, no editing applied. Aren't they great? I love when I can teach workshoppers to get great photos in camera without editing!

Photo Workshop This Weekend | Atlanta GA Photography Workshops

This Saturday I'm holding my first Photo Workshop of the year in Cumming. It's not too late to join! Spots are open, and since we will be a small group, you'll have more one-on-one time with me! Here are the details:

Portrait Photo Workshop

Saturday, January 15, 2011

1:30-4:00 in Cumming, GA

Minimum 3 attendees, maximum 10. $45.00 per person

(Price includes a non-refundable retainer of $20.00.)

It's not just a fancy camera that makes a great photograph, but the person behind that camera as well. Here's your chance to seriously improve your composition, knowledge, and experience with portrait photography. The best part of the workshop is getting a chance to shoot with me and some models while I help you get great shots in real time. Awesome! Bring your digital camera (point-and-shoot or DSLR) and dress for the weather because we're shooting indoors and outdoors! 

Use the Contact page to let me know if you want to join in.

Catching up with the Blog and Upcoming Workshop | Canton GA Family and Baby Photographer

Now that my photography load has eased up, I have a chance to do some full posts of this season's shoots. You may remember this family from a previous sneak peek. They coordinated their shoot to coincide with baby's first birthday in October as well as get some shots for Christmas. October is the perfect month to have your Christmas portraits made. The weather is still nice and you have plenty of time to get the CD and have gift prints made without paying extra for rush shipping. (Ah, yes. I know this because I had to do that for some of my Christmas gifts. Maybe I'll take my own advice next year!)

On another note, I am pleased to announce a Portrait Photo Workshop on Saturday, January 15, 2011 from 1:30-4:00 in Cumming, GA. It's a bargain at $45.00/person. I know some of you are getting new cameras for Christmas. And some of you have nice point-and-shoots or SLRs already, but don't know how to get great pictures out of them. You've probably realized by now that it's not just a fancy camera that makes a great photograph, but the person behind that camera as well. Here's your chance to seriously improve your composition, knowledge, and experience with portrait photography. The best part of the workshop is getting a chance to shoot with me and some models (looking for some of those too, by the way) while I help you get great shots in real time. Awesome! Contact us for more information. I'll even email you a sweet-looking certificate to print out if you decide to give it as a Christmas gift.

Okay, back to more of this beautiful family!

Photo Workshop | Alpharetta GA Photography Workshops

Last month, I decided to hold my first Photo Workshop for photography friends who either had participated in Photo Club or were interested in learning more about photography. Because it was my first time teaching a workshop, I kept the price very reasonable and hoped that at least 3 people would sign up. On workshop day, we had 7 participants. Hooray!

The workshop was such a success. We covered the basics of photography, composition, and camera control, then practiced shooting in and outdoors with some wonderful models. We also had a chance to touch on some editing tips. Whew! It was a lot to get through in three hours, but I know everyone learned a lot. Here are a few of the exit comments: 

• It was cool to be around people who have a love of photography.
• I loved learning about the technique/settings, and then applying the knowledge through shooting.
• The best part? The shooting. I learned a lot in this session. 

And yes, I am planning to hold another Photo Workshop, but after Christmas when things calm down a bit. I'm so busy shooting for clients this season! Contact me if you would like to be notified of an upcoming Photo Workshop. 

We worked on shooting at high ISOs and no flash indoors. 

Shooting in open shade helped us avoid weird shadows on our models' faces.

Getting close, close, close is important in portrait photography.

We loved this little model. Such a darling face!

Posing our models for the birds eye shot.

Most amateur photographers who shoot in bright sunlight during the middle of the day get pictures like this . . . 

But we turned that bright light to our advantage and got pictures like these: 

The models took our group photo!

Images from some of our workshop participants:

You can see some more of Dora's images here. 

You can see some more of Michelle's images here.