Final Thoughts as I leave Europe...

This was such a blessed couple of weeks. After the final dinner tonight, How we serve people matters much more than we think. There is more to life than the thoughts that run through our head about how business is doing, and if it will continue next year like it did this year. Or even "what the economy" is going to do to us. I learned a lot about my heart for others this trip, areas I need to improve on, and areas I want to continue to be good at. I'm learning more & more that the people that retain us for our talents, or give us opportunities to do what we do best, are all around us. We just need to achieve excellence consistently, to not be so full of ourselves, all to often, unknowingly. The only way I've been able to do his is by seeking my God daily. There is so much growth for me to learn, achieve & explore. Yet its me who doesn't see those people who would seek us out, or I get in the way trying to reach my big hand into the cookie jar just for myself, instead of finding ways I can serve them instead. The latter however, being much more fulfilling.

I enjoy learning this and focusing on others, traveling in Europe the last few weeks during this workshop tour has taught me a lot, and I'm excited to implement my thoughts. I have a fresh perspective, I've had a chance to hear from a lot of people, but most importantly, getting time reading the Word. I am setting aside Dec 1st as a day totally devoted to getting alone, and putting aside the whole world, to stop, rest, pray and just read. To seek direction in my life so I do not waste my time, or anybody elses. I want to put my God and my wife 1st. I don't want to run down a path of glittery business, fame, or chase something someone else has just to end up at 80 with something that never really fulfilled me.

I know I've been given a gift, a gift that nobody else has, something just for me and its given to me so that I can bless others and serve them with it. I just need to un-distract and unplug myself from the barrage of information and thoughts that pass through my head every day. I love getting closer to freedom, as my friend DJ has inspired me with not judging my success on how busy I am. I apologize to those who I've may have been too busy to connect with.

I'm staying in my hometown for the entire month of December and not leaving. I want to live a life where I look back and it was not all lived for what I wanted at that moment. But for something greater. Thank you to all of those who made this trip a pleasure and more than I could have deserved. I had so much fun today! But I'm so excited for tomorrow. I hope you stay inspired, challenged and I encourage you to seek vision and direction. I love this quote:

“Without a vision, men perish.” Proverbs 29:1

How often do you stop, and seek vision. You were created for a purpose. Don't let another minute go by without knowing where your going, and why. Live life to the fullest.

Thank you everyone, I'm so thankful for everyone in the last few weeks. Be blessed. :)

Amsterdam Workshop, Flash bouncing Demo

Todays workshop we had a cool dark sky in the background, This is cool because I wanted to overpower the ambient light at 3:30pm in the afternoon, in broad daylight(this is best when its cloudy), I was able to use my 580 exII and bounce into a 4x6 reflector, then I had another sunbounce mini (silver 3x4') bouncing the light from the 1st flash back to fill the shadows. I wanted to have my bride walking so the wind would be blowing through her hair and I was able to do that with my 2 assistants walking along with us as a unit, all at the same speed. Setting were pretty simple:

85mm, 50 iso, 1/200th, @ f /4.5

In this second shot I wanted dramatic lighting coming in from each side and I wanted even more light to make the sky darker, the only way to do that was to have more flash power, two flashes worked perfect, same sunbounces on each side as before, yet my settings were pretty much the same with exception to the f-stop:

85mm, 50 iso, 1/200th, @ f / 7.1.

Zurich & Rotterdam

Zurich was great, we shot in this open window light with a reflector to the right...

And the camera toss was now done in its 10th country!

Today in Rotterdam, the host photographer shot these images of me sharing and teaching

Again, using the sunbounce in open window light, bouncing back on the shadows and filling in them, saving post production and using the fill feature in Lightroom.

Its a blessing to teach when people are eager to learn. To see them soak up what I've been blessed with. I believe that God gives to you, what will flow through you. And I've been blessed with much.

Thanks guys for coming today!

Thanks to Bert Stephani for helping out

Dusseldorf, Germany workshop

Today was another great day, the weather has been good enough to shoot outside! We did some mock shoots and a live video camera toss. Another great group of photographers and a fun day of shooting, learning and development.

Europe Wedding Workshop Tour III- Day 5

today we had a great group in Karlsruhe, Germany, and today with a bit smaller group, and it was perfect for a circle arrangement for us to share ideas and engage with each other. Our bride today did a great job and everyone got a chance to shoot and practice their skills as we critiqued and shared more ideas.

I love light. I love photography.

I was editing a wedding and came across this getting ready shot. The light by the window was so sweet! Its all about unique lighting and seeing it. I love sweet light, if it edible I'd eat it.

Europe Workshop Tour Images!

The European "Wedding's California Style" Workshop Tour, is going so well, after day 3, we've hit up Budapest, Vienna, Munich and now we are off to Zurich. Here are some highlights. Everyone is signing up on facebook and making comments, check out the details, tesimonials and participant images at http://www.facebook.com/mikelarsoninc many workshops have filled up, but there are a few spots left in a few cities, so check out the link to sign up for those of you photographers in Europe!

Fixed RSS reader link

I just wanted to share that I fixed the BLOG RSS feed link, so you can click the RSS reader link on the HTML address bar and it works now. Thanks for all those who brought this to my attention. Now you can get automatically updated when I post a new Blog post. Have a great day!

Ireland... The story begins...

After flying out of New Orleans, through ORD to LHR, I Just arrived in Ireland, its 45 degrees out & rainy, I rented (hired, as they say here) a car and was traveling and exploring down Irish roads that reminded me of the chronicles of Narnia, as when they were in the forests along winding narrow roads with walls of green trees at dusk as the wind blew. Outside I could smell fires as the houses looked so warm inside! The farther I got away from Dublin, the more country-esq the landscape looked. As the sun faded the green grass turned to grey and after praying to find the house, no number address out here, just a ranch name on a street in a town. If found it!

Now we sit by the fireplace warming up over some tea as I get to know the family and we chat about the wedding tomorrow. Its amazing to hear the culture of the Irish, how they do things and what they talk about. I'm excited for tomorrow! Castles churches and green countryside's!

I know some of these people, they know me from a Wedding I shot in Italy last year, Martina, the beautiful bride had some friends who wanted the images for their wedding, just what she had. It makes such a difference to have my couples already know they are in for a big treat, and a great experience. There's no icebreaker needed! Just fun, and an amazingly beautiful day.

I'll totally be posting amazing shots tomorrow!...

Brandon & Kaleena {Rancho Las Palmas}

Located in the Palm Springs area, Rancho Las Palmas was a beautiful setting for this amazing wedding....

I'm a BIG fan of stellar getting ready locations, it makes SUCH a difference and the sweeter the room, the more simply stylish.

They had a 1st look, and amid the dodging of sprinklers, we managed to get a "dry" meeting location!

The pensive moments before the ceremony,

The backdrop was stunning and perfect at sunset!

Here is part of the cool story, So, the ring was "lost", minutes before the ceremony, and then the best man found it. Wow, it was like USC won the championships.

Let the celebration begin!!!

This is my favorite, looking at their faces, into their hearts as people describe traits, stories, and their love for each other. Blink and you'll miss it. But peeping through the crowd, to me, it stands out, because these looks are the images I hunt to find.

Thank you guys for the honor of having me capture your day!

Pictage Partner Con!

Next week! I'll be speaking & leading a shooting workshop at the Pictage Partner Conference in New Orleans! For those of you who are going who did not make it into the class, I'll be doing a another workshop in San Luis Obispo, CA from 12/1 - 12/3/2009. I'm super stoked for this workshop, its been almost 3 months since I've spoken, its been a busy shooting season!

Vintage advertisement from the 20's

Catalina sunset looking east...

Rachel and I in Catalina Island.

I do love it here!

Catalina Island

Celebraing with Rachel my 4 year anniversary on Catalina island. I've
never been here before.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexio (Album shoot)

A few weeks ago I took my team down to Cabo and we shot Westley, who is one heck of a guitarist. His music immediately captured my attention and when they asked me to shoot their album art for his upcoming debut CD, I was honored. The disk is called "Wavedance". I'll blog it as soon as the mp3's become available online. Its not even in print yet! So we shot at sunrise and sunset for 2 days and got some amazing shots. In between the shoots, I was able to get some fishing, exploring, fish tacos and siestas! I think its been over a year since I've had a siesta. Needless to say, we had an amazing time and came away with a body of work I'm proud of. I want to thank the family for taking such good care of us and putting us up in their sweet pacific ocean view home.

This image below was the hands down winner for the cover.

Der Mar wedding weekend

I'm Shooting here at L'Auberge in Del Mar. This is going to be a warm
beautiful weekend!