My first picture of the first day taken on my 50mm f/1.2 lens at f/2.8. Make up was by Vicki Waghorn and the model is Chloe Jasmine Whichello.
The task: To re-engage art in my customer’s portrait making and to create pictures on a new higher level.
The goal: To shoot a set of portraits fit for a top fashion magazine editorial and get them published.
The Action: To put together a workshop with like minded professional portrait photographers all driven by the need for quality, integrity and art in their work.
Here is my story…
For the project to work I needed some real artists on board and I know of no finer art portrait photographers than Tamara Peel and Jo De-Banzie. So we arranged a meeting at the Irving Penn exhibition in London. We brainstormed ideas over lunch in the fabulous National Portrait Gallery restaurant. The views over London are splendid yet intimate from this crisp modern restaurant. It nestles at just above roof height in the heart of Wrens London. An inspirational location indeed to hatch a plan.
We sipped Belinis while I keyed the core details of our project into my iPad. Tamara said “I want to photograph naked men”. “Have you ever photographed nudes before” I asked. “No, but it will be amazing”. Jo decided to photograph children. One of her two principal genres, The other, being music celebrity commissions. Children are always a top subject in our industry and it was Jo’s workshops that sold out first. I decided to stick with female beauty and fashion, with a twist. I was only going to use continuous light. It was time for a welcome change having just spent 18 months researching and creating the Speedlight Mastery DVD and running numerous flash workshops. A back to my roots move was definitely needed. I was taught continuous lighting at the BBC and now was my opportunity to use what I learnt during my lighting director training back in the early 90s.
A date was set in our diaries for the three day workshop. We had 12 weeks to pull it off. I found our perfect location in deepest Somerset, Blaise booked our models, and a top make up artist. Luke created a web page and designed a marketing PDF. I put Twitter into action to sell the workshop places and Laura started taking bookings. The process was like planning a wedding, we decided on menus, timetables, accommodation arrangements and equipment supplies. We used every contact we could to help us bring this project together.
One major change was made to the schedule quite late on. Tamara switched to photographing a nude woman after the feed forward research that Blaise and Laura had carried out indicated this preference amongst delegates. It was just two men that wanted to photograph a man and they were out numbered. Tamara remarked ” You don’t find a crowd riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave”. You never know, naked men might well be the next big genre to emerge in social photography.
I was delighted when I heard that one of my brides (client not wife) was going to fly in from New York just to attend our three day workshop. It was at this point that the scale of the project was dawning on me. We needed to create real art in our photographs in order to pull the whole thing off. Jo with her MPA fellowship and Tamara with her degree in fine art had a distinct advantage over me in this respect.
I tweeted the quote “Success happens when preparation meets opportunity” Just to remind myself what my part of the equation was. Chloe Jasmine Whichello, my chosen model and I swapped DMs (direct messages on Twitter). We shared ideas and schemed. Chloe fired email after email of fabulous art portrait pictures my way. We had lengthy discussions about the clothes, poses, expressions, hair, makeup and mood of the shots that we wanted to create. I trawled the net and chose the work of Vincent Peters as my key inspiration for the lighting. Vincent is inspired by the Italian film makers of the 40s and 50s and that’s good enough for me.
The evening before: Tamara had just got off a plane from Tenerife and journeyed to Somerset for a 5pm arrival. Jo flew in from San Tropez where she had just spent three days photographing the family of one of the worlds top five richest men. She then had a quick corporate job in London photographing the Labour Party leader candidates before driving to Somerset to arrive at 6pm in torrential rain.
Stress, self doubt and the realisation of the daunting task ahead of us set in. I felt like a personal therapist at times as we made our acquaintance with the cottage that was to be our home for the next three days. We popped out for a curry then had an early night. We awoke to views of the sun glistening in the mist on the lake. It was picture postcard glorious and Jo was in her element. The cockerels were having a ball and the light was wonderful. Panic from the night before was replaced with smiles and confidence. A 7am recce by the girls was followed by preparation for when the models arrived at 8.
Blaise was on hand to meet and greet the delegates, split them into the three designated groups and we were off. Jo, Tamara and I had planned our locations and schedules to avoid being in each others way. I regularly consulted the inspiration pictures on my iPad and got to grips with my new prime lenses. By the days end we were all shattered. I still had an after dinner talk to give and so preparation was swift. Dinner in a stately home by candle light is always special but when it is with fellow artists it is magical. Tales of the days events were making their way around the room. There was a buzz, a very special buzz.
I had felt that magical energy once before, on our workshops in Tuscany last year. And the buzz was just as good in Somerset.
On day 2 after dinner it was the turn of Jo and Tamara to take to the stage. Their presentations were sensational, inspirational and beautiful. It is rare to have one great artist share their inner most feelings and motivations but to have two was a delight to behold.
Marko joined us on day three to give a masterclass in fine art image preparation to the delegates that chose that option. He is the best art picture editor I know. It’s fine being a Photoshop guru but that doesn’t make you an artist. Marko is both.
Over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you the pictures that Jo, Tamara and I shot, starting with my first batch on Monday. I am excited to say the least. My best work to date, perhaps. I hope you Will agree.
Damien, The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence.
To know how to do something well is to enjoy it
Pearl S. Buck
You always exceed expectations and are a true master and inspiration of the craft. I am 100% behind the New York Heart of Portraiture and would be there in an heartbeat. Maybe even a sponsored wedding version in my little destination wedding community of Savannah, GA and Hilton Head Island, SC.
Thanks Terrence,
I’ll let you know first any plans as they unfold. Cheers, Damien.
Just finished reading your book. It gave me lots of confidence when realizing i work almost the same way during weddings. And now i see we both put that experience to use in model/glamour shoots. The only thing i’m thinking now is; where does he get the time from!!? Maybe i should think about the decision of letting graphic design go… Anyway, keep up the good work, Your blog is among my browser-favourites. Greets from Groningen, The Netherlands
Stefan Vogelzang
Hi Stefan,
Thank you for taking the time to write to me on the blog. Go with your heart and make the time to be successful in whatever you want to do the most.
Kindest regards,
Damien.
Damien,
This sounded like an amazing workshop, certainly well written in the planning. I look forward to seeing some of the photos that were taken and reading more from it..
Daren
Thanks Darren. The pictures will follow plus the write up. Cheers, Damien.
It’s thrilling to hear how this workshop was put together and some of the details of how it progressed through the 3 days. I did occasionally stop and wonder during the week thinking, “I wonder what amazing photographs they must be taking at this very moment”. I am definitely not going to miss out on the next big event… I’ll be there!
Really looking forward to seeing the photographs. Also, I agree with Terrence that your writing style on this post is like a novel and leaves you wanting to know more of the story ;-)
Hi Gwyn, You are always so kind. If there was ever a perfect delegate it would be like you. We must get together for a drink or two one day. Thank you for your constant encouragement. I know Chloe enjoys your company too.
Cheers, Damien.
Damien, I had a fantastic day with Jo on Wednesday and as you rightly say the talks from both Tamara and Jo in the evening were inspiring.
A totally wonderful day and a big thanks to all of the team
that made it happen
Tim
Hi Tim,
Thanks one again. You are very welcome and I hope you got some great pictures, Damien.
Damien, awesome, awesome experience! You and the team exceeded my expectation by a country mile – so a huge thanks to all.
It was seriously intimidating arriving on location knowing you were going to be under the watchful eyes of not one but four artists: You, Jo, Tamara and Marko. All of you gave your knowledge and experience so readily especially in the evening sessions which, I think, blew everyone away.
I am sitting here going through my images the (newly learnt) Marko way thinking wow – great pose, wow- great background, wow – great light…..wow – great week.
I hope this becomes a regular addition to your calendar.
Cheers
Craig
Hi Craig,
Thank you, thank you. We all surprised ourselves with just how much further we could take the learning process. I’m still buzzing now.
Cheers, Damien.
Interesting reading Damien, can’t wait to see the results, see you on the 28th/29th
Phil
Thanks Phil,
See you on the Winter weddings event :)) Damien.
Hi Damien – I just wanted to say a huge big thankyou for putting all this together. Also not forgetting Jo, Tamara, and Marko of course. It was a pleaseure meeting everyone and a huge inspiration being part of such a special group. I hope to meet everyone again soon.
Looking forward to seeing all the images.
Keith
Thanks Keith,
You now have more of a direction, a path of illumination. It was great to see you again. Cheers, Damien.
The start of another Lovegrove classic I’m sure, and how special to be in on it from the roots so to speak!
Damien, as always, I’m looking forward to what is to come with great anticipation but also great confidence that I will be blown away with your images – you never disappoint!!
Hi Andrew,
This was a personal best achievement for me and it came about because of the team effort. You don’t need eyes to see, you need vision (Faithless). Thank you for being a part of this event. It takes courage to trust in our ability to deliver and I thank you for that.
Kindest regards, Damien.
Damien, beautifully written just as I’m sure the images that will soon grace our screens will be. This post reads as a good novel and with my glass of Chardonnay in hand I am enticed to learn the rest of the story.
To you all an early BRAVO!
Hi Terrence,
We are thinking of bringing this workshop to upstate New York. What do you think? I hope by now you have seen my shots at least. It’s always great to hear from you.
Kindest regards, Damien.