So I've returned from a 5 day trip to Kelowna, British Columbia where Larry and I attended the world famous, Joe Bussink's, Defining Moment's workshop. It took place at Gary and Melissa Fong's Twin Creeks Ranch which overlooks the Okanagan Lake and valley. So beautiful! There were 15 of us at the workshop, many of us from long distances.

A little background: Joe Bussink is one of the top 5 photographer's in the world. He photographed Christina Agulara, Christina Applegate and Jennifer Lopez's weddings, just to name a few. He is an amazingly inspired, talented man with a gift for photography, speaking and marketing and most of all, he is completely passionate about what he does. Needless to say, it was the perfect kick start to my weddings season. I've brought back loads of new techniques, concepts and renewed passion.

Gary Fong, the owner of the ranch where the workshop was held is a world famous retired wedding photographer. He is the founder of Pictage.com, inventor of the Lightshere (a super flash diffuser) and entrepreneur turned millionaire. His wife, Melissa is also a retired wedding photographer. Both incredibly gracious and a blast to be around.


This is a shot of the group. I'm in the middle. See me?



Gary and Melissa have an amazing entertainment room perfect for workshops!


This is some of us learing to ride the segways, those cool crazy 2 wheeled vehicle thingys. I must say, there were super fun and intuitive. I would love to have one! Now I have to scrounge up the $8000!  I look really confused in this shot!


This is Gary being silly! All us workshop attendies were busily shooting the models and this is Gary being a goofball pretending to shoot the models with his iphone.


This is Joe making a really good point about something.


Silly Gary again.

Larry and I are loading up the car and headed North to Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada to go to a 2 day Joe Buissink workshop at the Gary Fong Ranch. Both Joe Bussink and Gary Fong are legends among the wedding photography industry and Larry and I are tickled pink to be going. It should be a fun filled 5 days full of inspirations and great teachings. I hope to come back to Montana rearing to go for the 2009 wedding season.

Check out these websites to get an idea of where I will be and who I will be with!

http://www.kelownaranch.com/
http://www.joebuissink.com/

Here is the "brochure" for the workshop:


The really good blogging news is I have been really really busy the past 2 weeks, so when I get back, not only will I have fun pics from the workshop to show you, I will also have a wedding and 3 commercial photo shoots too!

Feel free to call my cell phone or email me if you need me. Otherwise, I will return to my office officially on Friday, June 5th.

You guys remember Guss? Guss is Rhianna and Mike's puppy. These first two shots are Guss last November at our engagement session. He's a Great Dane and oh so handsome, not to mention, quite a handful.



This was Guss then:





Rhianna was over at the studio last week editing her album and brought little :) Guss over as well. Mikes been wanting some pics of him so we did a really quick impromptu photo session in the snow (Yes, it snowed last week in Bozeman!)

This is Guss now:

He's at least quadrupled in size since I last photographed him, 5 months ago! His head is huge and stands well above my waist. It cracks me up though, he is so big but such a puppy, playful, curious, bull headed and still learning. Rhianna and Mike have done a great job with him! He's definitely their 1st child. :)
 

Its here! I did it! I finally got my new website up that I have been promising for the past 6 months!!! Hurray! Some of the new features include: a brand new splash page, BIG pictures that fit the size of your screen, a new private online viewing and ordering website, did I mention BIG pictures! Oh yeah, and lots of new engagement photos and wedding portfolios you've never seen before, because honestly, I was just too darn busy to blog and post them last season. Under "info" you can view the video of me shooting a wedding last summer, I have a list of my favorite vendors, info about myself, wedding day info and of course testimonials from past clients.

The only bummer so far is that my new portrait website is not live yet, so when you click on the portrait site it takes you to my wedding site. Urgggg... But, I figure, if gives me another chance to get all excited and blog about the new portrait website.

So, let me know what you think and how it works! Hopefully there are no kinks to work out, but ya never know with this web stuff.