Creation Workshop Recap | Photography Workshop at Mojave East

It seems like years ago now, but in February SJE and an amazing team of vendors hosted our first photography workshop at Mojave East. There was a lot of dreaming, planning, and hard work that went into pulling off The Creation Workshop, but I’m happy to say it was a huge success. We are already thinking about when to host our next one (once everyone can safely be together again of course).

Hosting a photography workshop has actually been on my mind for a long time. I wanted to offer a way for fellow creatives to grow their portfolio but do so in a really intentional way. There are a lot of opportunities to be a part of photography workshops or styled shoots, but not all opportunities are created equal. Our goal with the Creation Workshop was to offer a really robust editorial shoot experience. In less than 3 hours, photographers got access to 6 photo vignettes complete with models and a full styling bar.

We pulled together some really amazing vendors to ensure each vignette was something special. We had an awesome full-scale installation designed by Paige Makes, a variety of flat lays styled by yours truly, a full reception table set for 8 guests, and a breathtaking ceremony floral installation by Roots Floral Design. Did I mention the champagne tower? See, not your average photography workshop!

But what truly set this workshop apart was our approach. Good design is rooted in storytelling. For each vignette, styling board, and design decision we considered how it related to the larger story we were telling. At the end of the day, we wanted every photographer and videographer to walk away from this workshop with stunning images that told a complete story.

Additionally, we thought of the Creation Workshop as an opportunity to infuse a bit of color and design into the market. Not only did it allow photographers and videographers the chance to work on new skills and build their portfolios, it was a chance for participating vendors to showcase new techniques and offerings.

And the feedback we got was so encouraging. Our participants got inspired and created some exceptional work. Each photographer and videographer walked away with something special for their portfolio and we highlighted the talent of some amazing vendors. As with anything, we learned a lot and have some great ideas about how to make our next one even better. We can’t wait to get back out there and start creating with all of you!