I came away from Lisa Devlin’s Photography Farm with a big bag of gems. I have attended a few workshop and seminars in the last while, some very good and some not. The most I have come away, and been very pleased with, is a few gems to add to my photography chest. Photography Farm was a three-day course; shooting, postproduction and using social media to promote your business. The holy trinity of wedding photography. When wedding photographer Lisa Devlin was publicizing Photography Farm she said she would hold nothing back and she didn’t.
Lisa had sourced the most brilliant location; Photography Farm is a farmhouse in Surrey dating back to the 1600s. An inspired choice with the most glorious grounds, in recent years it had been used as a recording studio so it has the kind of facilities rock stars enjoy like a swimming pool and jacuzzi and I for one enjoyed a four poster crib. The sun was shining so the scene was set for Lisa to do her thing.
The first of two styled photo shoots involved real couple Rob & Heather who were a little shy, happy, warm and gorgeous. They love camping so Lisa and her team, Jayne & Hannah created a wonderfully retro caravan scene in a field with magical extras. This was their engagement shoot and I was impressed with Lisa’s lightness of touch as she worked with Rob & Heather, no mad contortionist posing just a sweet-tempered naturalness. I think I learnt a ton simply watching but all eight of us students got to do it our way, Rob & Heather were graciously patient.
Kat Williams, the creator of Rock ’n Roll Bride, the exciting and punchy wedding blog, was the model for our second shoot. In dreamy sunlight, a Candy Anthony dress was the centrepiece and around that was created a Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz theme, complete with red sparkly shoes, rainbow hair and a Toto. We had some utterly charming sets to photograph Kat in. More enchanting photographs to take – how much more did Lisa Devlin have to offer?
That night everybody sat at a huge round table , for the first of the delish meals that were served up to us, and chatted. Just hanging out together was so pleasurable just by itself even without the common link of photography. My fellow undergrads were a lovely bunch. We are all at slightly different places with our photography but I am sure we will become good work sustenance for, and buddies to each other. Especially now I newly twitter;)
The next day Lisa went through good work practise in postproduction. How can we diminish time on the computer and produce quality work? Lisa tells us how she does it and as her work speaks so well for her I absolutely prize what she told us. Then Kat Williams gave us fabulous advice about social media and how to submit our work to blogs. Another day of priceless content, I can honestly say, that every single thing Lisa and Kat covered was valuable to me.
The idea of living and breathing Photography Farm was inspired, what better way to consolidate what you have learnt? Hang out with like-minded and creative photographers and be in the presence of wedding royalty like Lisa and Kat. Not to mention a real couple like Rob & Heather who are the best gauge of whether what you are doing is right.
So like I said I came away with a big bag of gems.
Credit where credit is due!
ModelsKat Williams: Rock n Roll Bride http://www.rocknrollbride.com/Heather and RobGuest SpeakerKat Williams: Rock n Roll Bride http://www.rocknrollbride.com/CreditsPhotography: Lisa Devlin http://devlinphotos.co.uk/Video: FX Films: http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/Event Co-ordinator: Jayne Sacco http://www.saccophotography.co.uk/Styling, Flowers & Cakes: The Tea Set http://www.the-tea-set.co.uk/Wedding Dress: Candy Anthony http://www.candyanthony.com/Make up and hair: Elbie van Eeden http://www.elbievaneeden.com/#homeShoes: Irregular Choice http://www.irregularchoice.com/Caravan: Hazy Days Caravan Hire http://www.festivalcaravanhire.co.uk/Paper pompoms: Paperpoms UK http://www.paperpoms.co.uk/Location: Photography Farm http://devlinphotos.co.uk/2011/07/28/photography-farm/Goodie BagsFolio Albums http://folioalbums.com/Bob Books http://www.bobbooks.co.uk/Wewow http://www.wewow.co.uk/Photoshelter http://www.photoshelter.com/Photo Professional http://www.photopromagazine.com/Queensbury Albums http://www.queensberry.com/
by admin
3 comments
This is a lovely post Denise, and your photos are absolutely gorgeous. What a briliant write-up of a brilliant workshop! Keep in touch. Kx
Lovely review Denise, thanks so much. I am looking forward to seeing what you do with your bag of gems! Lisa x
So am I!