• 
• 

Friday, May 25, 2007

Workshops For The Pros

Workshops aren't just for amateur enthusiasts. You can take your business to a new level by attending an intense, professionally oriented program.

Greg Gorman has been quietly running a small and increasingly popular workshop from a base in Mendocino County, California. His program is a mixture of photographing models in studio and outdoor settings and advanced digital work. He covers digital camera technique, digital asset management, image optimization in Photoshop and professional-level printing on state-of-the-art printers. The Mendocino property has a studio that Gorman designed and features the latest digital equipment. His curriculum is built around a combination of lecture/instruction and open discussion among all the participants.

Workshops like Gorman's are rare in that it's really geared to high-end people. Gorman speaks with each participant individually when he or she is accepted into a class. In addition to providing a personal touch, that interaction gives him an opportunity to assess everyone's level of experience. In any class setting, some photographers will be more advanced than others, so Gorman tries to plan how to make sure that no one gets left behind or feels that he or she is being slowed down.

Once at the workshop, students spend days shooting followed by evening critiques and lectures by industry professionals. The lectures cover topics like digital camera setup, software and printing techniques. Once the information has been digested, Gorman, who's a true gourmand and oenophile, treats his students to wine and cheese tastings. The social aspect gives students the opportunity to interact and compare notes about what has been covered during the day.