The whole idea was how to simplify shooting by playing the hand you are dealt. Sometimes we don’t shoot at the Hotel DuPont with our brides dressing in rooms with floor to ceiling windows on two sides. And sometimes we just don’t have Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue sunlight. But by looking for reflected, diffused and directional light, you can nail it in-camera, walk away looking like the pro that you are and make your post-processing life easier, too.

And just to prove the point that it can be done, we did the whole workshop in and around my house. I purposely didn’t pick some cool location with lots of distracting scenery because in real life, you sometimes don’t get it. F’rinstance, this one was shot in front of my house with light reflected off the siding. I tilted Alyssa’s chin down a bit so she didn’t get sunlight hitting her nose from the noon sun.

On my front porch.

Under my deck.

A “family shot” under the deck.

Light peeking in the studio window.

In my driveway.

In front of my chimney flue. See? It ain’t no big deal!

Special thanks to Alyssa, Steve, Rachel and Joe.

We’ll be shooting in the morning and using the same lighting methods I use in real weddings and if you’ve ever shot under those conditions, you know you’ve got to make it quick! Then, after lunch, we’ll go back into the studio for some of my real-world Lightroom and Photoshop to show your photos the love they deserve!

So bring your camera and your laptop and register early with PPA. The Early Bird special is $99 if paid by April 6 (paid to PPA, not me) and $120 after that (you’ll get credit toward your PPA certification). But you’d better do it soon because this workshop is limited to just 8 photographers.

The first place we went was PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I was so rockin’ the shutter drag all day.

The reflections were big, too.

What a great workshop! It’s great to get away with some other eager photographers and do some new stuff once in a while. Can’t wait to do it all again!

Even when I was supposed to be looking forward and participating in the shooting, I couldn’t help looking all around at the cool colors of the buildings.

Yikes! Gondola crossing!

The locations were incredible.

We attracted a crowd wherever we went. Some shopkeepers, though, weren’t too amused.

Even the kids around us got in on the action.

I don’t think there are any ugly parts of Venice.

Shooting went on well into the night. Good thing I brought my video light.

Although I only hit the sack a few hours before, Cathy and I just had to get up to catch the sunrise. We weren’t disappointed!

The busy Grande Canal. I’d take this over an I-95 traffic jam any day.

I played hooky one day and took a boat to Murano to check out some of their famous glass sculptures. What a great day tip.

The setting sun was spectacular as we headed back to Venice.

You meet the coolest people in Venice. We ran into Flat Stanley at San Marco one morning!

When in San Marco, the pigeons rule the roost and they’re not afraid to let you know it.

There is a distinct pecking order in Venice and the gondoliers are at the top. Even with the ribbon hanging from their hats, they’re cool and they know it.

Me and Cathy took a gondola ride our last night in Venice. It was awesome! Shoulda brought a bottle of wine with us, though …

What an incredible trip! I’d recommend Venice to everyone and the Yervant workshop to every photographer. I met a lot of great people and learned a lot from them. Can’t wait for the next trip!

Lots more photos at Flickr!

Not bad considering I shot video with one hand while reaching over everyone else to grab stills with the other. Ok, on with the rest of my life.