Roots Workshop blog

Lucy Parker was the lucky duck to score a f-r-e-e seat to Roots via a Facebook contest so generously gifted by our sponsor Pinhole Pro. They caught up with Lucy after the workshop to ask her about her experience and we thought you might like to take a peek at her interview! A million thanks to Pinhole for their support. We were so happy to have had with you there with us, Lucy! Click here to read her interview and here to check out the wonderful paper goods from Pinhole.

After the teams were done sharing their slideshows with the group on the last night of the Roots Workshop, everyone was able to exhale and let loose a bit as the hard work was finally done. We had yummy pies and ice cream, hosted the (now annual) Chubby Bunny competition (images from that will not be finding their way to this blog. Some things shall remain a secret from the week!) and everyone piled into our sponsor photo booth, Snapshot Studio (created by Roots instructor Jenn Domenick), for some fun.

The rest of the images can be seen here.

Thank goodness for liveBooks! Our workshop website was generously donated by liveBooks and serves as our information hub for interested photographers to learn about the experience in greater depth including not just photographs but video as well. I trust liveBooks with my business website and, well, my life. liveBooks employee J Sandifer is my husband. J attended Roots as a student last year and produced an impressive picture story on a lighthouse in Provincetown. He returned in 2009 as a staff volunteer, keeping everyone well fed. We’re all so grateful for liveBooks’ involvement and support. Thank you!

Business: liveBooks
Location: San Francisco, CA
Business description: liveBooks professional website packages offer easy to manage, time-saving website solutions that set you apart from the crowd and greatly enhance your ability to do business through your website. Developed by photographers for photographers and based on input from thousands of creative professionals, liveBooks has created a product that delivers the features needed to create a web platform that meets both the short and long term needs of your business. From unique page layout to innovative interactive content, liveBooks can super-charge your marketing efforts.

Favorite Cape Cod memory: My favorite memory of Cape Cod was a sunrise at the Race Point Lighthouse for my assignment in 2008.  As a student, I spent the night at the lighthouse to get a feel of the place at all hours.  I rarely rise early enough to see the sun rise, but this was a great opportunity to do something out of the ordinary.  The quietness of the morning dew and the stillness of the air set the tone for me to make some terrific images that day!

Why you got involved: I got involved originally to learn from some of the best photojournalists in the wedding world today.  Learning how to tell a picture story in the Cape Cod setting and in the Roots house was magical.  This year I returned as the staff cook and truly enjoyed being at the center of the house…the kitchen.  The mornings meant hearing about peoples’ days ahead and fueling them for the challenge.  While I got involved to learn how to take better pictures, I feel like I have learned even more from the students’ collective growth.

Roots Workshop is fortunate to have several fantastic sponsors, the online studio management software system ShootQ among them. In conjunction with News Wedding Photographers, ShootQ hooked up one lucky Roots student with a 6 month membership in a contest we hosted on our Facebook fan page.

On a personal note, I have been using ShootQ for nearly two years and seriously have no idea how my business ran without it. I am able to stay on top of my leads and track all correspondence with inquiring brides straight through to booking the gig! Not to mention, the program is chock-full of other valuable resources including calculating income, sending invoices, organizing vendor information and connecting me to other photographers. Rachel LaCour Niesen, partner of ShootQ and LaCour Photography, was on staff this year. Paired with Greg Gibson, Rachel was an invaluable asset to the experience for everyone and I cannot wait for her to return in 2010!

Let’s learn a little more about ShootQ and Roots from Rachel, shall we?

Business: ShootQ
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Business description: ShootQ is a web-based studio management solution designed to liberate photographers from tedious administrative work so they can focus on what they enjoy – building their businesses, investing in their relationships and giving back to their communities. Developed by photographers for photographers, ShootQ increases profits by automating the clerical tasks and processes associated with running a business, including scheduling, invoicing, production, workflow, marketing and client interaction. Hire a virtual studio manager through ShootQ!

Favorite Cape Cod memory: My favorite memory is the magic of dusk on the Cape. The cool blue hue of the sky, combined with the salty sea smell and lyrical sounds of laughter on the porch set the scene for editing evenings. It’s an unforgettable experience that fuels creativity.

Why you got involved: I got involved because I hoped to share storytelling skills with fellow photographers, as well as learn from conversations that happen naturally around the dinner table. Living and working in the same house with so many talented, passionate photographers is an unparalleled learning experience!

Looking forward to Roots 2010!!

Thank you, Rachel, and the entire ShootQ team!!

Snapshot Studio is the brainchild of Roots mentor and longtime friend Jennifer Domenick of Love Life Images in Columbia, Maryland. She’s engineered a portable studio set-up for self-portraits for use at the weddings she photographs, and now for purchase by professional photographers! She was kind enough to sponsor a happy hour on our celebration Thursday at Roots Workshop. After a few Cape Codders, we were all happy to hop in the booth and snap away. For more information on this party in a bag, check out Jenn’s blog here.

For those of you who are big Jules Bianchi fans, like myself, be sure to check out her new website that offers tips, specials and goodies for photographers called Jules Cafe. Roots Workshop is featured as a daily special!

Photographers: if it’s not already on your radar, be sure to head over to the [b] School Blog for Becker’s daily instructional videos. They’re quick, informative, and quite fun.

And a big thanks to [b] for posting about Roots Workshop today (as well as other recent Roots Workshop blog posters like Justin and Mary Marantz, LaCour, Tina Carter from Vrai Photography and Katie and Chris Torres from 6 of Four Creations).