Are you a hands-on learner?

As the wife of a teacher, I hear about all different types of learning. One line that always makes me smile is my husband saying “Are you the SAGE ON THE STAGE or the GUIDE BY THE SIDE?”  and he’s exactly right.  There are all sorts of online classes and workshops you can pay for — and yes, they are sometimes inexpensive and you can stay at home in your pajamas — but is that the learning environment you need?  An in-person workshop offers so much more!

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We teach you each technique using YOUR camera, in the company of a small group of other photographers that also share their experiences and love of animals. And we’ve got a massive amount of lighting equipment that you can experiment with as you decide which works best for you.

 

unleashed workshops teresa berg photography

How exciting is it to meet other pet-inspired photographers from around the country (and sometimes other countries) and hear about what they shoot and sell?  What equipment they use and how they use it?  One of the reasons we teach is to expand our learning, too!  We say good-bye to each group with a refreshed perspective on our own style and projects and through the private online facebook group, the learning and friendships continue for years to come.

We work with live models, hand-selected by Teresa and dog trainer, Robin Terrell of Good Dog Fetch so you get a variety for your portfolio – and so you get the experience of managing dogs during a photo shoot.  We talk about dog body language, temperament, how to light different types of fur, and every aspect of making them look good.

unleashed workshop teresa berg dallas

 

Afraid to pick up your camera in front of other photographers?  Don’t be! We’re a small group and NOBODY knows it all. More than anything else we want you to be successful — whether you’re just starting out, just adding pet photography to your portfolio, or just wanting to do a better job for your local shelter.  We will give you so much good information your brain will yell “stop!”

This year we’re adding a segment on WORKFLOW – so you’ll see images shot during the workshop go from RAW files to finished ready-to-print jpegs (or TIFF files).  Need help speeding up the editing process?  Removing leashes? White balance? We’ll cover it.

Our 2017 workshop is $995, which includes lunches and snacks.  Our Saturday night group dinner at a nearby restaurant is optional, but tons of fun. We have a group rate at a nearby Marriott for only $78 per night and you won’t need a rental car. You will only need transportation to the hotel from the airport but after that, we have plenty of people with cars to shuttle back and forth to the studio.

So let us be your GUIDE BY THE SIDE and join us this summer! Call the studio at 972-250-2415 or email us : TERESA@teresaberg.com

Unleashed and loving it…

We finished another magical three days of fun, creativity and intense learning this week and the variety of things we shoot never ceases to amaze me!  Many thanks to a great group of students for not giving up in the rain and for hanging in there through the long days of shooting, taking turns and technical breakthroughs.  You all have some fantastic new images to show for it!  Here is a sample shot by Allison Schmidt. Special thanks goes to Robin Terrell of Good Dog Fetch for recruiting and handling some wonderful dogs for us. Allison Schmidt pet photography

Unleashed pet photography workshop

Get Unleashed this fall!

unleashed teresa berg bev hollis

We’ve had so many requests, that we’re adding another Unleashed Workshop to the calendar! Join us this fall in Dallas for three days of fun and intense learning. The agenda has been expanded to add a few more hours of business and marketing for the first day. We’ll talk about products, pricing, marketing –even a little search engine optimization! Then for days two and three we shoot, shoot, eat, sleep, shoot, eat, sleep, shoot –well, you get the idea –it’s lots of shooting.  We’ll have lots of different dog models as well as some dogs with their people  –at multiple locations and differing lighting conditions.  In other words, we’ll help you prepare for lots of different shooting scenarios and lighting challenges. We will only accept a limited number of participants so don’t wait until the last minute to secure your spot!  Email us via the contact page of this website and we’ll send you the registration information.

Unleashed – The Fine Art of Pet Photography Workshops – Virginia Registration is Open!

Well, we’ve brushed ourselves off and recovered quite nicely from Dallas – Unleashed.  The surveys are in and we had some lovely testimonials:

I say keep up what you are doing. You 3 are a wonderful combination of energy! There is no way that you can cover everything, but you have remained so available for further contact and that has been invaluable. I have taken other workshops where that was not a possibility. The other thing that I really appreciated is that you provided what you said that you were going to provide in the workshop. I also feel that by offering the possibility for all attendees to connect prior to the workshop really provided an awesome atmosphere of cohesiveness right from the get-go!

And now, on to Virginia! Registration opens today. You can find more details throughout this blog by clicking on the cost tab.

After much consideration, as well as receiving feedback from our Unleashed – Dallas attendees, we have made a few significant changes.  We feel these changes will make the workshop experience even better for you.

First, we have a conference hotel! Due to the amount of information packed into our workshop we’ve found the need to simplify everything else as much as possible.  In the past,  attendees were required to shuttle between locations for breakout sessions. This ate up valuable time and we felt, in some ways, it took away from the overall workshop experience.

No longer! Unleashed- Virginia has secured meeting space and rooms at the beautiful AAA 4-Star Lansdowne Resort & Conference Center. All shooting will take place at the Tranquility Farm & Barn Studio of Bev Hollis Photography. However, when we are not shooting or doing lighting lectures, we will learn in the comfort of this beautiful meeting place.

Second, it can be difficult to coordinate travel between lecture sites and location shooting. No longer! We will provide transportation from Lansdowne Resort to the Tranquility Farm studio for all sessions. You are welcome to drive yourself but it is not necessary.

Third, some attendees do not like the added expense of a rental car. No longer! Lansdowne Resort will provide transportation between Dulles (IAD) Airport and the resort for all attendees who are staying at the resort.  There are ample restaurants within the resort complex. A town center is also about a mile away for more dining choices.

Last, Don Dechow’s sales presentation rocked! So we are bringing him back for a longer session in September to include a walk-through sales session.

We are thrilled to be putting together what we know will be a truly amazing learning experience.  We’ve worked with Lansdowne Resort to secure pricing that we feel will continue to make Unleashed a great value for attendees.

For more information on pricing and how to register click on the COST tab above.

Who Inspires You?

When I started my pet photography business I looked where most of us would for inspiration – other pet photographers.  Of course I don’t think there’s a pet photographer on earth who isn’t inspired by the works of the great Elliott Erwitt.

Early on,  I had the wonderful opportunity to assist Jim Dratfield while he worked on location here in northern Virginia.  It was an outstanding learning experience for me for which I am grateful.

Another early trail-blazer is Amanda Jones.  Fifteen years into her animal photography career, she continues to create gorgeous imagery and command rates that only add credibility to pet photography as a profitable niche market.

So, whether you’re already in the pet photography market, or looking to go there, where will you get your inspiration?  How will you be different?  While I have learned so much from all the early “leaders,” I am also inspired by less obvious influences.

For instance, I love to study some of the amazing wedding shooters out there.  Those who are doing really exquisite work transcend all niche markets. They are just awesome, creative artists from whom we can all learn.

In 2008, while attending WPPI in Las Vegas, I discovered Jerry Ghionis.  To be honest, I had never heard of him. But when I was strolling through that huge exhibit hall, nearly overwhelmed by sounds and textures and choices, I came upon his booth and was honestly awestruck.  I remember saying to him “I don’t know who you are or what you do, but this is magnificent.”  I realize now how ridiculous I must have sounded to the many wedding photographers who were crowded around his booth!

Luckily for me I discovered Jerry with one day left on the speaking schedule and I was able to attend his morning lecture.  And so I sat, for an hour and a half, sleep deprived, over caffeinated, and truly mesmerized.  Jerry was engaging, funny and oh so wonderfully, amazingly talented.  After hearing Jerry speak, the one thing I decided to add to my pet shooting repertoire was a video light.  Why not? It’s easily portable and different.  Even better, it’s something my clients would never think to do.

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Since hearing Jerry speak I regularly visit his website and blog for ideas and inspiration.  I love that he is so innovative.  I say all of this to motivate you to ask yourself, “Who inspires me?”   And I suggest, as you build your pet photography business, that you cast a very wide net and look for inspiration beyond other pet photographers. There’s a superb league of photographic visionaries just waiting to inspire you!

Dog Photography Workshop – Chicago, Illinois

Fine art dog photography workshop

September 18-20, 2009

Location:  Chicago area

This is a cooperative effort between Teresa Berg (in Dallas), Barbara Breitsameter (in Chicago) and Bev Hollis (in Virginia/D.C.). We saw a real need for a workshop dealing with the many different aspects of fine art dog photography. Representing three different styles from three different geographic areas, it’s exciting to work together and offer a real variety of techniques and styles for other photographers. The first workshop is scheduled for September 18-20 in Chicago -with long range plans to offer the similar workshops in D.C. and Dallas.

Friday September 18, 6pm

Saturday,  September 19, 8:30am-5pm

Sunday, September 20, 8:30am-3pm

Friday evening get-together with wine, beer and snacks

Continental breakfast and box lunches included on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, email us at: unleashedfadp@gmail.com