I am honestly tickered pink by this post! Obviously this post goes with the other post soliciting students for the Posing workshop by modelguru (aka Mark Chow?)
I had attended "workshops", locally and elsewhere. I have never attended a workshop where I did not learn anything. In the "worst" workshop I attended, I learnt how things ought not to be done!
The purpose of the workshop is defined by its goals. If the workshop is to photograph a pretty model, with minimal input from the workshop organiser, so be it! If the participants are happy, then the workshop is a success! If the stated goals of the workshop is to teach participants to "pose", so be it! And if participants like to learn how to pose models, so be it!
There is no need to make light of others' workshops to promote your workshop. One is seldom elevated by putting down others. There is a role for everyone. Personally, I have never found the need to learn to "pose" models from "gurus". The greatest "gurus" of any type (not just photography) I know seldom call themselves such anyway. There are enough magazines, books, etc showing works from "world renown" gurus/photographers to learn from. Examples of truly great photographers are Karsh, Albert Watson, Avedon, etc etc etc. Even John Clang and Leslie Kee. Study their works and see why they work. Go to museums and look at portraits etc and learn from masters, both past and present.
Photography does not exist in a vacuum. Photography as an art form exist together with paintings, sculpture, music etc. Study a sculpture, like Henry Moore's and you can learn how to pose a model. Learn the lines.
But if one wishes to have someone hold his/her hand, well, then attend a model posing class. But don't stop there. Go to the museum, look at books and magazines. Have fun!
