On the weekend of Feb 19, 2010, This Week in Photography co-host Joseph Linaschke (the guy behind ApertureExpert.com) and myself conducted the first TWiP workshop – in Joshua Tee, CA. And what an amazing time it was. The TWiP audience had been asking for something more intensive than the informal (though very fun) Meetups I’ve been running, and Joseph and I had been kicking around the idea of a “workshop done right” for a while. We had the option of creating a “safe” workshop… e.g. local (or major metro), one-day, low cost, etc., or going all out and doing it right.
We figured if we were going to do a photography workshop, especially the FIRST TWiP workshop, we should go all out — and doing it “right” meant pulling together an all-inclusive, multi-day event set in an amazing location with a professional model, make-up artist, video crew, sponsors, meals, etc.Long story short… we did it right.
The workshop consisted of model lighting and posing demonstrations in a variety of amazing locations around Yucca Valley, CA. Over dinner after the first night of shooting, we reviewed some of the students images, like the one above captured by the talented Topher Martini. And day two was a demonstration Aperture 3 by Joseph, and Lightroom 2 (and Lightroom 3 Beta) by me. Followed by studio lighting technique training and model posing demonstrations.
At this workshop, every student got a chance to shoot and direct the model, and every student left the workshop with wonderful prizes, and some amazing portfolio shots.
A few weeks ago, a co-worker of mine invited a model friend of his into the office to help us break in our new studio. Gina was a wonderful model and has a look that just makes me think of the Marilyn Monroe era and that wonderful time when glamour and beauty ruled. Gina is an aspiring model and actress…. something tells we all will be seeing a lot more of her in the years to come. 
Alison, her boyfriend Mark, and myself spent a few hours on the beach capturing these images… and the light just got better and better until it was gone. And to top it off, Alison has got to be one of THE most photographable people I know.Now, there’s photogenic, and there’s photographable. She’s the latter. Being beautiful is one thing, but knowing how to express that beauty for the camera is another thing entirely.
