Last week I got the chance to join renown photographer Meg Bitton in a week long mini online workshop.  This was something I have wanted to do for a very long time.  Meg's work is inspirational and her style has been something I've been drooling over for years.  I had booked the workshop over a year ago and I couldn't wait to get started.  

To start the week off, Meg asked that the group submit three images for her to critique.  The images I submitted were chosen very carefully.  These were images that I was in love with, but that I knew had something missing from.  I chose the three images that I was most protective of because I needed to get the most out of Meg's critique.  I needed to hear what I was missing in what I was trying to achieve.

After the group submitted our images we were asked a few questions.  How were we feeling when we took these?  How were our subjects feeling?  What were we trying to achieve?  After a few back and forth conversations, my assignment was given.  I was to photograph my daughter in the snow!  I was so excited!  I wanted to use all of the information I received from Meg and really do everything I could with it.  I wanted to get past and work through my weaknesses and really play to my strengths as well.  

I picked my daughter up from school and was prepping her for our afternoon in the car when it started to rain.  "OK" I said, "I can work with rain."  Then the heavens opened and we started to get snow!  Great big fluffy white snow! "Awesome!" I said to myself.  "This is perfect!" I got my daughter into her dress and was brushing her hair when the snow turned to freezing rain and sleet.  In 20 minutes, my shoot was ruined.  

I wrote to Meg and told her what happened.  She was so sweet and allowed for more time.  I decided that if the weather was still bad, I would figure something out.  

The next day started out much like the first.  It was sunny and 35° (a heat wave for us Buffalonians) and although the snow has mostly melted from the ground and looked dirty and muddy, I figured I could fix it in post.  I picked my daughter up from school and began telling her the plan when it started to get dark (like night dark) and the rain started again...  I wasn't letting her outside in the rain because she was getting over a cold, so here is what I came up with...

Family Photography|Meg Bitton WorkshopFamily photography, Buffalo, NY

Family Photography|Meg Bitton WorkshopFamily Photography, Buffalo, NY

Family Photography|Meg Bitton WorkshopFamily Photography, Buffalo, NY

Family Photography|Meg Bitton WorkshopFamily Photography, Buffalo, NY

Family Photography|Meg Bitton WorkshopFamily Photography, Buffalo, NY

Family Photography|Meg Bitton WorkshopFamily Photography, Buffalo, NY

Family Photography|Meg Bitton WorkshopFamily Photography, Buffalo, NY

Family Photography|Meg Bitton WorkshopFamily Photography, Buffalo, NY

My experience during this workshop was nothing but positive. I was in awe of Meg Bitton's simple, but thought provoking questions.  I loved the caring way she handled everyone's questions.  Meg knew that our images were a part of us, and took great care with her words in her critiques.  I was terrified when I started this workshop.  I had never done a critique before and the thought of someone telling me my work may not be worth the paper it's printed on scared me to my core.  Now, I can't wait to do it again!  Meg Bitton helped me tear down that wall that was holding me away from open criticism and I can't thank her enough. I am going to work very hard to improve daily in my photography and hopefully Join Meg again in an in-person workshop this time.  It is a new goal to work towards and I look forward to the journey there :)

For more information on booking a family session with Ciao Bella Photography please click the contact link here or from our home page at www.ciaobellaimages.com