Jared Platt is an Arizona-based wedding photographer who is also highly regarded as a Lightroom instructor. He offers workshops to photographers who grapple with Lightroom and has created presets that help accelerate the time it takes to process a folder full of images.

Whether you are a wedding or portrait photographer, you should pay attention to Jared Platt. Lucky for you, on January 14th, he is offering a free webinar, thanks in large part to ShootDotEdit.com.

The topic for this webinar is “Top Lightroom Shortcuts and Speed Tips.” Register here.

Jared and I sat down to chat for a bit about the need for speed when using Lightroom.

As an early adopter of the program, he knows the program intimately – its strengths, its weaknesses, its hidden features. That's why I pay attention to Jared whether it is a free webinar like this one or if he is on CreativeLive.

I hope you will jump at this opportunity to learn from one of leading authorities of Lightroom from the comfort of your own home or studio.

Sean Kernan is a photographer, teacher and author based in Connecticut. He often teaches at the Maine Media Workshops + College.

We sat down to talk about his new book, Looking Into The Light, which helps photographers resuscitate their sense of discovery and wonder through exercises and practice. It is, as Kernan says, a workshop in a book, so it isn't something you should read cover to cover in one sitting. It is to be nibbled at and examined in a mindful manner.

These exercises will “let you be empty and expectant” at the same time, allowing you a “spaciousness of mind,” for injecting a sense of play and imagination into your photography style.

Grab this random chapter from the book to get a sense of what is in the book. I think you will really like it! And, if you do buy the book, please come back here and share with me the results of the exercises. How did you feel before reading and doing the exercises and then after it? What changed in you? Were your images different in some way? How do you think the suggestions Kernan makes improved you and or your photography?

If you enjoyed this interview, please share it with your friends and family. Also, don't forget to subscribe to TiffinboxTV. Lastly, please suggest other people I should speak with for this program. Your input is always welcome!

When I heard fashion photographer Craig LaMere was going to speak and present a workshop in Connecticut, I raced back to Facebook and pinged him again to see if this time we could get together to chat about what he does so well – portrait photography. He graciously spent a little over 30 minutes answering all my questions. Check out that chat right below:

If you live near Connecticut (looking at you photographers in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and even New Jersey), mark September 22 on your calendar as THE day Craig LaMere will be hosted by the CTPPA (Connecticut Professional Photographers Association).

Craig will entertain and educate you for the whole day with a mix of fashion driven portraiture, lighting patterns and he will also show you the post processing workflow that makes his life easy.

For more details go here. Yes, you can register for it and you don't have to be a CTPPA member (though prices may be higher if you aren't). Those of us who are CTPPA members receive day-long presentation as a part of our membership. The workshop for you folks (and there are only 14 spots left now) is $100 if you are a CTPPA member.

Learn more about Craig LaMere here. Find Craig LaMere on Facebook here. Below are a few recent images from him. Want to see more? Check out his website.

Go ahead and let loose the confetti. This is going to be an incredible presentation and workshop and I am looking forward to it! Will you join me in welcoming Craig LaMere to Connecticut on September 22nd? Sound off below!

If you have been an avid reader of Tiffinbox, you've read David Jackson‘s popular guest posts.

If you haven't, here is the first one and here is the second one.

Dave is an award-winning advertising, commercial and entertainment photographer based in Appleton, Wisconsin. He and his crew are known to make graphically intense portraits for bands and businesses. He has the ability to sculpt light and create images that pop. Take a look at some of these images!

I first learned about Dave through Zack Arias. It's true, long before I became a friend, I was a fan. I watched and read Dave's whimsical blog posts and loved how his personality came through in every single one of them. He is definitely not afraid to show his clients who he truly is. Lean and tall, with a glowing beard and tattoos, he has an august presence about him. When you get to talking to him, you immediately see how humble, generous and really gentle this guy is.

In the last two years, I have flown out to Appleton, Wisconsin twice, to learn from Dave. I discovered through the course of his workshops that just observing wouldn't cut it. He expected me to play and learn and make mistakes and ask why. We listened to Dave for a bit as he showed a few lighting scenarios and explained how he approached a specific project. Then it was up to us to roll up our sleeves and work.

Dave is clear that the intent of his workshops aren't to leave with a set of “portfolio” images but feel really comfortable taking those first steps towards creating your own back at home. Both the workshops ran long, only because Dave wanted to be sure that all of the attendee questions were answered and that he had truly helped everyone out.

I can tell you that my lighting has improved dramatically since signing up with Dave. Please be sure that he didn't pay me to say that. Take a look at my work and follow me on Facebook where you will see my personal experiments with lighting.

As a busy studio that's nabbing all kinds of awards for their work, it's awfully difficult to get Dave and company to teach a workshop outside of Wisconsin. As I said above, I had to fly to Appleton, Wisconsin! In rare form, Dave is coming to teach at Inspire Photo Seminars in February.

Since he is going to be in Sturbridge, Massachusetts already, he figured he would give those photographers in the New England area a chance to sign up for his workshops closer to their homes – Breaking the Rules Workshop and F/What? Workshop.

You'll notice there is an option to register for both days and save a bundle. If you are new to off-camera flash lighting, you may want to consider the one-two-punch. However, if you are comfortable with your f/stops, shutter speeds and ISO's, then skip the first one and sign up for just the second. Either way, I know you are going to come away learning something new that you will use on a daily basis in your photography business.

So, register here and now. [There is a good chance I will be assisting Dave during his workshops in Sturbridge, MA, so if you do register, please say hello!]