Fall in Love… Workshop! with special guest speaker Jose Villa

I’m thrilled to announce my 2nd workshop for January 30, 2010 here in San Luis Obispo, CA!

I love watching people live their dreams; whatever they may be. I’m a big advocate for faith leaping. For leaving the mediocre and boring life behind. For risking all you’ve got to live the life you were meant to live. I guess it’s because I was once a dream filled young man who believed with trembling faith that I could maybe -just maybe live out the dream that God put in my heart to be a wedding photographer. Almost 7 years later looking back at all that I’ve accomplished, all the people I’ve met and fallen in love with, all of the weddings I’ve had the honor of photographing, it is safe to say that I have been living my dreams. And what an amazing adventure it has been!

In just 2 months we will host a one day wedding photography workshop here in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California. Everybody is welcome, but space is limited to keep it intimate. We will share our hearts, our lives and our business with 12 people/businesses. We are going to encourage, inspire and teach our attendees to build a successful business that will last.

Here are a few topics we will be covering and teaching:
-Branding + marketing
-Shooting in RAW using natural light
-Adobe Lightroom
-Finding your voice
-Blog + magazine submissions
-Album design
-Working with your spouse
-Building a business to last
-How to creatively collaborate and direct couples so that they don't look posed.

I will lead an afternoon engagement shoot at for a REAL couple that is madly in love and getting married later this year.

Special Guest Speaker Jose Villa will share about his passion for fine art wedding photography and his successful career. His work has been featured in many prominent magazines and he regularly travels the globe shooting high end destination weddings. He was recently named one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world by Photo District News.

Jose is a great friend and someone I have learned so much from over the years. The way he sees beauty and translates it with a camera is awe-inspiring. Last year I had the honor of being his guest speaker for The Mexico Workshop, and was both challenged and changed by watching him work.



Details:
-Welcome cocktail party Friday night January 29th
-January 30, 2010 {Workshop Day}
-Workshop meals included
-Bring camera gear for afternoon engagement shoot
-$750 per person. Business partner rate: $1,200.
-Spaces are limited to a small group (12 people or businesses).
-Up to 8 Rooms available for Friday and/or Saturday night.
-To register simply sign up here.

Interested in future workshops? Send me an email at fallinlove@cameroningalls.com to let me know.

Check out the beautiful results from my first Fall in Love… Workshop back in May.



Here is what Ellie Grover (pictured above) said about her experience at the Fall in Love… Workshop:

“For the past 3 years prior to your workshop I had been building my photography business and finally felt like I had hit a wall. I wasn’t sure where I was going in my business and if I had what it took to keep it up. I had been admiring your photography from the sidelines ever since you photographed my own sisters wedding several years back – I absolutely jumped at the chance to learn from you as soon as you announced your first workshop! I went in not knowing what to expect, and I came out with exactly what I needed, a renewed sense of purpose in my business and confidence in my passion to create art. Thanks for being real and personal with each one of us! I also know that I walked away with a new friend, and with that, an ever-flowing resource of knowledge. ☺ You are not only an inspiring story in and of yourself, but a person with the true desire to help others find that story for themselves. I feel so much more confident in where I am going and I can’t thank you enough for all you do!”


This is the lovely ranch in the heart of San Luis Obispo where the workshop will be held. Attendees from out of town (or in town) have the option to stay for up to 2 nights in this historic 100 year old farm house. The entire workshop will be hosted here. Viewing and photographing the venue made me so excited for the inspiring experience that we will have together in January!

Marisa + Pelt {Fall in Love… Workshop!}

My first one day workshop was a success! We had 7 photographers with one of them being a husband and wife team, so we had a total of 8 students. It was wonderful to have the group small so that we had ample time for discussion and questions. All of the photographers that came were amazing people full of love for weddings, photography and people. My aim was to inspire, encourage, enrich and teach. I talked a lot about what it takes to run a business for the long haul. How to find your voice as a photographer, and how to work with ‘ordinary’ people to capture both real and extraordinary images. I really tried my best to make the workshop about the students journey rather than about my own. As I shared my story we took breaks for them to reflect on the gifts they have been given, what their dreams are and how they define success and failure. My hope was to challenge and encourage them to overcome any obstacles that blocked the road to their success and to give them some tools to grow their gifts.

Discussion time was held in the beautiful offices of the 805 Collective. Cana VP + Samuel Potter Photography were generous enough to lend us their meeting space. While we had lunch on the back deck of Novo, Sunnie Brooke Jones was doing hair and makeup for our afternoon engagement shoot. Instead of hiring models we used Marisa + Pelt, a real couple who’s wedding I am shooting this summer. I wanted to demonstrate how to take an actual nervous couple, who claims not to be photogenic, and get the most real and beautiful images possible. It turned out to be easier than I expected because Marisa just lit up in front of the cameras; all 9 of them! Because of this, I had greater difficulty explaining to the class how I help my clients overcome awkwardness and insecurity. Thanks Marisa! ;) Pelt said during the shoot that she has been studying my work for so long that it was no wonder she knew exactly what to do.












Jen Slot working it; nice form!
Ellie Grover getting up-close and personal.
I unleashed the wolves…
We had lots of incredible support from some great friends and vendors to make this workshop all that it was. These people offered their time, resources and products to the students and to me. A big fat THANK YOU is in order. You guys rock!

Models: Marisa + Pelt
Hair + Makeup: Sunnie Brooke Jones
Print Lab: Pro DPI
Web + Design: 805 Collective
Mobile Websites: Mobile Digs
Meeting Space: Cana VP + Samuel Potter Photography
Wedding Photography Unveiled: Jose Villa
Flowers: Adornments
Engagement Session Venue: Holland Ranch
Operations Coordinator (A.K.A. Hot Assistant!): Anna Ingalls

The class from left to right. Click on their links to see their shots from the workshop. Jen Slot (+ husband Antoine), Samantha Gardner, Me, Pelt + Marisa, Katie Scott, Terilee Dawn, Ellie Grover, (bottom row) Emily Perello, and Lori Chambless.

What an amazing group of photographers you all are. Thanks so much for sharing your day, your hearts and your lives with me. I hope that you were as challenged and encouraged as I was. May you continue to fall deeper in love with people, photography and weddings and may your business be blessed for many years to come!

Fall in Love... Workshop!

It’s been a long time coming. I’ve had countless inquiries from photographers all over the stretch of California and beyond asking if and when I am planning on hosting a workshop. Well, here it is; the first ever ‘Fall in love…Workshop!’

I love watching people live their dreams; whatever they may be. I’m a big advocate for faith leaping. For leaving the mediocre and boring life behind. For risking all you’ve got to live the life you were meant to live. I guess it’s because I was once a dream filled young man who believed with trembling faith that I could maybe -just maybe live out the dream that God put in my heart to be a wedding photographer. Almost 7 years later looking back at all that I’ve accomplished, all the people I’ve met and fallen in love with, all of the weddings I’ve had the honor of photographing, it is safe to say that I have been living my dreams. And what an amazing adventure it has been!

The funny thing is, no matter what humongous dream you accomplish there is always another one on the horizon waiting for you to look up and stare it in the face. I guess a dreamer without any more dreams wouldn’t be a dreamer anymore. After guest speaking at Jose Villa’s amazing Mexico workshop last November the workshop seed was planted. I just loved the time I was able to spend one-one-one with the attendees talking about their hearts, lives, and careers. It was a refreshing and inspiring experience to say the least.

After many months of brainstorming and dreaming with my wife, Anna, we are ready to share what we have been given. In just 2 months we will host a one day wedding photography workshop here in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California. Everybody is welcome, but space is limited to keep it intimate. We will share our hearts, our lives and our business with 7 people/businesses. We are going to encourage, inspire and teach our attendees to build a successful business that will last. We will address branding + marketing, shooting in RAW using natural light, post-processing using Adobe Lightroom, finding your voice, advertising + magazine submissions, working with your spouse, and most of all how to connect with your couples so that you can get awesome real-life images of emotion, beauty and love. I will lead an afternoon engagement shoot at Holland Ranch for a couple that has booked us for their wedding this summer.

Details:
-May 4, 2009
-8:30 – 6:00
-Meals included
-Bring gear for afternoon engagement shoot
-$650 per person. Business Partner rate: $1,000.
-Spaces are limited to a small group (7 people or businesses) to keep the class intimate.
-To register email me right away, cameron@cameroningalls(dot)com, with the subject line ‘Fall in love…Workshop!’

Thirst Relief Mentor Benefit Auction -Win Me!

I’m excited to participate in this year’s WPPI Thirst Relief Mentor Benefit Auction. Thirst relief is an organization that works to provide clean water to millions around the globe. It’s amazing how much can we take tap water for granted. -And that is why I am joining my photographer friends who raise money each year to benefit those who are less fortunate. In three years time they have provided 100,000 people long term sustainable clean water solutions for an average of $3.85 a person! I’m amazed to think that we can buy a water bottle at a gas station for something close to $3.85.

Basically, it works like this. I am auctioning off a 90 minute photography mentoring session. I get so many people who ask me for business start up advice each year because I love to see people live their dreams. So this will be a fun way for someone to learn some photography wisdom over dinner while supporting a noble cause and saving lives.

Anyone can bid! All you’ve got to do is cruise over to Thirst Relief’s website where you will be directed to a gallery of photographers auctioning off their time. There are so many amazingly talented photographers participating that I won’t be offended if you bid on someone other than me! This is all to benefit people who need clean water -not my ego or bank account. You don’t even have to be a photographer or go to WPPI to bid, you just have to be an amazingly loving and caring person. 100% of all donations will go directly to Thirst Relief.

What I am auctioning off:
• Portfolio and website review/critique
• Lunch or dinner in Las Vegas during the WPPI tradeshow (or elsewhere if not attending)
• Heart-to-heart about your journey towards living your dreams
• A seat at an upcoming one day Cameron Ingalls {Fall in Love Workshop} coming up this spring! (soon to be announced)

Auctions close on February 1st so hurry up and get your bid on!

A Jose Villa Mexico Workshop {November 2008}

If you are in need of a little inspiration, encouragement, a kick in the photography-business-pants with a twist of vacation and a whole lotta fun; then go to Jose Villa’s next Mexico Workshop! I can’t begin to describe just how powerful it is when almost 20 photographers get together to learn, grow, and shoot. Jose is a world class photographer and really pours his heart and his brain out so that everyone can soak up bits and pieces of his amazingness and make it their own. I have been changed as a photographer and a person just by watching him; the way he shoots, the way he directs, and especially the way he cares for people.

I was so honored to be invited as one of the guest speakers this year! I shared my work, my story, and my heart for what I do. There were so many others involved to make the workshop possible and a gigantic success! Karina Puenta is a talented artist that spoke and led the group in some be-ing exercises. We stayed at the Hacienda Del Carmen. Their staff is so warm and loving; my maid hugged me because she remembered me from our trip in September! Mar Romero did a fabulous job with the Citro Modelos hair and makeup. Joel Serrato documented the workshop with Super 8 film. It is going to be gorgeous! We also had some bonus guests; Gene Higa and Ann Hamilton who generously shared their greatness with the class.

Be prepared for lots of images!!!


After Jose shot with the couple for about 15 minutes I demonstrated my Ingalls Photography style for 5 minutes. I talked about my favorite backdrop ever; sunlight! Each student had 3 minutes to work with the models. The next day we showed a slideshow of everyone’s favorite 2 images. It was amazing to see the different talent and perspective that was represented in the workshop.


I shared my story and some words of encouragement on the first day.

One of my favorite parts of the workshop was the individual time I got to have with each student. I learned so much from everyone and hopefully was able to pass a little bit of love on to each person as well. The mornings started out with one-on-one sessions for about 20 minutes where Jose, Karina and I would review portfolios, answer questions and talk about whatever it was the student needed to discuss. Some amazingly inspired conversations happened!

Here I am hanging out with my new Columbian friend, George Moreno.

The grand finale came when we took a field trip to another Hacienda for the bridal shoot. Jose took a couple and 7 students while I had another couple and the other half of the class. After we demonstrated and allowed the students time to shoot the models individually, we switched the groups.








Here are some shots of the students in action taking their turns to shoot the models.

Ken Kienow, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Natalie Williams, San Diego, CA.

Ronnie Ruiz, Billings, MT.

Paula Luna, San Diego, CA.

Gene Higa, San Francisco, CA. Here he is rocking his fashion-red Holga.


All of my amazing new friends!