If someone wanted to know your family's story, what would you tell them? What would you show them?

As a father and husband, I have been thinking a lot about this. How will my kids and wife remember me, how will I remember them? How have we spent time together as a family? What fun moments do we remember the most? What challenged us and how did we overcome them?

Lastly, how have we loved our children? There is never enough time, to be together, right? It seems that way, but it doesn't have to be the way all the time. Certainly, we can give ourselves some time away from work, from social media, from blinking lights and other distractions to hang out with our family and just chill out.

Well, all of these questions, observations and potential solutions highlight what I want to do for families and couples in Connecticut, with Amata Pictures, a new project that I launched. But I am sure you are wondering how you would go about documenting your family right? Well, I am here to tell you about The Familyness Photo Workshops led by Davina Fear.

Davina Fear is a Clover, South Carolina based photographer and author. More than those obvious titles, she is also a wife and mom. From what I have seen her do in the last few months, where she launched Love 15, to her kits for photographers (some, I personally use), I know she puts her heart and soul into whatever she produces.

The Familyness Photo Workshop is no different. It's meant for parents who are juggling with jobs and life in general that take them away from their kids, their “familyness,” a term Davina freely admits she made up. To that end, I think photographers too, who are parents, can benefit from the workshop that launches tomorrow (January 20).

Davina and I had a chance to sit down for a brief chat. Check out the video below.

Sign up with the following code: “FPW30seshu” to save $30. Sign up here for The Familyness Photo Workshop.

Jason Aten is a Michigan based wedding photographer. After a career in marketing and sales management for a Fortune 100 company, Jason became relentlessly drawn to the ability to impact people’s lives through photography. So in 2001 he quit his job to start his own photography business. Jason applies his previous marketing and sales experience to his photography business and now takes the time to educate others with his “Starting Out Right” one-day intensives and resource guides. You can find more posts like this on the Starting Out Right blog.

There's a lot of talk about workshops lately. There's a lot of people that are frustrated by the perceived direction our industry is taking. There's a lot of strong feelings about different workshops, and whether they offer value to photographers and our industry.

With that in mind, I want to help share some expectations – to be sure you understand all the reasons you should consider attending a ONE DAY INTENSIVE.

But first, here are five reasons you shouldn't:

1. You want to become a better photographer. You won't. I'm not going to talk about understanding your camera, or composition, or lighting, or post processing. This isn't a workshop to help you be a better photographer, so if that's what you're looking for – don't bother coming.

In fact, no workshop will make you a better photographer. You might learn some good techniques, but in reality – the ONLY way to become a better photographer is to shoot more. Who cares about your first wedding – I got excited when I had to replace a shutter after 118,000 exposures.

2. You want to be rich. Sorry, can't help you there either. There's no secret to becoming rich. There's no fast-track or easy road. Some people get lucky… good for them, but I can't teach you that. No one can teach you. By the way, if you're thinking about starting your own small business to get rich, forget it. 95% of them fail.

3. You want to be like _______ (insert photographer here). Attending a workshop won't make you anymore like someone else – then visiting the pet store will make you more like a golden retriever. You won't leave the ODI more like me (and that's good for both of us… trust me). If you pay money to go to a workshop, hoping that some magic dust will rub off on you, you're fooling yourself and wasting your money. It doesn't work that way.

4. You want someone to tell you the short cuts. Guess what. The most successful people in ANY field – ANY industry – are the people who work the hardest, for the long haul. A workshop presenter can help give you tools, but then you have to do the hard work. There's no secret recipe, and anyone that tells you that there is – well, I think you know what to think about them.

5. You are PASSIONATE about photography. That's great. I love photography too. I also really love ice cream, but that doesn't mean I open an ice cream stand. If you're passionate about photography – by all means, keep taking pictures. It's a wonderful hobby :)

BONUS 6. You want to hang out with a SUPER successful rich, super-star photographer. Sorry, not me. I run a pretty small business focused on taking care of a small number of clients. My wife and I drive a 5 year old car, own a nice home, and spend a lot of money on diapers. Most days, I come home from my studio, and the first thing I do is change a stinky diaper, clean up crayon from the walls, and do the dishes. I'm just normal. My life is probably a lot like yours.

We're not rich. But I work very hard at treating my business like a business, and it exists to support my family. Our business does really well, and we have wonderful clients. I get to shoot some really wonderful weddings, and I love that I get paid well to do what I do. Our portrait business is thriving in a world where people tell you that you can't sell prints. But, let's be realistic – I run a studio in a town of 7,500 people. If you think that this workshop is going to be about how much money I spend on cars, or sunglasses, or new camera gear – you'll be disappointed.

By the way, you can get a LOT of the information I talk about by reading this FREE blog. So why would anyone come? Here are 3 reasons:

You're ready to build a photography business that is both profitable and sustainable.
It's easy to be to think that running a photography business is about taking beautiful photos and becoming a master of marketing. In reality, there's so much more. The average small business loses money for it's first 3 years, and then goes out of business in less than 5 years. Why? Because running a business is hard work, and it's about more than just photography. It's okay that you love photography, but if it's going to be a business, then it has to make money. The ONE DAY INTENSIVE will help give you the tools to build something that is both profitable AND sustainable.

You want to build a business around this photography thing you do that supports the life you want to live.
So many photographers (and small business owners in general), find themselves slaves to their business. They find themselves pouring their life into something, and many simply burn out. I believe that your business should support your life, instead of living simply to run your business. The ONE DAY INTENSIVE is for people who want to take care of their family by building something real.

You want to learn about best practices that you can use as you work HARD to do it right.
The One Day Intensive will teach you the business principles and best practices you need to know to grow a successful photography business. It's not about short cuts, magic tricks, or secret formulas. It's about knowing what it means to run a business. You might struggle with understanding how to control your expenses, set up your business, rationalize your pricing, managing your client experience, or sales. You're willing to invest your time by spending a day digging deep. This is no fluff. It's not a feel good workshop. It's not “fun.” But ask anyone who has attended – you're learn how to do it right.

Interested in learning more? Check out www.startingoutright.net/workshops Use code “tiffinbox” and you'll save $50.

I am kicking myself. Hard.

Why? Well, I went on a social media spree and posted about a webinar series I am co-hosting with Angela Pointon, called Swift Kick: Four Things Every Photographer Should Know About Business. Those who follow me on my Twitter and Facebook saw the posts and signed up quickly.

But I didn't really get you guys involved until … now. I am so sorry!

Well, the good news is, there is still time to register for the webinar series that will expose you to the marketing fundamentals most photographers miss.

I am sure you are curious what the webinar series is going to address and how it will help you. Let me tell you a story and I promise to keep it short.

After graduating from journalism school, with a strong emphasis in photography, I thought I was ready to take on the world and offer my photography services to anyone who asked me to photograph them or their event. Sad truth was unless I opened my mouth and told people that I was a photojournalist, no one really knew what I did for a living.

That's the case even today, except I am much better at marketing myself.

As I have already mentioned I have a fairly strong presence on both Twitter and Facebook (and I am exploring Google+). But that's really only online. What about off-line marketing, otherwise known as good ole' networking? I recently signed up to become a member of a local BNI chapter. I expect to renew my local chamber of commerce membership. I am joining other groups where members refer clients back and forth.

All that's great, but even those forays require some structure.

Angela Pointon, with whom I am co-hosting these webinars suggests that we begin by acknowledging our gut instinct. If a certain connection feels right to you, go for it. You really need to listen to what she has to say about this (and this first webinar is free).

The next webinar, with Tamara Lackey as our guest, will delve into the topic of “Discipline.” Without discipline, I am finding rather quickly, one's focus can get distracted. (on October 3, 2012, 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm … that's TODAY folks!)

Rosh Sillars, based in Detroit, Michigan, comes on board to talk about “Branding” (which hopefully we all know means how our business is perceived or thought-about rather than the existence of a logo. (on October 17, 2012, 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm EST)

Lastly, Skip Cohen, a marketing maven in the photography industry joins us to talk about having the “Right Tools,” to market our business. (on November 7, 2012, 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm EST)

Details about each of these sessions can be found here. If you are getting your business off the ground or you have been at it for a few years and want to know more, register for ALL FOUR sessions for just $25 now.

As an added incentive, ProDPI, Fundy Software, Song Freedom, Photocrati, ThinkTank Bags and Sticky Albums have all come on board as sponsors and have some exciting prizes that they are giving away.

ProDPI is giving away a 20″x30″ canvas per webinar.

Fundy Software is giving away Action Hub (a $79 value) to those who enter their email address into a special form which also enters you to win the Total Studio Pack (valued at $499).

Song Freedom is giving away one license for a song on their site, per webinar.

Photocrati is giving away one WordPress theme per webinar.

ThinkTank Bags is giving away one SlingShot 20 bag per webinar.

Sticky Albums has a special code to receive $30 off of their annual plan.

When you register for all the remaining webinars, you'll receive all the recordings PLUS you have at least three chances to win one of the prizes mentioned above.

So, what are you waiting for? Register now.

Today's guest post is by Don Giannatti. In 2011, PDN named him one of the best photography workshop instructors.If you didn't catch his CreativeLive programs, read on. You can find Don on Twitter, his websites: Lighting Essentials, Learn To Light, Now This Is Cool … and Project52. He is thoughtful, opinionated, controversial and funny. Check out Don's first guest post as well.

Portraits.

Photographs of people. People in spaces. People in environments. People in places where the light doesn’t cooperate.

People in studio settings where the photographer has ALL the control – and all the responsibility – to make the light the way it must be to capture the subject.

People.

One of the most interesting and fleeting of all photographic subjects, the portrait can show us a beauty unseen, a glimpse into the soul of the subject, or a simple smile that will last a lifetime.

Or more.

The good folks at UDEMY.com asked me to discuss portaiture on their education site and it became a full course in no time. That sort of thing happens to me when it comes to teaching.

I absolutely love to teach.

This course is for the beginners – the guy who wants to do more fashion like headshots or the gal who wants to make better location photographs. Intermediate photographers who are a bit uncomfortable with their strobes may also find some choice nuggets in the class.

I want to help photographers see exactly what I see when I am planning a portrait. The goal is to not only understand how the light works, but WHY the light works the way it does. Knowing why the light works is the best way to figure out where the light goes in any situation.

The class is currently at 5.5 hours and will grow to nearly 7 hours of video by the end of the year. I am planning new shoots for each month until January, 2013. I hope to incorporate some of the questions and comments of the students in the next four shoots.

We have also set up a Flickr page (currently invite only) where we will critique, offer suggestions, help deconstruct and have an open conversation with the students. In addition, UDEMY offers a way for live lectures and Q&A with the instructors. I plan on having a live show twice a month – two time slots so we can get involvement from folks who may be in way different time zones.

As I stated, the course is for beginners and early intermediate photographers. They should have a working knowledge of their cameras, and how to work the flash mechanically. There is a suggested gear list as well, but it is small and basic. No need to spend hundreds of dollars when simple gear can get the job done.

I am including the low-res version of the workbook as it currently stands. I expect it to nearly double as we answer questions, discover some new and interesting tricks, and add more shoots/demos/discussions to it. However, that workbook is for the students only.

Please feel free to download this low res workbook to see the images we are looking at in the course. If you are comfortable with the style, and would like to know how to repeat these lighting situations, this course is for you. If you are totally sure how to do these images, it is not the course for you. (I don’t want advanced shooters being disappointed. However, two pros who have reviewed it said they learned a couple of things … heh.)

Now understand that I am not a ‘video’ guy, and the small cameras are not broadcast quality. But we do have good video, and good sound, so the information is imparted … and that is the goal.

I hope you will take a look at the materials and if the course looks like something you would be interested in, check it out.

Tiffinbox readers get a discount of $20 off the regular price of $50. I have given Seshu 50 discounts for the readers of his blog. Simply follow the link or enter the code: “Tiffinbox” into the coupon code when enrolling.

I attended Don's workshop some years back in Boston. He knows his stuff and his love for teaching is very obvious. I do hope you will take advantage of the discount and sign up for his course.