The Foundation Workshop

FW9

THE FOUNDATION WORKSHOP 9

What is FW9?
Unlike other wedding photography workshops, the ninth annual Foundation Workshop (FW9) offers wedding photographers the unique opportunity to work closely with top photojournalists and established documentary wedding photographers.

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, FW9 participants will explore and develop their photojournalistic skills through the process of shooting and editing a complete photo story of real subjects. There will be no staged weddings or model shoots. Participants will be challenged to approach their real assignments creatively and encouraged to shoot passionately while establishing a foundation for learning the skills and perspective of a photojournalist.

Dates and location?
January 30 through February 3, 2011 in Austin, Texas.

What’s the cost?
Full workshop registration is $3495. 50% will be due at time of registration, with the remainder due on November 30.

How do I register and pay?
You can apply for your registration here by sending your name, contact information, and team leader preferences. Please contact fworkshop {at} gmail dot com with any questions.

What’s the nearest airport?
Austin Bergstrom (AUS) is the most convenient airport. Other area airports may be used with a short drive. San Antonio (SAT) is 1.5 hr. drive, Houston (HOU) is a 3 hr. drive, and Dallas (DFW or DAL) is a 3.5 hr. drive away.

Where will we be staying?
Our host hotel will be Hilton Garden Inn in Austin. We have special reduced room rates for participants and faculty, and you’ll be given more information on making your reservations later..

What’s the schedule for FW9?

This is the preliminary schedule (subject to change):

Sunday Jan. 30: Lunch (provided) at noon, followed by classroom and team training at 2pm.
Monday Jan. 31: Assignment shooting and editing, group discussion
Tuesday Feb. 1: Assignment shooting and editing, group discussion
Wednesday Feb. 2: Final editing, group discussion, assignment shooting if needed
Thursday Feb. 3: slideshow preparation, final presentations (dinner provided)
Friday Feb. 4: departure of participants

Will we be responsible for our own transportation?
Yes. You will need a car to get to and from your assignment.

You had about 25 staff members at the last workshop (FW9). Isn’t that a lot?

We want to provide you with the most valuable instruction with a low student-to-faculty ratio to maximize your personalized attention. Many of the instructors have had experienced with previous Foundation Workshops. All are dedicated to the ideals of the workshop. We can allot up to six participants per team.

How does the team system work?
Each team has one team leader and three additional faculty members for six participants, who provide instruction in the field and in the editing suite at night. Because the teams function as independent units, each team is free to customize its schedule and procedures to suit the needs of its participants. Each night, all teams gather for a group discussion. The team leader is the editor and main instructor and is responsible for guiding the educational process of each team. The assistant is in charge of organizing and maintaining the team schedule. Mentors are available to assist participants with their shooting and answer any photography questions.

Can I choose my team leader?
We would like to match you up with the team leader of your choice. Please indicate your top two choices as team leaders when you enroll and we’ll do our best to accommodate everyone.

Who are the photographers serving as faculty members at FW9?
The first name listed in each column is the team leader, with team faculty listed below.

Will a mentor accompany me to my assignment?
Yes. Mentors will go in the field (for a short time) with participants for one-on-one instruction. We like to drop in on everyone to see how they’re doing and to offer any needed assistance or advice.

I don’t want to look bad in front of my peers. Can we edit my work in private?
We learn not only from examining our own work but from that of others. The editing sessions are conducted with the whole team present. It’s an invaluable process to begin to understand how other photographers think and see.

What skill level should I be at to make the most of FW9?
Those attending the workshop get the most out of it when they’re already very familiar with using camera gear in a variety of situations,not needing to spend a lot of time and energy thinking about the mechanics. They should be able to quickly make adjustments of settings to accommodate their vision of how to photograph a scene.

Do I need digital equipment? What should I bring?
You’ll only need the basic digital equipment : two digital bodies, a wide lens, a medium lens, a long lens, flash with off-camera cord, and a host of CF cards. You’ll be shooting JPGs. You can bring a laptop for personal use and your own image backup, but you will not be needing it for the workshop.

Will I have to come up with my own photo story assignment?
We encourage those returning participants to find their own assignments, and assistance is available. Those coming to the workshop for first time and those returning participants who want, will be given an assignment that best meets your needs. In this case, the subjects will have been contacted and their participation confirmed.

Will we be discussing post-production techniques at FW9?
No. Photoshop is only a tool to process the images from your story. We will focus our time at the workshop exclusively on the processes of seeing and capturing those images, not on post-production methods.

Will we be discussing the business of wedding photography at FW9?
Yes. However, the main focus of FW9 is on seeing and thinking and shooting differently. There is no specific time planned for discussions of business matters, but they will occur sporadically throughout the workshop.

Can you guarantee that I will double my bookings after attending FW9?
While we’d like to think that you will find financial success (and bookings) by improving your photographic skills, it’s up to you to make it all come together and make the big bucks.

I heard that participants did not get a lot of sleep during past workshops. Is that true?
Yes. The workshop is very intense, full of challenges and interesting people. Fueled by their passion for photography, many participants find it difficult to rest when immersed in such an environment. That said, we are working to offer more opportunities for sleep at FW9 than in past years.

Will there be any other organized social activities for fun?
Not really. Photography is fun!