Laurel Housden Photography Blog

Aaron and I went to Tampa on October 30th to Scott Kelby’s Live Lightroom Tour. We over estimated the time it would take for us to drive from Gainesville to Tampa and ended up arriving 2.5 hours before the conference started. Below is a picture of the conference. If you look closely - “squint” your eyes - you can see Aaron and I sitting in the front row . I am wearing a long sleeved jacket and have my arms folded in front of me (photo by Matt Kloskowski)

Is this workshop for everyone? YES! If you are considering purchasing Lightroom or have just dabbled in it and want to learn more…I highly recommend this workshop. Scott does not got through EVERY single feature of Lightroom - there is simply not enough time. However, he does give a very thorough overview of the highlights of each module. Here is the schedule that was presented by Scott:

1. Setting up photoshop lightroom the right way from the start
2. the pro method: processing your raw, tiff and jpeg images
3. using photoshop lightroom with photoshop
4. showing it to the client
5. its all about the print

Now, I consider myself fairly proficient in Lightroom. I did the Chris Orwig tutorials on www.lynda.com (I highly recommend), and I read front to cover Scott Kelby’s Lightroom Book. Did I walk away with anything new - ABSOLUTELY! My favorite was his section on It’s all about the print. I learned a more effective and efficient way of getting through hundreds of photos down to my favorites and making collections so I can find them quicker.

Also included were three live photo shoots. One with a bride, a still photography shoot, and a portrait shoot (including the entire workflow from import to print in 10 minutes - that alone is worth the price of admission!)

The schedule flew by in no time at all! I could have easily sat for a few more hours. I mean it when I say…there were NO BORING parts to this seminar. It just flew by. Lots of oohhss and Ahhhhs from the audience. In between classes, Scott never left the room. He was very patient speaking to everyone who waited to ask him a question or to get a book autographed. Very gracious man. I even got my new 7 Point System Book autographed.

The freebies that come with the workshop are awesome! First…you get a complete book of all the material that is covered by Scott - so you don’t have to write notes. I liked this a lot because it allowed me to just focus on learning and not fumbling with a pen in the dark. Also included with a DVD on all kinds of tutorials, movies, plug-ins and more. A free copy of Photoshop User Magazine and Layers Magazine. But the really cool part is that in the lobby are dozens of the best selling photoshop books and DVD on all the Adobe Programs. Here is the best kept secret…don’t renew your membership to NAPP or join NAPP until the next Kelby Training Seminar because if you purchase a 1 year Membership to NAPP at the regualr price of $99 you get a FREE Book of YOUR choice and if you join for 2 years you get the FREE book AND a FREE DVD. So, if you are coming up on a renewel and you know you are going to a seminar…wait until you are there. Same goes if you are planning on joining. Also in the lobby were B and H Photo with some great discounts only offered to seminar students, Nikon, Wescott Lights, and more.

The really cool thing about going to Tampa - is that since that is where NAPP is based - we got to hang out with Matt Kloskowski, Dave Cross, RC (thanks for the tip on the tripod!), Larry Becker, and Corey Barker!

Matt talking with students

RC and Aaron talk tripods

Scott and RC fielding questions during the break

It was an amazing day . I came back to my office with a much better understanding of how to incorporate the power of Lightroom to my workflow. Thanks to all the great people over at Kelby Training - and a special shout out to the lady behind the book table from London!

Cheers,
Laurel - the photo enthusiast!