When I decided to take my passion for photography into a business, I decided that I wanted to do family portraits. They were more fun than an inanimate object and made my blog more interesting than a picture of a tube of chapstick.

Around this time I also started to shoot models as a way to practice for paying clients. I revelled in creating images that looked like an editorial spread in Vogue.

When I started second shooting a few weddings, I realized that my true calling was wedding photography. The rush of a wedding day, the emotions of a father who was giving his daughter away, the joy in a couples face as they turned around and faced their family and friends for the first time as husband and wife, the romance…I love it all.

And so I found my niche ~ a melding of my two passions ~ fashion and love. It wasn’t an easy road, but I knew as soon as I was there that I would no longer be happy shooting inanimate objects.

The June SoCal Photog Shootout was held in Seal Beach at the amazing Old Ranch Country Club. The theme was “Finding Your Niche” and it featured many areas of photography from babies to editorial and basic to very technical. Special Thanks to our vendors, leaders attendees and models for an amazing day!

THE VENDORS:

~ Event Coordinator ~ Kim Lefavbre kim@six2sixevents.com

~ Make-up & accessories ~ Nicole Enjoli  http://nicolenjolijewelry.com/

~ Flowers ~ French Buckets www.frenchbuckets.com

THE GIVEAWAYS:

Special thanks to these companies for donating a few giveaways!

~ See Spot Shoot www.seespotshoot.com

~ Pixel 2 Camvas www.pixel2canvas.com

Weddings:
~Led by Joe and Mirta Barnet  http://www.barnetphotography.com
~ Models: Tony & Crystal

Commercial/Fashion:
~ Led by John Mireles http://www.photographerstoolkit.com
~ Model: Evan

Family:
~ Led by Bobby Brown – http://www.bobbybrownphotography.com
~ Models: Skelton Family

Seniors:
~ Led by Amber Fox http://www.amberfoxphoto.com
~ Models: Richard and Hannah

Babies:
~ Led by Jen Disney – http://www.jendisney.com
~ Models: Kaya, Rhett, Austin

Additional Photography by: Matthew Saville

Our next SoCal Photog Shootout is in late August. Join this group for more details. Our newest group the Los Angeles Photog Shootout will be holding it’s first event in Long Beach at the Ebell Club on July 21st. For registration details click HERE.

That’s how long it took to sell out of this “Cowboy Casanova” themed event. Inspired by the Carrie Underwood video, a group of us made the long drive to Wine Country Temecula to TCR Ranch, who graciously hosted (and served us a cooler full of sodas and beers).

I’m still completely amazed and humbled that people are so excited about the SoCal PhotogShootout group and joining this awesome community of photographers. Our next event is in June and if you haven’t heard of us or what we are about, you can read more about it HERE.

So sorry for those of you that were unable to get tickets. We are looking for other ways to try to get you to an event. One way is the launch of the official Los Angeles Photog Shootout group. Click HERE to join and get updates about our first event coming early July. Thank you for all your support and I hope to see your smiling faces at one of our next events!

Special thanks to all who made this event possible:

Event Coordinator: Kim Lefebre kim@six2sixevents.com

Hair Accessories: Heather www.bowsnberries.com

Make-up: Kacee Geoffroy www.kaceegeoffroy.com

Make-up: Brandie Bedell www.Brandie BedellMakeup.blogspot.com

Hair: Melody hairbymelody@yahoo.com

Lead Photographers  and their topics:

Matthew Saville – Finding Great Light – Anywhere, Anytime

Derek and Sarah Frenzel – The Marriage Between Compositon and Posing

Dana Grant – Finding Your Niche Market and Turning Those Clients Into Friends

Gavin and Erin Wade - Exposure and White Balance – Getting it Right In Camera

Yvonne LeBrun – Posing

Our models: Karin, Crystal, Kristin, Eryne, Allie, Ashley

Here are the handful of shots I got from the day – too busy micro managing for anything else!

The evening came to an end with amazingly delicious tacos from the Taco Lady.

And Mr. Rob “Ninja” Nicholson, the nationwide Photog Shootout leader spoke about marketing.

Sometimes, I just assume people know what I’m talking about and as I am waxing poetic, a glazed look slowly overtakes them. So, I try not to talk too much.

I’ve been assuming that everyone who visits this blog, knows what I am talking about when I say “SoCal Photog Shootout,” and perhaps you do…if that is the case, then no need to keep reading, just scroll down and enjoy the photos. If you have no idea and want to know more, keep reading…

What is Photog Shootout?

• Photog Shootout is a nationwide group that connects photographers, from hobbyists to seasoned pros and everyone in between. We have numerous groups across the country that meet every month or two to shoot, learn and laugh.
• An opportunity to  PRACTICE all those things you wanted to try at an actual client session, but __________________ (insert reason here –were afraid, had no idea how, did not have time, clients didn’t want to, etc).
• A group where you can ask questions and learn –even ones you are embarrassed to ask like, “what is this button for?”
• A chance to work with some of the industries coolest vendors –from models, make-up artists, caterers, florists, etc
• A community of people who love to take pictures, network, commiserate, support each other, help each other. I am a firm believer that EVERYONE has something beneficial to offer someone else.

What Photog Shootout is not…

• A commercial — we’re not trying to sell you stuff. We’ll giveaway stuff that might be useful to you, but there won’t be DVD’s in the back for $19.95.
• A workshop — you’ll be getting hands on instruction from lead photographers and also your peers and you also might find a person or two asking YOU some questions as well. But you won’t have the $$$ price tag…
• A really good portfolio builder — you are in a small group of 5-10 other photographers, you’ll have to get creative to make your shot look very different from someone else’s and they might also be using their shot on their website.

Why should you pay to come to an event when you can just get a few models and friends and do it for free?

• Do you know a bunch of other photographers? (Do you want to meet new ones?)
• Do you have a makeup artist?
• Do you have access to awesome locations in and around Southern California?
• Do you know pretty models and/or have pretty couples to model?
• Do you have access to outfits that fit a theme?
• Do you have access to knowledgeable photographers that have been in the business for years and are willing to answer any question you have?

If you do, then we totally encourage you to get together with some of your friends and shoot. You’ll also need more practice than you have the ability to attend a workshop or shootout.

We charge a nominal fee (usually around $55) to cover costs such as your dinner, snacks, costume rentals, permits, etc, but tickets go really fast –last event sold out in 2 minutes. We have no interest in raising the price of admission (defeats out original purpose) so, make sure you’ve joined our Facebook group for emails with registration details and follow me on Twitter for ticket giveaways and stuff.

Each event has a different vibe and theme. We’ve done trash the dresses, high fashion, vintage, a mock wedding and more. The SoCal group hosts events every even month. Our next event will be April 30th in Temecula, CA. More details will be released soon!

Here is a video from our last event in February (he mock wedding) by Nick of CraftHouse Productions.

SoCal Photog Shootout 2010 from CraftHouse Productions on Vimeo.

And photos from the Shootout hosted last month by the San Diego Photog Shootout group. (I got to sit around, shoot and relax all day!)

My favorite of the day- with lots of drama!

We hit the streets of Little Italy and all it’s fun nooks and crannies!

Lead Photographer, Garrett Delph

Thanks to Janis Foley for allowing us to use her amazing studio!