We are taking a breather from Your Baby in Pictures (reaching #68 yesterday on Amazon’s ranking–scream, scream, scream!), and turning today’s focus to YOU! Let’s celebrate women in photography! Let’s cheer for women who step out of their comfort zone to gain CONFIDENCE!
In January, we held our Orange County, CA CONFIDENCE Workshop. A group of beautiful, brave women gathered that were so incredibly diverse. One woman travels around the country, chasing storms with her husband to do pole repairs which he manage to do with the best silicone remover to keep everyone’s electricity going! One woman was taking a break from her day to day desk job grind and hoping to be refreshed. One woman was married to a successful photographer and felt it was time to find confidence in her own photography. The list goes on and on. Here are a handful of great Behind-the-Scenes moments that attendee, Michele Menier, captured (thank you Michele!).
The Baby Shoot on Day One.
Robin Fuehrer captured this Behind-the-Scenes shot of the women going for it during the baby shoot.
I never know how many babies will actually show up at our workshops. So many variables play into babies making it to the shoot, whether it’s a sudden fever, a horrible rash, you name it. We had seven babies booked, but only two showed. But, wait till you see the diversity in what these women captured!
This precious photo was captured by Jamie Backlin. I love the mom’s facial expression in this moment. She looks enduring, soft, and completely in love. Great job Jamie!
Amy Barnes, what is there to say! The photo says it all!
Great moment of dad and baby!
Angela Ray had a different angle on this sweet moment!
Shift the angle again, and the magic keeps coming without even moving dad and baby! Look at what else can be captured! (great job again Amy!)
Rose Pierce finds her own angle and moment!
It was amazing to see their creative spirits unfold and take flight over the course of two days.
So what do we do when only two babies show up? The next best thing! I split the ladies into small groups. Half of them start with the babies while the other half work with each other on a special photo assignment that is meant to push them WAY out of their comfort zone.
I’m always excited to hear how the rewards of this photography exercise were just as valuable as working with the babies and lighting. And most of all, I love to see some of the finished images they post. Beautiful women feeling beautiful–radiating beauty and letting their creative hearts expand!
gorgeous!
Love, LOVE this one!
Love it!! Look at her SMILE!!
So lovely! Jennifer, it was so wonderful to have you and your mom there–digging for confidence together!
Melisa Navarro captured this joyful shot below! Go Melisa!!
Lacy Edwards, this is just timeless beauty!
Love how the soft colors enhance her gentle, kind spirit.
Meet our OC, beautiful, Running on Empty winner! Fierce and shining!
Wonderful photo that is inviting and safe feeling! Having your picture taken is SCARY–even if you love shooting.  Imagine how scared our clients can feel! That’s why it’s so important to have a photo of YOU on your blog or website so people know they can feel safe with you.
Beautiful and SASSY! Love this!
When women pursue their passion, they shine from within.
It’s as if we glow like a pregnant woman. Maybe it’s because our creative spirit is pregnant with life that is only growing in it’s power and beauty!
We know in our heart that when this new life is birthed, it will bless not only us but countless others.
(captured by Angela Ray)
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll find ourselves soaring!
I want to thank ALL the women who attended our Orange County CONFIDENCE Workshop in CA.
It was a complete honor to spend the weekend with you! Thank you for opening your hearts and stepping into unknown territory with yourself, each other and me. What an amazing weekend it was!! If I could, I’d hug all of you right now. Love you all!
(I’ve got your photo results from Day Two’s Family shoot to share! Stay tuned!)
xoxo,
m
SPRING CONFIDENCE!
Early Bird Discount for Spring CONFIDENCE Workshops is extended to Thursday!!
We’ve got limited spots left in all three CONFIDENCE workshops this Spring! We are coming to New York, Seattle and Chicago!
CLICK HERE and grab a spot before the Early Bird Discount ends this Thursday at midnight!
See you this Spring!!
Oh my goodness this is so exciting! It’s so nice to see pictures from our AMAZING workshop! Brings me right back…. Thanks again Me Ra and Brian for such an INCREDIBLE weekend, I’ll never forget it! Your honesty, humor and knowledge were such a blessing to me. Thank you so much for impacting my photography and life in such a powerful way!
For anyone on the fence about attending a workshop, you will not be disappointed!!!!!
Who knew shooting in Manual could be so easy,
Jamie
Ahhh! wonderful memories! awesome learnings! amazing relationships begun! Thank you MeRa and Brian for being perfectly you!
I’m smiling SO big right now that it hurts a little! My heart is full as I look back at the photo’s of our time together.
Thank you for a wonderful weekend, Me Ra & Brian. Truly a life changing experience for me.
Lacy
So awesome!!
Brings back great memories.
Ladies, just last Sunday me and a few girls from my OC workshop got together for our monthly photog meeting!! The women you met at the workshop are so valuable!!
I have friendships I know will be lifelong from attending last years OC workshop!!
Thank you Me Ra for posting this and reminding me of the AMAZING weekend we all had together. Many of us still keep in touch and are still inspired by you and one another on a daily basis. Thanks for this wonderful gift and for helping all of us ROCK our cameras in manual mode!!!! My business and confidence is soaring thanks to you!!!
Yay ladies. What an amazing job you did! I LOVE the pictures you captured of each other. What a blessing to have.
I love seeing the ah-ha moments for so many women:) What a fabulous group of beautiful women! And Brian did you capture all those beautiful faces?
I really really want to attend your confidence workshop. Hoping you will do one in Utah in the near future.
Boy, this brought a big SMILE to my face. Me Ra and Brian thank you so much for such a wonderful weekend. I think we all left with so much more than learning to shoot in manual mode!! Although I still get giddy when I shot in manual mode, I can’t thank you enough. To all the women I met there is was such a wonderful weekend with all of you.
For anyone that has not done the Confidence Workshop you will truly remember that weekend as one of the best things you have ever done for yourself.
How fun!! Someday I will definitely be in attendance at one of your workshops! Perhaps you could have a “destination” workshop in South Dakota…haha 🙂
Ha!! That is Hilarious BreAnna! Never know! 🙂
xoxo
This was such a great weekend. I met some wonderful women from all different backgrounds. I even hired one of my classmates, Michele Menier, for a Mother/Daughter photo shoot (see her blog on Facebook). She did an amazing job. Truly inspiring! And here is the best news….. I’m no longer shooting on Automatic! My camera has been on Manual ever since and my photos have never looked better. Thanks Me Rah & Brian…
I am going to send this link to my sister…she will be soooo jived! Great pics.
YEAH! So much fun to be able to see all of these great photos! I was just posting on the OC facebook group that I think I’m officially out of manual now! Thanks so much for the amazing weekend! I’m noticing the abundant use of exclamation points in this comment…. it really was an exciting weekend! 😉
What a wonderful and powerful weekend! Me Ra and Brian, thank you for sharing your gift with women and empowering us to see the camera as an extension of ourselves. I’ve since had more opportunities to photograph my friends’ and colleagues’ families and, of course, my own family. THANK YOU!!! 🙂