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What do YOU like in a workshop?
I'm putting together my first ever project as something other than a model participant, and I'm always looking for ways to improve the experience. As a model, what do you want in a workshop? (Besides pay and photos, lol- we've got that covered) As a stylist? As a photographer attending? As a photographer instructing? May 09 12 09:22 am Link really cool location. May 09 12 09:34 am Link hartcons wrote: We've got a couple, and studio as well. May 09 12 09:36 am Link Model: clear guidelines on what will be expected and what the schedule is. I don't like thinking it will be a four hour commitment and then having to deal with being two hours behind schedule and needing to stay longer. I also don't like having a group thing turn into twenty one on ones because one dude asked for one and the organizer didn't see a problem with it so now everyone wants one. Figure out what it will look like and make sure everyone knows, because all deviations typically require something else from the model.  May 09 12 09:38 am Link As a participant A well-organized workshop, not just a shoot for all spray and pray. That would include limiting the photographers that could attend so that everyone got the instructions and a chance to practice the instructions one on one with a model. May 09 12 09:40 am Link Great answer, Damianne. I agree- models need to know exactly what's going on when, where and how!May 09 12 09:43 am Link JM Dean wrote: Our set-up is three "classes" over a two-day span, with breaks between, great instructors. Lunch provided on the first and second day, with a discussion of contracts, releases and the difference between the two during the second day's lunch. A wrap up outing to the night races. We're limiting the group size as well- our permits for locations will only cover X amount of people. May 09 12 09:46 am Link No more than four or five other participants. Personal instruction. A specific set of topics to work on. As an instructor, exactly the same thing. May 09 12 09:47 am Link Carlos Occidental wrote: So more like a private lesson than a group event? May 09 12 09:49 am Link Sorry, I just thought about the studio lighting part. Well, close to specific enough. Just make sure everyone realizes that "studio lighting" could take six months to learn everything. That part isn't too specific. How about Rembrandt lighting with hot lights in studio. Or, soft portraits with two soft boxes in studio. Otherwise, specific enough. May 09 12 09:51 am Link Carlos Occidental wrote: Thank you! May 09 12 09:53 am Link Location and plenty of one on one shooting. Having too many people or people all shooting at the same time makes for a bad workshop. May 09 12 10:10 am Link JAE Photography PA wrote: That was one of our first concerns. I've been at workshops where 20+ people were all crowding around trying to shoot one model- it doesn't work, it's messy, and no one really learns anything. May 09 12 10:13 am Link The Original Sin wrote: True... it's far better (from the photographer's standpoint) to have more models than photographers... kind of like what's transpiring here on Sept 2nd... May 09 12 10:38 am Link Select Models wrote: This is a pretty small event, a first run of a concept that looks like it is going to work out very well. May 09 12 10:43 am Link The Original Sin wrote: True... quite a bit larger... 14 models and 10 photographers so far... pics and details in the MM Events Forum. And those numbers ARE SURE to grow before the cruiseboat sets sail... May 09 12 10:51 am Link Select Models wrote: I've always wanted to get out to the West Coast- never managed it. That makes me sad. May 09 12 10:53 am Link The Original Sin wrote: More like BOATLOADS of fun... May 09 12 11:12 am Link Select Models wrote: Sadly, traveling that far isn't an option right now- I have a five month old baby still on the boob. May 09 12 11:15 am Link A good team: hair, makeup and stylist. Too many workshops seem to cheap out on this, if I'm paying I want a better team than I am going to be able to work with myself otherwise what is the point? May 09 12 12:10 pm Link liddellphoto wrote: Agreed, and an excellent point. May 09 12 01:25 pm Link Well I run something monthly and I can pass along my observations of the photographer attendees. 1 - Great models that fit the shoot. That means not casting a glamour model for a fashion shoot even if she is amazing. If you are interested in attracting serious photographers they know the difference. This is also not time to skimp on MUA, Styling, Hair, Wardrobe or the models 2 - limited students. Not too many but enough that there is still a social element. 3 - Instruction. More then just class room but having someone close when the shooting is going on. So far those are the biggest requests. I think you will find a lot of different opinions on what is key from the photographers based on their desires and skill level. The key is to figure out what group is your target group and match it to their features. -AJ May 09 12 01:49 pm Link Thanks, AJ. We're working really hard on this to make it a successful and fun event, something people look forward to doing again and tell people about. I really appreciate all of the great things people have offered. It makes me feel like we are on the right track so far! May 09 12 02:00 pm Link Knocking this up for the evening crowd. May 09 12 06:52 pm Link The Original Sin wrote: Evening crowd?... May 09 12 11:33 pm Link I do not like them, honestly. May 09 12 11:44 pm Link V Laroche wrote: The question posed by the OP was NOT whether or not you like them... BUT... what it is you like IN them... May 10 12 12:42 am Link Select llamas wrote: I want them to be as little like a workshop as possible. Then I might find something to like about them. May 10 12 01:59 am Link A defined theme (artistic, pinup, glamour, fashion...) Great models, professional MU and hair. Frequent wardrobe, MU and hair changes. Not shooting the same model with the same look in front of the same background for an hour or two. (20-30 minutes is usually plenty of time.) Good, unique locations (if not shooting in studio). Good lighting equipment provided. (I hate hauling a load of lights, stands, modifiers, etc., across the country, unless I'm being paid.) Good planning - but with some flexibility. Lots of information about the format and what models will be there before deciding. Limited participation. Full model releases included or available. Within driving distance of St. Louis. (Same things as a photographer or instructor.) May 10 12 02:29 am Link As a photographer, workshops often become a free-for-all shooting session where the photographers nearly surround the model. That puts photographers in other photographer's backgrounds. Then, with shutters clicking like a battalion of tap dancers on concrete, the photographers compete for milli-seconds of the models' attention. There should not be more than three photographers shooting one model....and they should take turns, so they can be free to change lighting, poses and camera angles at will. Anything less is a photographic cluster-f*ck. May 10 12 06:26 am Link As an attending photographer I'm looking to gain one of two things... 1. Knowledge/Skill 2. Portfolio quality images I never expect to get both at the same time - in fact - I don't want to try to be doing both at the same time. For #1 - I expect the instructors to really know their stuff - not only how to do it right, but the ability to look at your images and instruct you on what you did wrong..."Teach me to see" essentially. Additionally, helping out with the individual phases - what is best done in camera, what's best done in post. For #2 - One on one shooting with models that are better than in my port - hair and makeup and wardrobe provided. I definitely don't like being rushed or crowded. I'd rather have something higher end that costs more that makes the most effective use of my time rather than have something done halfway. May 10 12 06:36 am Link Thank you, guys!!! May 10 12 06:43 am Link Our Prague Summer Photography Workshops succeed because of the professional level of instructors, students, and models. It is an 8 day intensive workshop open to 4-6 advanced students by portfolio review, working with established European fine art models in a state of the art Prague commercial studio. Being results oriented, there are no group shoots, only "one-on-one" individual studio shooting schedules throughout the entire week. Class sessions expand students abilities through training in advanced lighting, effective direction of models, concept, and compositional instruction, editing, presentation, and marketing. It is demanding, and costly, but extraordinarily productive. Students produce exhibition ready bodies of work by the workshops end. May 10 12 07:23 am Link Beyond Vanilla wrote: 1 May 10 12 08:03 am Link Carlos Occidental wrote: +1 May 10 12 08:14 am Link The Original Sin wrote: Lucky munchkin... May 11 12 08:12 pm Link A location attainable since i haven't a car and the pubblic transport are a pain ... A sufficient large studio. Good studio light. A MUA. A nice full time pro model.* Few photographer for each model present and make turn changing models. Depends on the genres of the shoot, adeguate dress and accessories for the model. *Since it's a lot difficult for a newbie doing a workshop with many photographers on the same time, while many part time models underestimate the advantages of being available for doing workshop. Naturally exist even exceptions. May 12 12 02:45 am Link Its been so long since I was at any workshops, and I didn't really pay attention to the organizational & business aspects. Practically speaking (not hypothetically): First - what about model releases? Is this expected/routine for all models all styles? Is it overlooked or ignored? How is it actually handled? How do you go about budgeting a workshop? Equipment/consumable costs? MUAs/stylists? Venue? What about refreshments? Talent costs? Administration and promotion costs? Do many workshops run non-profit or proceed sharing basis? Is there much risk that they run at a loss? Do you charge participants a booking fee or deposit? Today, what are some of the most popular and best objectives/goals for workshops? Are some times of year better than others? Obviously summer for a beach shoot..., but is spring more popular than autumn for studio? What else? Oct 12 12 03:58 pm Link There are your average glamour workshops where it's more about a bunch of guys with cameras learn a few things, but it's mostly about them shooting pretty half or all naked girls, more so than bettering their craft. Because it's not usually geared for professional income generating photographers. And there are more upscale workshops like Santa Fe Workshops and Maine workshops where it's pretty expensive, but you'll get a great education from well known accomplished pros, and the experience of it, and the photos you get are great too, but mainly a nice bonus. I wrote some articles about my workshop experience at Santa Fe. It was expensive and I can't afford to go back yet, but I could not have afforded not to go either, it was sustaining. Really the answer is where you want to go with your photography depends on what you want to look for in a workshop. Here is an article about selecting I wrote. http://www.jayfarrellphotography.com/bl … -workshop/ And if you really want to read details about my Santa Fe workshop experience w Greg Gorman, here ye go, lol. http://www.jayfarrellphotography.com/blog/?s=santa+fe Oct 13 12 07:01 am Link I'm putting on a workshop next weekend. Its for photo assistants and up and coming shooters. Oct 13 12 07:06 am Link |
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... and hey TOS... this event is structured for models to receive FREE cruiseboat tickets. Post a message at the link below and you could very well be getting your $500 cruiseboat ticket PAID FOR by any photographer interested in partipating with you. It could happen... it's happened for 14 models already... 
... is that somethin like 'happy hour'?... 
