Dear Joel,
Thank you so much for an amazing workshop – it was a rare blend of inspiration, theoretical knowledge, business insights, war stories and practical, hands-on training. I’ve never attended a workshop before, so I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I was expecting mainly advanced students and a large class size. I had no experience with soft-boxes, studio strobes or directing models. Heck, the only time I had ever stepped into a photography studio was during my senior year in high school to get my prototypical Senior Portrait taken. How was I going to keep up in your class?
The result? I couldn’t have imagined a better experience – your relaxed, informal setting, small class size and patience helped put me at ease right away. Starting with the artistry of photography, by the way, was the perfect beginning. It made us want to get into the studio ourselves and placed the emphasis on the right aspects of photography. It was, for lack of a better word, inspirational. And that’s hard to teach.
And the shooting? Man, that was fun. Six models in two days and over 5 hours of studio time. Awesome. I loved the format of watching you shoot, then having us shoot ourselves while giving constructive criticism. You took the intimidation out of working with studio lights, working with models and de-mystifying the process of lighting. Your one-light, two-light, three-light and even five-light set-up helped me grasp the principles of how light behaves. By forcing us to set up and fine-tune the strobes ourselves, you gave us the confidence to do it on our own. All of us appreciated how you broke everything down and made us feel as if we could do this too… with hard work, of course.
Regarding the price of the course – I’m torn. The price you chose made it affordable enough for me to attend, but honestly, I felt like it was a steal. Having gone through the experience, and knowing what I know now, I would have paid as much for just one day. If you ever need a recommendation from a prospective student, refer ‘em to me.
Just between us, you’ve given me the confidence to try photography professionally. Before your seminar, I thought I might never be able to do it. But with your encouragement, I’m going to give it a go. Joe McNally talked about “the moment it clicks” – well, for me, I think the “a-ha!” moment clicked this past weekend. Thank you so much for the inspiration and knowledge – words can’t express how grateful I am. I wish you all the best in your future shoots and can’t wait to see what you create next. Hope to keep in touch!
All the best,
Matt
Hey Joel,
I wanted to thank you for coming up here and hosting the workshop. I'm fairly certain that I learned more in the two days, than I had in the previous year. I'm also pretty sure that I've never been so excited about photography. It was single-handedly one of the greatest experiences of my life and I can't thank you enough for that.
Zach
Hey Joel,
I just wanted to write and thank you for the awesome workshop last week. You are and have always been, an incredibly giving photographer.
You were a pivotal part of my journey in photography when you allowed me to tag along to a few of your sessions 11 years ago. I credit you as one of the major influences in my pursuit of becoming a professional. Your attention to detail, knowledge of lighting, discipline with composition, and drive to produce quality images have always stuck with me and have greatly shaped the photographer I am today.
I am so happy to see you venturing into workshops, as there are so many people who would greatly benefit from your knowledge and passion for photography.
Warmest Regards,
Hollye
Joel,
Joel... Many thanks for a great experience! Your unselfish teaching style was a pleasant surprise. I came to your workshop looking for a jumpstart... and boy did I get it! I walked away with new skills, motivation and a rejuvenated outlook. You’re a real credit to the profession!
Best,
Jim
