photography workshop
Family picnic © Tim Pannell Photography
I’ve been a commercial photographer for over 24 years now, so It seems a little weird for me to be saying that I’m discovering the joys of photography all over again.
Over the course of my career I’ve worked with Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Phil Mickelson and shot all over Europe, Africa, South America, Greece, Canada and most of the states in the U.S.
I’ve worked on countless campaigns and with countless ad agencies and art directors. I have to say that I always have a ball when I’m working.
But, out of everything I’ve shot, the one subject that is my hands down favorite, is kids. They’re a blast! I love their energy, I love the challenge of keeping them interested. I love trying to understand what makes them tick.
I only started this blog a few weeks ago in the interest of sharing some of the things I’ve learned over the years with others. I didn’t realize how much I’d benefit from it.
So, while I’m trying to come up with ideas for the blog, I’m remembering how I used to feel all those years ago when I was just starting out in photography.
I used to pour through magazines and books, searching for great images and I would always look in awe when I stumbled onto an amazing photograph.
I ate, drank and slept photography. Writing this blog has reawakened those feelings inside me and it’s been a lot of fun reconnecting with that.
I have so many friends that are extremely interested in photography. Several of them are into scenics and nature shots, but the vast majority are mostly interested in shooting better photographs of their children.
© Tim Pannell Photography
The “Photo Mommies” blog focuses exclusively on taking better photos of your kids. It’s been fun sharing some portrait lighting ideas and photography tips, but I would like to get more in depth than I can in a “blog” format.
Since I want to share more and do more, I’ve decided to offer an online photography workshop to a select number of students.
Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
The class will run 8 weeks. The first class will start in October
There will be a limited number of students allowed in each class so that I have enough time for each person on an individual basis. I will give everyone personalized feedback on their assignment images.
I’m having a website designed so there will be a forum specifically for these workshops. I will be able to post daily lessons, images, videos, and screen captures.
At the end of each week, there will be an assignment that covers the daily lessons studied during that week.
Students will be able to post questions and upload some of their photos for critiques and feedback. I haven’t settled on a fee just yet, but perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 – $400.
I do have a lot of questions at this time. I know what I would like to learn in a photography class, but I don’t know what any of you might prefer or enjoy.
What would you be looking for in an online photography class? What topics would interest you the most? What would your expectations be for an 8 week class?
If any of you have already taken an online photography course, what did you like about it, what didn’t you like about the workshop? What areas of child photography do you struggle with the most?
I’m open to any suggestions, no matter how big……or small they may be.
camping © Tim Pannell Photography
I’m really excited about teaching these workshops and I am looking forward to getting to know a lot of you better. By the end of the class, I’m sure I’ll have a pretty good feel for who your kids are as well.
There’s nothing as cool as getting a great, timeless shot of one of your kids that will last forever. Nothing is better at transporting us through time to a cherished moment or memory than a photograph.
Let me give you the photographic tools you need to capture the images of your kids that you already carry around in your heart.
© Tim Pannell Photography
Last week, my youngest daughter moved away from home to start her Sophomore year at college and ripped my heart out.
Today, my oldest son ended his summer visit and left home to begin his Junior year in college and stomped what was left of my heart into little squishy pieces.
What a week! He went to college right out of high school for a year, went to Cambodia for 2 years as a missionary, came back and finished his Sophomore year at college and came home this summer for 4 months.
Having everyone home for the summer one last time was a treat for all of us. I’m so glad we had this time together. (cue Carol Burnett)
© Tim Pannell Photography
It’s funny to watch the big changes in life as they come at you screaming at the top of their lungs. The 2 of them leaving for college within a week of each other signals a major shift in our lives and our family dynamic will never be the same.
I’m not saying it’s a bad “thing”, it’s clearly not. We’re thrilled our kids are heading out, growing up, setting goals and making plans. It’s just a different “thing”, a different stage.
Now we’re preparing to downsize out of our “dream home,” the home we raised all 5 of our kids in.
We only have 2 left at home and it’s just too big of a house for our needs. It’s been a great home in a wonderful neighborhood, with neighbors that are more like family members.
This has been one of the most difficult decisions we’ve had to make in our lives. Kids leaving home, starting a couple new businesses, continuing the old photography business, packing, de-cluttering, I’m exhausted just writing it all down.
Clearly, we have a lot on our plates at the moment and the emotions my wife and I are feeling are all over the board.
As part of the overall “clean up” I was going through countless boxes of transparencies from my 24 year career. Many of my best selling images over the years have been shots of my kids. One minute I’m helping my 22 year old son pack workout stuff, a guitar, design and art supplies and the next minute I’m looking at pictures of him when he was 4 years old playing basketball.
© Tim Pannell Photography
The beauty of photographs is the crispness of the memories they actually preserve. As I look at all these pictures of him tracing his growth from a baby to young man I can clearly remember so much of the events surrounding those images.
I can remember the stores we went to together shopping for props or wardrobe. I can remember the bribes I occasionally had to use to get some shots. I can remember almost complete conversations we had at the time.
I’m so glad we have all these photographs to remember all of our family’s adventures together.
My wife and I have quite a few friends that are in their 20′s and 30′s, starting their own little families and I’m envious of them. I would love to have another chance to document and make art out of a family’s journey together.
I guess that’s why I’m so excited about the Photo Mommies Workshop. It’ll give me a chance to help others get the same amount of joy that I’ve received over the years taking pictures of our kids.
There’s nothing quite as cool as catching that “perfect” moment with your baby or toddler or teenager. That shot that captures who they really are, you know, when you just nail it and can look at it forever.
Today’s technology makes it easier than ever to capture these moments. When our kids were little, we used film cameras and that got so expensive. The digital age has changed the entire landscape of family pictures.
© Tim Pannell Photography
Once you have a camera and a computer it doesn’t cost you a dime to shoot. Take advantage of that.
Shoot your kids like crazy. Take it from me, they don’t stay little forever. You may have a 2 year old today, but you’re going to blink one day and they will be driving off in a fully loaded car to another state, going away to college.
You’ll be so happy and excited for them, and yet at the same time it’ll be breaking your heart. The ultimate “bittersweet.”
I’ve written enough. Now I have to go and look through more of my “old school” transparencies and stroll through memory lane with my kids.
