MY ACCOUNT
Checkout
Courses + Products
SHOP

Workshops

The Workshop Experience

filed in:

I hosted the Sugar Shoot workshop and it was a BLAST. The colors, the candy shop, our wonderful models… I loved it! I knew I loved teaching and meeting other photographers that really CARED about growing their businesses.  People asked if I was going to host another one and I said yes… without really knowing when or where or how. Fall came and I realized that the time had come. If this was going to happen, I needed to get the show on the road!! At the same time, Michael and I had been brainstorming and we decided to redo our overall approach to the business.  After reviewing the last few years of business and what worked and what didn’t… we just kept coming back to “The Experience”.

Clients CARE about what they experience and when I create an environment of confidence and comfort for my clients, they walk away TALKING about their experience that they had with me. They also receive GENUINE images that they love. You see, the EXPERIENCE is more important than the images, in my opinion. If you can’t create a GREAT experience for your clients…. your images will suffer. So, I’ll stop explaining our philosophy about wedding photography because I could keep going for DAYS! (Don’t believe me? Ask The Workshop attendees! They’ll tell you how much I TALK.) We now offer clients “The Wedding Experience” and it was only proper to streamline and rename the workshop side of the business to “The Workshop Experience”.  And after that change was made, the ideas and inspiration for the Fall 2011 Workshop Experience began to form.

 

Last Thursday, The Workshop Experience began at 9am at the Virginia Center of Architecture. I can’t thank Kathleen and the wonderful staff enough for being so accommodating. We were blessed to find a venue that was SO gorgeous and had the perfect meeting space. Ryan and Annamarie, my sweet friends and past clients, came to model for us and MAN did they work it! GOSH! They’re just beautiful people, inside and out and they were the PERFECT fit for this shoot!! I’m so grateful for their willingness to be a part of this!! Emily Husdpeth came and did hair and makeup.  She’s a great friend of mine and having her be a part of this workshop was just icing on the cake!!!! Leather Craftsmen, Kelly Moore, and H-B Photo sponsored the Workshop and gave all the attendees some goodies to go home with. So incredibly thankful that they were willing to partner with us! My dear friend Janie from The Brides Cafe created our florals and she was SUPER busy the week before the shoot so I’m so thankful she helped us out!! Janie you know I love ya!!! Tiffany’s Bridal partnered with us and allowed us to use Anna’s gorgeous gown! My new friend Alisha came and helped me set EVERYTHING up the night before!  I can’t thank her enough for being so so kind and willing to help! She’s got a fantastic eye! And last but not least… Michael and his parents came and ran the show behind the scenes. I really don’t know what I would have done without them!!! THANK YOU!!! Poor Michael not only dealt with my freakouts and meltdowns, he (and his momma) also cleaned up EVERYTHING while I talked and said goodbye to all of the girls! He’s wonderful.

 

So I think that concludes the many many “Thank You’s” that I needed to make sure I mentioned. Really, I’m so honored to have so many people helping me with this event. And to the WONDERFUL ladies that drove and flew in from ALL OVER…. THANK YOU. I was just blown away by every single one of you. You are going to do amazing things with your businesses because you all have SUCH a desire and passion for learning. It was an HONOR to spend the day with you! Thank you for allowing me to have tangents and talk too fast at moments. I hope you left with inspiration and ideas to take your business to the next level!!! I’m so excited to know that I have so many NEW friends from not only VA… but from 5 other states as well!!!! I can’t wait to watch your businesses continue to grow. Keep in touch and enjoy a little recap of The Workshop Experience.

So we started the day with teaching about posing, lighting, etc. Then we practiced! In the cold rainy weather… but it was fun!! ohhh you two!!! How I’ve missed you!! gah! Just stop:) Loved her bouquet Janie!!
One of the favs!Then we went inside and practiced our detail shots!THEN we worked with some window light…NICE Ryan!!Anna you’re gorgeous!Love the right one:)fierce-ness perfected!Fake wedding invite that I made in Photoshop… I had so much fun with this…. it was like creating a wedding… for one person! .. instead of 400! hahaaHHHH! the light!
Practicing our “Pose Evolution”I LOVE these two!! Thank you a million!!And my favorites from the whole day! I took head shots for all of the ladies and it was so much fun! You can just tell how AWESOME this group was by looking at these pics! Such a fun day and I’m so excited to have so many new friends in this industry!!

Thanks for reading!

— Katelyn

Kelly Sea & Katelyn James

Ep. 34 | How She is Booking 90+ Weddings a Year And staying sane while doing it!

Kelly is an incredible wedding photographer who has been shooting 90 weddings a year. I know, it sounds unbelievable, but it’s true! Kelly’s success and the volume of work she handles is truly impressive.

READ MORE
The Katelyn James Podcast

Your sessions should be working FOR you not against you!

Free Posing Class
READ MORE

Free Posing Class The KJ Way

Education
Manual Mode Made Easy

Mastering Manual Mode The Simple Way!

Shooting in manual mode might seem complex and overwhelming at first but there is an easier way!

READ MORE
Youtube
Lightroom Classic Beginner Guide

Lightroom Classic Starter Guide Everything You Need to Get Started!

Welcome to your Lightroom Classic Starter Guide video!

READ MORE
Youtube

I’m breaking down the MUST-HAVE ITEMS that every photographer needs to be successful at the start of their career! 

5 Essentials to Turn Pro
READ MORE

5 Essentials Beginners Need to Go Pro and make your photography business a success!

Youtube

Danny + Megan A Biltmore Estate Wedding

Oh where do I begin? This wasn’t just another wedding for me. This was a legacy KJ Wedding and I have been looking forward to it ever since my first email from Danny and Megan!

READ MORE
Weddings

READER FAVORITES

"Best money I have EVER spent on education! ... and I've spent a lot!”

- Kara Abbey, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"I love all the lessons I'm learning from KJ All Access! Thanks Katelyn!”

- Shannon Drummond, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"I find very few educational resources worth it ... this one is!”

- Kate gansneder, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Recently signed up for KJ All Access and it's EVERYTHING!”

- Kassidy Mowery, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Being able to see behind-the-scenes of Katelyn interacting with her clients has been SO impactful!”

- Angie mcpherson, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Recently signed up for KJ All Access and it's EVERYTHING!”

- Kassidy Mowery, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"SO worth it! It's amazing the amount of knowledge you get out of them!”

- Brittany Lowe, ALl ACCESS MEMBER

"I learned just as much in one All Access as I did in a whole course! SO GOOD!"

- Joanna Krueger, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER
10 Steps to Starting Your Photography Business
Helping a friend survive a season of Infant Loss
How to photograph a first look in Harsh Light
OUR KJ COUPLES REUNION
A Lake Como Destination Wedding - Greg and Kate
A Letter to the Go-Getters fearful of Motherhood

The KJ blog
must-reads

The KJ Blog is where you get to know me, where you meet our KJ Couples and see their beautiful wedding days, where I have been building an archive of education for over a decade and where I let you see a peek into our life, our home, and hear about our purpose! 
don't miss the
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ

YOUTUBE

Join 93,000+ others and learn, grow and get connected via our Youtube Channel! This is where I'm constantly sharing new content, talking all things gear, business, tips, tricks and letting you into the behind-the-scenes of our everyday life! 
MORE FREE EDUCATION + CUTE BABIES ON
WATCH NOW

"I have invested in all of KJ’s education!

The way she teaches makes so much sense and I’m so grateful for her! My business will be forever changed!"

- Renee Nicolo

"KJ education has been life-changing

 It has elevated my work so I could quit my day job and work from home with our baby boy!"

- joanna k.

"I'VE INVESTED IN SO MANY RESOURCES... 

and none compare to what I get from KJ!"

- LAUREN M.