(This is more of a personal blog entry, so do feel free to just scroll through to the end to see the final images for the mini-shoot we had on the day!)
So at the end of last year I entered an online competition to win a place on one of Emma Case’s wedding photography workshops. To to enter you had to submit up to 10 images for an online portfolio, then Emma judged them after the closing date and chose 10 people to attend one of her workshops (something I’d have loved to go on before as I’ve always admired Emma’s work but just hadn’t got the budget for). I actually found out I’d won one of the places the morning my Nana passed away in December, so just couldn’t find it in me to feel proud of myself or get excited about it. I had even wondered if I’d feel up to going at all, but by January I had managed to make myself think differently, knowing Nana would have wanted me to go as she had always been so encouraging of my art and photography, I started to get excited about the workshop.
So on Tuesday night I set my alarm (5:30am, eek!!) to get up for my first train.
So at the end of last year I entered an online competition to win a place on one of Emma Case’s wedding photography workshops. To to enter you had to submit up to 10 images for an online portfolio, then Emma judged them after the closing date and chose 10 people to attend one of her workshops (something I’d have loved to go on before as I’ve always admired Emma’s work but just hadn’t got the budget for). I actually found out I’d won one of the places the morning my Nana passed away in December, so just couldn’t find it in me to feel proud of myself or get excited about it. I had even wondered if I’d feel up to going at all, but by January I had managed to make myself think differently, knowing Nana would have wanted me to go as she had always been so encouraging of my art and photography, I started to get excited about the workshop.
So on Tuesday night I set my alarm (5:30am, eek!!) to get up for my first train.
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I managed to get myself out of bed pretty much as soon as the alarm went off on Wednesday morning(it’s always so much easier when you know you have to get up for something fun isn’t it?). Unsurprisingly it was pitch black on as I made my way to the station for train 1 of 3 for the day, urgh, but it was alright ’cause I was going somewhere awesome and had reading material (the latest issue of Empire).
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By the time I’d got to St Pancras it was daylight (woohoo!), then I just needed to hop on the tube over to London Bridge and make my way to the IdeasTap Headquarters (the company that had run the competition and where the workshop was being held).
I was the first one there so had a bit of waiting downstairs, but when we were all there, and they were ready for us upstairs, we made our way up to meet Emma and her husband, and business partner, Pete. She greeted us all with a big hug and we were treated to croissants and hot drinks while the last minute preparations/technical problems were sorted. They both instantly came across as such friendly people, and everyone else on the workshop seemed lovely too so it was obvious it was going to be a really cool day with like-minded people.
I was the first one there so had a bit of waiting downstairs, but when we were all there, and they were ready for us upstairs, we made our way up to meet Emma and her husband, and business partner, Pete. She greeted us all with a big hug and we were treated to croissants and hot drinks while the last minute preparations/technical problems were sorted. They both instantly came across as such friendly people, and everyone else on the workshop seemed lovely too so it was obvious it was going to be a really cool day with like-minded people.
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It was great to be around lots of other young people in the same boat, passionate about what they do and keen to learn how to do their absolute best.
Emma was really inspirational. She talked with such enthusiasm, honesty, and emotion about photography that her love for it showed in every word. Both of them have clearly worked so hard to get to where they are today and really deserve it. The workshop itself was a real privilege to be a part of. It wasn’t so much about the practical/technical side of photography, but the more important part, putting your heart into it. |
After our initial morning talk, we had a lunch break, then started our afternoon following Emma on a couples shoot to get a feel for how she works and learnt a few more tips on the practical side of things. The models for the day just so happened to be Kat from Rock N’ Roll Bride and her husband Gareth.
We were invited to snap away ourselves as though as second-shooter whilst Emma worked, then there was the opportunity to direct some poses ourselves afterwards. Here are some of the images I took during the shoot.
Some pictures with me on caught by fellow workshop attendees Nikki Cooper and Katy Mutch….
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Then it was back to the workshop room for the final couple of hours.
I left the workshop having shared lots of smiles and even some tears, but most of all feeling so excited for my next wedding, and with a whole heap of new motivation. Not to mention with a new level of respect and admiration for Emma and Pete and how they work, what beautiful people. I could relate to everything that was said and completely knew where they were coming from, I just hope I can bring as much sentiment and honesty to each one of my shots as they do. It’s not just photography, it’s the opportunity to connect with people and capture some incredibly precious moments in someone’s life.
