Arriving far too early for the workshop, I was greeted by a warm and enthusiastic Kara. She invited me into the hostess’s studio, a wide open, sun-drenched space overlooking Las Vegas. Stepping into the workshop felt like a dream. I’d seen all her videos and obsessed over her Instagram, but in-person is something else. It’s a carefully selected, small group of amazing photographers joining the absolute best in the genre (I’ll die on this hill). Her energy is everything you hope it will be. This isn’t a snobbish workshop. Kara’s as real as they come, and you can be yourself, too.

From her slideshow’s first image to the live demonstration to the final hilarious group photo, it was a whirlwind of education, creativity, and camaraderie. I was captivated by the possibilities of photography, experimenting with new techniques and perspectives. It helped that Kara didn’t simply share her finest work; she showed early photos with corresponding pricing. This demystified the craft and made me feel like I could do it, too. It gave me permission to be a novice and excitement for the future….

I was nervous—like, forget how to adjust your ISO in a room full of professional photographers nervous. When Kara saw me fumbling with my camera, she didn’t roll her eyes. She waited patiently, then steadied my hand as I desperately attempted to take a motion blur photo. Though she inhabits the role of educator well, I got the sense that she was also one of us, dashing around the room, deliriously happy to be making art.

By the end of the day, we weren’t strangers anymore. Just a group of girls inspired by the talented and generous models Kara provided. When we weren’t laughing, there were moments of absolute stillness. At one point, the room went silent, but for a few “ooohs” and “ahhhs.” One of the models had struck a beautiful pose, and it was all we could do to stop everything and capture it from our own perspectives. I later saw other photographers’ images from that exact moment and was astonished to see how different each of us had seen the very same pose. I could tell from each of the edits that we’d all employed skills Kara had taught.

Through it all, Kara was supportive. She’s mastered the art of “show, don’t tell.” She’s not merely a hype-man—but she will hype you up. She proved that we could take gorgeous photos at every experience level.

In a world filled with workshops that promise the moon and deliver mere stardust, this experience was a rare gem—a day so extraordinary, so full of wonder and delight that it will forever hold a special place in my heart. I can’t thank Kara enough for exceeding every expectation and giving me an experience I’ll always point to as the day I finally saw myself as an artist.

“Artistically and mind-blowingly impactful.This day filled and overflowed my little photographer’s heart in ways I couldn't even imagine, and it was my 2nd time doing an in-person workshop with Kara. I'm still on a high from it 2 weeks + later. I am now more intentional with being an artist and seeing imperfection as art perfection without the props and fluff. Kara says you don't need it, she means it and teaches it. Her effortless way of giving you permission to peek through your camera and create unique and exquisite forms of art, all centered around your client make her the ideal instructor for anyone looking to take their boudoir or portrait photography to the next level. Forever grateful that she shares her wealth of information with those looking to grow in this field. Please don't sleep on her workshops. I am who I am today because I invested in myself and my education, learning from the best in the industry.”

“This was an amazing workshop! I love KaraMarie's education style, her hands on approach, and kind words of encouragement and support. I went feeling not confident about this genre, but quickly felt at ease and not only enjoyed myself, I captured many great images that I could use to start building my portfolio in this genre. I would definitely attend another of KM's workshops.”

“It was such a Dream to be able to attend this workshop! I love the direction that Boudoir is moving into and Kara is such an embodiment of "Less is SO much more". I so appreciated the hands on experience with direct coaching from Kara in practicing to see the human body as the work of art that it is. I feel like I got a new "lens" to look through. This whole workshop felt like such a permission slip to let go of any "rules" I may have been holding onto.”