Brittany & Mike | Destination Engagement Session | South Beach Miami, Florida

It's been a bit dreary in Charlotte lately but I'm NOT complaining for three reasons.

1. I'm still wearing a Florida tan from our baby-moon, or as I like to call it, our "bae-by" moon. (Since I was celebrating with my bae Nate and not with our baby. You get it.)
2. Lynchburg, Virginia is supposed to get snow tomorrow and the last thing I want is be colder than I already am.
3. This sunny engagement session straight from Miami Beach is on the blog and it's a good one. 

ven though Brittany and Mike planned their destination wedding in Charlottesville, VA at the gorgeous Early Mountain Vineyard, they opted for an engagement session in Miami since Virginia isn't incredibly beachy in the middle of winter. We met them early on South Beach and basically sun-filled magic ensued. These two were a dream to work with and it was like hanging out with old friends during their session. They wanted a more laidback feel to the photos so the beach was a perfect place. We met earlier in the day so there wasn't a huge crowd and worked with the terrain around us -- and by worked with I mean it was incredibly easy since it was a gorgeous beach and a relaxed couple in love. 

So if it's raining, or apparently snowing where you are, this is for you. Never forget the sun. 

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PENTAX 645NII 

PORTRA 400 | FUJI 400H 

THE FIND LAB

5 Reasons Why You Should Attend The Ordinary Workshop | Charlotte, North Carolina

Last week, registration for The Ordinary Workshop went live and a couple of those 8 spots have already been taken!! So you’re still on the fence? Let’s get you over to the other side, here’s 5 reasons why you should DEFINITELY COME.

Reason 1 | You don’t have to shoot film like me. But “whhhhhhhat? Isn’t this where I learn film?” Yes! BUT just like digital, two people using the same equipment and shooting the same subject doesn’t equal the same photo. So in film, if two people are shooting the same format, same film stock, and even using the same scanner, it doesn’t equal the same photo. Why? Because the biggest variable is YOU and your preferences. For example, here are two photos edited 3 different ways.

They weren’t even scanned different scanners - just edited according to different preferences. So come learn film with me but don’t think that what you shoot HAS to look like my work. Our goal is to help you explore and find your preferences!!

Reason 2 |  The FIND Lab. They are freaking sponsoring this workshop and will be providing some awesomeness for attendees. They know their stuff and even if you don’t want to use them (seriously, no pressure), they are an INCREDIBLY helpful resource.

Reason 3 | The workshop is a business expense - read: tax write off. Investing in yourself and your business should absolutely be a priority. I could write a lot about this, but I’m jumping off my soapbox because there’s still 2 more reasons.

Reason 4 | Payment Plan. Look, We’re not stupid, this workshop is extremely affordable on purpose. We really love film and teaching and WANT to make this as accessible as possible -- and part of doing that is a payment plan. Don’t want to pay the full amount upfront? No problem. Three easy payments of $250 will get you where you need to go. Send me an e-mail here and I’ll get you set-up today.

Reason 5 | You get to learn from someone else! Surprise!! KC Lostetter will be joining us to teach sessions and help with the workshop. She’s another amazing film photographer and when I met her, she hailed from Hawaii. She just recently moved to Colorado with her adorable family and if you stand close enough, you’ll get a dose of her fantastic humor. She’s a serious color master and her double exposures and light leaks basically transport you to another world. Check out her Instagram here.

R - photo by KC Lostetter | L -  photo by Annie Groves

So let’s go! Grab a friend, sign-up together, and let’s get this Ordinary party started

*Check out the FAQ's here to get the skinny on The Ordinary Workshop

Rachel & Will | Timeless & Elegant Southern Wedding | Gassaway Mansion | Greenville, SC

Gosh, where do I begin? This couple, their community, their style, venue, vendor choices...I mean, you get the picture -- pun intended. I’m sure you remember Rachel from her elegant, timeless, and basically ethereal bridal session at the Biltmore in Asheville and the good news is she’s back on the blog and her new husband is with her.

Rachel and Will held their wedding in Greenville, South Carolina at Grace Church Downtown before heading over to the glorious Gassaway Mansion for their reception and I loooooved how they were all over their day. Well of course they were, they were the one’s getting married, right?! But at the sake of being redundant, not all weddings reflect the couple because couple’s often choose what they think they should instead of what they actually want. You want cake? Great, have cake. Don’t want cake? Awesome, have pie...or ice cream (and make sure I’m there cause Pie and ice cream is #praisehandsemoji). Simply put, you do you. But I’ll get off my soapbox and back to Rachel and Will.

When I think of these two I think of classic - the kind of classic that stops time because it is timeless. The kind that consists of red lips and classic cars and begs to be shot on film because the texture and colors will outlive all trends. Outside of their eye for style, their love of family and community was evident by not only the amount of people present but also by the amount of tears shed by everyone; including me. As you see this wedding unfold, you’ll see that tears weren’t hard to come by because the ceremony started with Will singing to his bride before she walked down the aisle and continued with a foot washing portion where the whole congregation sang and prayed over the couple.

After the ceremony we headed over to the mansion and were able to be in the same car as the newlyweds and those intimate photos in the car are some of my favorite. The rest of the night everyone danced, Will sang, toasts and more tears were made, and then they rode off in their cream convertible; a fairytale ending for this classic couple.

VIEW THE FULL GALLERY HERE

PENTAX 645NII | Fuji GA645 | NIKON D810

PORTRA 400(+1) | FUJI 400H | HP5 + 3 | MASTIN LABS

THE FIND LAB

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VENUE | Grace Church Downtown & Gassaway Mansion
FLORALS | Gassaway Mansion
CAKES | Brick Street Cafe
HAIR | BeCCA Logan
MAKEUP | Bloom Hair Lounge
CATERING | Gassaway Mansion
BRIDAL GOWN | poinsette bride
BRIDESMAIDs | poinsette bride
Men's Wear | Jos A Bank
CINEMATOGRAPHY | Knotted Arrow
DJ/Band | Finesse
Transportation | Morrow Motors
Invitation Suite | William Arthur

The Best Film Photography Tools | Find in a Box

I’ll make this short and sweet. Here are the top three things I recommend for EVERYONE in the film world and the top two for everyone in the photography world. Big statements I know, but I can back it up.

LEFT: Dimly lit church? no problem | HP5 +3
rIGHT: COLOR FILM STOCK AT a reception?! yep. portra 400 +2

FIND IN A BOX
Aka Film is Not Dead in a Box.

Basically everything you'd ever need and want to know about film straight from the film master himself (Jon Canlas).

I'm telling you, it's the best way to learn film photography since before sliced bread existed.

These videos and 8 Lessons (with over 400+ PDF pages) take you from Film 101 to 401 and give you insight to what you actually need to know instead of floundering on your own spending time and resources on the wrong things. In regards to film, this little slice of heaven is what’s changed our business the most and I will spend forever and ever recommending it.

Plussssss, purchase of this incredible workshop give you an all access pass to the best place on the internet -- the FIAB Facebook group where we continually learn from each other, ask questions, sell and buy gear, and have a ton of fun. Read: no question is stupid and there’s no meanies. Plus, Jon’s active in the group and you get to pick his brain continually which is worth every penny.

THE BIZ GUIDE

Have you ever seen anything so beautiful that automates sales for you? No? well now you have. 

Whether you’re a film shooter or not, running a business is something we all have in common and need to be good at to sustain said business. This guide basically walks you through business basics that are straightforward and easy to implement.

One of the greatest assets of this guide though is shows you via video lessons how to set up Instaproofs - the greatest proofing and delivery gallery known to man. Seriously.

If you’re a photographer and not selling prints, you’re LITERALLY leaving money on the table. While Instaproofs does have a high learning curve, it’s a beast of a machine that will change your business and you don’t have to be scared of it because Jon walks you through it. Lastly, another takeaway from TBG is that your business should work for YOU -- it shouldn’t be a copy of whatever someone else is doing. And precisely how is that done, finances and all? With this guide.

THE OHANA GUIDE

Family session on Portra 800 +1 | Pentax 645nII | no auto focus ya'll

Take family photos - but actually do it well. Again, this guide is not specifically for film photographers; though film photographers will benefit from watching Jon in action at sessions using film #manualfocus. This info is all you need to show up to a family session and rock it’s face off and not take forever doing it. You'll learn exactly what you need to do and gain the confidence to do it.

So there you have it -- all the film photography tools that have immensely helped us! Like all good learners, if you have questions, drop them below so other's can benefit from the answers! If I don't know something, I'll do my best to find it and answer you on here. 

P.S. I’d be shouting these praises forever for free (and I have) but Jonathan has arranged for me to get a few bucks each time you sign-up for one of these workshops.