Every year, Jeff and I co-lead the For the Love Workshop, a deeply spiritual Christian retreat for photographers, and it took place earlier this month on a breathtaking ranch in Oregon. This retreat is a time for photographers to steal away to a beautiful place and unplug from their lives and businesses in order to seek the heart of God. We get to spend a week reconnecting with nature, falling in love with creativity, resting our hearts and minds, and dwelling in the presence of the Lord. (Check out the website if you’re interested in attending – it fills up FAST and dates for next year are in progress).
This retreat has changed everything about the way I think about creativity and the love of the Father. It’s simply unbelievable what happens when we allow ourselves the space to rest… I have stories upon stories to share, but that’s for another day…
During the retreat, Jeff and I also teach seminars on business and photography, and we did a teaching shoot for the attendees with our lovely friends, Kevin and Brittani, modeling for the occasion. While this was a time for us to focus on instruction, the scenery was unbelievably gorgeous and the lighting so dang perfect that we got a TON of fabulous images, and I’m swooning over how absolutely perfect this shoot turned out. Of course, Kevin and Brittani were simply adorable so they made our jobs pretty stinkin’ easy!
Can you believe these colors? The light? The couple? Daaaaaaaang!
There’s a picture perfect-pond on the property with a wooden dock underneath a peaceful oak tree. I basically wanted to stay on the ranch for-like-ever.
While it was a beautiful day for shooting, it was FREEZING for this California girl. While many attendees had all come from the icy vortex of the midwest, I had to layer up with whatever I could find. Ha!
But with a place this beautiful and a couple this sweet, not even the frigid air could make me stop shooting!
One of my absolute favorites from the shoot – LOVELOVELOVLEOVELOVE.
Ah-freakin’-mazing. I just can’t get enough of these classic black and whites.
As if this shoot isn’t already amazing enough, this final set of images makes me fall in love with photography all over again…
Kevin and Brittani: Thank you for being willing to jump in front of our cameras to help us teach the heart behind the art of photography. It was one of those afternoons that I will remember for a long time – the scenery, the stillness, and your sweet love for each other made it simply unforgettable. You have a special connection that not a lot of couples share, so treasure that space between the two of you, and you’ll be walking hand in hand, side by side, just as close for the rest of your lives. Love you tons!
Hugs,
Erin
