A silhouette of a bride in a long gown with a flowing train, illuminated from behind, stands against a dramatic twilight sky. Shadows of trees and a building are visible in the background.

Biltmore Wedding Photography

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August 19, 2013

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what I did on my summer holidays

… and so began my essay every September after getting back from the 6 week summer break. How wasted was that amount of time on us back then?

Anyway, this past week I spent 72 hours up in the North Carolina mountains getting my third eye squeegeed quite cleanly by none other than Parker J Pfister Esq. and his “Not the same old sh*t” workshop. For those in the crowd who are unfamiliar with Parker’s work, he was rated one of American Photo Magazine’s top 10 wedding photographers in the world a couple of years ago and is an all round amazing visionary and top geezer.

I won’t ruin the surprise of the workshop for future attendees, but, suffice to say, over the course of the two days of shooting, we were put through our paces with a number of quick-fire challenges designed to get us out of our comfort zone, challenge our creativity and way of looking at the world both with and without a camera. It was pretty relentless stuff and I came back feeling both refreshed and exhausted, in a totally fab way.

Here’s how the sh*t went down:

After a slap-up meal and “getting to know you” session on Monday evening, we started out early on the Tuesday morning and were thrown in at the deep end with the first of the challenges. There was no slow start. In fact the first challenges were amongst the most difficult as we were charged with making interesting pictures with the most mundane household objects. From there, we progressed through the day having more and more scenarios thrown at us involving lighting, composition, etc. before decamping for the Biltmore Estate where more photographic merriment ensued. After that, it was back to the studio for pizza and a photo critique session that went on till almost midnight.

The following day, we started off back out at the Biltmore and got a chance to look into Parker’s own approach to scoping out a room and deconstructing each of its components to provide ideas for creative images. From there, more exercises into the afternoon, a trip to a ballroom to discuss creative lighting for the reception and then back to Parker’s studio for the finale photo shoot. From there we headed out for dinner together at a local brasserie.

The final morning and early afternoon were spent reviewing our favourite images from the two days, some of mine you can see below. We also discussed workflow and post-production before saying our farewells.

Parker was ably assisted over the course of the three days by Jeff Woods and a legion of talented models, a hair and make-up artist, a dress-maker and the local denizens of the great town of Asheville.

One of the great things about the whole experience was learning from the other attendees. Seeing what other creative individuals came up with in the challenges and during the more free flowing shoots was pretty mind-blowing. Thanks guys!

Anyway, here are some images that show some of the parts of the workshop without necessarily giving away any spoilers for future fellow travellers.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Cheers,

Joe

A woman with neutral expression poses against a dark, striped background. She wears a detailed lace top with a high collar and has her hair pulled back. The lighting casts a dramatic shadow on her face.
A woman in a vintage-style wedding dress stands against an ornate stone wall. An elegant black lantern is mounted on the wall, casting a soft glow. The setting has an old-world, romantic ambiance.
A man in a suit and striped tie stands against a dark, blurred background, looking to the right. His expression is thoughtful, and the lighting is dim, casting shadows.
A man in a suit and tie stands pensively against a large tree trunk. The image is in black and white, highlighting the contrast between the mans attire and the natural background.
A silhouette of a bride in a long gown with a flowing train, illuminated from behind, stands against a dramatic twilight sky. Shadows of trees and a building are visible in the background.
Silhouette of a person singing into a microphone, with warm backlighting creating a dramatic effect. The scene is dark, emphasizing the outline and creating a moody atmosphere.
Silhouettes of a man and woman face each other in an outdoor setting against a dark, moody sky with a soft glow around them, creating a dramatic and romantic atmosphere.
A woman in an elegant, vintage-style dress poses confidently under dim lighting, with a man in a suit standing in the shadowy background. The mood is dramatic and cinematic.
A large, illuminated building with a tall central tower stands against a dark blue, cloudy sky. The building and surrounding trees are reflected in a body of water in the foreground, creating a symmetrical view.
A person with light hair and a blue headpiece gazes outside through a brick-framed arched window. They are resting on a ledge adorned with colorful flowers, creating a thoughtful and whimsical scene.
A woman with blonde hair, wearing a lace top, is reflected in an ornate mirror. The background is dark, and only her reflection is illuminated, creating a mysterious and elegant atmosphere.
A couple in formal attire embraces in front of a large, elegant stone building with gothic architectural details and tall windows. The sky is overcast, and trees are visible in the background.
A woman in an elegant, sleeveless dress poses confidently in a cornfield. Her hair is styled in an updo, and she rests one hand on a tall corn stalk. The background is lush and green, with blurred foliage.
A woman sitting in a vintage convertible with the top down, parked in front of a large, historic building with ornate architecture and towers. The sky is overcast, adding a dramatic backdrop to the scene.

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