On April 26, I got to spend two hours doing my favorite thing in the world: watching a small group of photographers fall in love with their craft all over again.
This was my second Creative Hours, a free workshop I host here in St. Augustine for hobbyist photographers who want to grow. No fee, no portfolio to prove you belong there, no pressure on you or on me. Just good light, good company, and a whole lot of room to try something new.
If you’re the kind of photographer who’s been shooting the same way for a while, or who feels a little nervous every time you have to direct a real person in front of other people watching – I built this for you. And I’d love for you to be there next time.
What Creative Hours Is, and Why I Started It
I remember exactly what it felt like to be brand new to this. Not knowing where to stand. Not knowing what to say to someone I was photographing. Wondering if my settings were even close to right. I was so lucky that people took the time to make room for me back then, no strings attached, and that generosity changed the whole trajectory of my career.
Creative Hours is my way of paying that forward. It’s free because I want it to be. No pressure because that’s the whole point – this is a space to be a little brave, try something new, and know that someone is in your corner the whole time. I truly believe that when we all get better together, we all rise together. High tides rise all ships.
A Look Inside Our Night Downtown
For this session, my sweet friends Susan and Paul volunteered to model for us the entire evening. I met them years ago on their full moon shoot, and having them back for this felt like a full-circle moment.
We started at Flagler College during golden hour, soaking in that warm, honey-colored light St. Augustine does so beautifully. From there we wandered the side streets as blue hour settled in, and finished the night in the plaza, well after dark. That’s when I brought out my lightstick – one of my favorite tools for editorial night shoots –and this time, we lit everything in pink. We played with flash mixed with ambient light, chased movement, and just kept experimenting.
But honestly, the light was never the best part. The best part was watching the nerves melt away. At the beginning of the night, I could feel how unsure everyone was – that very real, very human hesitation that comes with directing a real couple in public, with other photographers standing right there watching you do it. By the time we reached the plaza, that hesitation was completely gone. People were practically running over to show me what they’d captured, lit up with excitement, asking questions they might have been too shy to ask an hour earlier. Watching that shift happen, right in front of me, is exactly why I keep doing this.
If You’ve Been Wanting to Level Up, This Is Your Sign
If you’re a hobbyist photographer here in the St. Augustine area (or even a professional that just wants to get creative for the sake of it), I want you to know this workshop exists for exactly this reason: to give you a low-pressure place to practice directing real people, in real locations, alongside other photographers who are on the same journey you are. You get to experiment with flash and ambient light, try your hand at night photography somewhere genuinely beautiful, and walk away with images that make you proud – all without spending a dime or feeling like you don’t belong in the room.
I’m already dreaming up the next Creative Hours for later this year. I keep these groups small on purpose, because I want to actually see you, encourage you, and cheer you on – not just fill a room.
Want to Be the First to Know?
I’m not one for big waitlists or countdown timers. But if this is speaking to you and you want a heads-up the moment I set the next date, just send me an email (hello@brandidenslowphoto.com) and let me know you’d love to be included. I’ll make sure you’re one of the first people I tell.
This one filled up fast, and I have a feeling the next one will too. I hope to see you there
Keep Wandering
+ view the comments
