I think some of you know that I've been taking a year-long "workshop" from Don Giannatti, titled "Project 52 Pros," which is specifically geared to train photographers to do commercial work. My year is coming to an end, and I can say that it has been one of the best things I've ever done to push myself and improve my photography. I still have much to learn, but it's been an excellent experience.
Anyhow, Don may be moving away from the Project 52 format…at the very least he is changing some things about how it works. I'm ready to hop on board whenever he opens up his next Project 52 (if he does).
In the meanwhile, he has started offering shorter 8-week workshops that are focused on specific topics in photography. Lately he has been working on a portraiture course in which you study the work of one of the contemporary "masters" each week, dissect and analyze their work and style, and then use what you learn to inspire a work of your own. (The photographers he lists as subjects for study are Victor Skrebneski, Karsh, Sarah Moon, Peter Lindbergh, Herb Ritts, Dan Winters, Jeanloup Sieff, and Emily Shur.)
He is already running one of these 8-week courses and is about to start a new one, which I have signed up for. I think it's going to kick my butt. But...I'm just putting it out there in case one of you wants to join me!
A couple things to note: 1) It's ridiculously inexpensive ($75 for the entire course). 2) It's NOT for beginners--you must know your way around your camera. 3) He has a "minimum gear required" list, which you can check out on the web page.
Here's a link where you find out more: http://www.lighting-...trait-workshop/