Yesterday, I held my very first HTP Mentoring Workshop! I have been working for weeks (and planning for months!) about this workshop and I was SOOO excited to work with and mentor so many aspiring photographers! (Seriously…I was SO excited. Trying to fall asleep on Friday night was like trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve…it wasn’t happenin’.)

I had the absolute pleasure of mentoring 7 amazing, talented, beautiful and determined young photographers! The workshop began at 11am and we all gathered together in the living room and got to know each other! Each attendee received an HTP t-shirt, notebook (with an aqua pen!) and a folder of information to take home with them so that they could reference it later! From 11-1pm, I presented a powerpoint and taught the girls all about how to use their cameras in manual, build their portfolios, gain clients and kick start their very own businesses! I also went through an entire workflow demonstration to show them how I get the photos from my camera to my clients-and everything in between! I also taught them all about the Shoot & Share method of photography and why it is the best option 😉

At 1:00pm, all of the girls shared a meal together (Ledo’s pizza obviously, what could be better?) and drank from some pretty awesome aqua mason jars 😉 While they shared a meal, I snuck out and helped put the final touches on the surprise styled shoot! The girls came into the workshop having no idea what the theme of the shoot would be and I was SO excited to reveal it to them because I have been putting it together for weeks! At 1:30pm, we all headed outside and the girls put what they had learned into action! They used their cameras in manual (some for the first time!) as I walked them through posing, lighting and how to make your clients comfortable during a session! These girls got some stellar photos and did a fabulous job! It was so amazing to work with all of them and I am SO thankful that they all took a leap of faith by attending my very first workshop 🙂

I also wanted to say a HUGE thank you to my mom for helping me put it all together and letting me take over her newly-decorated living room for the day, to Brandon for being by my side throughout the day helping and getting most of the fabulous behind the scenes shots from the post (and helping me teach how to pose couples by being a live model), to Allye Lagiovane for being absolutely fabulous and doing the hair and makeup for the styled shoot and to the three models (Stephany, Madi and Rachel) for volunteering their time and being down right beautiful!

This workshop was only for girls ages 14-19…I’m considering hosting another workshop this summer for all ages! If you’d be interested, feel free to shoot me an email at hopetaylorphotography@hotmail.com with the subject “Summer Workshop” and I’ll be more than happy to send you more info as I plan out the details!

Enjoy some behind the scenes shots from my very first workshop and styled shoot! Leave these girls some love in the comments section below 🙂

Seriously..how adorable are these mason jars?!

Work it Allye!

Ugh…these colors remind me of spring!! Can’t wait for warmer weather!

Each attendee also received some brand new headshots! How gorgeous are they?!

Yes…I am in fact the only one with my eyes half closed in this picture…but everyone else looks gorgeous so I posted it anyway! Had such a great time with all of you!!