How many of us have paid for and attended a workshop we thought was going to be fantastic and just what we needed only to find out that it wasn’t really what we thought it would be?
I’ve done this more than once and finally decided to pay more attention to what it was I was signing up for and what my thinking was behind the decision. Here are a few things to consider before signing off on that Pay Now button.
Do your research on the workshop
Research the subject matter. There are plenty of options out there for learning. Online courses & workshops, YouTube videos, mentoring programs, and in-person courses from one-day to full-on train-person-day photography symposiums.
Depending on what it is you are looking to learn it will help to figure that out and find out how that particular subject is presented. Do you just need a refresher or do you want to learn a new technique from the ground up? Will an online video course work or would it be more beneficial to attend an in-person workshop?
Who is the instructor? Is their teaching style good for your learning style? This is personal, not every instructor is good for every person, we all learn in different ways and instructors all have different teaching methods and speaking styles. Search online for videos they have posted, find reviews, and contact others who have attended this person’s courses.
Research the course content. Is it in line with what you want to learn or is it something you feel you have to learn? Your attitude about those two can be completely different and can affect your learning during the course. Make sure the course content will include information that works toward your goals.
Have goals for the workshop
What are your goals for this workshop or course? What do you want to learn, and what do you want to take away from this experience? Going into the program with clear results in mind will help you walk away with a much better learning experience. Check out the content of several courses/workshops to see which one best fits your goals. (You do have goals, don’t you?)
Participate
Once you’re actually in that room, out in the field, in that chat or online community — PARTICIPATE! This is one I struggle with and learned the hard way. Ask questions. You know — there is no such thing as a dumb question — right? It’s not easy, I get it.
Picture this. You’re on a 10-day photography symposium, on a scientific explorer ship, in the Arctic with four professional photographers who are there to help you. Read that again — are there to HELP you! You’re out in a zodiac shooting polar bears, you got this, right? Have you ever photographed polar bears before? From a moving zodiac? In the water which is moving? While the 14 other people around you are also trying to get the shot? While the polar bear is moving? You’ve got this right?
Wrong.
Well not totally wrong, but if I had asked questions like what’s the best way to approach this, what are the best settings to use in this situation (that I have never ever nor will ever likely be in again), I would have come away with far better shots than I did get. If you don’t get that shot, all of the above are just excuses.
Interact with fellow attendees as well. There is much to be learned from our fellow photographers and you know we (mostly) all love to talk photography!
Be open-minded
You can always learn something. What if you’re in a workshop and realize it’s not really applicable to what you do. Step back, change your thought process a bit and figure out how you can use what is being taught in your own photography.
A friend of mine was in a ‘lighting and shooting cars’ workshop but they don’t shoot cars, they shoot Lego minifigs. They came out of that with ideas, having been of the mind that cars are shiny, curved and angular objects. You know what, Lego minifigs are shiny, curved and angular objects just on a smaller scale so the same concepts and techniques can be applied.
Like anything, doing your homework helps. Knowing what you want going in helps. With so many options out there we need to be more diligent in our research and choices so that we can get the best information and experience possible for each of us.
The photo that you shared of Karen Hutton shows how much she interacts, helps, encourages, and champions the love of photography. If you have the opportunity to connect with her in any kind of photography venue, it is definitely worth it. Her “voice” for photography is authentic and personal!
Absolutely Janel! She is amazing and an inspiration! I was lucky enough to have been able to go to her Finding Your Artistic Voice Retreat last fall.
Karen is amazing to work with Janel and a lot of fun as well!
Yup she’s pretty fun.
Great article Lauri! Some really good tips and thoughts on approaching our own learning and making sure it’s suitable/applicable.
Thank you Stuart – glad you enjoyed the article!
All good points. I myself have found that interacting with other participants is very helpful. We all have blinders and miss things but we don’t all have the same blinders. For example in a discussion on exposure, the mere mention of math turns my brain off. A fellow student might remark about how beneficial the whole “square of the distance” thing is and “FLASH”, just like that, my “event” pictures started to improve.
*full disclosure – I’m a fan of Lauri’s
Haha – Ted – nice disclosure!! I appreciate that. Good points about having blinders and I can totally relate to the mere mention of math bit! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!
Great article Lauri!
I used this thought process when attending Photoshop World recently. Knowing what I wanted out of the conference helped me tailor what sessions I attended and how I spent my time. I also pushed myself to ask questions and talk to other photographers (that I didn’t already know).
Thanks so much Wade! I did the same at PSW by choosing courses I knew I needed instead of what I THOUGHT I should be learning. I still haven’t gotten over the asking questions in the course ‘fear’ though! Still learning lessons.
Well done Lauri. Good points to consider when thinking about signing up for a class or workshop.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment Lou – appreciate your support always!
Since I have not attended a photo workshop yet, this article is especially informative in preparing for when I finally step onto the scene. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience.
I hope it helped Carmen for when you do attend one. You know you can always reach out to me as well, always happy to help!
Great article, Laurie! Great advice! It’s difficult to show your vulnerability (in not knowing how to do something), and I think you really pointed out, why it’s so important to ask–and it’s expected in this situation, right?
Thanks Barb and so true – no one wants to ‘look stupid’ and it’s hard to get past that feeling sometimes in a group of strangers.
Good advice in there, Lauri! My favorite bit “What if you’re in a workshop and realize it’s not really applicable to what you do. Step back, change your thought process a bit and figure out how you can use what is being taught in your own photography.” That’s fueled my motivation to learn more than once!
Thanks Frances!! I’m glad the article resonated with you and you could relate to the information.
I am attending a photo shoot/workshop on Sunday morning – Graffiti and Multi-Models.
This evening is the briefing to get more of an insight as to what is to be expected, which I will be attending!
I am glad about this poset, Lauri!!
Thanks Alan, glad you found it helpful and I hope your photoshoot and workshop goes well. Looking forward to seeing some of the images you get.
Great article Lauri! Some really good tips and thoughts on approaching our own learning and making sure it’s suitable/applicable.
Thank you Stuart – glad you enjoyed the article!
I am attending a photo shoot/workshop on Sunday morning – Graffiti and Multi-Models.
This evening is the briefing to get more of an insight as to what is to be expected, which I will be attending!
I am glad about this poset, Lauri!!
Thanks Alan, glad you found it helpful and I hope your photoshoot and workshop goes well. Looking forward to seeing some of the images you get.
The photo that you shared of Karen Hutton shows how much she interacts, helps, encourages, and champions the love of photography. If you have the opportunity to connect with her in any kind of photography venue, it is definitely worth it. Her “voice” for photography is authentic and personal!
Karen is amazing to work with Janel and a lot of fun as well!
Absolutely Janel! She is amazing and an inspiration! I was lucky enough to have been able to go to her Finding Your Artistic Voice Retreat last fall.
Great article Lauri!
I used this thought process when attending Photoshop World recently. Knowing what I wanted out of the conference helped me tailor what sessions I attended and how I spent my time. I also pushed myself to ask questions and talk to other photographers (that I didn’t already know).
Thanks so much Wade! I did the same at PSW by choosing courses I knew I needed instead of what I THOUGHT I should be learning. I still haven’t gotten over the asking questions in the course ‘fear’ though! Still learning lessons.
Since I have not attended a photo workshop yet, this article is especially informative in preparing for when I finally step onto the scene. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience.
I hope it helped Carmen for when you do attend one. You know you can always reach out to me as well, always happy to help!
Well done Lauri. Good points to consider when thinking about signing up for a class or workshop.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment Lou – appreciate your support always!
All good points. I myself have found that interacting with other participants is very helpful. We all have blinders and miss things but we don’t all have the same blinders. For example in a discussion on exposure, the mere mention of math turns my brain off. A fellow student might remark about how beneficial the whole “square of the distance” thing is and “FLASH”, just like that, my “event” pictures started to improve.
*full disclosure – I’m a fan of Lauri’s
Haha – Ted – nice disclosure!! I appreciate that. Good points about having blinders and I can totally relate to the mere mention of math bit! Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!
Good advice in there, Lauri! My favorite bit “What if you’re in a workshop and realize it’s not really applicable to what you do. Step back, change your thought process a bit and figure out how you can use what is being taught in your own photography.” That’s fueled my motivation to learn more than once!
Thanks Frances!! I’m glad the article resonated with you and you could relate to the information.
Great article, Laurie! Great advice! It’s difficult to show your vulnerability (in not knowing how to do something), and I think you really pointed out, why it’s so important to ask–and it’s expected in this situation, right?
Thanks Barb and so true – no one wants to ‘look stupid’ and it’s hard to get past that feeling sometimes in a group of strangers.