As most of you know, I am a terrible photographer. I always forget to bring a camera with me and then when I do take photos they are just the simple point and shoot, luck out if you get them in focus type of shots. Now that I am a proud aunt, however, my interest in taking better photos, albeit still amateur, has grown. I want to make sure that my nephew's life is documented so that he can look back years later and see his first few years in photos. Most of the other moms (and favorite aunts) I talk to agree.

Taking great photos doesn't replace professional portrait sessions on the beach or at the park with your favorite photographer; those should still be an annual staple in your family budget. But let's face it - none of us are going to hire a photographer to follow us around to our children's soccer games, ballet recitals or to hang out in our house in the hopes that they can catch that signature pout the kiddos do when something doesn't go their way.

So I'm excited to let you know that the fab and super talented photographers Kim Jarman and Jen Bowen have teamed up to teach a beginners photography workshop this Summer. They'll be covering a range of topics from how to choose the best camera for you, to learning the fundamental tech stuff (ISO, F-stop, etc), tips for posing people, understanding how to properly use light, and so on. There is a week left to sign up, as the workshop will be on June 28th and you can download the registration form here. You can also email workshops{at}kimberlyjarman.com for more information. If you're in the Phoenix or Scottsdale area, be sure to get to this - it is a great deal with long-term benefits!