–Photography Workshop FAQs–

We suggest that attendees arrive at the location between 4-6 p.m. although every workshop will start at its own individual time (attendees receive itineraries in the weeks approaching the workshop).  On the last day of the workshop, attendees can leave late that night but most will choose to leave in the morning following the last day of the workshop.

Can I sell my photos that I take at the workshop?

PHOTO USAGE

Stoecklein Photography workshops are educational courses intended to enhance photographic skills and gain valuable experience. Knowledge gained at the workshops can be applied to everyday photography and attendees can also fine-tune professional talents. The workshops are not intended to build stock photography portfolios or libraries and images taken at workshops can only be used for personal purposes and gallery prints. Stoecklein Photography does not obtain or keep on file model releases for the workshop attendees and therefore images taken during the workshops cannot be sold as stock photography by the students. All models at the workshops are paid privately by David R. Stoecklein. Attendees are encouraged to share images with friends and family, create personal calendars, notepads, postcards, gallery prints with their images taken at the workshops, as long as those items are not sold to other parties as stock photography.

Students may enter their photos in photo competitions, but not in magazines as editorial images.  David has never sold any type of royalty free stock and has built his career on selling rights managed stock photos.  He is doing these workshops to share his forty years of professional knowledge, his intent is not to build stock libraries for his students, only to teach others how to take the photos.  These rules do not change and will not change.  Please respect Dave’s views and you will come away with a wealth of knowledge!

***In the past, some attendees have tipped the cowboy and cowgirl models AND STAFF,  and it is a much appreciated gesture.  $20 – $50 is normal**

What skill level do I need to be ?

Attendees range from  beginners to professional photographers and all have an equal amounts of fun. No one has ever felt embarrassed or inferior based on their abilities. If you have a passion for photography then this is right workshop for you. Passion is what each and every attendee has in common. They all love the ability to capture the unimaginable through their lens.

Can my spouse, friend, or significant other hang around at the workshop although they are not participating?

We get asked this a lot from our attendees, especially because many travel far and wide to join a workshop.  Unfortunately, we can’t allow attendees’ spouses, friends, or significant others to hang around at the workshops unless they are full-paid attendees.  However, we do offer them to come and join in all the meals for $250 per friend, spouse or significant other.  Breakfast, lunch and dinners are the meals provided and dinners always include great cocktails and beverages along with delicious appetizers!  If the meal plan sounds like something you and your traveling companion would like to purchase, alert Sunny when you register for the workshop.

What equipment do I need to bring?

You should bring all of your camera equipment, we prefer DSLR cameras (digital single-lens reflex camera) and Dave uses Canon but we welcome all brands.  There will be extra Canon equipment for you to use while you are at the ranch. and any extra lenses and filters you might want to use. Also be sure to pack appropriate clothing and footwear for shooting outside in variable weather conditions.  If you have a laptop computer it would be great if you could bring it, although it’s not required and Dave works on Mac computers.  External hard drives are great to have at the workshop so you can move your pictures off of the workshop computers on the last day, but also they are not required.

It would be great if you have time before the workshop to take any of the online tutorials and learn how to download photographs as well as catalog them into LightRoom 3 (very easy).   There are many helpful tutorials on the Adobe website along with individual lessons you can find on the internet.  LR3 can be downloaded for a free 30-day trial period by visiting Adobe. You can purchase LR3 through Pictureline.

You’ll be taking tons of shots and on an average shoot Dave goes through dozens of memory cards.  You will need between 5-6 high-speed SD photo cards that are at least 4 gb capacity and up.  On site we will have Delkin 4gb CompactFlash cards for you to try.    We will also have Delkin 4gb SecureDigital cards for you to try.

What can I expect to learn?

Each day will consist of shooting with Dave in various beautiful settings. You will learn many different compositions and various techniques that will allow you to capture images often see as unobtainable. In addition you will learn trade secrets that have taken years to master. One can expect to walk away with a much broader perspective of photography and the desire to expect more from yourself as a photographer. Dave shares with you his love and passion about photography as well as the images he shoots. One of Dave’s philosophies in life is every picture tells a story. Dave teaches you how to tell a story through your photographs by the scenes he stages of real ranch life. Please try and be as familiar as possible with your digital SLR camera.

What if I have special dietary restrictions?
Please contact Sunny Mills in the office by phone at 208-726-5191 ex.15, or by email at sunny@drsphoto.net to let us know of any specific requirements and we will do our best to accommodate them.