08/19/2026
Last weekend marked my sixth workshop with the amazing Parker J Pfister over the years. I go back again and again as they are always different. This time, the concept was “At Play with Parker.”
When so much of my working life is spent on weddings, portraits and commissioned work, it’s good to call time, step back and look at what I’m doing from a distance once in a while. Parker’s workshops are how I reset, regroup and in the words of the late, great Bill Hicks “squeegee my third eye”.
Much of my wedding work is rooted in photojournalism, but the creative and artistic side matters just as much—and so does remembering why I picked up a camera in the first place: to have fun.
Over the weekend, we faced eight timed challenges. At the end, we each had to choose our three favourite photographs. These are mine.
For this first challenge, we had to choose someone from the cohort, pre-visualise their portrait and sketch it before even touching a camera. I chose Angela, who had spoken in her intro to the group about her fascination with hands and her love of nature and flowers.
I pictured her framed by the silhouettes of hands holding flowers. The problem was how to execute that image. With the team’s help, we removed the cover from a reflector and used it as a screen to shoot through. Back lighting projected the shadows of two people holding Parker’s dried flowers, while Angela held another bunch in front.
We had two minutes and three clicks to execute it.
Scroll on for the other two selections and the story of how each image emerged from its challenge.
For this challenge, the two models and I were placed inside a white tent, unable to shoot from outside, with a selection of props we could use or ignore while Parker observed to ensure we stayed within the rules and offered guidance as needed.
The cross and crown immediately stood out, and with Sara (Sara Valverde) and Suzi (𝕊𝕦𝕫𝕚 𝕎𝕖𝕤𝕥) dressed in contrasting black and white, angel-and-devil concept quickly formed.
We had one minute to plan and arrange the scene, followed by one minute to shoot. I directed Sara into a calm, reflective pose while Suzi moved quickly toward the camera with a more demonic
