This last September I attended a styled shoot out in the beautiful rolling hills of Livermore. A shoot out for my non-photography readers is basically Disneyland for photographers. It’s a styled photo shoot generally put on by a wedding planner where vendors can come and set up and photographers can come and photograph all the pretty things the wedding planner has put together including a few models, table set ups, cakes, and a gorgeous venue. It’s really a great way to practice and perfect your craft without the pressure of a real life situation. It isn’t for professionals like Reverent Wedding Films.  I love shooting these because I can really stop and think, shoot differently and get creative, play around with different poses, different camera angles, different lighting situations and make a lot of mistakes that in turn help me grow as a photographer. New Photographers, listen up, workshops are great BUT one thing you will here over and over at workshops is PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE and a great way to do that is to attend shoot outs. Everything is provided, you just need to show up with your camera, an open mind and get busy shooting! This is also great for seasoned photographers as we get in creative ruts and this is a wonderful way to break out of those ruts and get inspired.

This styled shoot was put on by the very talented Renee, owner of Mariee Weddings at a gorgeous new venue in Livermore, CA called Reinstein Ranch. This beautiful ranch filled with loads of country charm and character is nestled away in the sprawling hills with horses and animals all around, an amazing barn, and a beautiful old house. It quickly became one of my top favorite wedding venues and it’s in my own backyard! And the light here is divine! As a Bay Area portrait and wedding photographer I really loved the quaint feeling of this place and yet it’s actually pretty big. There’s a lot of places to roam around and fun little details all over the ranch. It reminds me of the perfect place to have a backyard wedding feel but with a lot more space. And I LOVE simple but elegant backyard weddings, especially with a country feel to them! Renee did a fabulous job styling this event with 3-4 different set ups for us to shoot, each having a different vibe and theme. The jewelry really helped make the whole outfit complete and the florals were some of the most beautiful I’ve seen.

Other Participants Include:

Model: Molly Newborn

Jewelry: Sheri of His Jewels Creations

Dresses: J’aime Bridal

Florals: The Bloom Bar Co.

Hair/Make-up: Cheryl Lam

 Huge thank you to Renee for putting on such a beautiful event. I definitely let my creative juices flow and left feeling inspired. Looking forward to the 2016 Vivify Workshop and I encourage photographers of all levels to attend. This is a great portfolio building event as well! And guys! This is just Part One! There is so much more eye candy coming in Part Deux!

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