You guys probably all know this already, but she's a sweetheart! She was kind enough to model for us with her baby at Cheryl Jacobs' workshop, and I met her today for coffee to deliver her prints. And she bought my coffee! (Michelle, I think I forgot to thank you for that!) Anyway, it was really nice taking a break and chatting over our drinks. Dan Watkins, if you see this post, I have to apologize...I'd give you some prints too, but I didn't get any good shots of your son. He kept running away from me. Workshops are so difficult...I think they can be overwhelming to the kids with all those people and all those cameras pointed at them.

Aw! Lauri, you are a sweetheart too.

Seriously, she got some amazing shots of my little girl. The prints were gorgeous! Matted prints with beautiful texture. I feel like I just got a million dollars worth of art for free, and I am so thankful!

Check out Lauri's stuff and blog- it's awesome!

I really like Lauri's style and she does incredible work with maternity and newborns. Glad you have some treasures, Michelle.

Fun! So when are you coming to CA Lauri!

Oh, that sounds like fun, Lauri! I'm so glad you guys got to meet!

She does do AMAZING work, doesn't she, Michelle? I just LOVE Lauri's work!

I need to make a trip, huh? I do dream of squishing sand in my feet. Might be nice to do that in Jan or Feb I thought I'd be there sooner, but it fell through.

Oh, and thanks you guys!

WOW -- I just now saw this post. Lauri -- I'm bummed we didn't meet, but I'm sure we'll get the chance!

Michelle -- I'm SO JEALOUS!!! We brought our kids to both days of shooting and we still haven't seen a single image from any of the photographers!!! I've even contacted Cheryl to try to get some kind of update -- it's been almost 3 months! My wife was so excited to see what kinds of shots people would get of our kids...sadly...they took the shots and we have never seen anything.

AWW! So cute! Glad it worked out for everyone!

LOL -- worked out for everyone? My wife brought two kids two days in row to a workshop of sixteen photographers almost three months ago and we haven't seen so much as a chimp from the back of an LCD? My wife is thus far pretty disappointed in the whole "time for files" experience...

/sillyfrustratedparentrant

Hopefully you will see something! I would be happy to photograph your kids anytime!

Cool! Let's try to do something this fall. Maybe a bunch of the Stl 'tog parents can get together and we can shoot each other's kids.

Hmmm...maybe I should teach a class on kid photography using my son Jonah as a model...I'll throw down the challenge...if you can keep up with him, you can keep up with any kid! (He's actually quite comfortable in front of the lens...but he doesn't sit still for anything or anyone...kind like his...uh, nevermind!)

Dan, I did try to photograph Jonah, but he seemed so afraid he was going to get in trouble for doing anything like play, take his shoes off, etc. that I ended up not connecting with him at all until right before you guys told him it was time to leave. He was just warming up to me then. I'm so sorry I didn't get anything of him. I was wondering if the whole scene with that many kids, and that many cameras pointed at them in a small area might have been a little intimidating for him. I really only ended up with a few photos of Michelle and her baby, and then a brother/sister of another woman, because I actually stopped shooting during much of the shooting time. The whole exercise was to work individually with a child and connect with them, but you can't do that in a group where everyone starts pointing their cameras over your shoulders. I usually connect pretty well with the children I photograph...it's one of my strengths...it just wasn't gonna happen there in that environment. So I ended up sitting back and watching others most of the time.

Don't fret, mommies and daddies!We will be having some MWAC meetings soon (Moms With A Camera) for mutual shooting of kids, as I SUPPOSE Dan could come, even though he is a Dad. Me, Brandi and Kelly hung out once at my church kid's play area, which is like a McDonalds play gym. We are planning to do it again soon and invite more Mommies/Daddies so some can take turns watching and some can take turns shooting. And yes, those pictures on the lead website page are mine. I did it to sweeten the deal getting into Heaven. So what days and times are good for everyone?Dan,No one else got files either- I was a lucky duck with Lauri. I know for certain Brandi and Tanya (with the matching striped shirt boys) have seen nothing yet.

I'm in touch with some of the photogs. I'll see what I can get for all of you. Michelle, I still have some extra prints to get to you. I'm sick right now, but when this bug is gone, maybe we can meet for coffee again? Hey, your church looks awesome...you did a great job for them!

I am kinda bummed I didn't get any shots either. The day we went was right after the thunder storm when they were playing in the puddles. Needless to say, I don't usually let them play in mud puddles in their "fancy" clothes. I should let them do that more often!! We only live once.

I am excited about us all getting together and taking some shots of the kiddos. This will be fun. I am thinking we should do it in September when the weather is just like it is today!!

Brandi, which kids are yours? I'll pass it on to the others. Oh, and you're right...isn't today just heavenly?

ETA...okay, I just looked at your bio page. I have a few images, but they're not what I would show to clients. I wasn't assigned to your kids so I shot a few from afar. Lemme see what I can put together for you. I will also pass on the request to the other photogs.

you rock...thanks Lauri!!

I wish we could have chatted that day. Although, I was trying to be a Mommy and not a photog... not always easy!!

Enjoy your day...I'm loving it!!

Dan, I also should add...if you entered into a time for files arrangement, you didn't do so with the workshop attendees. WE PAID to photograph whatever models were provided. Your agreement was with either the instructor or the organizer. I was happy to give PRINTS of whatever images I was pleased with or thought the parents might like from the workshop (I don't ever give files to ANYONE), but my main goal for the shooting time was not to provide a free session to the parents, but to try things I haven't tried before. That doesn't always result in images I'd want anyone to see, especially since this wasn't one of the typical workshops where someone sets up shots for the attendees. And quite frankly I didn't even get to try what I wanted to with the crowd of people all using the same small area...the workshop was still great, but I got much more out of the class time and portfolio critiques. I would never promise images to someone in a situation like that. If I get some, fine, if not...that's the breaks.

Those of us who paid for the workshop paid quite a bit for it, and part of what we paid for was that models would be provided for us. So maybe if you have your kids model for workshops again, there should be some kind of payment arrangement made between you and the one who has collected lots of money from the students.

I'll still try to find any images the others may have been able to get, but I honestly don't think they should be EXPECTED from anyone except the person who promised you some. Well, anyone using a photo in their portfolio should also be expected to give that to you. But otherwise, they shouldn't be expected to provide anything they weren't able to get.

Dan, I can't find an email address for you. Would you be interested in a print of this? It didn't turn out the way I wanted, because I was trying to get a shot of Jonah's reflection in the water but an instant before I released the shutter, he stuck his hand in the water and rippled away the reflection of his face. But it's all I have for you.Click to view attachment

Michelle if we can meet again at your church, that would be great. I think you mentioned there was a pretty waterfall? Let's do the "photographers" playgroup...that would be great to get pictures of each other kids and playful fun pictures of each other with our kids

Hi Michelle & Dan

I've been collecting the images from the "students" of Cheryl's class - just got another packet in on Monday. Hope to go through everything and get them sorted out by next week end. I still havent' received a modeling release or images from Cheryl; which is very frustrating. I'm going to make one for the program and it signed when prints/images are picked up, then I get copies out to all the students.

Dan, we still need to get together regarding a business/marketing program for ShootQ in October.

Oh, Pam...I'm glad you're on this. I missed the date you gave us to get our images to you by a week, so I just dealt directly with the people I had prints for. I assumed you had already distributed everyone else's.