Susan Solo – Photographer | Traveler | Adventurer

Category: travel

  • Flourish: Bridal Portraits

    The second session of the second day at Flourish we had the opportunity to observe Angela in her studio working with models in amazing wedding gowns. She was totally in her element, and it was such a treat to watch her work. Angela’s cinematic lighting genius husband, Gary, set up some really fabulous lighting and taught us about various techniques and equipment.

    This was my first time ever doing bridal portraits! I really love these dramatic images of Leah in her Romona Keveza dress with this crisp lighting:




    Sarah is wearing Amsale’s “Emma” dress:


    When Gary switched on this fabulously stunning lighting for us, everyone instantly ooo’ed and ahh’ed over it:

    I really need to get my hands on some hot lights to play around with that kind of set up! Okay and while I’m wishing, I wish I had a studio space like this. I’d probably never leave!

    Last but not least, Erica is wearing a beautiful Paloma Blanca (style 3806):



    I seriously could’ve taken pictures of them all day. Everything about each of the girls was breathtaking. Ana Crane-Simpson did THE most spectacular job on the girls’ make-up; she deserves a huge shout-out. And all of the dresses from Bluegrass Bride were amazing.

    Next up: (get ready for this) the “lights out” session!

  • Flourish: The Engagement Shoot

    So, let’s get back to my stories about the Flourish Workshop. The second day of the workshop was all about lighting and how Angela, Kim and Kitty conduct their photo shoots. In the morning we had the pleasure of working with two couples: Sam and Lizzie, who are engaged, and also Angela and Luke who are already married. Both couples were absolutely wonderful and such good sports! Can you even imagine having 23 cameras aimed at you for several hours?

    We started in an empty space upstairs from Angela’s studio where Kim gave instruction and advice. It was so helpful to me to watch her work. I recognized her doing some of the things that I do, which reassured me that I must be doing at least a few things right! After Kim spent time working with the couples, we attendees got to shoot and direct with the couples. I have to admit, this was slightly intimidating for me – I am totally comfortable working with my own subjects, but I’ve never had to do it in front of so many other photographers, and mega-talented photographers at that! On top of that, I am NOT a morning person. (My fabulously fun roomie, Jaci, and I had stayed up really late the night before, so that didn’t help!) Despite the intimidation factor and my morning fogginess, I learned a lot from observing everyone and listening to what worked for each of them.

    Both couples were so gorgeous and fun to shoot.

    It was actually really chilly outside, but you’d never know it from the photos and the expressions on their faces. Such troopers!




    How great is Lizzie for standing out there in the cold with tons of patience and smiles wearing a dress?!



    Thanks so much Sam, Lizzie, Angela and Luke – you all made this session so much fun! Coming up next: the bridal portrait session.

  • Self-Portrait and Q&A

    I’m just waiting on the model releases to continue posting about Flourish, but in the meantime I thought I’d post this self-portrait I took in the walkway behind Angela’s studio. Here I am, notebook under my arm, returning to the studio after the engagement session upstairs (leave it to me to see a mirror and take the opportunity for a self-portrait):

    I also wanted to answer some specific questions my friend, Jenn, asked me about the workshop – I thought it would fun to post the q&a here.

    1. What would you say was the most memorable part of Flourish? The people were the most memorable. The leaders and the attendees – it was just such an amazing, talented group of photographers. Everyone was welcoming and friendly, and really open to sharing. I never once felt at all belittled for being “green” in the business, and there was no sense of competitiveness. Everyone was genuine. And fun. And funny!

    2. What was the most useful thing you got out of it? I have to pick two things. First, just the basic business information was super useful to me, since I’m brand new to running a business of any kind. I’m definitely armed with tons of information to make my business successful now. Second, and maybe most importantly, I gained some confidence! I think being around so many successful photographers rubbed off on me a bit. I didn’t feel super confident while I was there, but it hit me when I got home – if I could be even half as successful as the leaders and attendees of Flourish, I’ll do great!

    3. Do you feel even more confident that you rock? See the second part of my answer to #2! I don’t know that I’ll walk around strutting or anything, and I still feel very humbled by so much talent out there, but I definitely feel more confident in general.

  • Flourish Part Four: The Workshop

    Well, it turns out I didn’t take as many photos during the workshop of the workshop as I’d have liked to, mainly I think because I was just in awe the whole time of Angela, Kim and Kitty. These women are incredibly talented and successful, and I felt overwhelmed with information from Day One right when we got started. And I mean overwhelmed in the best way. I learned so much from Flourish, not only from the workshop leaders but also from the amazing attendees. Everyone was so genuinely nice and friendly, and so willing to help me grow and learn.

    The workshop itself was structured perfectly, and all of the details that the girls put into it just really made the whole experience feel like such a treat. We were served mimosas in the morning (although I totally had to pass on those – I was so scared that I’d get buzzed and miss something critical). We were each given a set of really fabulous folders and notebooks.

    The restaurants that we went to were all amazing and delicious. Transportation was provided. The schedule was jam-packed, but somehow also totally comfortable. Angela’s gorgeous studio was the perfect environment for learning. I could go on and on and on, but basically everything was fabulous (the theme of the workshop)!

    Next: the photo shoots.

  • Flourish Part Three: The Penguins

    Yes, I’m dedicating an entire post to the 21C penguins. Partly because we were all quite smitten with the red plastic avians, but also because most of the images that I shot at the workshop can’t be posted until I have a model release (which I’m hoping to have on Wednesday or shortly after).

    So, about the penguins. As per the 21C Museum website, “The Red Penguin sculptures that are exhibited throughout 21C were commissioned for a public art project at the 2005 Venice Biennale.”

    The penguins are scattered around the hotel and museum, and they tended to move around and show up in unexpected places. Sometimes when we got on the elevator, there was a penguin riding the lift. Penguin #2 even joined Jaci and me in our hotel room for a photo shoot.

    Um, Jaci…don’t look now, but I think there’s a penguin behind that curtain:

    Oh, it’s okay. He’s friendly. (Hope her hubby doesn’t mind.)

    Bird bath:

    Chatting it up with the duck:

    He’s a vain little thing: