A Look Back At Fstoppers Workshops 2015 And Our Plans For The Future

When we created Fstoppers five years ago, we always knew that eventually we would host a live event of some kind. In 2013 we started planning for our first ever live photography workshop that would take place in the Bahamas the following year. Our first workshop proved to be far more complicated and expensive than we ever imagined but it was an amazing experience so we decided to attempt it one more time in 2015. 

The idea for the event was pretty simple; we wanted to go to a remote location where a group of the best photography instructors in the world could teach classes to a group of around 100-150 photographers. Fstoppers would manage the overall event but the instructors would be in charge of their personal workshops. We decided to throw our event at Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. The resort was easily accessible, fairly affordable (as much as an island resort could be), and had something for everyone in terms of entertainment. Atlantis gave us an incredible room rate (below $200/night) and free conference rooms for our classes as well as full access to their property. Instructors like Pye Jirsa who wanted a variety of locations to shoot in were able to shoot images in the beautiful lobbies, the beach, the pools and water-park, multiple penthouse suites, restaurants, and of course the incredible Atlantis aquarium. 

Photo By: Reyallan Thompson

Being that we pulled off the 2014 event, we assumed that planning another almost identical event at the same location would be easier. In some ways that was true but in other ways it was even more complicated the second time. Thankfully, Profoto and Broncolor were a huge help when it came to getting lighting gear down to the Bahamas for the instructors, and B&H was there to loan camera gear out, teach a couple free classes, and sponsor two nightly parties.  Like the year before, I stressed out over this event every day for nine months leading up to the event about a week before the event I was finally able to relax because the hardest part, the preparation, was over. 

Photo by: Josh Rottman

Three days before the event, five of us flew down to the Bahamas with 13 checked bags worth of gear. We needed cameras and video equipment to record the event but we also wanted to bring backup studio lighting equipment in case any of the instructors had an issue getting their gear into the country. We spent the next two days preparing for all of the instructors and attendees to arrive. On Tuesday, the day before the event, we met up with about 30 attendees of the event to hit the water park. It was there, at the bottom of the "shark slide," that I remembered why I loved this so event so much. It was amazing getting to see so many familiar faces from the previous year and getting to meet so many new photographers from all around the world. 

Although the preparation for this event wasn't any easier, the event itself went much more smoothly this year. Five of our nine instructors had returned, and each of them were able to rework their classes to be even better than the previous year. 

Photo by: Sarah Williams

While each of the instructors were in charge of their individual workshops, Fstoppers was in charge of planning the nightly events. On Wednesday night, the first night of the event, we threw a party outside of the aquarium where all of the instructors and attendees got a chance to all be in one place at the same time. It was a great way for everyone to meet and prepare for the week. Last year we didn't plan anything for Thursday and Saturday night, but for 2015 we wanted at least one option every night of the event. We teamed up with B&H to supply each of the students with free drinks for both nights. On Friday each of the instructors spoke to the entire group in an event we called "The Friday Forum". Last year we held this "forum" in the morning and everyone, tired from two days of classes and partying, had a hard time getting up and the event ate up most of the "free" day. This year we decided to move it to the evening and we supplied dinner to the entire group during the event. This change opened up the entire day for everyone. Peter Hurley took about 75 people sailing, while many of the students were able to enjoy the water park for the first time. I actually took a few of the attendees scuba diving.

During this five day event I had the unique opportunity to walk from class to class and learn from each of the instructors. I tried to meet as many of the photographers attending the event as I could. I was able to shoot, eat, gamble, water slide, scuba dive and become genuine friends with so many of the attendees. Planning this event was incredibly stressful but once the event actually began and I was able to meet so many incredible people, I quickly started to forget about the challenges and began to fully enjoy myself.  All of the hard work became more than worth it and I once again had the time of my life at the event. 

Photo by: Matt Reese

Because I was so honest about last years finances (and the fact that our event actually made no profit) I know that many of you are interested in this years break down. We decided to stick with the same percentage payout as last year, giving the majority of the profits from each class to the instructors. We grossed significantly more money this year but we also significantly increased our expenses. We spent more money on each student attending and we paid for more help before and during the event. We just got all of the final bills and we appear to have netted around $12,000 before we paid an employee for nine months of part time work to help plan this event. We estimate that we paid this person around $8,000. So at the end of the day, Patrick and I appear to have made a comical $2000 each. 

Luckily this event was never about the money for us, we only wanted to put on an event that we could be proud of. I believe that we accomplished that and it feels great to hear from so many of the happy attendees from both years. We have decided to take a break for 2016 and rethink our event game plan. These two workshops have been two of the most fulfilling projects I've ever worked on but at the same time the more frustrating, stressful, and financially risky. I'm sure that we will have another event eventually, but I am looking forward to taking 2016 off and coming up with something totally different and even better for the future. We already have a few ideas that we are bouncing around that are really exciting. 

To stay up to date on our future Fstoppers Workshops head over to FstoppersWorkshops.com and sign up for the mailing list. We'll keep you informed of our plans for future workshops. 

To everyone who has taught at or attended our workshops these last two years, Thank you. These two events have been major highlights of my life and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.