I'll find out how I feel about it

the Stories

after i've written it

Click Away 2016 | “The Power of Play”

October 21, 2016

WA

In early October, I hopped on a plane headed to Seattle to teach at the Click Away Photography Conference put on by Click & Company.  I had attended this conference last year in San Antonio and it was absolutely life changing for me.  Being surrounded by so many incredible artists and female camaraderie was something I had never experienced before and I was overwhelmed with the incredible warmth, support, and friendship I found in the Clickin Moms community.  Late last year, I set a goal to someday teach at Click Away.  A five year goal.  A pie-in-the-sky goal.  When the opportunity came around to apply to teach in early 2016, I prepared two programs that I am absolutely passionate about for consideration and, when my nerves got the best of me, my then 5-year-old daughter clicked “send” and submitted them for me.

A few months later, I found out that my pie-in-the-sky goal wasn’t so wacky after all when the invitation to teach came through my inbox.  I cried (because I do that) and I decided to tell myself from then on that there was no such thing as a goal that was too big.  What came out of those programs at the 2016 Click Away was more than I could have ever imagined.  My students were absolutely incredible, I laughed until my sides hurt, I happy cried, I drank the best milkshake of my life, and I made wonderful new friends.  But the most impactful thing for me was that I connected with so many like-minded photographers who value connection above all else.

Click Away streamed my first workshop on Friday morning:  “The Power of Play:  Capturing Authenticity in Family and Children’s Portraiture.”  We had the most darling little family who came to be with us that morning and I could not have been happier with how well everything went during that session!  Amy, our gorgeous mother from that morning’s session, is a Seattle photographer and I was so thrilled that she volunteered to bring her family that morning so they could all help us learn!  Amy, her awesome husband, and two sweet little boys were the perfect family to be able to demonstrate everything that I do during photography sessions to create authentic moments that capture genuine connection.  

“The Power of Play:  Capturing Authenticity in Family and Children’s Portraiture,” will be available for purchase within the 2016 Click Away Streaming Bundle and you can read the class description below:

Capturing a child’s true personality is not an experience reserved just for lifestyle and documentary photographers. Every parent wants you to capture their child’s authentic self and his or her real connection to their family. They want to see the real smiles, not the “for-the-camera” smiles. They want the session to be relaxed and as fun-filled as possible for the entire family. Join Virginia Greuloch as she demonstrates how to use child-led methods in a photography session with a child. Capture the child’s authentic joy while incorporating movement to create modern children’s portraiture. Creating opportunities for children and families to play together can give families memories that will last forever – and not just because it was the day that the photographer was there. They will remember that it was a day that they came together to laugh and to play and to love each other. Learn how to use the power of play in this shooting demo/group shoot program with kids in order to make a portrait photography session that will create images and memories that last a lifetime.

 

If you watched the stream during the conference when it was in Seattle, you’ll know exactly how most of these images were created and how we can use movement and play to bring out the best connections (some happened before and some happened after recording, so there’s just some extra ideas here for you).  If you missed the stream (or had trouble streaming) and want to learn more about how to use the power of play to make your photography sessions full of laughter and fun, keep an eye out for the streaming bundle being released very soon!

 

Thank you to everyone who supported me along this journey, to the incredible staff at Click & Co. for believing in me and giving me a chance (even though no one knew who I was!), and for everyone who showed up to my classes both in Seattle and streaming from around the world.  This has been the most amazing experience and I cannot be more grateful to have been a part of it.

 

You really came for the images, so here we go!

share this:

Reply...

Virginia Greuloch