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Detroit :: April 6th, 2008 (It was a blast)

Here is a post at Lighting Essentials featuring some of the images shot by the attending photographers.

UPDATE: WOW... what a great time and the people were wonderful and the models were great and the studio was fantastic. I really, REALLY had a great time in Detroit. Even the hotel was one of the most enjoyable hotel experiences in quite awhile.

Detroit was fabulous. We had a small, but lively group gathered at the studio for the morning session. Starting with the lighting basics part, we had a good discussion on how light works and how it can be modified to create different types of effect on the subject.

We then moved on to shooting in some of the areas of the studio. Lynne was great and we shot all over the space... even in her beautifully lit makeup studio. The models were terrific. We started with Nicki and Jenny and did headshots and body shots blending strobe and hotlights, strobe and daylignt, ambient and strobe and ambient and hotlight. It was quite a morning of shooting. Lunch was quick and we got to shooting for location. Our location models were real troopers. Kymmy and Stacia braved a fairly cool breeze while we set up natural light, ambient and strobe, strobe over ambient and some tricky multi-strobed shots turning a benign street in downtown Pontiac into a very cool fashion shot, beating the sun by two stops.

At the workshop we make great use of carbon-made, voice-activated light stands, and the guys really kicked in to be a part of the 'team' effect we have. Everyone learns more when they are active... whether shooting or holding the lights, it becomes a real tool when you do it.

We split into teams for the 30 minute team shoot and they took Kymmy and Stacia off around Lynne's studio for some assigned work. Each team came back with some really great shots and we took a few minutes to review. Since everyone had a real grasp on the tools, we had the girls change one more time and went out to the Michigan streets for a few more. The sun was lower in the sky and we were able to find some amazing light. Natural backlight and fill, strobed fill and direct sun effects were the last of the days shooting. This part of the day actually afforded me a few shots as I worked between the teams shooting Kymmy and Stacia.

PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Please make sure the models get their prints as soon as possible. I have sent the email addresses to all and I hope you get them images within the next two weeks.

On Flickr: tag the images detroitlightingessentialsworkshop and lightingessentialsworkshop

OLD INFO:
I am booked and ready to go. Staying at a Marriot and will be shooting on Saturday morning. I will keep everyone notified on the Saturday afternoon meetup location; Jeff is working on finding us a place.

Watch this page as we update when things fall into place. Morning studio location map below.

I will be holding a mini workshop for all the attendees on Saturday afternoon - 5pm. Let's have a discussion on using the internet to create leads, how to get free marketing and increasing business. I really have a lot of experience in this business and would love to share it. Sunday is ALL lighting, but for those who are wanting to learn a bit more, take advantage of this. Simply send me an email and let me know you are interested. There is NO fee for the Saturday meetup, it is for the Detroit area attendees of the workshop.

BTW... this is a seminar to teach you how to light. I am not selling anything nor do I have any sponsors now that I have to pitch for. You will receive a double DVD set from me and there are more goodies as well... You can leave your Mastercard at home.

Schedule so far:

Arrive in Detroit Friday, midday.
Would welcome any Lighting Essentials or Strobist readers who would want to grab a bite and chat.

Saturday: I want to shoot around the Detroit area with and without models. Let me know if any of you would like to hang and shoot with me. Saturday 5pm there will be a meetup and a round-table discussion on increasing business and using the web to increase visibility. We will discuss light and photography and models as well, I'm sure.

Sunday: Lighting Seminar all day. This will be an intensive, fun workshop. Bring camera, lenses, plenty of cards and your flash. Lenses recommended are wide angle and telephoto/zoom. If you have reflectors, flashes and such, bring them along.

Monday: Off to home.

We will keep everyone informed on this page so bookmark it if you are attending the Detroit workshop. This is the page where all the info will posted.

It is an all day workshop on Sunday, so be ready for it. We are going to shoot inside and on location. If you are attending and you have a favorite model, let her know about it and send her to the model info page on the Workshop site for more information. You will be shooting a ton of images, so be prepared.

Bring camera, flash, lenses and plenty of media cards. If you have a meter, bring it. If you don't know how to use your meter, you will after this workshop.

Studio Address:

View Larger Map

When you sign up you will be asked for a deposit of $100. If for some reason I cannot come that money will be returned in full to you. I don't forsee that happening, but just to let you know. The balance will be due a week before and is deliverable to your host. You can make the check out ($199) to Don Giannatti and send it to your host to arrive at least a week before the workshop. Thanks.

SIGNUP FORM HERE (NOTE: if the signup form has no submit button, the workshop is full.)

We would like to limit it to 8 - 10 participants per workshop, and the fee is the same $299.

Included:

Workshop Workbook with lighting schemes, ideas, charts, graphs, cool little arrows and stuff - and places for you take and keep notes on what we do.

Your choice: Lighting Essentials 1 DVD with Photoshop Essentials or the Killer Series DVD "Shooting Model Composites" or my new DVD which will be shipping Mid March on using simple tools for professional results.

Also included is a DVD of photoshop actions, ideas, fonts, and templates.

Models. You will have a ton of images for your portfolio after this workshop. I do ask that you send the models images for their portfolios as well.

I will be there as long in the evening as you all want me to stay.

This workshop is about learning to light, not listening to me bluster on, so there is very little of that. We focus on taking your photography to the next level... and maybe two. I will add some more info to this page as it comes in.