If you were thinking about taking one of the Woodshops, here is a great opportunity to get in at a discount.  

The only fine print:  To get this price it must be during a weekday and in April

We are super excited to meet everyone and will be talking about bridal sessions, our business and will be showing the collodion process we are using as well as the replica camera we have had made.

You can find more information at PPCOLORADO

9a – Registration at the Parker Villa 10750 North Pine Drive – Parker, CO – MAP
10a – Noon – Andy & Angie’s Program
Noon – 1p – Lunch (provided)
1p – 5p – Hands-on shooting clinics

WPPI Radio Interview with Andy and Angie Wood.  There are a lot of great interviews that will give you a sneak peak of what they are going to be speaking about.

If you want to look over all the podcasts with all the speakers.  Here is the link feed://www.insidemacmedia.com/rss/wpi.xml

The biggest inspiration to our work is wanting to please our clients. We want them to be happy and excited about their images. We feed off their excitement, and the opportunity to create something unique.

When you need a little push for inspiration here are a few ideas that might help you.

1.  Take the next photo- I watched a documentary about Sally Mann about a year ago and I don’t have the exact quote but she talked about taking that next picture to getting over being burned out. She talked about with every great picture you take it almost seems impossible to take the next one. It almost seems impossible to get something better. Her suggestion was to just take the next photo even if its not a masterpiece.

2. Watch a Movie- Cinematographers use light as well. Look at their compositions and lighting. Some of the best and brightest are in Hollywood.

3. Go to the City- Head into the nearest City. Take pictures of lines, and structure and texture.

4.  Go to the Zoo- Get some pictures of the animals. Look at natures patterns and textures. It can be difficult to get a great shot at the Zoo because of the enclosures. Thinking outside the box will be rewarded.

5.  Go to the Race Track- Whether its dirt bikes or nascar. Take your camera. Maybe rent a longer lens. Practice shooting something fast. If you have never tried panning this could be a great time.

6.  Go to Photo.net- Get an account head to the galleries. Easy to browse galleries, in all sorts of categories. Make sure to look in different categories than you usually shoot.

7.  Take a trip to Barnes and Noble- Get a coffee, check out a few magazines. Then head over and look at some of the books. Pick up something like a book on composition or lighting. Buy it.

8.  Go to the Music Store or Browse Itunes- Looking at CD packaging is sure to inspire you. Look at the lighting, the branding, the story that is being told

9.  Watch the top 10 or 20 countdowns on MTV or VH1- Music Videos are on the cutting edge. The lighting, the outfits, the angles and locations. Watch the story and how its marketed to each market.

10. Compete in a photograph Contest or Competition-  You will have to examine your work.  Make it better and present it.  This is a great way for self discovery.

12.  Different Lens-  Shoot with a lens you barely use or have never used.

13.  Different Camera-  If you are digital shoot something analog.  If you are analog shoot something digital.  Poloroids, Holgas, Lomo, are a great place to start.

14.  Help someone- As a photographer you have a wonderful gift.  Find a non-profit, an organization you believe in and donate your vision.

15.  Play with Textures-  Find interesting things with interesting textures.  Peeling paint, Rust, Concrete, the list is endless.  Many of these can be considered a work of art

16.  Use the Textures-  Use the textures as overlays in Photoshop.  You can change your photography into something different and unique

17.  Go Macro-  Shoot something small.  Look at the little things you pass by and ignore and forget about.  Open your eyes you will be amazed.

18.  Play with Colors-  Go out and shoot anything colorful.  Bring them into Photoshop and saturate them some more.

19.  No Color-  Shoot anything as long as its not color.  Be mindful of what makes a great B/W.  

20.  Take a Photography Class-  Get some instruction, learn how others see.  Great places for instruction are Local Community Colleges or Professional Workshops.  

21.  Go to Art Museum-  Everything in the Art Museum will inspire you.  Learn how painters think, it will help your photography in ways you can’t imagine.

22.  Get a Model-   Make sure to pay them.  No TFP shoots here.  This will eliminate you having to produce a great image.  Shoot how and what you want without penalty.  See what you come up with

23.  Shoot self potraits-   Your always around, and you probably have a camera.  Thinking of all the unique angles and ways of shooting with expand your mind.

24.  Make some Photography Friends-  Mentorship, Comrade-re  can be great things.  See and learn how others think

25.  Join a photography Organization-  No matter what you shoot there is probably others doing it.  Join an organization for support and friendship.

Photographers- We will be doing a Class at Professional Photographers of Colorado on April 11th.  We will be talking about how we do these bridals from the gear we use to how we light them.  If you are interested, if you leave us a comment we will send over more information when it is launched by PPOfC.  Or you can go sign up, and join all the fun and support your local chapter of PPA.

Angie and I really believe in giving back. So when we were asked last year and this year to be Mentors we were excited to do it.  We feel blessed to be in a position to help others with our photography.  We try and help whenever we are asked.  Thirst Relief is a great organizations that helps so many people around the world.  You can read further about it below.

Photographers: Check out the link below and sign up if you want to be notified when the bidding goes live.  As in past years I am sure there is a great list of the best photographers in the world giving there time to be mentors.  We will also put it up when it goes live on our site.

http://thirstrelief.shootq.com/

About The Auction

The mission of the Mentor Auction is twofold, to save lives and change the world by tapping into the incredible talent and generosity of the wedding industry and to create better and more successful photographers. To accomplish this goal we’ve asked some of the best and brightest in the wedding and portrait world to donate 90 minutes of their time and anything else they feel like giving to be auctioned off to the highest bidder!

100% of the proceeds directly benefit Thirst Relief International, saving lives and changing the world! Add to that the incredible wisdom and talent that is being shared in the one-on-one mentors sessions and you have better and more successful photographers! So, not only are lives being saved but the lives of many photographers are being made better! It’s truly a win win for everyone involved!

303.888.9394 or email andy@a-a-photography.com

Other fun posts:

Silverthorne Pavilion Wedding Photography by Andy and Angie Wood

Dog Portraits Colorado