33 Comments

1. Jennifer Moon on December 3rd, 2009

   Jen, you did an awesome job! I think you DO have a career in tv!
   Good luck you guys on your workshop, I’ll spread the word for you!
   Have fun!! (I know you will!)

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   Jen Reply:
   December 6th, 2009 at 11:16 pm

   Thanks so much Jenn! I don’t know about the career in TV… maybe so people can laugh at me! hehe

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2. Yolanda Hensley on December 4th, 2009

   Hi Chris and Jen!

   I’m so excited about your workshop! I am not a parent, however, have been interested in photography for years. I haven’t really done any researching or experimenting. I just point and shoot and hope for the best. I never leave home without my camera!

   People have always told me I have a “good eye” and take great pics, but there are only a few, and I mean, very few, photos that I am proud of. My intentions were to take photography courses at a local college, but every time I get the class schedules, the classes that suit my schedule are already filled. I work full time and can’t be flexible.

   For my last birthday, my husband bought be a Cannon Rebel. I hate to read manuals! So, needless to say, I haven’t used it much. But I get so inspired by the photos I see all you photographers posting and just by all the beauty that’s around me. I get so frustrated when what I see doesn’t translate into the photos I take!

   I think all I’m hoping for is a little basic instruction and understanding. Really, photography is what I would love to get into. What field of photography? I’m not sure yet. I lean more toward landscapes because I’m a nature person, but I also love to capture moments. Maybe a little of both! But I know it would fill my life with much more meaning to be able to put all the beauty that’s around me into pictures, which are worth a thousand words!

   Thank you for your inspiration and consideration!

   Sincerely,
   Yolanda Hensley
   yo_baby30@yahoo.com

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   Jen Reply:
   December 6th, 2009 at 11:17 pm

   Yolanda, thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to meet you!

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3. Sarah Ridley on December 6th, 2009

   1. Why do you need the Capture Life Workshop & Mentoring Session?
   There are many reasons I could use your workshop in my everyday life. But, the #1 reason would be having 4 kids. They have 4 completely different personalities that are sometimes hard to capture. I feel like Im missing a lot of moments because Im not sure how to get the focus correct fast enough or the angle,well, any of it really. Marshall and I will be getting our first SLR before your workshop so we will be brand new to using the Nikon SLR. We are soooo very excited to be able to finally get a nice camera that will allow us to capture the moments we cherish. The 2nd reason I am very interested in this workshop is I truly want to become a professional photographer. After going through what I went through with our wedding photos and dealing with bad service I want to be able to give that gift of priceless moments and great service to others. I look up to you two so much. You both have this art down to perfection!! I love looking at your work and I want to be able to get on that level one day. I know starting out with learning the basics is a perfect start ha ha! I can not wait to have the pleasure of learning from the best!! That’d be you two!

   2. How will the Capture Life workshop and Mentoring session will change your life?
   Capture Life Workshop will change my life in so many ways. Its the perfect beginning to a life long journey. I will finally be able to put pictures of our kids up that show who they really are and shows them doing things they love to do. I wont have to hassle with trying to get the perfect shot instead Ill have the confidence and knowledge to just be able to snap and shoot. Its a step in the door that I’ve been waiting a long time for.
   Thank you so much for giving this opportunity to me and my husband. Its so wonderful to see people with the talent you two have want to share it with others. Sharing knowledge is one of the best gifts! I cant wait to meet both of you!

   Thanks again,
   Sarah Hannah

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   Jen Reply:
   December 6th, 2009 at 11:21 pm

   YAY for mom’s with 4 kids! Can’t wait to finally meet you and Marshall, and see what you can do with your new camera! I’m so sorry about your wedding photos. We need to do that Trash the Dress session with you guys soon!

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4. Rachael Durling on December 6th, 2009

   1. I have owned a Digital SLR camera for about 3 years now and really don’t know how to use it. I have the creative eye that a photographer needs, but can’t seem to execute my ideas the way I envisioned them. 2. This workshop will change my life by allowing me to pursue a career as a professional photographer. I have been asked by numerous people to do family/kid photos and a knowledge of how my camera can work for me, would change the way I create these photos for them. Than

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   Jen Reply:
   December 6th, 2009 at 11:23 pm

   Thanks Rachael for posting! Having the artistic eye is a key starting place, can’t wait to share some of the basics and see how your photography grows!

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5. Candace Sauter on December 6th, 2009

   Hi Chris and Jen!

   I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about this workshop! I have been taking pictures for years. I began with a film photography class in High School and loved it. I had always planned to take more classes in college, but they always conflicted with my schedule. I continued to take pictures of everyone and everything I could, which also spawned into a love of scrapbooking.

   Once I had kids, I decided to go digital, only to be hugely disappointed in the point and shoot cameras. The lag time between shots drove me crazy and I missed more of the great shots of my kids rather than capture them. My husband surprised me with a Nikon D50 camera for Christmas and a whole new world was opened up to me. I loved the way I could fire off pictures to capture the smiles of my kids and I loved the lack of blur that I always seemed to get on my point and shoot digitals. Unfortunately, the skills I had learned way back in High School on settings and lighting had escaped me. I think I take pretty decent pictures, but I know that I don’t use my camera to the fullest ability it is made to used. I have studied many photographers’ blogs (yours quite a bit), read as many photography books I could get, but I have been missing one major component- the hands on learning part. I am very much a hands on learner; I have to see it in person and do it myself to make it mine. I need your workshop to make me the photographer I want to be.

   I think your workshop will change how I use my camera. It will change how I take pictures. It will make me take risks in taking my camera off of auto mode and actually play with settings. I want to learn about lighting and settings and techniques that will make my pictures how I envision them in my head. I want to really enhance my pictures, so that they really tell a story and make the memories for my kids more vivid and meaningful.

   Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. I am very much looking forward to it!

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   Jen Reply:
   December 6th, 2009 at 11:25 pm

   Hey Candace! Thanks so much for posting! I SO can relate to the digital point and shoot frustration! Can’t wait to work hands on with you and see how your photography grows!

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6. Dayna Kirby on December 6th, 2009

   Hi Jen (And Chris too!)
   Wow! What a great opportunity!!! I’ll try to keep this short…
   As you know, I’m blessed with three little boys who are constantly changing, growing, and on the go!! I find myself trying to capture them, in the moment, trying to freeze their youth and innocence in time! I am taking photos almost daily!! I feel that I need this course and mentoring session to help guide me in the right direction, to be sucessful in documenting my family’s most precious life moments, and to explore my passion for photography!! I love it!! Always have! (Ever since I was a kid!) And regret not persuing it more! I was just telling my husband, Chris, how much I love and enjoy photography yesterday!
   I think I could do it all day, every day, and not get bored! My batteries often run out of steam before I do!! The same goes for being obsessed with photos! My house is full of them! And I LOVE looking at photos, of all kinds, taken by others. Another past time that never bores me! I truely believe that every photo is worth a thousand words! It’s real, sometimes raw, always thought provoking, and– art in it’s purest form!! I love taking photos, reviewing them, editing them, looking back on them, sharing them. It’s my favorite thing ever, (2nd to my fam!!) and most prized posessions!!
   The workshop and mentoring session would definitely change my life by shedding some light! : ) I could definitely use some guidence in the right direction, to help improove my skills! You guys are such an inspiration in so many ways! Your talent is amazing! And I have so much respect for what you do! Especially for following your passion and doing what you love everyday! It would be a blessing to get the opportunity to work with you!! Thanks for considering me!!
   Much Love from your biggest fan,
   ~Dayna Kirby

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   Jen Reply:
   December 6th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

   Dayna, I love the passion that you approach everything in your life with! I can totally relate to that connection to all things having to do with photos and photography. Can’t wait to share with you and see you apply what you will learn, with your passion and see your photos take off!

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7. Lou on December 7th, 2009

   I totally don’t have audio here at work, so watching the video only would probably be weird. That being said, I’ll enter now, and watch the video at home.

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   Jen Reply:
   December 7th, 2009 at 3:18 pm

   Thanks for your interest Lou, I look forward to reading your answers!

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   Lou Reply:
   December 7th, 2009 at 7:38 pm

   hah. Just noticed I’m the only dude who posted on here. Funny.

   Anyways, just watched the video, and I don’t think the workshop would be right for me, not really being a beginner, nor a parent lol. Go ahead and ignore me from the contest hehe, I just didn’t know what the workshop was for from the FB link I read lol.

   Good luck with the workshop, Jen, i’m sure it’ll be successful, and I look forward to seeing what your attendees come up with!

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8. Terry Elam on December 9th, 2009

   Why – It’s very simple. I want to take the best pictures possible.

   I’ve been interesting in photography for awhile now and about a year ago I made the decision to purchased my first DLSR. Over the past couple years I’ve been buying about one camera per year. “This next camera will help be take better pictures”, I thought. I was worried about my gear and not about composition, lighting, back ground, exposure, ect… I know, I know – I’m doing this backward, but now that I have the camera that should last me a life time – I need to work on my technique, learn how to take a picture by worrying about the things that really make a picture great. I feel that I’ve taken some good pictures over the past couple months, my technique is to take hundreds of pictures just trying to get that one that you can say WOW about. I’d really like to take this workshop to learn how to take less pictures but make all the pictures I take count.

   Here’s a quote from another blog that I’ve kept, it really explains everything

   I just love taking pictures.
   It makes me feel so alive.
   It helps me see the beauty.
   It helps me notice.
   It helps me pay attention.

   Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
   Terry

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9. Jen on December 9th, 2009

   Terry, I LOVE that quote, and know exactly what you’re talking about with the cameras. Even as a professional, we’ve struggled in the past with wanting the next camera rather than maximizing what we have! Thanks for posting, I look forward to meeting you at the workshop!

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10. Tawney Brennfleck on December 9th, 2009

    Wow, what a great opportunity and I am happy that you extended you your contest since I was out of town!

    Why do you need the Capture Life Workshop & Mentoring Session?

    Photography is a obsession for me. Although I was interested in photography in the past, I didn’t focus on photography until after my daughter was born. This year I discovered my true passion for photography. I put my camera in manual and I haven’t looked back. After I got a solid grasp on the basics I retired my D70 and upgraded to a D90 (yay!). I would love to take great everyday photos of my children and fill my house with them. I would love to have the opportunity to get feedback from a professional to know if I am heading in the right direction and to learn to be more creative in my work.

    How will the Capture Life workshop and Mentoring session will change your life?

    Besides learning how to take better pictures lifestyle pictures of my kids (which are priceless), I think this workshop would help me creatively so that I will be able to find my style. I love it when pictures do more than just capture a moment in time; when the story you are trying to tell becomes clear.

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    Jen Reply:
    December 9th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Tawney, thank you for sharing your answers! You have a D90, how fun! I bet the video on that is fun! (Something we’ve yet to really play with, but want to!) The workshop sounds PERFECT for you, and I can’t wait to meet you and see how your photography grows!!

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11. Jessica Pollock on December 12th, 2009

    Hey guys! I’m so glad you extended the contest as well, since this is the first chance I’ve has to sit down and enter

    So I kinda have 3 answers to the Why:
    First, I have 4 kiddos as well and creating memories for myself as well as them gets more important year after year. Myself and my 2 older daughters also scrapbook, so they like to take some pictures here and there, when I’m feeling brave enough to let them hold the camera. So building memories with my kids and the many ways it brings us together is my main reason.
    Second, as you know I am co-owner of an invitation company and sadly, the pictures we take of our own hard work just do not do it justice. Product photography seems to be quite tricky and not something Rashell nor I have come close to mastering. So being able to photograph our work is another big reason.
    And third, you also know that we are in the process of starting a community of vendors and plan on coordinating meetups and events for the local wedding vendors in the area. What we’d ultimately love to do is be able to take great pictures of these events to share with the other wedding vendors outside of this area to inspire them to also arrange meetups in their areas.
    So this workshop would change quite a bit for my personal and professional life. Being able to improve the quality of the photos I take; being able to teach my children to share new tricks and tips as well; and being able to showcase our products and reach out to other vendors and get them excited about what we’re doing.
    Ok sorry for the novel here, but I’m super excited that you guys are moving forward with this so quickly and can’t wait to see how it all comes together!
    Jess

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    Jen Reply:
    December 14th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    Jessica! Love your answers, so MANY reasons that photography is important and will be helpful! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your answers!!

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12. Andrea Rosier on December 14th, 2009

    Hi Jen! I would love to take your workshop!! I will try my best to answer your questions below the best I can.

    1. Why do you need the Capture Life Workshop & Mentoring Session?

    I have been a Digital SLR user for 6 years. My first was the Original Canon Rebel. This past Mother’s Day I upgraded to the Canon XSi and LOVE it. I love taking pictures with my camera; there are times though when I know my camera can do more for me. I am a mother of 3 beautiful little girls – our newest addition is 6 weeks old today! I am fascinated by the amazing baby photos I see. I want to learn how to correctly capture these moments.

    2. How will the Capture Life workshop and Mentoring session will change your life?

    A Capture Life Workshop and Mentoring session will change by life by allowing me to be a better photographer. I am told by my family and friends how great my photos are of my girls. You are your worst critic and I know my photos can be better. This session can make that happen.

    Thank you for your time Jen! I am looking forward to the workshop next month!

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    Jen Reply:
    December 14th, 2009 at 10:25 am

    Hi Andrea, thank you so much for sharing your answers with us! Awwww a 6 week old is SO fun to photograph!!!! I miss having that built in model (who stayed still!) haha I can’t wait to meet you at the workshop!!

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13. Rashell Choo on December 14th, 2009

    Hey Jen–thanks for having this contest!! Happy to see my friends Tawney and Andrea entered too.

    I am a bit obsessed with photos and could spend hours digging through our old family albums. I’ve actually started scanning a lot of our photos, negatives and slides so everybody in the family can enjoy them. Last Christmas I put a slideshow together on DVD with photos ranging from my grandparents childhood to present–let’s just say there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Although many of the photos were poor quality, they still had a story to tell. Its amazing how looking at a single photo can bring you back to that exact moment. I would love to learn how to take better photos and truly capture these priceless moments.

    Another driving force in wanting to become a better photographer is for this new project Jessica and I are starting with my mom. For as long as I can remember my mom has been telling her stories by writing children’s books. She recently has been dabbling in photography and is nowhere near being a great or even good photographer but absolutely loves taking photos. So we decided to start a blog that combines both of her loves—telling stories and photography. With the site she hopes to inspire people not only through her photography but the stories behind them. The goal is to open each other’s eyes to things we may not see by encouraging everybody to share their photos and stories. I’m hoping to become a better photographer so I will be able to help her inspire and change the lives of those around us.

    Rashell

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    Jen Reply:
    December 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Rachell, we share the same passion! And your mom’s project sounds awesome and inspiring, I would love if you shared the link to her site with us!! Thanks for sharing!

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    Rashell Choo Reply:
    December 14th, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    As soon as the site is ready I’ll be sure to pass along!! Our goal is to launch the site January 1st–so I’ll keep you posted!!!

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14. Angelica Prado on December 14th, 2009

    I am so very excited for this workshop, especially because Jen Stewart is hosting it. What better teachers? When I joined the Twitter world, you were one of the first people I came across. As I followed you, I instantly became a Fan, of your work, your Passion, and the Fun person you are!

    As soon as you mentioned you were doing a workshop, I knew I had to sign up for it. And now a Contest?!? This is getting great!

    So, Why do I need the Capture Life Workshop & Mentoring Session? My husband is buying us a “Fancy Camera” for Christmas. I know nothing about fancy cameras and would like to learn how to use one for my best advantage. I believe attending the Capture Life Workshop is my best option.

    Capturing special moments is extremely important to me. I’m a new wife/mom and capturing special moment means the world to me. Right when my daughter came into the world, I tried to snap every special moment with my “not so cool camera”.

    We’d be honored if we won this contest.

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    Jen Reply:
    December 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    Angelica!!! I was starting to worry you were going to miss the contest! Are you entering from PV???? I hope you’re enjoying your trip! Thanks so much for taking the time to enter… we’re picking a winner right after I reply to your post… good luck!!!!!

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15. Tiffany Stout on December 14th, 2009

    I realize I missed the deadline for the contest…but I have been thinking about this since I first heard about it, so I still felt it important to share with you. And actually missing the deadline made me realize another reason why this workshop will be life-changing: Life goes to fast. I missed the deadline because it just got away from me (even with all your reminders, thank you!) I have been typing and saving it, and typing and saving it…and as parents, life can just get away from us sometimes! It is SO important to slow down and take the moments to savor what is most important to us; and to be able to embrace and capture that in a photo will be a gift for my family.
    Thanks Jen & Chris for offering this!
    First of all, the opportunity to learn from YOU is why I want to be a part of Capture Life! Your art speaks for itself, and anyone who has even a mild appreciation for beautiful photography would not pass up this workshop! I am grateful that your pure love of photography makes you willing share your expertise with mere wannabes like me. I NEED this. There is so much I DON’T know about photography. I have always wanted to learn, but have never pursued it. I just take pictures and cross my fingers! Sometimes I get lucky and have an amazing result (relatively speaking), but for the most part I am clueless. I bought my Nikon D40 hoping it would magically make me look good, but I have realized I have no idea what I’m doing with it…and this workshop will certainly enlighten me. I always have a camera on me, I am always taking pictures. I always tell my friends and family, “I know this is annoying, but you’ll be happy to have these photos one day!” I also realize that editing plays a huge part in the finished product as well, but I don’t know what I’m doing there either, and would love to learn more about it.
    How will it change my life? I have always LOVED photography. Being able to capture raw emotion in a picture is a gift. It truly is the most amazing form of art to me – and being that I do not consider myself a naturally creative person – I need this training to spark some creativity and to help me look at photography as storytelling. Photos tell a story, freeze a moment in time, bring back memories, spark emotion…they have so much personality! I want to evoke emotion through my photos…even it if it is only me looking at them! I realize that life does not slow down, it only goes by faster! I watch this before my eyes as my 2 little girls are growing so quickly and photography makes me realize that we need to slow down and enjoy all the little moments just as much as the big ones. To be able to beautifully capture those moments in a photo, and make it last a lifetime…will change my life.

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    Jen Reply:
    December 14th, 2009 at 2:46 pm

    Tiffany!!! So sorry you missed the contest, but thank you SOOOOOO much for posting on here anyway! I have tears in my eyes reading your post, that is EXACTLY why photography is important to us! I’ve been convicted the last couple weeks of letting time slip by on me as well!

    Because I’m a photographer you’d think I am constantly taking photos of my kids and recording all those moments, but the last few months, I’ve let that slip away, so focused on work, and LIFE, and not focused on recording it, for my family to look back on. The VERY REASON I started our photography business!! We have fallen prey to that old adage about “the cobblers sons having no shoes”.

    This workshop, the planning of it, and the blog posts we’ve been working on has reminded both Chris and myself to stop and slow down and take those photos that we treasure so much!

    I can’t wait to share with all of you more on this, and see all of your spontaneous family photos reflect not only your passion, but the vision you had when you took them!!!

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16. Дарья on December 16th, 2009

    Нормально, можно cделать маленький сборник.

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17. Синий on December 17th, 2009

    Всем Доброго утра! Вот это меня улыбнуло!!!!

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18. wm on February 26th, 2010

    Спасибо. Пригодится. )

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