I've always heard that if you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best...
Let. me. tell. you.
I booked a mentoring session with Tina Wrona, an AMAZING lifestyle photographer out of Pinehurst, North Carolina. I actually stumbled upon her "Tina Time Mentoring" blog by Googling "photography mentoring". I've done the group thing; now I'm ready for the one-on-one interaction, intimate learning experience where it's all about me achieving my goals as a professional photographer.
Wow. She blew me away.
I walked in with my two bags of equipment - I brought all of my lenses, accessories, and even my tripod. I actually expected for her to be kinda impressed of how much I've invested in my inventory and give me suggestions for other things I'm going to need. She pulls out her equipment - a Canon body and 85mm f/1.8 lens. Yep, that's it.
It honestly took me a second to completely grasp the realization that you can get amazing photography without all of the doo-dads and whatnots that I read and heard from others that I needed. I even felt sick for a moment when I added up my tab of purchased lenses - I honestly carry a small fortune in my bags. What she said next nearly sent me spiraling into a panic attack: "Try using only your 50mm f/1.4 today, and no flash." TOTALLY out of my comfort zone, but I willed to try.
After learning some awesome natural lighting tips and marketing ideas, we got down to business and starting prepping for this AMAZING 1930s era photo shoot Tina had set up for us. She had arranged for us to photograph 2 fully decked out models with hair & makeup in vintage clothes at an older colonial home with props galore - even a classic car! I have always dreamed of creating a magnificent set like she had done for us that day, but couldn't fathom how much something like cost and how to price myself accordingly. Once again, she blew me away - everything was borrowed. She didn't have to pay a penny. Everything I asked her about getting the props, dresses, house & car - she gave me the same answer: "All I did was ask!" The saying, "It doesn't hurt to ask" became the ongoing theme of the day.
We then met the models at the hair salon while they were getting made up. Ashley and Natalie were as sweet as they are gorgeous!! Here's a couple images I captured of them getting transformed into 1930s bombshells:
How adorable is Ashley and her Converse shoes? We bonded over the fact that we both are obsessed with them :)
These images alone show a MAJOR difference in the quality of the photo compared to me using my safe zoom lens and external flash. I was so excited to start our real shoot. Here are my favorites of the day. More can be found on the kp photography Facebook.
All of these were taken with my Canon 60D, 50mm f/1.4, and natural light. I think Tina just made me a prime lens girl :)
I wish I could take Tina, the models, and the behind the scene magic makers home with me to Columbia. They all gave me an amazing experience that re-excited me about what I do. Tina, thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion with me - you are a wonderful photographer, teacher, and person. I am so blessed to be able to call you a friend and mentor for life :)
