Run (don’t walk!) to get your credit card and sign up for this workshop ASAP. It covers everything – from the business side, to editing to photography to marketing from the best photographer and the most amazing business person I know! This workshop is unique not only because of the amazing material that is covered but because of the pre and post workshop experience. You will be receiving a one-on-one meeting with Michele, you will be part of a private Facebook group of workshop attendees, you will develop friendships with like-minded people…. The list of wonderful things about these workshops just keep going on and on. For me, taking this workshop was by far the best investment I’ve made in my photography business and years after taking the original workshop I am STILL using what I’ve learned back then.

My, oh my! I have to tell you that the first Pinkle Toes Photography Lifestyle Photography workshop in New Jersey was absolutely amazing and I will most certainly have to go back sometime in the future. Even though it rained for pretty much every session we tried to do, everyone stayed in good spirits and just went with it. I could not have asked for a more energetic, fun-loving, talented group of ladies with which to work (not the least of whom includes our amazing hostess, Lena with Live, Love, Laugh Photos in Ridgewood, NJ as well as my PHENOMENAL workshop coordinator Annette with Annette Goodman Photography in Charlotte, NC!). The first set of images includes several behind-the-scenes shots of the attendees in action. They each got a chance to try out new techniques at the workshop and I was totally impressed with how they embraced the challenge and got AMAZING images to boot (be sure to follow the links at the end of the post to see images they each captured at the workshop). We also had a wonderful newborn session inside this family’s home (thank you again for opening your doors to us and sheltering us from the rain ;-): That afternoon, we photographed our hostess’s family in their beautiful home…the essence of lifestyle photography, really. It was such a privilege to get to capture these moments for them: And on our last day, we worked with this lovely expecting couple. We had originally planned to explore downtown Ridgewood, but the rain kept us indoors once again. I really appreciated their flexibility with the ever-changing location and I cannot wait to hear the good news any day now about their new baby!!! I have yet to peek at the images taken by the attendees at the workshop and so I’m excited myself to follow the links to the blog circle! First up is Christine with Half-Pint Photography – Bergen County, NJ Family Photographer! Click along with me!!!!

Next week, I’m heading to Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA for the last workshop of July. After that, we’re hitting Mendocino, CA, and finishing up the 2014 workshops in Olympia, WA. There is still a couple of openings for each of these workshops, so please, squeeze in if you can!

Oh, one more thing, here are some of the headshots I took of Pinkle Toes New Jersey Class of 2014. Good lookin’ bunch, huh?

In just a few days, we are kicking off the Pinkle Toes 2014 summer workshop tour in Ridgewood, NJ! And from there, it’s going to be a whirlwind for the rest of the summer: back to Austin, Texas and then hitting southern California, northern California, and Olympia, Washington over the course of a few weeks. Ridgewood and the 2nd Austin workshop are sold out, but we have some openings for the other dates if you want to check that out here.

Meanwhile, my blog and my e-mail are going to be quiet for a bit as I focus (pun intended) on providing amazing workshop experiences for the attendees. You will be able to follow our adventures on Facebook and Instagram, so stay in the loop ;-).

See ya this fall!

~Michele

Let’s do this, gang! Flights are BOOKED for the Pinkle Toes summer photography workshops! We are headed to New Jersey (that one is full) as well as Northern and Southern California and Washington (never been to either of those states, really) and I’m so excited! And oh yes, you are more than welcome to come visit me in my home of Austin if you’d rather ;-). Will I be seeing YOU at one of these workshops? 

The more I work with this little ray of sunshine, the more I get to see that exuberant spirit and endless love for her family.  She is a spitfire, yes, but that giggle…that giggle is infectious. Still my fav image of her I’ve ever taken, even though her talented mommy has bazillions from which to choose herself ;-). Oh, and she had us ALL cracking up when she found that mirror. Mom…I think she needs to get one of those in her room somehow. Maybe you can paint it pink and add some flowers to dress it up properly?

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By the way, did you know her mommy is a Pinkle Toes Workshop graduate? AND I am SO excited I get to see her as well as 20+ other grads at our SECOND Pinkle Toes Workshop Reunion trip to New York City NEXT WEEK???????? Yeah, I’m a little excited and I cannot wait to hang with all of those talented ladies again AND see new friendships form as workshop groups from the past three years mingle and meet for the first time.

If you want to be a part of future workshop reunion trips (by the way, there is no fee to attend those reunions…just the cost of your trip, food, etc.), you simply have to have attended a Pinkle Toes workshop. We still have openings for one of the Austin workshops (where attendees get to stay at my home!) as well as Northern and Southern California and Washington (housing is included in all of those, too, and let me tell you, our hostesses have found some AMAZING spots!!). Oh, and the “Everything’s Better with a Friend” special offer is ending April 30th ;-).

It’s so true! Taking the plunge to attend a photography workshop can be a little bit intimidating, but it certainly helps to have a friend by your side. So, from now through April 31st, 2014, when you and a friend book together, you’ll both receive a $200 rebate after your workshop(s). *See below for rules and restrictions. To get the full details on the workshop (dates, locations, schedule, agenda, cost, etc.), please drop a line via the form on THIS page!

And now, I wanted to share a letter with you that I’ve actually been meaning to share for quite some time. This is from the lovely Courtney Bolle (who happens to be a very, very busy mommy right now) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

One year ago, nearly to the day, I can remember sitting in front of my computer, contemplating whether or not to sign up for a Pinkle Toes Workshop.  I had stumbled upon Michele’s blog about a year prior, when the thought of beginning a photography business was just a small spark in my mind.  I was instantly captivated by the way she brought out genuine beauty, emotion, and magic in all of her sessions.  I knew that if I were to ever turn my hobby into a business, those were the types of photos that I wanted to produce and she was the person that I dreamt of learning from.  So there I sat at my computer, worried that I was too new to the world of photography to attend such a workshop, but also not wanting to miss out on the opportunity to begin my business with such strength.  After weighing my options, I decided to sign up for one of the March 2012 workshops and am so grateful that I took that leap of faith which allowed me to gain an incredible wealth of knowledge and an invaluable experience from Michele.

One of things that impressed me the most about the Pinkle Toes Workshop was Michele’s organization and ability to stay on track in order to ensure that we made it through every activity and conversation that she had thoughtfully planned out.  We covered so many great topics, but by far my absolute favorite part of the workshop was being able to watch Michele in her element, photographing a family.  Michele is an extremely warm, talented, and caring person who has a gift of putting those around her at ease, so the opportunity to watch her capture a family so authentically was incredibly inspiring and beautiful.

Michele’s Pinkle Toes Workshop offers something for everyone.  Whether you are new to photography or have been in business for  years, as long as you are open to learning, you will surely walk away with new inspiration, techniques, and business tips.  And chances are, you’ll also probably learn from the other talented photographers attending the workshop while making a few new friends, too.  Michele was an open book, encouraging questions and feedback constantly.  I can confidently say that I left the workshop happy and fulfilled with the knowledge that I had hoped to gain.  Even now, months later, I still refer back to the notes that I took while there.  I have recently opened the doors to my photography business and am no longer nervous, but actually excited to watch it blossom.  I owe a large part of that to Michele and her amazing mentorship.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and heart with me, Michele!  I appreciate it more than you know!

Courtney…thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to share your inspiring and heartfelt words. I am so happy to have met you and I’m sorry it took me so long to properly thank you for your note.

And now a few images of Courtney in action at the workshop:

Plus, I *think* I spy Casey in that adorable red and white striped shirt, who happens to be our awesome hostess for the Olympia, Washington workshop this summer! We still have a few openings left for Olympia, Cardiff (near San Diego, CA), Mendocino (near San Francisco, CA), and my home base, Austin, Texas.

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*April Special Offer: This offer cannot be combined with other discounts. To receive the rebate, BOTH parties must attend a Pinkle Toes U.S. Workshop in 2014, but it does not have to be the same workshop. Several friends may book together, but it’s a max $200 rebate per person. Offer good through April 30th, 2014. Sorry, no rainchecks for sold out workshops.

I’m not a big fan of mean pranks on April Fools Day, so instead, I’m going to do something nice. No joke, if you’ve been wanting to sign up for a 2014 U.S. Pinkle Toes Photography workshop, TODAY is the day to do it! We have openings in Austin, Texas; Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Mendocino, California; and Olympia, Washington. I am running THREE very special offers today only. Again…no joke. You can get info by filling out the contact form on THIS page.

[Thanks to Meagan for this fun shot she took of me at an Austin workshop years ago ;-)]

Hi I’m Melody! I’m a senior portrait photographer here in beautiful Sonoma county!  I have three amazing wild & busy, toe headed little girls and a husband who just might loose his mind when they are all in high school.   Growing up in beautiful Mendocino,CA  I was blessed to be surrounded by such beauty on a day to day basic.  Our high school over looked the ocean and everyone knew everyone, it was AWESOME. So when Michele asked me to host I jumped for joy at the chance to share my beautiful home town with you.

[Mkay, Michele butting in here, but isn’t she just all sunshine and everything California??? I adore Melody with Melody White Studios in Santa Rosa, CA and I couldn’t be more thrilled to get to hang with her again at her home base in Northern California this summer. Read her interview below to get some insight as to how she’s made her business such a success and how she feels about hosting a Pinkle Toes Photography workshop in August. Now back to Melody…]

What makes your photography business unique to you?
I have build my business by learning to say NO to shoots that I didn’t feel represented myself or the direction I wanted to go.  Even though I own a camera it doesn’t mean I have to shoot everything.

Best thing about being a photographer? 
About three years ago I decided it was time for me to “specialize”  in one area of my photography and it didn’t take me long to realize I was the happiest when photographing teens.   It has been such a rewarding experience seeing these young girls look at their images for the first time and feel truly beautiful (something their parents and I saw from the get go).  Working with teens to me isn’t about just that one day they are in front of my camera, they have become apart of my everyday life and that’s a pretty awesome feeling.

Toughest thing? 
As nice as it is to be the “boss” it also it quite stressful.  One of my toughest things was learning to balance everyday life and work.   Having three little girls with crazy schedules finding time for them, my husband, church and friends has been quite challenging.

If you could photograph anyone/anything in the world (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
My husband comes from a large family there are 6 of them all together 4 boys and two girls!  15 years ago his older brother passed away (before I was in the family).  Then 7 years ago he lost his younger brother.  My “One” photography wish would be to take just one more photo of them all together…..just one.  That would be pretty awesome.

Why does Mendocino, CA ROCK for serving as a host town for a workshop?
A little fun fact about Mendocino is that its not a town at all they still consider it a village, cool right! It has a population of almost no one and stays alive because its one of the top total travel destinations in the US.  Mendocino sits on the beautiful Pacific coast cliffs in Northern California about 3 hours North of San Fransisco.   Many famous movies have been filled here such as Overboard, The Karate Kid 3, Dyeing Young, Forever Young and Murder She Wrote.  Mendocino is BEAUTIFUL there is no other place in the world like it.  PROMISE.

If you could describe your business in 3 words prior to the Pinkle Toes workshop, what would they be? 
Unorganized, Unmotivated and Unstructured

And what about after? 
Confident, Motivated and a clear vision about my business.

Best part of your Pinkle Toes Workshop experience? 
Before I attended The Pinkles toes workshop I had been to two other workshops.  I left both workshops feeling like I was just a paycheck to them. There was no personal connection, no interest in my work and helping ME become a better photographer.  SOOOO you can image when I told my husband that there was this ONE MORE workshop I wanted to attend. He was a little apprehensive and so was I.

Never-the-less, I look a leap of faith and pressed the Pay Now button said a little prayer that this workshop would be different and before I knew it I was off to Texas.  BEST DECISION EVER!  Michele not only answered every question I had she also cared about MY business and how to make it better.  After the workshop was over, we face-timed and Michele answered any more questions that I might have missed.  My whole experience at the Pinkle Toes workshop was amazing.  Plus the added bonus was all the amazing friendships I took away.

Most challenging part?
Honestly Michele is a great teacher and I felt like there wasn’t a hard part at all.

Advice to anyone who attends the workshop you’re hosting? 
I’m just excited for you to all fall in love with my beautiful home town of Mendocino and witness first hand how amazing the Pinkle Toes workshop is!

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Thank you so much, Melody, for your honest and kind words, my friend. I can relate to you on so much of what you discussed here. I know we are going to have a fun and productive time at all of the workshops coming up this year! Side note: On April 1st (#pinkletoesworkshopnojoke), I will be sending out info regarding a VERY SPECIAL OFFER on the 2014 workshops, so make *sure* you’ve signed up to get workshop info so you won’t miss out!

Meanwhile, here’s a sampling of some of Melody’s AMAZING work and make absolute certain you become a fan on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, too!

I am Caroline, owner of Caroline Martin Photography.  I am based in Carlsbad, CA, and have been capturing San Diego families for nearly 15 years.  I have a background in photojournalism, so lifestyle photography really speaks to me.  When I signed up for the Pinkle Toes Workshop in January 2013, I had no doubt I would learn a lot from seeing Michele interact with her clients during a session.  What I didn’t expect was that I would learn so many fabulous tips about the way she runs her business!  After having had a business of my own for so long, I was pretty comfortable with the way I had been running it.  The Pinkle Toes Workshop gave me so much valuable information for every aspect of this business, and I walked away with tons of great ideas that I am still in the process of implementing. Not only that, but I found an amazing group of photographers to lean on in this journey, and am so grateful for the lifelong friendships that started with my Pinkle Toes Workshop experience.  I can’t wait to host the Carlsbad workshop in 2014 and meet another wonderful bunch!

1. What makes your photography business unique to you?
   • Ansel Adams once said something that I think is so true…”We don’t make a photograph just with a camera, we bring to the act of photography all the books we have read, the movies we have seen, the music we have heard, the people we have loved.”  It is these things that make my biz unique to me.  The life I have lived up until this point is responsible for my style, my vision, my art, and my way of running a photography business. 
2. Best thing about being a photographer?
   • I love the feeling I get when I look at a photograph and it transports me back to that moment…the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings all come rushing back, and I get to relive the memory, if only for a moment.  I love that being a photographer allows me to share that with others, and to give them their precious moments back.
3. Toughest thing?
   • The toughest thing about being a photographer is finding the balance between my art, which I love, and my family, which I love more. When you work from home and make your own schedule, it’s an ongoing struggle to separate work life from home life.
4. If you could photograph anyone/anything in the world (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
   • I would love to have been able to photograph my relationship with my aunt when I was a child.  She passed away when I was 3 or 4, but the memories I have of her and the bond we shared are undeniable. There are very few photos of her, and, to my knowledge, none of the two of us.  I wish I could capture that in one of those ‘perfect’ images where you can feel the love.
5. Why does San Diego / Cardiff-by-the-sea, CA ROCK for serving as a host town for a workshop?
   • San Diego is such an amazing place for so many reasons. The weather, obviously, is a huge one!  Cardiff-by-the-Sea, in particular, is such a cute little beach town.  It has a laid back vibe, and so many cool, unique spots.  I can’t wait to share it with everyone at the workshop!
6. If you could describe your business in 3 words prior to the Pinkle Toes workshop, what would they be?
   • unstructured, uninspired, stagnant
7. And what about after?
   • organized, focused, refreshed
8. Best part of your Pinkle Toes Workshop experience?
   • There were SO many amazing things I took away from my experience at the Pinkle Toes Workshop!  It’s really hard to pick the ‘best’.  Things I didn’t necessarily expect were coming away with a wonderful new network of photographers who are a source of constant inspiration, and a friendship with Michele that has led to my participation in another workshop!  I couldn’t be happier!
9. Most challenging part?
   • The most challenging part of the workshop experience was coming home with so many incredible ideas for my business and really focusing on implementing them one at a time.  I was so excited about everything that I really had to reign myself in and not make too many changes right away. I like to try to keep the evolution of my business a steady flow, and it was SO tempting to change everything all at once!  While change is good, I believe too much change can lead to unnecessary chaos.
10. Advice to anyone who attends the workshop you’re hosting?
    • Take note of the ideas that interest you most and take your time figuring out just how they will work best for you.  I made a few organizational changes right off the bat, and have gradually been integrating the creative changes that work for me.  Too much at once is hard to get a handle on.  I am a big proponent for keeping your life balanced as you go, rather than tipping the scales with too much change, and then backpedaling to try to regain your balance.

Here’s a sampling of Caroline’s amazing lifestyle work:

Be sure to check out her WEBSITE, FACEBOOK page, and follow her awesome personal 365 on INSTAGRAM! Oh, and you can check out Caroline in action at the Pinkle Toes workshop she attended early last year HERE. You can learn more about the 2014 Pinkle Toes Newborn and Family Lifestyle Photography Workshops HERE.

Super excited about the two workshop dates in California this summer…Cardiff-by-the-sea July 25-27 and then Mendocino (I’ll introduce Melody to you guys in a few days!) on August 1-3. We will be in Olympia, Washington August 7-9 and then 11-13 as well! Very busy summer of workshopping!!! Can’t wait to see you again, Caroline, my dear!

Well, much to my surprise, the Ridgewood, NJ workshop sold out within days of opening for registration. (Don’t worry…we still have other dates in Texas, California, and Washington with some openings left. Along with tentative fall dates set for Perth and New Castle Australia!).

I would still like to keep with my plan, however, of featuring each of the hostesses for the upcoming workshops on my blog, so let’s go ahead and start with my dear friend Lena with Live Love Laugh Photography in Ridgewood, NJ (Follow her on Facebook):

I am Lena Antaramian, an award-winning Bergen County, New Jersey children and family photographer and owner of Live Love Laugh Photos. I am a mom to very different but equally amazing twin girls and a wife to a smart and funny man. I love dogs, books and sunny spring days. I love all types of food, dessert in particular; cooking it is a different story though. I love bags and believe you can never have too many. I am a world traveler and after visiting many countries, living in a few and meeting people from all over the place I truly believe that the world is a wonderful place and people at their core are good. I get teary-eyed when I witness emotional connections and moments – a hug between a mother and a daughter that shows more love that can ever be described with words, pure joy that is a belly laugh of a toddler, happiness on kids and parents’ faces when they are being silly together. And I feel very privileged to capture and help preserve them for my clients.

1. What makes your photography business unique to you?  Do I sound like I have a huge head if I say that ‘I’ make my business unique?  There are other photographers who have a similar processing style and technical skills but there is only one ME.  My clients get my unique artistic vision when it comes to their images and setting them up in their homes.  They have great time at their sessions because I make them fun for everyone.  They get gifts and personal gestures along the way that make them feel appreciated and cared for.  They get unbeatable customer service from me every step of the way.  And all of that contributes to the amazing experience they have whenever they book a session with Live Love Photos.
2. Best thing about being a photographer? This sounds cliché, but I truly believe that the best part of being a photographer is being able to preserve memories for our clients.  It is pretty amazing that we, as photographers, have the power to freeze time!
3. Toughest thing?  I see shots I want to capture pretty much everywhere I go and sometimes it is hard for me to stop taking pictures and just be in the moment because I always want to preserve the moment by capturing it.
4. If you could photograph anyone/anything in the world (dead or alive) who would it be and why?  All of my grandparents. Three of my grandparents passed away before I became a photographer and I never really photographed them.  I wish I could capture the wisdom and love in their eyes.  I do have one Grandfather (the older you get, the more amazing it feels to be someone’s granddaughter) and I did make it a point to photograph him.  I am thrilled that I have portraits of him that I love.
5. Why does Ridgewood, NJ ROCK for serving as a host town for a workshop? Well, for one thing, my town has the best Nutella crepes West of Paris!  [Michele: I can attest to that!] It has a lot of charm and personality: cute boutiques, amazing restaurants (NYC quality food at New Jersey prices), plenty of urban and park like settings for photo shoots.  And it is only 25 miles away from NYC!
6. If you could describe your business in 3 words prior to the Pinkle Toes workshop, what would they be? Style not clearly defined, middle-of-the-road in terms of success
7. And what about after?  Consistent (in terms of style and processing), successful, high-end.
8. Best part of your Pinkle Toes Workshop experience? I’ve learned A TON from Michele and 3 years later I still use what I’ve learned but if I had to pick just one part (and it is not easy!) it will be gaining more confidence. I attended the Pinkle Toes Workshop 3 years ago – at that time I’d had my business for two years and felt relatively confident in my work, business practices and pricing.  But after attending the workshop, and having one-on-one with Michele really helped raise my confidence level.
9. Most challenging part?  Lack of sleep:)  We were learning morning till night and while I would not change that for anything, I had to sacrifice  on sleep:)
10. Advice to anyone who attends the workshop you’re hosting?  Be ready to learn from an amazing photographer and business woman, eat yummy food, spend time with awesome people and have a great time all around!

And here is just a sample of Lena’s FABULOUS photography:

Our second workshop in Toronto this summer got off to a perfect start. We had a short little break after the first one  (literally, less than 24 hrs 😉 and we even had a chance to see Niagara Falls! One pic from that is HERE, but yeah, eventually, I’ll get around to going through the rest of the pics from that awesome evening ;-).

Anyway, after a FAB dinner out the first night–where I might add, I had my first ever Caesar–the next morning, we had a lovely, lovely in-home newborn photo session with this beautiful family. Oh, that baby girl was delish!!! And I loved how into the session her big sister was!

Then, we ventured out into a beautiful little park, found completely by mistake, for our family photo session, subjects = the wonderful Kerri Davis (who also happens to be a Pinkle Toes Workshop grad ;-)–oh man, I went to look for her workshop post and I realized I have not blogged her workshop yet!!! OH MY WORD! Must fix that as soon as I can).

So, I was told by a certain someone that there were no rattlesnakes or the likes of fire ants up in Toronto and I may have let my guard down a little too much. OH MY WORD! We were attacked by the most vicious biting ants I’ve ever dealt with in my life!!!! I’ll take fire ants over these little devils any day! They would NOT leave us alone and each place we would get bitten would go almost totally numb. WHAT? Yeah. At least I know how to spot a fire ant mound to avoid it 😉 No matter…we still had a rockin’ session!!!

And then, it was time to play with some maternity photos:

And who can resist some super fun behind-the-scenes shots?

Meet the awesome gals of Toronto B, brought to you by our hostess with the mostess Hilary Camilleri with One for the Wall Photography (check out her amazing work!!):

• HRM Photography – http://www.hrmphotography.com – London, Ontario
• Purple Tree Photography – http://www.purpletreephotography.com – Northville, MI
• Juste Ciel! Photographie- http://www.justeciel.ca– Montreal, Quebec
• Simply Said Photography-http://www.simplysaidphotography.com ~ Tillsonburg, Ontario
• Megan Johns Photography – http://www.meganjohnsphotography.com – Jacksonville, FL

Some of their blog posts and more fun pics here:

• Purple Tree Photography 
• Megan Johns Photography

I know there are many photogs out there anxiously awaiting word on the 2014 workshops. Trust me…I am right there with you. Lots of factors coming into play making scheduling a little bit tricker than I had anticipated. But soon…very, very soon, I promise. Hang in there.