Now Featuring Michelle Wriggs

I just got back from Banff, Canada as one of the teachers for the Beyond Just Images Conference.  I had a great time!  Although, I have to say I have never been so nervous to do a workshop before.  It’s probably because there were around 30 people there instead of my normal 10 to 12 people.  I was a nervous wreck leading up to when I started teaching.  I don’t typically get nervous but I was.  Once I got started everything seemed to go well.  I ended up meeting some amazing people.  I’ve know quite a few of them online for a few years and it was so fun to actually meet them.

I am now going to start featuring photographers with their OCF work.  Michelle is my first person to be up on the chopping block.  lol  I met Michelle in Ottawa a few weeks ago and I noticed on her blog today that she had taken some OCF photos of her own after our workshop.  Michelle is awesome.  Really everyone I have met at every workshop has been awesome!

I shared my hotel room with Michelle and another gal Missy and we had an absolute blast!!  You really get to know someone when you room with them eh!  lol

Here’s a little more about Michelle!

Check out her work!  Michelle’s Work

How long have you been in business?

I got my business license with the plan to start a legitimate business in January 2009.  By legitimate, I mean it was my plan to stop giving my work away and to start charging for services and collecting taxes :)  Then I just stared at the license (in awe and in fear) until about April of 2009.  Then my hubby told me to put on my big girl pants and get over my nerves.  So I did.

Favorite type of session:

Well, my first thought, is couples and engagement sessions.  But then I’ve met a lot of great families and had a great time with family sessions too.  Small children make me sweat buckets but I have two of my own so it seems perfectly normal to interact with those little peanuts.  So I guess my answer is that I can find something that makes me smile about almost every type of session.   PS: 1-3 month old babies scare me.

Least Favorite Part of Business:

I over organize and have too many stickie notes.   This doesn’t surprise anyone who knows me.  My least favorite part of the business is that I’m a very shy person, and when you show up to a session, people expect you to be outgoing and assertive.  I have to direct people and that means being open, happy, fun and energetic.  So I usually have to put on my fun, easy going director hat in the car.  And its a hard hat for me to wear, but I do it.  Its getting a bit easier with practice.

What intrigued you about ocf:

Um, have you seen Ali’s blog?  I thought natural light was the be all and end all.  And then I saw these vibrant colors, the lighting just brings a photograph to life.  I had started using studio lighting in the fall of 2009, so I have had the winter to practice with lighting and I LOVE studio lighting.  It would not have even crossed my mind to lug it outside with me!

How has the workshop helped me?

I wouldn’t  EVER in a million years, have considered taking my lighting outside.  I would have thought: its too much to lug around, its a pain in the behind, it doesn’t make THAT much difference, etc.
Then I took my first OCF image at the workshop and viewed it on my LCD display and was BLOWN AWAY.   Couldn’t believe it.  I was hooked.  I still have a lot to learn but the OCF workshop opened up a whole new way of shooting for me.  I’ve come to realize that its just not that much to lug around and the results are worth it.

Thank you Michelle for putting your photos up and interviewing you. You are a super sweet gal and funny too!  I so enjoyed rooming with you and Missy.  I think I got to know you a little bit too much!  lol  Totally kidding.

If you would like to be featured on my OCF blog let me know!  I want to do this more often!!!

Workshops:  If you are interested in hosting a workshop please let me know.  I will start doing a few more this fall.  I want to stay home for the summer to shoot for my busy season and shoot my seniors.

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