I recently attended a photography workshop devoted to Pet Photography and Pets + People photography called Unleashed!  This Pet Photography Workshop was set in Leesburg Virginia and I have to say, what a GORGEOUS location for a photography workshop!  I drove to the workshop from Connecticut and as I started to get closer to Leesburg, driving through Virginia’s “hunt country,” I was in awe.  The towns are old, and quaint, and the farms are big and beautiful!

The workshop has two instructors, Bev Hollis of Virginia, and Teresa Berg from Texas.  The first day of the workshop is completely devoted to getting to know the business of photography, the marketing, pricing, products, etc.

The second day was all about shooting on location.  I know the first day is important, after all if I don’t master the business side, it doesn’t matter how I shoot.  But I have to say the second day was so much more fun!  We met in the middle of Leesburg in this charming downtown area – think old buildings with ivy up the sides, rock walls, gorgeous gardens, stone churches.  Despite having very little voice, Bev was our primary instructor for the day with Teresa being on hand for questions.  We spent the morning photographing a beautiful and highly trained Australian Shepherd named Castle all throughout the town.  Once Castle had had enough of 18 people with cameras pointed at him, we moved to an immaculate private home and photographed two Labradoodles named Beau and Bella.  A quick break for lunch, and off to meet a Jack Russell Terrier in a home just before a downpour!  We had a lovely session in this home before moving on to our next location.   Mother Nature had other plans and opened up the skies once again just as we were getting our first lesson on hip shooting.  We moved to the hotel lobby to finish the lesson on hip shooting, and portable outdoor lighting.

The third day was in the studio with Teresa at Ace Photo.  Once again we had some lovely models come to work with us as we tried out various backdrops and lighting set ups.  A lot of the class was new to studio lighting, so Teresa thankfully went through the different products on hand, various sizes of soft boxes and lights, what to look for, how to change the light, etc

 

Here are just a few of the images I took while at the workshop.  To see more, go to my Facebook page!

 

 

Brandy, dog handler extraordinaire, sets up Beau for us

Bev shows us how it’s done!

Bev teaching at Unleashed Photography Workshop

Studio work:

 

Unleashed was my first photography workshop to attend in person and I could not have had a better time! There were 15 other photographers there who I now call friends. We are in touch via email and Facebook, there to help each other and encourage each other. I think that is a very welcome “side effect” of a workshop with a group. I have been in touch with Bev since the workshop asking for help with a personal project, and she took the time to put together detailed suggestions which I could not appreciate more. I was impressed with the fact that the teaching goes beyond the time there. If you’re looking for a pet photography workshop, you should consider Unleashed! I don’t think you’ll find two instructors more qualified!