Workshops

Part 2: Inspiration from NY CONFIDENCE Women!

Me Ra Koh

Let’s start Monday with inspiration!

On Day Two of the CONFIDENCE Workshop, we tackle metering, shooting in Manual and working with families!  It’s a bit scary to jump in and start working with families, young children of all ages, while you are trying to get your metering set.  But we’ve got to start somewhere, and the NY CONFIDENCE ladies, like all our workshop ladies, dove right in!  And their courage was NOT in vain!  Check out how they all saw something different that day.  It’s crazy inspiring every time!

I love all the JOY on their faces!  Even when we’re not sure of how to do something or feel like we want to be so much better, just doing what we love gives us unexpected joy, no matter how good or newbie we are!

Hannah Chen captured this brilliant photo of two sisters during the live shoot.  I LOVE the look in big sister’s eyes.  (These are Natasha’s babies too, a DC workshop graduate!).  You can see more of Hannah’s photography journey on her blog.  She’s doing the 365 day project which in itself is pretty inspiring!

Marla Dee Boyle did this wonderful collage below!  She does these types of creative layouts all the time.  She doesn’t know it, but I spot them on Facebook and get so inspired by them!  Don’t you love how much of a story this collage tells?  Marla Dee is so special to the SOAR! community.  And I just have to say this because this woman spotlighted a SOAR! Sister every week for months this last year.  She interviewed them, celebrated them, it was amazing…Marla is amazing.  Thank you Marla from me and countless others.

One group of ladies used a park bench to capture three siblings.  Such a great idea for multiple reasons.  One, you see that bright sun?  That is to bright for good photography and comfortable clients. Yes, open shade on the bench is PERFECT!

Monica McInnes walked away with this moment.  Look at how sweet all their faces are!  Different expression of personality for each one.  Great job Monica!

Marcia of Classy Kids Photography, captured a classy, Ralph Lauren looking shot.  This little one has her white bow, white dress, is looking straight into the camera but not forcing a smile.  The simplicity of this moment is just priceless.

Same little girl, but look at the magic that happens between different perspectives and different eyes.  This image below was captured by Jane Ammon (a fellow Sony Shooting sister).  Jane’s choice to make this black and white, adds to the beauty of how clean and pure this moment feels.  Wonderful Jane!

And can you believe that this workshop had a retreat/reunion this weekend at Jane’s home!!!  More than half the attendees (that’s a lot of women) attended!  The friendships that are created are one of the most wonderful things about this weekend.  I can’t wait for our San Antonio women to meet each other this weekend!

One of the most wonderful parts to our live photo shoots is when former workshop attendees or even future attendees come!  Alicia Schneider captured this gorgeous moment of our much loved Deb from the DC Workshop.  After all the fun Deb had with the live shoot, she signed right up for the DC Workshop!  Deb, you look AMAZING in this photo–just shining through and through!  Wonderful job Alicia!

This is another sweet and talented friend, Christina Farrell Barsoum!  I first met Christina when she came all the way to Seattle from her home on the East Coast for one of our CONFIDENCE Workshops.  I feel like I’ve had this amazing honor to watch her life transform and blossom into this beautiful photographer and woman.

More than a year later, she is capturing the most beautiful photos of her daughters (and clients)!

So proud of here too!  Love you Christina!  Thanks for being our beautiful family models in NY!

This is some of the magic that happened in New York!  I loved seeing all the posts on Facebook yesterday after these ladies had their reunion this weekend!  I love that the magic is still growing strong in each of their hearts.

If you have a moment, will you post a comment and tell these women how amazing they are!  Your words of encouragement mean more than you could ever know!

xoxo,

m

p.s.  Let me know if I’m seeing you in NY on Thursday!!!  CLICK HERE for juicy details!

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  1. Debbie Allan says:

    MeRa
    Thank you so much for your kind words. These woman are really amazing. I felt so lucky to be part of their workshop weekend – on the other side of the lens.

    How wonderful that so many of them got together for the weekend reunion. The images show they had a BRILLIANT time together.

    I think Natasha and I need to work on a DC10 workshop reunion in the Spring. Who is up for it??

  2. Shelley says:

    MeRa,
    These photos are so beautiful. All the ladies did an amazing job and the models are so beautiful. I can see why it’s called a “Confidence” workshop……Amazing MeRa + a group of fabulous woman photographers + gorgeous models = “Inspiring” & “Confidence”. Thanks for sharing these photos with us!!!
    xoxoxo

  3. What an amazing group of women! i had so much fun being on the other side of the lens. i loved seeing all the photos on FB after the workshop! Beautiful work ladies!!!
    So happy to be part of this and also to be able to learn from you during this workshop. At the Seattle workshop we missed this part due to rain so during this one i was totally paying attention while you were teaching the girls how to take family pictures =) Learned so much (just wish i brought my camera..lol)

    MeRa, you are too sweet =D I was not expecting this, this morning.. of course i teared up!!! then to see my photo of my girls on here made my day! what a surprise. That it is one of my favorite!
    Its amazing what can happen in a year and how much i have grown. I have you to thank for that (and much much more!!!)
    Love you!!!

  4. Delanae says:

    Okay, seriously I’m going to have to stop reading these posts about the confidence workshop. I am SOooOOooOOoo excited for the one I’m going to in January but I am already excited and when I see these blog posts I just want it to be here already! (I’m not a very patient person, :/ )

    Anyway, the photos are so beautiful and I get so excited to know that soon I will be in a soaroity of my own. I’ve already met one wonderful woman photographer and we haven’t even had the workshop yet. We’re both so excited to attend. I can’t wait to meet the other women who will be there! 🙂

  5. Rhonda says:

    Amazing ladies! (and I mean that in BOTH ways that it can be read :))

  6. Cyndi says:

    Does anyone know how to achieve that beautiful color on the photos of the workshop? I love the way these photos have a nostalgic appearance, with almost a cross between sepia and deep color saturation on certain points of the photo, like the ladies’ blouses. I s that done in LIghtroom? The same with the beautiful photo of that little girl. Any comments would be appreciated!!

  7. Me Ra says:

    Hi Cyndi!

    Great question. I didn’t process the images that the ladies took, but we do teach a bit about Lightroom during Day 2. And by looking at the images, I’m guessing that the saturation was taken out a little (to dilute color), and they added a bit of contrast. Hope that helps!

    xoxo,
    m

  8. Cyndi says:

    Thank you so much Me Ra! I’m so excited that you actually responded to me! My hero!!! Now, I just need to buy Lightroom…

  9. Shelly says:

    Ahh..more inspiration! Thank you Me Ra! I missed the boat on the Seattle workshop..it was sold out by the time I finally got the courage to take the plunge & book it 🙁 but I want to Thank you for all the work you put into this blog. I am learning so much & feeling so inspired these days!

  10. Genie says:

    I love seeing all of you! What an amazing group of women you all are – such fun images! I hope you’re all still gaining confidence – you deserve it.

    And Christina, aren’t you glad you flew to Seattle – you’re known coast to coast!

  11. Marcia says:

    Me Ra…well Cindy

    Yes that photo was all done in lightroom! I will tell you I did cheat just a bit…it was a preset. Oddly enough if was a Ralph Lauren style preset. 🙂

    Being one of the woman that attended this workshop…my life was changed forever. These woman are amazing and our reunion weekend was filled with joy, laughter,wine…ahhhem..sorry and tears.

    Thank you Me Ra for bringing us all together.