So many of you know that after this Vote for a scholarship opportunity to attend a photography and craft workshop I actually won! I was so darn excited to get a chance to actually learn how to use my camera from a professional! For some reason I get the impression that if you do photography as a career, you don’t like to help others use their cameras haha…that could cut into your business…but yesterday Drew from Mom*Tog and also her business blog, drewbphotography…sat down with 11 ladies and helped us figure out HOW to use our cameras to be awesome members of the Mama-Razzi!
Drew asked that we #hashtag our prepping, travels, and activities that day on instagram…and you KNOW this girl did JUST that. Made it even more fun! haha Here are a few of my #campmomtog photos… 
So funny…the amount of bags and shi*t that it takes to get away for litterally 8 hours! haha Had my purse, breastpump, cooler (for pumped milk), thank yous, favorite picture, and then some. I got Heather and I some Miguels burritos for lunch and away we went to downtown Fullerton to Drew’s studio. Heather and I were both so nervous…I was telling Heather we should shotgun some wine before heading in…she laughed so I figured she wasn’t game. lol
I wasn’t sure what to expect…but when we walked in, it was so cool! Drew and Julie had really put a lot of thought and time into it all… 
Everything was decked out in a Camping theme…took me a sec to realize…CAMP Mom*Tog…camping..duh!
So…we broke up into 2 groups…my group started with the crafts with Julie, from Joys Hope. As Drew said…”Julie’s like FAMOUS in the blogging/crafting world”. I read her blog, her back story…I cried and it was so awesome to get to meet her! Spending the afternoon crafting with her was pretty cool! Julie was so nice and patient…I’m totally not a great crafter but she helped me out!
We made light up letters….
I felt so cool…I got to use a power drill…We painted our letters, cut out the backs, measured spaces for holes, popped in lights, glue back on. Sounds simple right? It wasn’t! lol
Second craft was so cool. Unfortunately I didn’t get to finish mine there because I had some “Mommy Duties” (pumping) to attend to. Oh the joys of little babies. lol
But I finished it today when I had some time here at home!! 
Another awesome opportunity to use a power tool…this time a nail gun. We got the wood together, picked out our family saying to trace, then painted them, we were to hang some twine and make a bunt banner but I didn’t get to that part.
We had a little break to enjoy some freakin’ YUMMY cupcakes and snacks. Then off into our photography session. I was so excited to learn, but nervous I’d forget everything…so I was taking notes…like I was back in school (but actually paying attention this time!)
Drew had a great power point presentation, and gave us her AWESOME UnManual (can be purchased on her webpage)…this guide has everything she told us…so my notes really weren’t even needed! All the buttons and functions to help us take better pictures of our kids were laid out for us. She told us HER preferences, secrets, tips…just amazing! She taught us HOW to get the type of pictures she likes/takes and even helped us set up our cameras for a backbutton focus feature (LOVE it!). After all the info we got to utilize our new skills with some little models (Julie’s daughters who were freakin’ adorable!) and in different situations…
Indoor lighting, with backlights…we were figuring out what our ISO, F-Stop, and Shutter Speeds should be at…
Then we headed outside…for different lighting situations and figuring out how to photograph a moving child! Our kids don’t just stand still for photos…so we were taught how to get good pictures even when they are moving…
Secret tip was to find good shade too…lol
As you can see I’m still learning…figuring out exactly what settings are best and how to get them! haha AND my new nifty ability…how to focus and recompose…I like that I know what that is! haha I’ll be honest…I used to think the only way to lighten a picture was to up the ISO…yeah…WRONG. I would up the ISO to 6400 indoors and then wonder why when I printed the images they looked so grainy….Yeah…Thank you Drew for showing me that I was soooo wrong! You want LOW ISO indoors…just had to change my shutter speed and of course open a darn window for some nice lighting! lol
And on top of all the knowledge we gained…we also got some AWESOME stuff in our “swag bag”. 
Super cute Camp MomTog tote, 3 adorable prints, a camera funny cover, a kids book, Click magazine, the UnManual, Rose fabric rings, Cute necklace, $25 coupon for Mpix, knited girls collar, Camp MomTog notepad Joby GorillaPod, apron…am I leaving anything out? yeah a lot of stuff right? So cool!
Drew and Julie were amazing. The workshop was a very fun day for all us moms to get away for a day…heck some ladies flew in from out of state to attend Camp Mom*Tog. Crazy right!?!
Just wanted to Thank Heather…if she wouldn’t have nominated me, writing that very heartfelt blurb about my “story” I wouldn’t have had the chance to be apart of the day!! And Drew and Julie…Thank you for allowing me the opportunity…means so much!!
After the workshop we went to dinner together to ne able to actually TALK…and get to know eachother. Was a perfect way to end an amazing day!
Ps. I was practicing my new picture taking skills today too…
Love it! What an amazing time you had :)
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