Thao D. Tran Photography | The Blog » Workshops

free to succeed update

Thao a.k.a "Theo" — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:48:57 +0000

I finally have time to write about the incredible Free To Succeed Tour that I attended here in Austin, TX. To start out, if I had to choose one word to describe how I felt after attending the tour, that one word would be “humbled.” When I first met and introduced myself to David Jay and Jasmine Star, I was humbled by their down-to-earth, generous personalities. I felt how genuinely excited and happy both of them were to be here to meet and share themselves and their knowledge to everyone. I mean it was ten minutes till start time and they were still walking around the room introducing themselves to everyone and happily answering a barrage of questions, from ‘what got you into photography’ to ‘how do you like Austin, TX’ to ‘will you take a picture with me.’

I was further humbled by what they had to say during the workshop. David Jay connected with everyone from the get-go, he was personable, he was more than eager to tell us the mistakes he made in the photography business, and he was not embarrassed to show us his not-so-great photos. David Jay literally opened himself up to share everything he had to offer to everyone. The one thing that I noticed during the class was just how much David Jay really enjoyed what he does and I am not talking about photography, I am talking about really helping other people get to where he is at today or to experience what he experiencing. I have so much to learn from David and if I took away anything from the tour that would be helping others will get you further in life.

Jasmine Star, where do I begin. As beautiful as she is on her blog, she was even more beautiful in person and even more beautiful because of her personality and what she had to offer to the class. She talked about how she began photography, the obstacles she faced, what inspires her and what makes her who she is. There were moments when Jasmine was speaking that she got emotional and moved everyone. I looked around hardly anyone was writing notes because everyone wanted to hear and take in everything Jasmine had to say. After the class was over, I had the pleasure of talking to Jasmine and she apologized to me for talking a million miles per minute, but that just tells me that she truly wanted to share with everyone everything she had experienced as a photographer and in her life and there was not enough time to say it all. What you read on her blog is what you get when you meet her in person. She is amazing and she keeps it real (K.I.R).

I can’t tell you how much I learned from both David Jay and Jasmine Star. Their helpfulness and personalities were key to their success and that was what I really think they wanted us to learn from the tour. I am telling you that if you have the opportunity to go the Free to Succeed Tour, go! We had someone drive all the way from Mexico to attend this tour and I am sure that person did not go home empty handed. This tour is well worth giving up four hours of your life to listen and just be inspired. So please go to Free To Succeed and sign up, you won’t be disappointed.

I also want to give a shout out to Chasity, Erika, Jen, Jenny, Ashley, Gina, Eva and Grace who I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to at the tour. You guys are great and we should definitely meet up soon.

For more updates and pictures of the tour, please visit David Jay, Jasmine Star and Kenny Kim’s blogs [ DJ | JS | KK ]. Take care.

free to succeed tour

Thao a.k.a "Theo" — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:14:37 +0000

The Free To Succeed tour is here in Austin, TX, hosted by the one and only David Jay, with special guest, the beautiful and talented Jasmine Star. I don’t know what to expect from this workshop, all I know is that I will walk away with an enormous amount of knowledge to not only help with how I approach my photography business, but also with how I approach any decisions I make moving forward. I can’t wait.

The workshop already started in Houston, so check out David, Jasmine and Kenny Kim’s blogs [ DJ | JS | KK ] for pics and updates. Anyhow, gotta get going. I will definitely give you my update about the workshop. Take care.

very ALTF update

Thao a.k.a "Theo" — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:11:36 +0000

The very ALTF summer tour ’08 in Austin is over and I really wish it could have lasted longer. Listening to John M. Cooper talk about his approach to photography and how he comes up with his ideas for his well known “tell your mother to close her eyes” pictures is really amazing. Not only was John sharing his ideas with everyone but he was also sharing new ideas and telling us to go ahead and run with them. So, thank you John for sharing and letting us pick at your creative mind. I also can’t forget to give kudos to John’s lovely wife, Dalisa, for all her hard work and making sure the workshop runs smoothly. You two are amazing and I hope to meet up with you guys soon and attend more of your workshops. Keep safe on the road.

While I am on the topic of being thankful, I have to give a special thanks to Eric Doggett from Eric Doggett Studios for opening up his beautiful home to host the tour. Not only did Eric open up his home for us, he was a great sport and helped with the afternoon photo session. Another special thanks to Shannon Cunningham and her husband Conner for modeling and providing models for the workshop. Check out John’s blog for more pictures of the workshop that will be posted soon.

John and Dalisa are now heading out to Memphis, TN to continue their tour and their Roadside Family Portraits. If you guys have not signed up yet, slots are being filled up quickly, so hurry up and check out veryALTF.com and sign up. I am telling you it is worth it.

Quiet please, creativity at work…

Thanks again to Shannon & Conor for modeling, you guys look amazing.

Eric Doggett, Texas sheriff by day and photographer by night, roughing up the models…

weather & very ALTF

Thao a.k.a "Theo" — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:41:18 +0000

Wow, after weeks and weeks with temperatures soaring in the upper 90’s to the lower 100’s, much needed rain came today with the temperature being in the upper 70’s. It feels great to escape the heat even though it would have been better if the humidity was 30% instead of 75%. Oh well, I’ll take what I get from mother nature. I am just hoping in a couple weeks when I pack all my stuff to move into my new apartment the weather would be just as kind if not kinder to me. I am not asking for much; a mild 75 degrees, 21.5% humidity, a slight north eastern breeze, partly cloudy skies, with a 30% chance of afternoon showers. Again, not asking for much.

Anyhow, whatever the weather, I am hoping that it won’t affect the very ALTF summer tour ’08 workshop that I will be attending tomorrow. Today, John Michael and Dalisa Cooper are kicking off the tour in Dallas TX, before heading to the Lone Star State Capital. Check out their blog and see what the workshop is all about. Take care ya’ll.

very ALTF summer tour

Thao a.k.a "Theo" — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:18:15 +0000

Have you ever wondered what brides do with their wedding dress after they get married? Some would keep it in a box locked up in the attic for memories. Every time they go up into the attic to clean, they would pull out the dress, hug, smell and hold the dress in front of them while swaying back and forth in front of a dusty mirror humming the tune of a sweet love ballad. Others would keep the dress way in the back of their closet next to the moth balls to pull out every once in a while and secretly wear the dress when no one is at home. They would dance around in the dress barefooted, plop down on the couch with a quart of Ben & Jerry’s while watching the Food Network Channel and smile contently with themselves. There are others however, that would wear their dress to swim in the local creek, get stuffed in the trunk of a car by someone they love or set their dress on fire for Trash the Dress. Huh…say what?!

Sorry for the long dramatic intro. The very ALTF summer tour ’08 will be here in Austin for a one day workshop. I have been looking forward to this workshop for a while now and it is almost here. The incredible and talented John Michael Cooper & Dalisa Cooper will traveling the country and teaching aspiring photographers like me their creative, inventive, and unorthodox altF-style. If you haven’t seen their work please check out their website and blog. They are truly amazing and their images and creativity is something worth looking at. I know that no one is going to be set on fire at this workshop, but to be able to learn from John and Dalisa is just as cool, if not cooler. (NOTE: I don’t promote setting yourself, anyone, or anything on fire, just don’t do it, leave it to the professionals).

Anyhow, take care and I will definitely post about this workshop.