I mentioned previously that I decided to sign up for a film workshop this summer called Embrace the Grain. The workshop is lead by Joyce Kang, a fine art portrait and lifestyle photographer based in Austin, Texas, who photographs solely on film; and assisted by the fabulous Heather Chang. Both Joyce and Heather actively participate in the workshop, providing insight and feedback on the images that are submitted for each assignment. Hearing their comments was the best, as they’re able to help troubleshoot any issues that arise with the images! They were SO encouraging through the process while also providing valuable feedback on how we could improve.
The workshop takes place over the course of five weeks, with additional information published before the workshop begins, which got me totally pumped for the rest of the workshop! Photography exercises are assigned during Weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5, with a break at Week 3 to catch up (much appreciated!) and to reflect on the first two weeks. I loved the way the course was laid out because it was extremely logical and the pace was not too fast but not too slow: the information presented each week builds upon what was presented the week before. Throughout the workshop, Joyce and Heather encouraged us to ask as many questions as we wanted, and they were genuinely open with their answers. Hearing their perspective was so neat, especially when we got to chatting about film stock preferences!
I learned so much about film photography during this workshop and highly recommend it to anyone looking to photograph on film again (or for the first time)! The PDF downloads are super informative and contain a plethora of examples to SEE what’s being discussed in the text. I could tell that Joyce spent a ton of time preparing the materials, which I definitely appreciate! Though I wasn’t able to participate in the study halls every week, I loved that Joyce provided recordings of the chats so that we could catch up on them later.
Want to see what I produced during those five weeks? :) Some of these images have already been published on my blog, but below are some of my favorite images from each week of the workshop.
Week 1: Black and White Photography
Week 2: Color Film
Week 4: Alternative Film and Cameras
Week 5: Vision and Expression
Though I can’t say enough great things about this course, I’m so glad I signed up for it is because the information I learned has made me more confident in my film skills. Because of that, this workshop is absolutely priceless to me.
Interested?! More information about upcoming sessions of the Embrace the Grain film photography workshop can be found here! :)
xoxo,
Lauren
Are you looking for a film photographer for your upcoming portrait, wedding or anniversary session? Email Lauren at [email protected] or use the contact link on the top of this page to get in touch with San Diego Wedding Photographer Lauren Nygard! Lauren is based in Southern California but loves traveling with her camera to capture love across the globe!
San Diego Film Photographer | Lauren Nygard Photography
https://laurennygard.com
