Last year, as I was nearing the end on my pregnancy, I decided it was finally time to take the plunge and host my first ever workshop / styled shoot. All I knew at the time was that I wanted it to be on brand and I wanted it to be a way to express my own style of photography.
Being in Colorado, most workshops are pretty similar; an arbor outside with mountains in the background and a BOHO bride with a trendy denim jacket. I wanted to offer something different to local photographers and hobbyists and decided to bring my love of my own heritage to town. What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day (or month as I call it) than to host a Celtic styled shoot?!
Needless to say, styled shoots are a lot of work. So I decided to reach out to Mary Fabian of MAJECK Photography to help. She is the ying to my yang and had the same vision that I had. After the tough decision of not hosting this event outside (Colorado weather in March is so unpredictable) we landed on CLAY venues, a new industrial venue in town, as our workshop backdrop. I viewed it as a blank slate with gorgeous natural light that would showcase all of the Celtic details.
After months of planning, my models and good friends Jason and Loren flew into Colorado Springs from Boston. I chose them because they are stunning and believe it or not, Loren had red hair at the time I chose her (still never forgiving her for dying it brown right before the shoot, haha). The day of the shoot was like special ordering Scottish weather- nice and dreary and cold and rainy. It was madness setting everything up in thirty minutes but once it all came together, I could have cried. Nothing is better than seeing something you spent months planning come together exactly how you envisioned it to be. The little details like Guinness, candlestick holders, even the fiddle music in the background pulled together for a more authentic feel.
After a brief educational section and introductions, we split up into detail groups and then posing groups so everyone had their chance without crowing around one another. It has been so much fun seeing the different perspectives and styles that our attendees shot in. I was especially proud of my beginners, who produced some amazing images.
While I don't think I'll be planning another one of these anytime soon, I will absolutely enjoy looking at all my hard work and these images forever. I am so thankful for Mary, my amazing vendors, my supportive friends and family and my attendees who spent their time and money to come spend time with me in fake Ireland for a few hours. What a proud moment to bring a wee bit of green to the brown Colorado winter.
Our lovely vendors: