FUNK-YOU WORKSHOP | J-TREE

Destinations

January 13, 2019

JOSHUA TREEE STEAMY SESSION

Funk-you workshop

WHERE DO I BEGIN!??! I wanted to start this year off right!!! I was feeling burnt out creatively after shooting 50 weddings last year. I needed something to kickstart my creative side and fuel myself for 2019! CHUY posted that he was going to be doing a workshop and I dropped everything I was doing and MADE DAMN sure I got myself a seat! This world is absolutely crazy with instagram and the way that we connect with people, I already felt like I knew him though the social media world but MAN I had no idea! CHUY is one of the most genuine, kind hearted, down to earth photographer I have ever met! His wife was there as well and I just fell in love with her from the beginning they are ADORABLE! Enough about feelings, more about the nitty gritty! From the moment I arrived CHUY came out to greet me, made sure I felt at home, and knew exactly what to expect for the next 2 days. We had two shoots that were incredibly styled in the raddest location. We had food, Drank, ate some more, shot, edited, talked. It was a perfect intimate setting with only 5 photographers. I have been to workshops before where everyone is shooting over each others shoulders and everyone got the same shots. Its annoying and a bummer when others take your poses, or you get cameras in the side of your shots. It’s more like survival of the fittest with some elbow bumps and hip to hit bumper cars. CHUY gave us all our time to be able to create and shoot in peace. Everyone still got to watch and participate and learn from each other but we didn’t have to fight to maybe get a shot. We were all able to be authentic and true to our styles but also be vulnerable with each other and with CHUY about where our weaknesses were and how to improve. It was a very safe environment for us all to create and push ourselves. One of my favorite parts was that he gave us all champagne bottles to create our own unique shot with. All of us made something completely different but it was awesome to see how we all utilized in it our own way and were all so different. CHUY’s approach to his STEAMMMYY goodness is amazing! I have been shooting couples boudoir and lifestyle sessions for years but I walked away from this workshop feeling more confident in these types of sessions. I know that from start to finish I can create a comfortable and fun environment for my couples and explore new ideas. I loved shooting some more implied nudes as well because Its not something I would have gone out and found a couple to shoot myself but with these images I can present it to clients and show them something they could be experiencing. LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about this workshop. We all hung out, made memories, met some incredible creatives, and made rad art! CHUY went as far as sleeping out under the stars so we would all be warm and comfortable. It ended up being so cold he slept inside on his own make-shift bed WHY?! because he truly cares about PEOPLE, not just his family and clients, but his fellow artists. We were not a transaction to him but felt more like family. I hope that if you have had any reservations about attending his workshop that stops now because This truly has been one of my favorite photography experiences!

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