|
We cannot let this day go by with out a proper Anniversary Wish to our amazing 'models' who allowed us to hijack their elopement!  We gave our attendees a surprise wedding to witness and to have an opportunity to capture as a workshop portfolio builder as well!  There is nothing better then true love, and when you get to capture that moment with your friends, and witness it...ahhhh....all the feels!!  The Open Trunk // Orange Trunk // Chic & Grace Studios // Eagle Pass Lodge //Fern & Frond // Avenue Beauty // Durand Bridal // Ed Williams Mens Wear // Mountain Grove Studios // Lindsay & Sean // The Social Page // Sugar By Tracy // Glacier Helicopters // Apostle Boutique So, Happy Anniversary to our favourite elopement pair...we heart you guys! ps...can we do this again??? thank you friends
|
| RESEARCH Knowing the style you want to shoot in will go a long way when starting out. AND, its ok to switch, or change it up later. People evolve, styles change. Once you know what your style is now, its easier to move to the next steps |  |
 | SECOND SHOOT Ask a photographer you admire if you can second shoot for them. Find one who works in the style you want to work in. They won't all want a second shooter, but you won't know unless you ask. Be prepared to learn a lot...by watching and paying attention. |
| ATTEND There are a lot of portfolio builders and photography shoot-outs around. These are investments in your art, and your future business. Find one that suits your style, and what you want to capture for your portfolio. But also, attend a few that are new styles for you. Its ok to learn something new. |  |
 | TAKE NOTES When you are working with other photographers, and industry vendors, you will learn a lot. You will learn how a styled shoot day goes; how you work with others; ins and outs of a shoot-out; etc. Watch and learn, and take it all in...there is more value at a workshop or shoot-out day then you would imagine! |
| SHOOT Every Single Day! Get your camera out and capture life's beautiful, and even mundane moments. You never know what you may get for images! Practice editing, and learn new editing skills on these images. |  |
 | PARTICIPATE Join a styled shoot, or ask some vendors you have met at previous workshops to help build a styled shoot team. Create your own design, and capture all those dreamy moments! |
I cannot wait to see what you have created to fill your portfolio!
Your potential clients want to know you can shoot a real wedding day...100%
But, they also want to see what you are capable of in your craft. It is ok to show off your 'styled work'...just be sure to tell your clients its an education you are investing in for you to build on your craft.
If you have any questions at all about our workshops, or portfolio builders, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Your potential clients want to know you can shoot a real wedding day...100%
But, they also want to see what you are capable of in your craft. It is ok to show off your 'styled work'...just be sure to tell your clients its an education you are investing in for you to build on your craft.
If you have any questions at all about our workshops, or portfolio builders, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Thanks friends
~H
What a treat!!!
We have a fabulous feature over at Confetti Wedding Magazine today with Captured In Amber Photography!!!
We have a fabulous feature over at Confetti Wedding Magazine today with Captured In Amber Photography!!!
 |  |
Having an opportunity to be featured in our local wedding magazine publication is a true treat for us at The Open Trunk Workshop.
We get a chance to watch our attendees find the passion of using their creative spirit to grow their business. To grow their community and network.
Having a feature never gets old. Ever. It builds us up, it feeds our passion to create, and pushes us to achieve these goals for our clients as well.
We get a chance to watch our attendees find the passion of using their creative spirit to grow their business. To grow their community and network.
Having a feature never gets old. Ever. It builds us up, it feeds our passion to create, and pushes us to achieve these goals for our clients as well.
 |  |
Never take the opportunity to create for granted.
Using styled shoots to show off your skills, your service & your passion is a gift.
Thank you Amber for sharing your gift with us!
We are forever grateful that you jumped into our workshops with both feet and have pushed your passion forward!
Using styled shoots to show off your skills, your service & your passion is a gift.
Thank you Amber for sharing your gift with us!
We are forever grateful that you jumped into our workshops with both feet and have pushed your passion forward!
 |  |
The Open Trunk // Chic & Grace Studios // Eagle Pass Lodge // Fern & Frond // Avenue Beauty // Durand Bridal // Ed Williams Mens Wear // Novia Mia // Mountain Grove Studios // Orange Trunk // Anna's Alterations // 4Fold Threads // Lindsay & Sean // The Social Page // Sugar By Tracy // Cake Bake Shoppe // Glacier Helicopters // Apostle Boutique // Joanna Bisley Jewelry // Numa Network: Jacinthe Bernier & Caleb Mpyet // Chair Flair // ADX (Alberta Diamond Exchange)
We are so proud of Amber, and what she has done to grow her business in the past couple of years. She has grown as an artist, creator and photographer.
When we build the wedding industry up, and create these moments together, we grow as a community.
When we build the wedding industry up, and create these moments together, we grow as a community.
thank you friends
~H
When it comes to creating a styled shoot, one very important tip I can
share with you, is to get an image request or shot list from every vendor.
share with you, is to get an image request or shot list from every vendor.
 |   |
Details of the long table; the country path, and the bride eating ice cream were
image requests for this styled shoot.
image requests for this styled shoot.
Having an image request or shot list from each vendor will allow the creative director and photographer to ensure that each vendor gets great quality images they can use for their social media + website.
 |  |  |
Things to know: Vendors, when sending an image request or shot list to the creative director or photographer of a styled shoot:
1. Specific yes...outrageous NO!!!
We all know what works best on our websites, and in our social media platforms, so asking for portrait images; or an inventory shot of the jewelry as well as being worn on the bride...these are acceptable requests. Asking for 15 inventory shots from every angle of each piece you have on set...NOPE!!!
2. Be responsible!
The responsibility of getting the image request to the creative director and photographer lands on each vendor on the team. Once you have been asked for it, it is up to you to get that list to the team.
3. Image needs!
Remember the images produced at a styled shoot are typically meant for sending to publications, social media + website use. The Creative Director or main planner of the shoot should let the team know what the wait time will be for the image release. *also note: styled shoot images that are being sent to publication, should not be used as advertising images prior to release of publication; your creative director will inform the team if the images are available for advertising purposes.
4. Head shots ???
To be honest, I think getting images of the on site vendors at work is a great way to have behind the scenes images to share, and is certainly a great way to share sneak peeks of a styled shoot prior to the full image release or publication date. But having full on head shot session for each vendor on site would certainly be too much to ask in my opinion!
5. Being on set is best!
If you can possibly be on set for a styled shoot, it is best to be there. Not only is it a great way to get to know the other vendors, but being there is a good way to ensure you get images you want/need of your product or service.
1. Specific yes...outrageous NO!!!
We all know what works best on our websites, and in our social media platforms, so asking for portrait images; or an inventory shot of the jewelry as well as being worn on the bride...these are acceptable requests. Asking for 15 inventory shots from every angle of each piece you have on set...NOPE!!!
2. Be responsible!
The responsibility of getting the image request to the creative director and photographer lands on each vendor on the team. Once you have been asked for it, it is up to you to get that list to the team.
3. Image needs!
Remember the images produced at a styled shoot are typically meant for sending to publications, social media + website use. The Creative Director or main planner of the shoot should let the team know what the wait time will be for the image release. *also note: styled shoot images that are being sent to publication, should not be used as advertising images prior to release of publication; your creative director will inform the team if the images are available for advertising purposes.
4. Head shots ???
To be honest, I think getting images of the on site vendors at work is a great way to have behind the scenes images to share, and is certainly a great way to share sneak peeks of a styled shoot prior to the full image release or publication date. But having full on head shot session for each vendor on site would certainly be too much to ask in my opinion!
5. Being on set is best!
If you can possibly be on set for a styled shoot, it is best to be there. Not only is it a great way to get to know the other vendors, but being there is a good way to ensure you get images you want/need of your product or service.
 |
Thanks Friends
~H
We are all spending a lot more time in front of our screens these days!
I found Pinterest to be a creative outlet that allowed me to maintain
some sort of sanity while grieving the lack of events and creative
outlets we were used to!
I found Pinterest to be a creative outlet that allowed me to maintain
some sort of sanity while grieving the lack of events and creative
outlets we were used to!
If you opened this blog on your laptop/ipad/desktop, you can use pinterest on your phone to follow my pincode directions above to open my pinterest account!
Between learning how to co-work with my husband, homeschool my teenage boys and the non stop news about this crazy time in our
world...well, I needed something to allow me to escape back to
my creative world. So I took to Pinterest to start planning more shoots and designs for when we get to work again!
BUT...instead, I decided to actually look at how my Orange Trunk Pinterest account was performing. I did not have an account for The Open Trunk Workshop...so I created one. I could feel the creativity starting to take hold of me...felt so much better then the bad news on social media feeds!
world...well, I needed something to allow me to escape back to
my creative world. So I took to Pinterest to start planning more shoots and designs for when we get to work again!
BUT...instead, I decided to actually look at how my Orange Trunk Pinterest account was performing. I did not have an account for The Open Trunk Workshop...so I created one. I could feel the creativity starting to take hold of me...felt so much better then the bad news on social media feeds!
At first glance, I thought Orange Trunk was doing pretty good at Pinterest at 24.4k monthly views...and I wasn't even trying! I was using Pinterest as a design tool only at this point. Most of my design boards are kept secret while I work on them! Most website pins were outdated. Boards were messy. And links were definitely not being clicked!!! So I put the work in, and I am quite happy to report that I have increased my viewership by over 185k monthly views, sitting at a solid 209k monthly views now, and still growing daily!
 |
So, I started pinning + blogging for the workshop! Creating more engaging blog posts that would create clickable links to pull pinners to the website.
 |  |
I started researching how Pinterest can help build a business and grow website traffic...and guess what I found?
ITS FREE!!
yup...free, freebie, free willy, free as a bird...FREE!
Don't get me wrong...it will cost you time...but right now, we all have a little more time on our hands!
AND... you can pay for a scheduling app via services like Tailwind.
Just depends on what your time bank vs bank account allows your
budget to spend!
~ this is not an ad~
There are plenty of free + paid for webinars to watch. Those will of course help you reach further with Pinterest, no doubt, but most of that information is right there in your resource tools in your business account hub!
ITS FREE!!
yup...free, freebie, free willy, free as a bird...FREE!
Don't get me wrong...it will cost you time...but right now, we all have a little more time on our hands!
AND... you can pay for a scheduling app via services like Tailwind.
Just depends on what your time bank vs bank account allows your
budget to spend!
~ this is not an ad~
There are plenty of free + paid for webinars to watch. Those will of course help you reach further with Pinterest, no doubt, but most of that information is right there in your resource tools in your business account hub!
Below I have created an easy to follow plan to get your
Pinterest Business Account going!
Pinterest Business Account going!
Each week I host online meetings to talk about Pinterest, and how to increase our audiences. I am not an expert by any means, but I am doing a lot of research these days, and have found some pretty cool ways to do things, and I would love to share that with you!
| If you are a past attendee or vendor to our workshop series, we have a group board just waiting for you to join and get pinning to!  |
If you are not part of a group board yet, the instructions are right in the link above, and I encourage you to join us! It's brand new, and I'd love some company! If you want more information, please reach out and I'd be more then happy to walk you through it!
I sure hope you found this helpful!! I'll see you on the pinboards!
thank you friends
~H
The teams here at The Open Trunk Workshop have seen a lot of styled shoot collaborations. Collectively, we have worked on hundreds of shoots, and with many vendors in the industry.
When we come together to create one of our collaborative styled shoots for the workshop, we are able to build brilliant teams using these 5 Keys!
| 1. Get out there and get to know your local wedding industry vendors!!! The more people you work with, the greater network you have to choose vendors from for a particular collaboration. Chelsea of Fern +Frond Floral Design in Kamloops, BC, was the florist for our very first workshop when she lived in Calgary. We have collaborated with Chelsea on many projects, weddings & styled shoots and knew when we took the retreat to BC, she would be our first call! ~ image by Alexadra Kurta Photography ~ |  |
 | 2. Exposure is not a dirty word! So long as everyone is on the same page, and every member of the collaboration team is getting what they ask for or need to make it a useful tool for their business! Exposure can be a great thing!!! Here we have a perfect example of Exposure, and how it can be so good! The images taken at one of our Retreats ended up in the pages of Confetti Wedding Magazine. These features are not guaranteed...so when we get to email our vendor team to let them know they got a PRINT feature...that exposure means the world to a small business. ~ images by Chic & Grace Studios ~ |
| 3. Choose the right vendors for the right job! This is so important! Here we asked a stationer to create a watercolour suite for the style we wanted. Kelly of Lovesky Design was such a trooper, and went above and beyond to create something so beautiful for us...even though it wasn't her style! She was so amazing, and even asked another local stationer, Debbie, of Debbie Wong Designs, to help her create the watercolour for the design. The end result was perfect. AND, we learned a valuable lesson...ask the right vendor for the job...it avoids undue frustration to the vendor! ~ image by Grey Lily Photography ~ |  |
 | 4. Share the excitement of your design with the team. Get everyone involved and allow them to let their art shine as well. When you work together, the sky is the limit. Here we have a team that worked on a a table design challenge together. None of them have worked together before this day!! They got excited, shared their ideas, each brought their own personality to the team, and the table design was incredible!! Robin, of Avenue Beauty; Kimberly of Chic & Grace Studios; Clarissa of Foxtail Floral Design ~ image by Grey Lily Photography ~ |
| 5. Be super clear with expectations for a collaboration. Transparency is always the best rule! Here we have a large collaboration, using a lot of vendors! Tables, lighting, table wares, seating...all of it was a mix from multiple rental companies! In this particular instance, none of those vendors minded sharing the stage with the others...it was a bigger picture we were coming together to create. In a typical styled shoot collaboration, it is key to be transparent with your vendor team who is bringing what to the shoot...ALWAYS be clear about that! ~image by Roz Edge Photography ~ |  |
 | BONUS: There will be bumps in the road. Learn from them. Move forward, and keep creating! I learn more about what to do and what not to do at every single workshop we have hosted. Our goal is to build the community we work in! A stronger community, is a stronger team! ~ images by Chic & Grace Studios ~ |
thank you friends
~H
We have some super talented wedding vendors
attend our workshops.
Getting to share some of their work is a highlight for us!
attend our workshops.
Getting to share some of their work is a highlight for us!
Today, we are featuring the talents of
Meghan Unger Photography.
Meghan Unger Photography.
 |  |
The engagement session at the old Ghost Highway in Revelstoke, BC
couldn't have been a more perfect spot for Meghan's talent to shine through.
couldn't have been a more perfect spot for Meghan's talent to shine through.
 |  |  |
Moody tones + intimate captures are what Meghan's style is
all about, and we are here for it!
all about, and we are here for it!
Learn a little more about Meghan below:
Hi! My name is Meghan Unger. I live in Olds, Alberta with my husband and two beautiful daughters. I’m originally from BC and miss the trees and mountains often. I started my photography journey when I was pregnant with our first daughter and what started as a hobby, slowly but surely, turned into a full-time business that I love. I try to find beauty in the simple and subtle things. The connections and details that might get overlooked. The relationships. The love. So that you can look back on those images in 10, 20, 50 years and not only remember them, but feel them as well. I am so grateful for all of my beautiful clients. From those of you who I’ve just met, to the ones who have booked with me from the very beginning. It’s been an honour to capture your sweet family’s memories. To hold your new babies. Laugh with you, and cry with you.
Thank you for trusting me with these precious gifts.
Thank you for trusting me with these precious gifts.
 |  |  |
 |  |
Meghan captured some really great behind the scenes images of
attendees at the engagement session.
attendees at the engagement session.
  |   |
 |   |
The Open Trunk // Chic & Grace Studios // Eagle Pass Lodge // Fern & Frond // Avenue Beauty // Ed Williams Mens Wear // Mountain Grove Studios // Anna's Alterations // 4Fold Threads // Lindsay & Sean // Apostle Boutique
We want to feature more of our attendee's work. Please email us your submission for feature. We want to build the community of our workshop attendees & vendors.
thank you friends
~H
Whoa...it's a big title...but I promise it's worth it!
~ images by Meg Skalicky Photography ~
~ images by Meg Skalicky Photography ~
I have heard time and time again from photographers who have attended our workshops, that they learned so much from the other photographers in the room. Open minded, like minded, and community driven attendees are the back bone of our portfolio builders. They come out here to learn, and are often able to teach others a tidbit or two along the way. It's brilliant!
Stepping out of your comfort zone can be daunting. So why not do it in a room of other creatives that are likely feeling the same way! Let your curiosity loose, and learn something new!
Spending time with new creative friends and vendors is always a good thing. The wedding & event industry is big, but a tight knit community. We love meeting new vendors, and creating new networks to reach to for work referals.
Sometimes trying something new puts you on a new path. How fun to find a new passion in life and in your work.
Slowing down, and taking time to allow your instincts to kick in is a sure fire way to reignite your passion for photography. Let your talent shine through!
For more about our portfolio builders, check our our series line up and have a peek back at our past workshops.
We hope to see you at one of our workshops in the future.
We hope to see you at one of our workshops in the future.
thank you friends
~H
We are so proud to share our styled shoot designs featured in
Confetti Wedding Magazine!
Confetti Wedding Magazine!
Shannon Valente Weddings // Orange Trunk Vintage Styling & Rentals
Westerly Edge // Roz Edge Photography // Chloe Buie Photography // Fall For Florals // Everlasting Impressions // Great Event Rentals // Pink Umbrella Designs // Sugar by Tracy // Farm Girls Food Truck // Novia Mia // Espy // Joanna Bisley Designs // Jaimie Rankin Beauty // The Knot Garden YYC // Ashia Sanders & JP Heon // Frozen Assets Ice Cream CO. // Rangeland Event Rentals
Westerly Edge // Roz Edge Photography // Chloe Buie Photography // Fall For Florals // Everlasting Impressions // Great Event Rentals // Pink Umbrella Designs // Sugar by Tracy // Farm Girls Food Truck // Novia Mia // Espy // Joanna Bisley Designs // Jaimie Rankin Beauty // The Knot Garden YYC // Ashia Sanders & JP Heon // Frozen Assets Ice Cream CO. // Rangeland Event Rentals
The Open Trunk // Chic & Grace Studios // Eagle Pass Lodge // Fern & Frond // Avenue Beauty // Ed Williams Mens Wear // Mountain Grove Studios // Anna's Alterations // 4Fold Threads // Lindsay & Sean // Apostle Boutique
The Open Trunk // Chic & Grace Studios // Eagle Pass Lodge // Fern & Frond // Avenue Beauty // Durand Bridal // Ed Williams Mens Wear // Mountain Grove Studios // Lindsay & Sean // Glacier Helicopters // Apostle Boutique
The Open Trunk // Orange Trunk // Chic & Grace Studios // Eagle Pass Lodge // Fern & Frond // Avenue Beauty // Durand Bridal // Ed Williams Mens Wear // Mountain Grove Studios // Lindsay & Sean // The Social Page // Sugar By Tracy // Apostle Boutique
What a treat to be featured in our local Wedding Magazine.
Sharing the images and designs that our vendors work on to bring to life our styled shoot collaborations.
Sharing the images and designs that our vendors work on to bring to life our styled shoot collaborations.
thank you friends
~H
HI FRIENDS!
I wanted to pop into your day with a little list...
5 REASONS TO DO A STYLED SHOOT
...when we can get back to working and creating together!
I wanted to pop into your day with a little list...
5 REASONS TO DO A STYLED SHOOT
...when we can get back to working and creating together!
1. STRETCH YOUR CREATIVITY!
Use a styled shoot to do something new!!!
I've never had a helicopter in a shoot before...but we made it happen!
AND...it was EPIC!!!
Image by Meghan Unger Photography
Use a styled shoot to do something new!!!
I've never had a helicopter in a shoot before...but we made it happen!
AND...it was EPIC!!!
Image by Meghan Unger Photography
2. CONNECT WITH OTHER INDUSTRY VENDORS!
Build your industry community. Ask new vendors to participate, giving them a chance to build their business as well. We get a chance to meet new vendors at our styled shoot workshops. It's a great way to network in a creative atmosphere.
image Roz Edge Photography
Build your industry community. Ask new vendors to participate, giving them a chance to build their business as well. We get a chance to meet new vendors at our styled shoot workshops. It's a great way to network in a creative atmosphere.
image Roz Edge Photography
3. SOCIAL SHARING!!!
Social sharing is the best and easiest way to build your business! Use the free social media apps to build yours!!
Instagram is our favourite, but with todays technology, you can feed your styled shoot images to every platform out there! We are diving into Pinterest too!!
image by Grey Lily Photography
Social sharing is the best and easiest way to build your business! Use the free social media apps to build yours!!
Instagram is our favourite, but with todays technology, you can feed your styled shoot images to every platform out there! We are diving into Pinterest too!!
image by Grey Lily Photography
4. CREATIVE RELEASE!
Those ideas you have that are so good, and you just need someone to see them!!!
For years we had a vision of creating this alfresco long dinner table, so we did!
image by Chloe Buie Photography
Those ideas you have that are so good, and you just need someone to see them!!!
For years we had a vision of creating this alfresco long dinner table, so we did!
image by Chloe Buie Photography
5. SHOW OFF WHAT YOU CAN DO!
This is a way to show off your design ideas, and styles!
A forest elopement with a mossy ground, and view of the Mountains...we dreamt this design up and brought it to life with a fantastic team of vendors, attendees and a couple who allowed us to 'hijack' their elopement!
Image by Meghan Unger Photography
This is a way to show off your design ideas, and styles!
A forest elopement with a mossy ground, and view of the Mountains...we dreamt this design up and brought it to life with a fantastic team of vendors, attendees and a couple who allowed us to 'hijack' their elopement!
Image by Meghan Unger Photography
~ each image has a link to take you to the full vendor list - check it out ~
We hope you find this helpful, and would love to meet you at one of our styled shoot workshops! We have lots of opportunities for every aspect of the event and wedding industry, and we do lots of really cool stuff!
We are super eager to get back to creating and working with everyone soon!
We are super eager to get back to creating and working with everyone soon!
thank you friends
~H
creative director
Hi, I'm Heather, creative director of Wild Rose Weddings + Workshops. Follow along as we introduce you to the vendors, guest speakers, and all things 'styled shoot' in the industry!
FEATURED
archives
July 2021
June 2021
April 2021
February 2021
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
September 2017
August 2017