If you were going to attend a weekend workshop...

[earthmamaphotography]

would it matter what time of year it was held?

Would you prefer everything be in one place? Lodging/food included?

I just need a good sounding board for photogs and hoping you all will indulge me! Feel free to move this thread if necessary.

[Jim Poor]

Having attended a few workshops, the first thing I'd have to know is "What kind of workshop?" Covering specifically WHAT aspects of photography?

1. Time of year is a factor for nature workshops, but not so much for studio work.
2. Define everything? Again, that depends on the type of workshop. Lodging yes, but with the option to find your own, food probably not, because I don't want my menu dictated to me. That said, if there is little time for food, then catering may be OK with a diverse menu.

Originally Posted by earthmamaphotography

would it matter what time of year it was held?

Would you prefer everything be in one place? Lodging/food included?

I just need a good sounding board for photogs and hoping you all will indulge me! Feel free to move this thread if necessary.

[sk66]

Time of year is always a factor...at least where I live.
Not very motivated to sign up for something that would require any sort of lengthy drive in the winter.

I would want everything "convenient" but not necessarily "provided".
There would be different budgets and different personalities. Some might prefer to drive thier camper and stay there and cook for themselves, others might prefer the Hilton. The option of "everything provided" would appeal to some for simple ease and convenience if no other reason.

[Jim Bryant]

Good to have it in one place. That way you can meet new friends, hang out afterwards and talk photography and who knows what could happen. I was at a workshop once and Eddie Adams pulled up a bar stool next to mine, then one by one William Allard, Jim Sugar, David Alan Harvey and others crowded around the bar. Since Eddie and I were in Vietnam together, he introduced me to the rest of the workshop instructor gang. That way you can meet the instructors and if possible show a portfolio later.

[earthmamaphotography]

Thanks everyone. Sorry for the delay in returning to the thread! Didn't get notification.

The workshop is a birth photography workshop for photogs wanting to break into the market.

We ended up finding a new location and LOVE IT!! It is more like a retreat and the workshop cost will include lodging and food. It will be fairly intimate (8-10 people) and really give attendees what they are hoping for.

Oh and we decided on the last weekend of June. Hoping school/summer schedules don't conflict.

Thanks again!

[Jim Poor]

Do you mean newborn or actual birth photography?

If you mean birth photography, getting live models might be a bit of a timing issue.

[earthmamaphotography]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Do you mean newborn or actual birth photography?

If you mean birth photography, getting live models might be a bit of a timing issue.

We have that nailed down too! We have some moms willing to fake it

[StillFocus]

Originally Posted by earthmamaphotography

We have that nailed down too! We have some moms willing to fake it

I must admit that invoked some fairly disturbing imagery. If it weren't so far away I would definitely attend though.

[hibou]

I would want to know what level of knowledge you're assuming. The only workshop I've been to was for portrait photography and advertised itself as tips and tricks for dealing with difficult situations etc. Got there and it was like, this is how you turn your camera on. Total waste of time.

Be clear with people that "breaking into the birth photography market" does not equal "what is aperture" or whatever.

[earthmamaphotography]

Originally Posted by hibou

I would want to know what level of knowledge you're assuming. The only workshop I've been to was for portrait photography and advertised itself as tips and tricks for dealing with difficult situations etc. Got there and it was like, this is how you turn your camera on. Total waste of time.

Be clear with people that "breaking into the birth photography market" does not equal "what is aperture" or whatever.

I could not agree more! Our site is...

The Birth Retreat

I think we have made it very clear what the standard is and I am expecting people to adhear to that as we will not be waiting around while they stumble with their cameras!

Thanks everyone!