Click Away 2015

Of all the stories you tell with your camera, the story of your own family might be the most meaningful. We are our own personal historians, so how can we tell our story in an authentic and meaningful way? Join Jessica Thomason as she discusses her motivations and methods for documenting her own family. She will share her thought process during shooting and will take you step by step through a personal documentary-style session. Topics will include dealing with different types of lighting conditions, changing your perspective to capture the most compelling image, and learning to recognize the story unfolding before you. A lecture and open discussion will be followed by an "in-home" style personal shoot in which you will observe and shoot alongside Jessica with the opportunity to ask questions about her process.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discover the significance of telling your family's story.
2. Learn important concepts that will elevate your images from 'snapshots' to storytelling imagery.
3. Learn how to recognize the story in front of you and how to go about telling it visually.
4. Understand compositional tools for documentary photography.
5. Discuss knowing the rules and knowing when it is okay to break them.
6. Learn how to appropriately use a wide variety of light (both good and bad).

Join Paige Wilks in a discussion on all aspects of birth photography including contracts, lighting, equipment choice, client communications, and what to expect during labor. In this course you will review the differences between hospital births and home births, your role as a birth attendant and how to create powerful storytelling images in any birth environment. At the completion of this program, you will have a better understanding of what to expect at a birth as well as the knowledge to fully document any birth, no matter what shooting challenges you may have to overcome.
Please note that due to the subject matter, this program will differ from all other Boutique Sessions in that it will not be an interactive shooting demo. It will be set up as a classroom style lecture and discussion.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss common questions such as contracts, when to start coverage, communication with the mother prior to labor, and the differences between home and hospital births.
2. Learn how to handle challenging lighting situations, creative ways to use ambient light, as well as when it is necessary/acceptable to use flash and the basics of doing so.
3. Understand camera and lens choice and how to handle focusing issues in low light situations.
4. Discuss the role of the photographer at the birth, remaining invisible and supportive.
5. Learn how to handle a birth emergency or drastic change in the birth plan, as well as how to document c-section births when you are not allowed in the OR.

Join family photographer Elena Blair for this information-packed program that will demystify family session flow. See how Elena goes beyond stiff and traditional portraits to capture fine art documentary portraits that are full of connection and emotion. Experience Elena's session flow on stage as Elena works with a family of models to demonstrate a variety of posing configurations, how to guide subjects, and top tips she uses to capture the artistic images she wants while also filling a gallery full of images that clients have to have. Learn tricks for creating an experience that satisfies clients and remains true to your own artistic vision. Elena will incorporate short videos of her in action on location, as well as show pullbacks of locations and the final photos that resulted. You'll also learn business tips for creating higher sales, attracting the right clients, keeping clients coming back year after year, and sharing your work on social media.

Learning Objectives:
1. Come away with a clear family session posing and shooting workflow that will make your sessions both more enjoyable and more efficient.
2. Learn how to pose and guide subjects for shots with a variety of family groupings.
3. Gain a clear understanding of fine art documentary family portraiture.
4. Learn useful tips on taking portraits to the next level and building a stronger connection with your clients, moving photos from stiff and boring to connected and emotive.
5. See what makes a great location for Elena and learn why she chooses the locations she does.
6. Understand how to achieve the artistic shots you want and the "money" shots the client wants at the same session.
7. Learn how to carefully select the images you share in your portfolio and on social media to attract the right clients.

Join Paige Wilks in a discussion on all aspects of birth photography including contracts, lighting, equipment choice, client communications, and what to expect during labor. In this course you will review the differences between hospital births and home births, your role as a birth attendant and how to create powerful storytelling images in any birth environment. At the completion of this program, you will have a better understanding of what to expect at a birth as well as the knowledge to fully document any birth, no matter what shooting challenges you may have to overcome.
Please note that due to the subject matter, this program will differ from all other Boutique Sessions in that it will not be an interactive shooting demo, rather it will be set up as a classroom style lecture and discussion.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss common questions such as contracts, when to start coverage, communication with the mother prior to labor, and the differences between home and hospital births.
2. Learn how to handle challenging lighting situations, creative ways to use ambient light, as well as when it is necessary/acceptable to use flash and the basics of doing so.
3. Understand camera and lens choice and how to handle focusing issues in low light situations.
4. Discuss the role of the photographer at the birth, remaining invisible and supportive.
5. Learn how to handle a birth emergency or drastic change in the birth plan, as well as how to document c-section births when you are not allowed in the OR.

Family Photographer and founder of the beloved "Happy Family Movement" Jenny Solar shares how documenting her own family and living intentionally has strengthened her ability to create honest, joyful imagery for her clients. Jenny leads you into an exploration of the way family values, happy family habits, and family traditions bring heart and soul into the work we create for ourselves and for others. Learn how being in the moment on both sides of the camera will make you a better photographer and, maybe, even help you to lead a more fulfilling life overall.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to figure out family values and incorporate them into storytelling and portrait sessions.
2. Discover how to document family traditions beautifully and authentically.
3. Understand how documenting your own family story helps your clients connect with you.

It is no coincidence that you were given the gift and calling to be a photographer. There are stories to share that only you know how to tell. So often, however, we become so bound by the expectations and experiences of others, that we forget why we came to art in the first place. This is where Michelle Gardella comes in. As a photographer and writer she is brave and unapologetically honest, and as a teacher, even more so. She stands for the preservation of truthful and meaningful photography, and devotes her creative journey to ensuring women's stories are not silenced; including her own. Passionate, funny, and most likely with references to early 90s rap songs, Michelle's program will serve to remind the modern day photographer what this is really all about, after all.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn to use photography as metaphor.
2. Be attentive to the flow of inspiration in your own true story; learn to turn off the noise and comparisons.
3 Make real photographs with depth and meaning.

Join family photographer Elena Blair for this information-packed program that will demystify family session flow. See how Elena goes beyond stiff and traditional portraits to capture fine art documentary portraits that are full of connection and emotion. Experience Elena's session flow on stage as Elena works with a family of models to demonstrate a variety of posing configurations, how to guide subjects, and top tips she uses to capture the artistic images she wants while also filling a gallery full of images that clients have to have. Learn tricks for creating an experience that satisfies clients and remains true to your own artistic vision. Elena will incorporate short videos of her in action on location, as well as show pullbacks of locations and the final photos that resulted. You'll also learn business tips for creating higher sales, attracting the right clients, keeping clients coming back year after year, and sharing your work on social media.

Learning Objectives:
1. Come away with a clear family session posing and shooting workflow that will make your sessions both more enjoyable and more efficient.
2. Learn how to pose and guide subjects for shots with a variety of family groupings.
3. Gain a clear understanding of fine art documentary family portraiture.
4. Learn useful tips on taking portraits to the next level and building a stronger connection with your clients, moving photos from stiff and boring to connected and emotive.
5. See what makes a great location for Elena and learn why she chooses the locations she does.
6. Understand how to achieve the artistic shots you want and the "money" shots the client wants at the same session.
7. Learn how to carefully select the images you share in your portfolio and on social media to attract the right clients.

This class is for photographers interested in capturing authentic, un-posed moments in the lives of clients, family and friends. Lauren Mitchell will share her approach to photographing families in-home or at a location that is part of their everyday lives. She will also help you do a little (or a lot) of soul searching to go beyond the surface -- to find your "why" -- in order to connect to clients on a deeper, more meaningful level. This program will include an information-packed discussion on the "hows" and "whys" of storytelling photography, followed by first-hand shooting and participating in an on-location family session.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to shoot from the heart - know your "why" and access the tools to discover it.
2. Discover beauty in the everyday and mundane. Embrace imperfections and let go of expectations.
3. Learn how to connect with your clients prior to the session to be able to tell their story in the most authentic way possible; understand why talking in person is the key to having a better session.
4. Learn how to compose a photograph in order to tell a more captivating story: create visual depth, frame your subject, anticipate the right moment, shoot from all angles, capture the details, and when to shoot close and when to get the bigger picture.
5. Receive tips for working with families during the shoot, such as knowing how to put them at ease, knowing when to photograph and when to put the camera down, directing families to activities without posing or manipulating a scene, and working with artificial light when natural light isn't possible.
6. Discuss how to cull and edit to be able to get to the essence of the client's shoot.

Family Photographer and founder of the beloved "Happy Family Movement" Jenny Solar shares how documenting her own family and living intentionally has strengthened her ability to create honest, joyful imagery for her clients. Jenny leads you into an exploration of the way family values, happy family habits, and family traditions bring heart and soul into the work we create for ourselves and for others. Learn how being in the moment on both sides of the camera will make you a better photographer and, maybe, even help you to lead a more fulfilling life overall.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to figure out family values and incorporate them into storytelling and portrait sessions.
2. Discover how to document family traditions beautifully and authentically.
3. Understand how documenting your own family story helps your clients connect with you.

Of all the stories you tell with your camera, the story of your own family might be the most meaningful. We are our own personal historians, so how can we tell our story in an authentic and meaningful way? Join Jessica Thomason as she discusses her motivations and methods for documenting her own family, talks through her thought process during shooting and takes you step by step through a personal documentary-style session. Topics will include dealing with different types of lighting conditions, changing your perspective to capture the most compelling image, and learning to recognize the story unfolding before you. A lecture and open discussion will be followed by an "in-home" style personal shoot in which you will observe and shoot alongside Jessica with the opportunity to ask questions about her process.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discover the significance of telling your family's story.
2. Learn important concepts that will elevate your images from 'snapshots' to storytelling imagery.
3. Learn how to recognize the story in front of you and how to go about telling it visually.
4. Understand compositional tools for documentary photography.
5. Discuss knowing the rules and knowing when it is okay to break them.
6. Learn how to appropriately use a wide variety of light (both good and bad).

Lesley is sponsored by Color Inc
http://www.colorincprolab.com/

When traveling, you have a unique opportunity as a photographer to write a visual novel. Thousands of snapshots are collected all over the world each day with no real relevance to the moment or the place. What sets a travel photographer apart from everyone else? The photographer helps the location come alive through the images, makes you feel, and introduces you to new things you haven't seen before. Join Lesley Martin in this Golden Hour Shooting Experience to capture San Antonio through your lens and create your own story.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn what Lesley carries as a travel photographer and why.
2. Discussion on rules, laws, and being sensitive to people.
3. Learn what to shoot and why.
4. Learn how to create a photographic story.
5. Learn a different perspective on shooting on the go.

This Golden Hour Shooting Experience will take place at La Villita Historic Arts Village (just a short walk from the Marriott Rivercenter). Located on the south bank of the San Antonio River, La Villita Historic Arts Village was one of San Antonio’s first neighborhoods. It was originally a settlement of primitive huts for the Spanish soldiers stationed at the Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo). In 1939, as ground broke on the San Antonio River Walk development, city leaders acted to preserve this colorful part of San Antonio’s history.

Today La Villita is a thriving art community that houses several shops, galleries, and cafes with a wonderful ambiance in the evening. It also gives you great river access at one of the widest points of the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk. You’ll find several opportunities to capture color — many of the buildings have interesting walls/trim allowing for great framing opportunities and striking color palettes. You’ll likely have the feeling that you are in a small village with the tree- and shop-lined paths.
http://lavillita.com/

Tracy is sponsored by Miller's Professional Imaging
http://www.millerslab.com

Canon is the host of this Golden Hour Shooting Experience program.  
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/home. Tracy uses a Canon 5D Mark III and Canon lenses including: 85mm f/1.2L, 50mm f/1.2L, 100mm f/2.8L Macro, 8-15mm f/4L.

Working with siblings can be challenging, so join Tracy Sweeney for this interactive program where she will simplify sibling interaction. Tracy will demonstrate how she interacts with young children to draw out natural emotion and expression from siblings. Tracy brings her education experience as a classroom teacher and education professor for many years to the photography field, where she is able to direct children in a way that is natural and fun, with the goal of capturing natural sibling interactions parents will treasure. In this Golden Hour Shooting Experience you will have the opportunity to photograph children with Tracy to help direct and guide you.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to interact with children to draw out natural emotion.
2. Learn how to pose siblings simply so that they are comfortable with each other, creating images that parents will buy.
3. Learn how to stylize siblings in various contexts to craft interesting images.

This Golden Hour Shooting Experience will take place at the Alamo (just a short walk from the Marriott Rivercenter). Established in 1724 as Mission San Antonio de Valero – the first mission in San Antonio – the Alamo is known as the "Shrine of Texas Liberty" and is the number one tourist destination in Texas.  

The Alamo has two distinct features— the buildings/walls and the lush greenery. Access to the buildings and walls is fairly easy from outside the Alamo itself or at several points inside the gates. The greenery provides full or partial coverage, allowing you to play with the amount of natural light as well as the direction. Even though you’ll be able to see other photographers due to the layout of the Alamo, you’ll find that creative use of the greenery can give a very private, or “Secret Garden,” feel to your images. There are several benches at a number of places within the walls. If you head outside the gates, you’ll find a bigger common area and more bright, unobstructed sunlight. The Alamo has been reserved for Click Away on this evening, so you won't have to work around public visitors if you plan to remain inside the gates near the Alamo gardens.
http://www.thealamo.org/

It is no coincidence that you were given the gift and calling to be a photographer. There are stories to share that only you know how to tell. So often, however, we become so bound by the expectations and experiences of others, that we forget why we came to art in the first place. This is where Michelle Gardella comes in. As a photographer and writer she is brave and unapologetically honest, and as a teacher, even more so. She stands for the preservation of truthful and meaningful photography, and devotes her creative journey to ensuring women's stories are not silenced; including her own. Passionate, funny, and most likely with references to early 90s rap songs, Michelle's program will serve to remind the modern day photographer what this is really all about, after all.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn to use photography as metaphor.
2. Be attentive to the flow of inspiration in your own true story; learn to turn off the noise and comparisons.
3 Make real photographs with depth and meaning.

This class is for photographers interested in capturing authentic, un-posed moments in the lives of clients, family and friends. Lauren Mitchell will share her approach to photographing families in-home or at a location that is part of their everyday lives. She will also help you do a little (or a lot) of soul searching to go beyond the surface -- to find your "why" -- in order to connect to clients on a deeper, more meaningful level. This program will include an information-packed discussion on the "hows" and "whys" of storytelling photography, followed by first-hand shooting and participating in an on-location family session.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to shoot from the heart - know your "why" and access the tools to discover it.
2. Discover beauty in the everyday and mundane. Embrace imperfections and let go of expectations.
3. Learn how to connect with your clients prior to the session to be able to tell their story in the most authentic way possible; understand why talking in person is the key to having a better session.
4. Learn how to compose a photograph in order to tell a more captivating story: create visual depth, frame your subject, anticipate the right moment, shoot from all angles, capture the details, and when to shoot close and when to get the bigger picture.
5. Receive tips for working with families during the shoot, such as knowing how to put them at ease, knowing when to photograph and when to put the camera down, directing families to activities without posing or manipulating a scene, and working with artificial light when natural light isn't possible.
6. Discuss how to cull and edit to be able to get to the essence of the client's shoot.

This field trip is sponsored by Miller's Professional Imaging
http://www.millerslab.com

Join us on this field trip to see one of the country's few National Parks within an urban setting, the San Antonio Missions!
http://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/sanjose.htm
http://www.nps.gov/saan/planyourvisit/concepcion.htm

Our first stop on this field trip will allow you to explore the largest and most restored of the Missions, Mission San Jose. Established in 1720, and known as the "Queen of the Missions," San Jose is the showpiece of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and tells the early story of San Antonio and European expansion in the New World. The grounds of Mission San Jose includes a large 6 acre walled courtyard, the Mission San Jose Church, modern visitors center, and large open space surrounding the Mission.

For our second stop on this field trip, we will visit Mission Concepcion which includes a stone church that was dedicated in 1755, and appears very much as it did over two centuries ago. It stands proudly as the oldest unrestored stone church in America. You will find limitless shooting opportunities at these scenic and historic locations.

Seating/Participation is limited.

SCHEDULE:
2:30 pm - Bus Departure from the Marriott Rivercenter
15 minute drive to Mission San Jose (approx.)
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm - Time on-site at Mission San Jose (approx.)
10 minute drive to Mission Concepción (approx.)
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Time on-site at Mission Concepción (approx.)
5:15 pm - Return arrival back at the Marriott Rivercenter (approx.)

PRICE:  $32

*No refunds are permitted because transportation must be arranged in advance, but you can sell and transfer your ticket to another attendee.

SIGN-UP:

-- Field Trip is Sold Out --