So, along those lines, I am so, so, SO excited to announce a workshop that I am teaching next year alongside photographer extraordinaire, Helene Dujardin, of the well-known My Tartelette blog.

Since hiring Helene to food style the last two cookbooks I shot, she and I have become really good friends. Let it be known that Helene is a PHOTOGRAPHER, not a stylist. She just styles for ME, because I ask really, reeeeeaaaaallllly nicely.

Not only do Helene and I really like each other, we work incredibly well together. And, while we have a lot of similar approaches in our work, we also have many differences which is why we thought it would be fun to co-teach a class.

But this isn’t any old workshop. Oh, no. Go ahead and read the description below and you’ll see what I mean.

Oh! One more thing! We are thrilled to announce that Cucina Fresca jumped on the occasion to supply a hungry group of food photographers with the finest of their products! If you are a company interested in sponsoring part of the event, please get in touch with either Clare at clare@clarebarboza.com or Helene at helene@helenedujardin.com

Imagine spending 4 nights in a gorgeous house located across the street from the beach in The Isle of Palms, enjoying great food and wine, learning all about food photography and styling from Clare and Helene, and taking lots and lots of photos. Over the course of the workshop, you will learn about exposure, utilizing natural light, composition, choosing props, styling, and how to tell a story through photographs.

When: Thursday, May 3 through Monday, May 7, 2012

Fee: $1250 (includes accommodations for 4 nights, all meals including dinner and drinks at an award-winning restaurant in Charleston, transportation to/from airport and on all field trips, and 3 days workshop instruction from Clare and Helene. Please note that bedrooms are SHARED.)

To Register: click HERE

Workshop Schedule (subject to change):

Thursday, May 3rd:

Meet and greet at 5pm with cocktails and nibbles.

Attendees will be treated to a homemade dinner prepared by Clare and Helene (contribution of their better halves at the grill not excluded!). Please list any food allergies or restrictions at time of registration.

Enjoy the evening walking on the beach, checking out the music scene a block down from the house or getting a good night of sleep in preparation for the coming days.

Friday, May 4th:

Enjoy breakfast on the back deck before gathering with Clare and Helene for your first session of the day!

Session #1, The Nitty Gritty of Food Photography (basic camera function, exposure, light, depth of field)

Photo shoot

Lunch prepared by your hosts

Session #2, The Nitty Gritty of Composition and Food Styling (learn simple yet essential art guidelines, camera angles, etc.)

Photo shoot

Session #3, How to tell a story with images ( in preparation for field trip the next day)

Dinner at the beach house, served family style

Saturday, May 5th:

A field trip to the Charleston farmers market, (bright and early!)

Photo shoot- photographing seasonal bounty and market finds, as well as cooking, styling, composing, shooting breakfast/ brunch

Brunch

Session #4, Shooting on location

Dinner at Lana Restaurant in downtown Charleston

Sunday, May 6th:

Breakfast

Photo shoot- picnic on the beach (food preparation and styling, working outdoors, telling a story)

Downloading and choosing images

Critique and Review

Farewell dinner bash prepared family style

Monday, May 7th:

Breakfast

Clean up and departure

It was SUCH a fun night, honoring two great women!

This was the first time shooting maternity sessions outside of my home studio, where I have worked for the past several years. It was AMAZING having so much more space to shoot in and, as stated many times previously, the light was incredible.

The shots below are of Zuleika and Doug, and their daughter Lelani. I photographed Zuleika for the first time four and a half years ago– during her first pregnancy (and two home-studios ago!) Now, little Miss Lelani is 4 years old and soon to be the big sister to another little girl.

Check out a few shots from their session below. How beautiful is this family?!

My great friend, Tracy, lent a hand painting and lining drawers and cabinets with contact paper.

We’ll have more progress to show soon!

I can’t believe it was only a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned to a couple of friends that I was interested in sharing a new photography studio space. On Monday, I signed a lease and picked up the keys to our new space in the Bemis Building. Suite 303 is now the Spare Room studio!

Spare Room is a little dream of ours. A wide open (1600 sq ft!) studio space with lovely natural light, rustic hardwood floors and yes, even an exposed brick wall. It’s the perfect spot for food and lifestyle photo shoots (not to mention food photography workshops, cooking classes and dinners).

There’s a lot of work to do to get the studio just the way we want it, and I’ll be sharing our progress along the way. Thanks for joining us!

-L