Going Beyond the Pose Alumni

I have said it once and I will say it a thousand times, my alumni are so inspiring. After each run of any worksop I do, my students are invited in to a private Facebook community. There they bounce ideas off each other, post photos to inspire, and we have a friendly competition for our cover contest each month. Photography education should be fun and build community, at least that is my opinion. 

Enjoy this inspiring work from my alumni. I know I did! 

Tasha Boin | https://www.facebook.com/TashaBoinPhotography/

Karra Cappelli | www.karralynnphotography.com | www.facebook.com/karralynnphotography

Stacey Smith | Staceysmithphotography.com

Amy Louise | https://www.facebook.com/amylouisephotographyseattle/ | www.instagram.com/amylouisephotography

Jennifer Maguire | Www.jennifermaguire.com | www.instagram.com/jennifermaguirephotography

Lori Seitz Rider | everydayartistryphotography.com | https://www.facebook.com/everydayartistryphotography/

Emily Cannata | www.emilycannataphotography.com | www.instagram.com/emilycannataphotography  | https://www.facebook.com/emilycannataphotography/

Hali Resney Tomczak | http://www.sweetlivphotography.com/ | www.instagram.com/Sweetlivphotography

Danielle Zumwalt | https://www.facebook.com/daniellezphoto | www.instagram.com/daniellezphoto

Emily Lee | www.emilyleephotography.com | Facebook.com/emilyleephotography

Jodi Johnson | https://www.jodijohnsonphotography.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/jodijohnsonphotograhy/

Erin Bremer | www.erinbremerphotography.com | www.instagram.com/erin_bremer/

Kirsty Hamilton | https://www.kirstyhamiltonphotography.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/kirstyhamiltonphotography/

Amy Wright | www.facebook.com/amywrightphoto | www.amywrightphoto.com

Wendy Sulzer | https://www.facebook.com/wendysulzerphotography/

Tania Traversini | https://www.facebook.com/liichtbleckatelierphotography/

Meg Miller | https://www.facebook.com/photographybymegmiller/

Emily Dowell | https://www.emilydowellphotography.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/emilydowellphotography/

Liza Hippler | http://lizahippler.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/lizahipplerphotography/

Beckie Marie | https://www.facebook.com/beckiemarie.lifestylephotography/ | https://www.instagram.com/beckiemariephotography/

Michelle Thompson | www.thompsonclicks.com | https://www.facebook.com/thompsonclicksphoto/

Marti Austin | martiaustinphotography.com | https://www.facebook.com/martiaustinphoto/

Natalie Marotta | nataliemarotta.com | https://www.facebook.com/nataliemarottaphotography/

Alexis Anne | www.alexisannephotography.com | Www.instagram.com/alexisannephotography | https://www.facebook.com/alexisanneimages/

Jennifer LaGrange | www.jenniferlagrangephotography.com | www.facebook.com/jenniferchristinesmashphotography

Karen Webb | www.capturebykaren.com.au | www.facebook.com/capturebykaren

Amanda Noel | www.amandanoelphoto.com | https://www.facebook.com/amandanoelphoto/

Tereza Píchová | www.teepeephoto.cz | www.facebook.com/teepeephoto/

Lauren Kirkham | www.facebook.com/laurenkirkhamphoto | www.instagram.com/laurenkirkhamphoto | www.laurenkirkhamphotography.com

Jaime Kinsella | https://www.instagram.com/jaimekinsellaphotography/

Lyndsay Hannah | www.lyndsayhannahphotography.com |www.Facebook.com/lyndsayhannahphotography

Hailey Haberman | Www.haileyhabermanphotography.com

Tammy Brandt | tammybrandtphotography.com

Elizabeth Keefe |  www.instagram.com/elizabeth_keefe | www.facebook.com/elizabethkeefephotography

Candi Graham Turpin | https://www.instagram.com/bluehillimages/ |https://www.facebook.com/bluehillimages/

Teresa Devenney | www.saolnuaphotography.com | www.facebook.com/saolnuaphotography | www.instagram.com/saolnuaphoto

Baby Oliver | Seattle Newborn Photography

I met this sweet family just before Thanksgiving. Their home was quiet and calm as they were adjusting to life with a newborn. They held their baby boy lovingly and I could tell just how much they cherished him. 

Little feet and loving embraces. That is what I want to capture with my newborn photography. I rarely pose babies and I don't expect them to sleep or behave in any particular way. I simply allow them to be the sweet, perfect, newborn that they are. 

Because that is how you will want to remember him. 

Schooled Online | Alumni Shares Of Boutique School Photography Workshop

Let me tell you about my students!!! They are amazing. My online community for Schooled is bangin! They took the course material from Schooled, a complete guide to boutique school photography, and ran with it! They are booking schools and making art. I am so excited to share this with you! 

Natalie Marotta "Elena's Schooled Facebook community has been invaluable to me. Everyone is super supportive and helpful in answering any and all my questions! I have learned so much from Elena in this course and my peers."

https://nataliemarotta.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/nataliemarottaphotography/

Kelli White "This course and community has been so wonderful! I have just started seeking out and booking schools, but seeing everyones incredible success within this group has been so motivating! Very excited to see what the future will hold for my business with this new addition to my work. Thank you Elena!"

www.kelliwhitephotography.com | https://www.facebook.com/kelliwhitephotography/

Carol Lucey Davis "I'm so glad I took Elena's Schooled course and joined in with this amazing Facebook group. The camaraderie among the members is so encouraging. Everyone is so helpful and willing to share ideas and practices they’ve implemented. There is no sense of competition here, just building each other up."

www.desertbloomphotography.com

Masha Vesset "Elena’s class is the most generous, information-dense, empowering class I have ever taken. The same can be said about the community she created."

www.mashavesset.com

Sasha Darnell "I loved Elena's Schooled course. It is full of so much information that not only elevated my portraits but gave me the option to expand my business, and do it confidently."

https://www.littleoakphotography.com/

Kristen Vallejo "I am on a mission to change school photography and I am a big believer in keeping things simple. Simplicity is exactly what this course offers! Elena Sanchez Blair's formula for success is obtainable and practical. I feel empowered to celebrate the face and all of its marvelous possibilities, and to provide timeless and treasured heirlooms that will last a lifetime for the families with whom I am privileged to work."

www.kristenvallejo.com | https://www.facebook.com/KristenVallejoPhoto/

Malerie Veillon "I love the simple honesty of this style of photographing kids!"

www.joyfuljanephotography.com

Karra Cappelli "Besides the amazing course materials, the Facebook group is fantastic. It is full of insights, tips, and common questions. It was my go-to resource when I was prepping for my school photo sessions."

www.karralynnphotography.com

Meg Cole Miller "It is obvious that Elena pours her heart into everything she does. She supplies her students with wonderful materials, fantastics tips, and then continues to support and encourage us long after the course has finished."

https://www.facebook.com/photographybymegmiller/

Neyssa Lee "The Schooled workshop is perfect for anyone wanting to take their photography business to the next level. By implementing the workflow and strategies Elena lays out in her workshop, I was able to take on 4 additional schools this past year, making it my best year yet."

https://www.facebook.com/neyssaleephotography/

Tracy Lynn "This course was exactly what I needed to get my school portrait business off the ground, and the Facebook community is such a vital part of it! Everyone is super encouraging and full of suggestions and information. It is wonderful to be part of such a great group."

www.tracylphotography.com | www.facebook.com/tracylphotography

Baby Silas | Seattle Newborn Photography

I have been lucky enough to capture both of this families newborns born just a few years apart. There love is one that I know is deep and real. I feel it when I walk in to their home and leave feeling warm and loved just by being in their presence. These babies are so fortunate to be surrounded by such deep love. 

Newborn photography in Seattle has a cozy feel. It is usually rainy outside so the warmth in the home feels extra special. In home newborn photography is sacred. It guarantees that you won't forget those fleeting moments right after your newborn is born. Newborn photography has my heart for sure. 

The Truth About Lifestyle Photography | Photography Tips

I wanted to share with you a common "lie" I hear about Lifestyle Photography. Hang with me?

One thing I see all the time on social media, and from well known or talented Lifestyle Photographers at that, is they say things like "I just adore in between moments." Or, "I am obsessed with capturing candid shots." Or, "I hate posed photos."

And this always makes me do a silent eye roll. Why? Because it is probably not true and I think it confuses new photographers or even potential clients. Because the truth of the matter is that most "in-between" moments or "candid" moments were orchestrated. They were posed and directed.

Now if you have seen my work you know that my families don't look posed or stiff in the least. But I am here to tell you that I pose and direct my clients 100%.

I am fortunate enough to be friends with some of the most well known Lifestyle Photographers in the USA and we all chat about how this is a very common misconception.

And it's simply unfair to new photographers.

Why is it unfair, you ask?

Because it sets new photographers us for total frustration. I should know, I was once one of them.

I would arrive at a shoot and want to create beautiful, carefree, laid back, romantic, amazing, moments. Moments that I thought were unfolding naturally for the photographers that I admired.

I was so frustrated and literally almost quit family photography because I thought I was simply not talented enough to capture those types of moments.

But thankfully I took a different approach and started being in control of my sessions 100% and I couldn't believe the difference. I realized that I actually had to direct and pose my families exactly how I wanted them.

Truth.

When I started doing this my work finally looked like I always imagined. My visions finally became a reality.

And my clients were happier too. They wanted me to tell them what to do. They wanted me to be the expert.

So I want you in on that secret. When you see beautiful moments captured, there was likely a skilled photographer directing that moment.

And you can do it too. Promise.