I owe this blog entry to many great people who changed me and my business last year.  So better late than ever I’ve decided to write it. I hope this also helps many new photographers entering this industry. Last year I won scholarship to Kevin Kubota Worshop. My preview hosting site SMUGMUG and my Lab Bayphoto funded this scholarship.  Here is my BIG belated formal thank you!!!  All of you who enable me to run my successful business.

If you know me,you probably know that I value education very much.  I entered myself back into photography school after leaving my career in corporate America.  Everyone told me I could probably just start taking pictures of people and assist few wedding photographers to start my own business.  Now, there is nothing wrong with that kind of education but I wanted more. I believe good education will pay off  ten fold someday.  So I went to photography school for 2 years. I practically lived in the school studio and the darkroom.  Everyone in the department pretty much know me by first name.   When I ran out of things to study and the teachers told me to get out I finally left the school. I wanted to be “ready” before I start charging people for my work. That wasn’t enough so I assisted very successful photographer who mentored me for 5 years while I worked as a freelance photographer.  After I finished school, I hesitated to pay for another costly workshops except for attending annual convention for many years.  I’ve gone to small workshops and seminars but I never really invested more than 3days.  I was hitting 8 years mark in my career and I was thirst for more so winning this scholarship was like ray of sunshine!  Spending 5days with other great photographers in Oregon and learning from amazing industry leaders was like a honeymoon all over again.  It is called “Bootcamp” so no it’s not exactly a vacation. So be prepare to learn if you plan on attending. There are too many things to share and my writing skills aren’t that great. It’s probably best for me to break it down.  I think best way to evangelize is to show you that my life has changed.  So If I can plan a New York vacation for whole family in two days, you shouldn’t have problem flying yourself out to New York  for this wonderful workshop on October 24th, 2011.  Or plan ahead and sign up for next one. Booking one of these action packed workshop will really change your life. Looks like Doug Gordon & Kevin Kubota teamed again this year, so you are lucky!  Most of attendees of this workshop made quick changes in their business and they are seeing the changes. We still keep in touch via facebook and I must say gaining their friendship was another valuable gift I received from this workshop.  but it’s still working progress for me. More changes are to come next year for me.  I hope you watch me closely and encourage me via twitter or facebook.

  My day began at 6:30am everyday.  Five Pine Lodge in Sisters, Oregon is just simply beautiful!

Wish I had images of their charming cabins which had amazing bathtub.

These two images are processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.  Kevin Kubota thought me few good tricks and it’s been a life saver!

I like my images as natural as possible.

After adding little bit of Kubota’s Dragon Power.

What a better way to teach than this !

You see that these images are bit different from my style that you are used to seeing on this blog? Yes that’s right!

Not sure if this is the style that I like to stick with  but taking a workshop like this definitely inspire you to do more.

All of these images are retouched using Kubota Actions

Another talented instructor Bejamin Edward‘s beautiful wife Lauren during the “trash the dress” session

Doug Gordon such a passionate instructor. It was passed midnight but we were still going…(He is in Eastcoast time so go figure!) 

I had to have a tourist photo of myself ! Thank you Ruth for taking this photo- I miss you very much.