Andrew Niesen

After our April Business of Storytelling workshop, I posted here about how deeply our workshop participants had inspired us, and how I hoped to share some of their stories with you. This one is about Annette Biggers of Triplecord in Laguna Beach, CA. Annette has one of the biggest hearts we have encountered, with wide-open arms eager to embrace new people and new ideas. One evening during our workshop, we all sat rapt as she shared the following story with us.

In late 2006, Annette and her husband Mike hosted a Ugandan boys choir at their home, while the group was performing in Southern California. They had about 15 boys spread all over their home, in beds, in sleeping bags. One night she struck up a conversation with the choir leader, Alex Mutagubya, and he mentioned that he would be getting married soon back home in Uganda. Annette knew that most Ugandans cannot afford to hire personal photographers for their weddings, so she immediately told him, "I am going to come to Uganda and photograph your wedding for you." The man's eyes welled up with tears as he told her he could not believe he was receiving such kindness from someone he barely knew. When she showed him some of her work, she said he cried in disbelief that someone was offering to make such beautiful photos for him, asking nothing in return.

So in late March, Annette made good on her promise by flying to Uganda on her own money, with her husband and their two youngest children, to photograph Alex's wedding to Faith. Annette and her family found themselves mesmerized by the astounding natural beauty of Uganda and the pure friendliness of its people.

The day of the wedding, a man she did not recognize approached her and said "Annette?" She was confused, and then she looked down and saw a camera hanging around his neck. A familiar camera. HER camera. She was completely bewildered and speechless, until it hit her.

Two years ago Annette had donated an old Nikon film camera to a Ugandan pastor who was visiting California. They were discussing photography, and the pastor, Peter Kasiviru, mentioned that most Africans still used primarily film cameras. So when he was leaving to return to Uganda, Annette gave him her camera and said to please give it to someone who would make good use of it.

And there she was, two years later, standing on Ugandan soil and face to face with the man who had received her old camera. The man was Godfrey - incidentally the bride's brother and a groomsman in the wedding. Godfrey told Annette that he used her camera to open a portrait studio. He also made some photos with it that he sent to the local newspaper, which began paying him for his work. He told her this camera had allowed him to make a good income to support his family. Annette and Godfrey hugged and hugged, and cried over the sheer improbability of this meeting. Annette says she remembers feeling bad that all she was sending was an old film camera, but when she got to Uganda she realized it was the nicest camera anyone had there. "It was nothing for me to send my camera over there," she says. "But it changed his life."

Annette came back home filled with new energy, and a new purpose. This story gets even better. We will post the second part of it tomorrow. But for now, to see more photos from Alex and Faith's wedding, go to Triplecord's blog.

As promised, here is the footage that documents Andrew's first karaoke experience, which took place in Savannah last weekend. Thanks to our assistant Will Godfrey for capturing this momentous occasion on his cell phone camcorder.

I turned 30 on Saturday. And I have to say, it was by far my favorite birthday. On Friday night, Mark (in cooperation with our studio manager Melissa Roth and friend Jenn Linke of The Decisive Moment) surprised me with a dinner at an Atlanta tapas restaurant.

The biggest surpise of all was how many people showed up, and how many people made an effort to be there despite hectic schedules. Chris and Katie Torres came straight over from the rehearsal dinner they were shooting, Nathan and Amber Holritz drove two hours from Chattanooga, our friends David and Sarah Hamilton drove over from Athens - all for little ol' 30-year-old me. Adam Linke of The Decisive Moment made this photo when we walked into the restaurant and saw all our friends smiling and clapping.

The night was capped off with roller skating (the old-fashioned kind with four wheels) at the Golden Glide in Decatur, where we all attempted to relearn a favorite childhood pastime. Nathan Holritz made this photo of Amber, Mark and me. This photo was made possible by Nathan's skillful panning technique, and the fact that we were hands-down the slowest skaters in the rink.

Sadly, Andrew and Rachel could not be there because they were shooting a wedding in Savannah. After the wedding Saturday, Andrew decided to brave karaoke for the first time. Thanks to our assistant Will's cell phone camcorder, we were able to experience this milestone in Andrew's life. I will try to add the video footage later!

On our workshop's last day on Thursday, we looked around as everyone said their goodbyes. People who just met four days prior were hugging, exchanging email addresses, clasping hands and saying that they hated to say goodbye. It warms our hearts to no end to be able to connect people like this. Our favorite part about hosting workshops is the amazing, new people we meet. We truly had a blast last week and can't wait to hear how everyone's businesses evolve over the next year. Below are photos from the last day.
Stuart Thurlkill gives an inspiring presentation. If you have not seen Stuart share his vision, you need to! He constantly inspires us with his selfless giving, enthusiastic optimism and pure passion for people.

Alice Gung and Terrell Clark say goodbye at the end of the workshop.

Lynn Townsend hugs Jenica Johnson.

Rebecca Kiger gives Livingston Jackson a hug.

Darlene Hildebrandt took this group photo of the LaCour team.

Andrew helps participants with lighting questions before the lighting demo.

Mark talks with participants about bounce flash. From left: Alice Gung, Rebecca Kiger, Jeff Calbom, Darlene Hildebrandt and Kady Dunlap.


Veronica King practices bounce flash.


Mark and I played bride and groom for the lighting demo at Biltmore Ballrooms.

Andrew and Rachel got in a dance of their own at the lighting demo.


The whole gang! Our assistant Will Godfrey made this group shot to demonstrate the Denis Reggie flash brackets, which we use to light group portraits at weddings.

It had never occurred to us to host our own workshop, until we gradually started receiving more emails from photographers asking how we light dark ballrooms. So the Business of Storytelling workshop devotes most of Tuesday to the fundamentals of lighting, spending the evening at the historic Biltmore Ballrooms practicing LaCour's signature lighting techniques.

The four of us, along with our longtime assistant Will Godfrey, enjoyed working one-on-one with the participants.

Wednesday will be devoted to everything that happens after the shoot - editing and post-production - as well as our fabulous dinner at Ecco in downtown Atlanta. Stay tuned for more updates!