There are a lot of photographers in Orange County. And there are a lot of photographers that do what I do... take lifestyle pictures of kids, family, couples and individuals. So you might think that I would be bitter... that I might be cold and angry at the competition, and secretive about what I do. But this couldn't be further from the truth.

Even though we all do the "same" thing, each photographer is unique. Each person has their own style, vision and execution.

And there is more than enough room in this market for ALL of us.

This becomes most apparent to me whenever I attend a workshop put on by the SoCal Photog Shootout crew. This is an event put on by photographers for photographers... it's all about playing, learning new things, stretching ourselves as artists and growing. It's a great way to meet new people, stay up on current trends, and make lots of new friends along the way. And yes, some of them are other local photographers. (gasp.)

There are 40+ photographers in these workshops, broken into groups of 10 or so, and we all rotate sets/scenes so we work with different models and leaders along the way. And here's where it gets really interesting. Because here's the reality...

**We can all stand right next to each other, shooting the same exact scene and subject, and see completely different things.**

From capture to edit, each and every photographer has their own unique style and voice. It's amazing to witness, and even more incredible to be a part of.

Here is my take on the day's events:

You can also see additional images of Shyan on my previous post. Shyan gave me the most wonderful compliment when she said that my pictures gave her the confidence boost that she needed. How awesome is that?! And THIS is how I know that I am doing my job.

Special thanks to:

Makeup: • Lead Makeup Artist: Jennette Pulecio • Denise Marquez

Hair: • Lead Hair Stylist: Shyan Bailey • David Lira • Jade Gallo • Jaime Castillo

Styling: • Kaylee Sizemore

Leaders: Matthew Saville Jessica Elizabeth and Robert Tran Paul Schaefer Kaylee Sizemore Hanssie Trainor

Vendors: The Tangled Vine - accessories/styling

THE MODELS: Tina Burns Koko Laimana Shyan Bailey Charise Parra Vanessa Cedeno

If you enjoyed this post, you might also want to check out another recent stylized shoot of mine... Field of Dreams!