One of the many reasons we decided to provide a glimpse into our lives was to inspire and educate budding photographers. To guide lovers of the craft to a level of expertise and comfortability using tools and techniques that are like a trade secret to those outside of “professional” photography. Look, we’ve all been there, the starting line of the journey can be very intimidating. We promise, it’s not as scary once you begin taking those first vital steps out of the gate.

That’s our segue into our “Coffee + Cameras” workshop. A gathering for all photographers and photography enthusiasts who just want to learn. We understand the audience we have accumulated through social media, most of whom are beginners or industry professionals, but we wanted to extend an invitation to everyone and anyone who loves photography, no matter their profession in a comfortable, laid-back setting. So we figured what better location than Cafe Smitten? A swanky local favorite in Bakersfield, known for their incredible dishes which are only rivaled by their unforgettable beverages.

The evening was designed to develop a better understanding of shooting in manual mode. We approached this from a new direction and loved every minute of it. Going through camera configuration, lighting and other peripherals, paired with some real life scenarios. Implementing what we learned during a photo-walk. To say that this environment was easy going is an understatement. Everyone was able to ask questions and gather some real hands-on experience throughout the evening, we even survived “Parkour” Vic moments while trying to capture motion and implement what we learned during our teaching segment.

This is the reason we got into this business, to lift others up. To establish new friendships and divulge what we have learned along the way. We vowed to ourselves that once we became full-time, we would pass along what we learn, so that others in the industry can succeed. We are counting down the days until our next workshop, which is already slated for next month. The list of projects continues to grow and we can hardly contain our excitement for the future. To our friends who joined us for C+C, we thank you for trusting us. We cannot wait to see how your work progresses. Keep learning, continue to challenge yourself and above all embrace the bumps in the road. The greatest journeys come after silencing our own criticism, so take those photographs, make those mistakes and correct them one after another. Because they will continue to make you a better photographer. We will be cheering you on every step of the way!