Picture this: golden hour, a playful young family, and the promise of a perfect session. That’s exactly how our recent photography workshop unfolded, and spoiler alert—it was an absolute blast!

Setting the Tone

Right from the moment we arrived, we set the tone for a fun, dynamic experience from the moment everyone arrived. The energy was relaxed but purposeful. Above all, my goal was to create an environment where photographers could feel confident and families could just be. No stiff poses or forced smiles, just genuine moments.

Capturing the Magic of Play

Now, one of the biggest lessons I shared with the group was to let kids be kids. Seriously, cue the fun! Watching little ones run, giggle, and explore brings out the most authentic moments. And guess what? When the kids are happy, the parents relax, and that’s where the magic happens. Those unplanned, imperfect moments? They’re the real gold.

Simple Prompts

Throughout the photography workshop, I guided the group with simple prompts, with the main undertone being “let it be play-led.” This not only gave the kids a sense of freedom but also allowed us to capture candid moments that tell a true story. The key to a great family session is to make it feel less like a photoshoot and more like a memory in the making.

Mastering Golden Hour

In this urban setting, we talked about finding the pockets of light during golden hour. I shared tips on adjusting camera settings on the fly and utilizing light to create soft, dreamy images. It was collaborative and full of “aha!” moments!

Takeaways

By the end, everyone left with fresh inspiration and new tools for creating fun, dynamic environments in their own sessions. The feedback has been incredible, and hearing what resonated with each photographer is always so rewarding.

Photography Workshop

If you missed this photography workshop, don’t worry—there will definitely be more! I can’t wait to continue guiding fellow photographers to capture the beauty of real and joyful family moments.

If you want to be the first to know about upcoming workshops or just want to get the inside scoop, sign up for my newsletter! You’ll get tips, updates, and a few surprises! Sign up here!

And if you’re curious about my Guiding Light sessions for even more in-depth learning, check out this blog post here.

Here’s what our wonderful attendees shared about their experience, along with some of their lovely images!

Workshop Reviews

“Haley’s Guiding Light was seriously the BEST. I think one of the things that stood out to me the most is it’s okay to let kids be kids at the session! She inspired me to use that same work flow in my own business.. and to show my own clients that it’s beautiful to let your family just be, no expectations.”

-Felisha Davidson / Felisha Davidson Photography

https://www.instagram.com/felishadavidsonphoto

“Guiding Light was my first educational experience in the photography world, and I cannot say enough good things about it. Haley made us all feel so comfortable and encouraged, and she was an open book ready to answer any question. I learned so much about guiding families through a session and giving them the best experience possible! A bonus was connecting with several other amazing photographers. We had the best time, and I can’t wait for the next one!”

-Dannah Stelting / Dannah Jo Photography

https://www.instagram.com/dannah.jo.photo

“Haley put together an awesome, educational evening where like always, I try to soak up as much as possible. Over the past year I’ve invested multiple times in learning from her whether it be lighting, posing, shooting or editing. My time with her has always been valuable, fun and so incredibly inspiring!”

– Katie Robinson / Katie Robinson Photography

https://www.instagram.com/katierobinsonphoto

“Last week I got the opportunity to participate in @haleykinziephotography’s Guiding Light workshop! Learning from her is always the best! It was such a great night and a wonderful refresher on making family sessions authentic, playful, and of course full of joy for everyone involved!”

-Lindsey Brown / Lindsey K Brown Photography

https://www.instagram.com/lindseykbrownphotography

“I first off want to say, Haley is an amazing teacher. I learned so much during this workshop. She helped us with camera settings at different times of golden hour, which was tricky for me. Watching how the flow of her sessions go, and certain posses and how they can seamlessly blend together for a stress free session. Haley inspired me to step outside my comfort zone and to take the next step in my photography journey. 🤍”

– Lauren Freymiller