As a full-time headshot photographer, it’s easy to forget what it’s like to shoot for fun, as a hobby. But recently, I had the opportunity to join my friend Angie McMonigal on one of her abstract architectural photography workshops in LA, and it turned out to be the perfect creative reset I needed.

I met Angie while still living outside of Chicago. We both taught at the Out of Chicago workshop. She does some fantastic architectural work, most of it more abstract as she plays with the interesting combinations of new and old structures in a big city. Her style is quite unique in my opinion, and her teaching style is relaxed, casual, and very approachable.

I still attend workshops on occasion, but everything I’ve done in the past few years was geared towards more advanced portrait photography techniques. So, the decision to give this workshop a try was a big jump for me.

The Workshop Experience

For three non-stop days, we hit many of the key LA landmark buildings, most notably, the Disney Concert Hall and the Getty. Each spot started with a brief overview as Angie provided some insight into the location. She showed some past images for inspiration and discussed opportunities specific to the time of day, etc. Then we pretty much roamed free. Some participants chose to do their own thing, while others stuck more with the group or had other questions for Angie.

Getting dropped into these locations, usually via Uber, is great because I don’t have to think about getting there and all the other logistics. Angie covers all the details in a well-planned schedule. During the workshop, I really just had to make it to the morning meeting spot in the hotel, and Angie takes it from there.

We bonded as a group, and the days ended with a great dinner and drinks. I made new friends that I would ordinarily have little in common with photographically speaking.

Upcoming Workshops

Angie has led or is planning workshops in NY, SF, LA, and Toronto. She’s always scoping out new ideas as well, and Miami might be next on the list. If you're looking for a change of pace in your photography or need a creative reset, I highly recommend checking out these workshops. And if photographing architectural details is your passion, then you've got to do one of these workshops.

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