Arlund Workshops » Learn how to make great pictures

I loved Ann Arbor so much I had to go back. I also want to thank Finao Albums for welcoming me back to their awesome headquarters.

Details about what exactly we will be doing will be coming soon but it is a workshop about light and shadows. Understand how to see light and react to it. We will also get into people skills and overcoming fears. Fear is the number one thing that keeps us from achieving our dreams and photos. I want to get you to overcome your fear of: light, people and yourself.

Day one we will get into light. Everything but flash. Using modifiers. Reflectors, mirrors, hot lights, foam core, really anything that can reflect light to create interesting light. I want you to shoot and let me mentor you so that is what we are going to do. Make a lot of photos.

Day two is all about flash. On camera and off camera. How flash works with your camera and how to manipulate it. Learn to use RadioPoppers. Light direction and creating mood.

On both day one and two we will delve into retouching and my workflow using Lightroom and Photoshop.

Day three we will be inspired. I will show you how to create a wedding album at a reception to give to the bride and groom for their honeymoon.
Then we will take a trip to Detroit where we will go explore the Detroit Institute of Art. There is nothing like looking at art to become inspired and also learn about posing and lighting. Who knows, last year there was a Richard Avedon exhibit. We might get lucky again.

Please register here. There are 20 seats available. $1200

Some kind words:
Chuck: “You’ve seen David Williams how many times? And you’re here. At my workshop. I’m flattered but tell me what I can teach you that David hasn’t already covered.”
Me: “I want to watch you in action, see how you problem solve through a variety of challenges, know what is going through your head when you create your gorgeous and elegant imagery. ”
——————-

Not that I didn’t truly want to do that. I lied. Just a bit. I kind of already knew what was in his head (aside from David Williams).

In a DWF thread way back, someone asked for suggestions for posing. Instead of giving a three step posing how-to, this is how Chuck replied:
———————

“The Almost Kiss…
Have a personality. Make fun of yourself. Think deep down what makes you feel sexy. For me it is the almost kiss, no matter how long I have been married if I need a fix of what it was like when we first got together I will close my eyes and almost kiss my wife, holding your lips so close but not touching, feeling the breath between each other, a gentle nuzzle of her nose against yours.. gently stroking her hair with the back of your fingers, eyes are still closed, you can smell her, not her perfume but her, her being. Your eyes are still closed as are hers and all they are thinking about is each other, you are whispering to them to do this and then she opens her eyes and glances at you. CLICK! ”
———————-

SWOON. and that is why I wanted to see Chuck Arlund…
So put that together with seeing post after post of delicious images, stickmen diagrams and helpful advice, it was a no brainer. Chuck in Michigan and better yet, at Finao HQ with Day 3 wrapping up with a trip to the Detroit Institute of Art to see the Avedon Exhibit. Count me in!!!
Chuck’s workshop agenda was a very comprehensive list of topics (from lighting, on location shooting, post processing, album design, and more) that I wondered how on earth he would cover it with a room full of eager students, all in various stages of their journey with wedding and/or portrait photography but then again, I really didn’t care if he did — I just wanted to watch him shoot. Chuck is fun (not just funny). Chuck is crazy. Chuck is a glam rocker and breaks into song and air guitar. Chuck cares about people. This good lookin’, funny, creative, brilliant artist who can make an entire class full of students weak at the knees just by describing how he kisses his wife also knows a thing or two about photography.

Other attendees can elaborate on what they found most helpful, for me it wasn’t so much the classroom lessons (although these were very good), it was watching him describe his thought process at a shooting scene, throwing out ideas rapid-fire as to what was inspiring him at the time, watching how he worked and talked with the models, choosing and setting up his light and seeing how he adjusted it, making his lens and camera setting choices and pretty much narrating the entire time what was in his head. Then it was our turn — when I shot he was asking and challenging, “tell me why you would choose to do it that way?” or politely suggesting alternative approaches. Exactly what I had hoped for. I couldn’t ask for more. But having said that, it was pretty cool to watch him put together a yummy Finao album on-site the way he does at his weddings and to guide us through an Avedon exhibit — wow.

Seeing ‘Dovima with Elephants’ was like having a delicious dessert after a multi-course, 3 day meal of photography goodness. Thank you for a fun and fabulous time. Thank you for the inspiration…. and of course, for “almost kiss”.

———————-

I am one of those Canucks that ventured to Ann Arbor for the workshop.
it was wonderful.

i have always been afraid to take my flash off the camera, but with the help of Chuck and his crazy, rockstar skills, i am not afraid anymore! LOL!

Chuck is down to earth, easy to talk to, fun to watch when he gets excited about a subject and goes off on a weird tangent, and just a lovely gentleman and artist through and through.

I was blessed to be able to have some good, down to earth, one on one talks with Chuck (after hours of course) and i greatly admire him and his talent. He is humble and gifted, dearly in love with his art and his family.

if you ever have to chance to take a workshop from this guy, i highly recommend it.
it was great to be able to stretch myself into unknown territory, but even for the seasoned pro , i think Chuck has a lot to offer.