The FIND DC Workshop: It was one of the absolute best workshops that I have ever attended. The talent pool of the photographers that attended was outstanding. Every photographer that attended are amazing photographic artists from all over the country. Jonathan Canlas is an excellent teacher and really touched on the point that we are capturing family history for people. He was all about inspiring and pushing us to new levels of creativity.
THE MAN Jonathan Canlas: Jonathan Canlas is a down to earth and special artist. He truly believes in family and puts his own family as the most important thing in his life. Jon had some amazing things to share for inspiration during our time with him.
THE FIND Models: Past FIND workshop attendees came and brought their wives and families to model for us and were excellent. We broke into groups and only had 8 minutes to work with each family/couple 1-1. We were able to work on some personal photography outside of any lecturing/classtime and our scheduled shoots. All the photographers created stunning work and I felt so alive finally shooting some personal work.
THE FILM: I want to be inspired to capture and love everything that I select to capture in my frame. One thing that inspires me deeply is the use of Film photography. It pushed me to be more precise with my work and not to overshoot for the sake of overshooting. It feels very natural and real for me to shoot film. There is no special effects with film. It is either color or black and white. The grain, the latitude, the tonal quality, it holds up over decades in a way that trends-chasing digital processing never does.
This is one of the best workshops out there, period. If you love or miss working with film, or if you want to reconnect with what it feels like to be intentional about every frame, The FIND is worth your time. Check them out here: filmisnotdead.com
The model sessions at this workshop are a good reminder of why I photograph the way I do. No elaborate setup. Families and couples in real light, with real expressions, given space to just be together. That is what carries through in wedding work too. The clients who have seen these personal film photographs tend to understand that approach right away, which is part of why I take the time to share this work publicly. If you’re curious about how film photography influences the wedding work, you can browse through our Philadelphia wedding portfolio to see how the same sensibility applies on a full wedding day.
