THE ALL IMPORTANT FAQS

WHY DO I WANT TO TAKE AN EXPENSIVE WORKSHOP WHEN I CAN TAKE THE SAME CLASSES AT THE UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

Most universities and community colleges under pay their staffs. I know some teachers that are making less than $7 per hour. Typically who works for that low of pay? For the most part, but not always, photographers who could not make a living shooting photos. In some cases the instructors are very burned out and it showed up in their work. Soon they found the only work they could find is a teaching gig. Do you want these people teaching you how to shoot like them? Reputal workshop companies and photographers will teach you how to succeed as they have and continue to do. Be sure to check there creds! Many very mediocre photographers are trying to teach workshops on their own these days. My advice is to stick with workshop companies that draw the top talent like Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, Maine Media Workshops, The Summit Workshops and of course Texas Photo Workshops.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE AT YOUR WORKSHOPS?

Most days are the same, some do vary depending on the subject of the workshop. Photographers usually are out shooting at the crack of dawn and the until the crack of dusk...the sweet light. Lectures, critiques, portfolio reviews, guest speakers, extra software classes, etc usually starts around 9:30-10 A.M. and end around 3-4 P.M. Most workshops will have a working lunch. Assignments are given and photographers are sent out to shoot for the rest of the day and evening if needed. Sleep is over rated during workshops!

WHAT IS TRAVEL INSURANCE AND SHOULD I BUY IT?

It's probably a really, really, really good idea to buy travel insurance! T.I. will cover you from all those unforeseen weird 1 in a million things that might keep you from making the workshop. Make sure your incurance will cover you if you turn into Linda Blair or your cabby arrived from Istanbul the day before and he makes you miss your flight. Then theres the really rare, all most never happens chance your luggage gets lost by the airlines. Yup, T.I....don't leave home without it:)

MY COUSIN'S, UNCLE'S FATHER HAS A FILM CAMERA...CAN I USE THAT FOR THE WORKSHOPS?

If you prefer to shoot film and want to take the time and expense to have it processed and scanned for the next critique session, sure why not. Well, here are some reasons why not. Most labs these days process over night...the one hour labs died. This means if you shoot Friday morning, run it to the lab, you might have it by noon on Saturday. Then you have to scan it and bring it to class on a thumb drive. Chances are you will miss the critique session and have to present it on Sunday. Now thats just for the first day morning shoot and if your workshop is only 3 days then you got day one just in time for the last day. It might be better to rent a digital camera if you do not own one.

WHICH CAMERA OR LENS SHOULD I BUY FOR THE WORKSHOP?

We do not recommend you purchase before a workshop. Go to your local camera store and hold the different makes and models. Research the +'s and -'s. Narrow it down to the one you think you like and rent one. By the end of the workshop, you will know for sure whether the equipment is really what you want!

WORKSHOPS