Attending this workshop was a big deal for me…. on a few different levels. When I saw that Kelley Ryden and Tracy Raver were holding a newborn workshop in NY for a discounted price, I knew I had to figure out a way to make it. These were the photographers who opened my eyes to the world of Newborn Photography when I saw them on the TODAY Show many years ago. I have their 1st published book sitting at my studio…! They are pretty much the gurus of the industry! However, those who know me well know that I have a completely insane and irrational fear of flying. I hate airports. Hate planes. My palms get sweaty when a plane is flying over me. It’s a serious phobia for me, and I have NO idea why. It didn’t hit me until my 20s, and before that, I LOVED flying.
ANYWAY… This was the year. I promised myself and my husband that I would get on a plane this year, and hopefully get over my fear so we could actually take a vacation somewhere further away than Michigan 🙂 After a Xanax and a glass of wine, I made LOTS of new friends at the Garrett’s Popcorn store in O’hare airport! Before I knew it, I was flying high and on my way to Albany, NY. My mom so generously offered to come with me so I had a hand to hold!
The Workshop was held in Beacon, NY so it was great being able to drive through some really gorgeous parts of New York. I’ve really only been to NYC (I always drove, of course!), so it was nice to see other scenery! I wasn’t sure what to expect by attending this workshop, and in all honestly, I had heard mixed reviews of their workshops. But in my opinion, if you’re going to learn how to do a job, why not learn from the best? That’s why I did my first mentoring with Blue Dandelion Photography. Kelley and Tracy, along with Courtney and Doug of Blue Dandelion Photography, are by far my favorite photographers out there, and I feel so blessed to have been able to meet, and learn from, both!
Kelley and Tracy were completely approachable, and down to earth. Watching them work with babies and explain their work flow, from Kelleys Technical tips for shooting, to Tracy’s tips for soothing and posing babies and making your own props, I felt like I walked away from that workshop with a whole new perspective of how to do my job better here in Chicago. There was not a single question that I had that they didn’t answer, and the other photographers who I met that day were all amazing people who I look forward to keeping in touch with in the future! Here are a few shots from the day – If you are debating taking their workshop, I’d highly recommend it! It’s a game changer in my opinion 🙂
Patricia Anderson Photography is a Chicago Newborn Photographer with her baby studio located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Patricia Anderson Photography is a Newborn and baby photographer and specializes in modern maternity, newborn, baby, family and kid photography for Chicago and the Chicagoland area including, the North Shore, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Bloomingdale, Addison, Lombard, Downers Grove, Lisle, Naperville, Winfield, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Lake Forest, Roselle, Glencoe, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Old Town, Vernon Hills, Bucktown, Gold Coast, Wrigleyville, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Chicago’s North Shore, Northbrook and other Chicago suburbs.
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