So, was it destiny, I asked myself?  After all, the seminar was going to be focusing on my area photography interest, babies, and I was already planning on visiting the city!  I learned that the deadline to submit the video application for the live audience was a mere three days away – thankfully I had a newborn coming to my studio for a photoshoot, who I was thinking I could use for the short video intro I planned out in my mind (watch it here).  I was nervous about this, since I would not have expected in a million years that I would be invited, so imagine my excitement when I received the Tweet saying that I was selected to attend!

I telephoned my husband right away, with only a squeal of excitement to indicate what I had just learned; he understood right away what happened, and responded simply, with a knowing chuckle, heavy with meaning.  We were aware there would be some interesting logistics to sort out, with finding a nearby place for the family to stay, and ensuring that I would be able to nurse our six-month-old while still attending the seminar!

Our trip began, and following some adventures with snowed-out highways through the Rocky Mountains, we spent about a week in Vancouver with family, and then continued on to a condo we had rented in the quaint Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.  I checked out the CL studio building on that first evening, and was amazed to see where it was when I discovered its location, literally in the shadow of the iconic Space Needle tower.

The morning of the first day, I had butterflies in my stomach.  As my husband dropped me off at the studio door on Thomas Street, he evinced some displeasure.  He wasn’t exactly thrilled with leaving me at a “dingy downtown back alley near an old warehouse” (as he put it), but I insisted that this was the place – I recognized the distinctive windows I had seen in so many past CL workshops online – I was going in!  It was the beginning of an amazing experience.

Over the next three days, I met so many wonderful people – the staff were so welcoming, and the fellow students were so friendly.  I learned a great deal from Kelly.  Her knowledge and confidence, quite apparent as she was handling those precious bundles of joy, was amazing to see.  I have been photographing newborns for quite a few years, and have attended many workshops before, but I have never seen a teacher and fellow photographer showing so clearly how to safely handle and photograph those newborns; not only for the students and parents in the studio, but for the world tuning in on the Internet. Kelly broke her record, photographing 22 babies all under the age of two weeks, in just four days.  I am sure many people watching around the world were glued to their screens, to watch the serenity and patience of how Kelly handled those babies – not one cried, even in the pressure of being in a studio with 20 people scrutinizing your every move.

My husband would bring by my six-month-old boy (who I am breastfeeding), every day of the seminar at the lunch break, along with our two-year-old girl.  He was made to feel very welcome, struck up many conversations, and was also invited to partake of the excellent food that was offered.  My toddler was delighted to play with Mr. Potato-head toys in the green room, and my baby was happily passed from hand-to-hand as soon as I let go of him.  What a tremendous reception, and such a friendly culture at this studio!

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience which I will not forget – I take back with me many great memories, and new tools to further grow my abilities in photographing newborns. I think I speak for many of us, when I say this was truly the best education on newborn posing that was ever broadcast around the world. I’m ever so grateful that Kelly picked me to be one of the eight to sit there and watch her magic and also that she was willing and able to share her knowledge with not just us in the studio but with thousands of people. Not to mention, that she give up Mother’s Day with her family to be with us and that was very special. Thank goodness that she has an awesome Husband who made sure she wasn’t left out. He and her children’s made a video and sent it to her on Mother’s Day. We all watched it and there was not one dry eye in the studio.

Thank you Kelly Brown, and thank you also to the CreativeLive team!

For anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the broadcast, you can find it here.

Love, Helga.