Welcome to the blog!
Scroll down for the latest and greatest, filter by category, check out the most popular tutorials, or search for what you want to learn below!
Want to learn photography but have no clue where to begin and what to learn next??!
Steal my Photography Learning Blueprint and get the clarity, checklist and step by step game plan to help you get photos you love - quickly!
Guest Post: How to Set and Plan Your Goals for 2018
When someone asks me if I do other forms of photography besides interiors and still life, I always respond, seemingly joking that I shoot interiors because I don't like people. As an introvert, I could never have imagined that I would be someone that inspires and encourages people to start with interior photography and give them the directions to grow their business and brand. But it turns out that I love it as long as I can keep my groups small, really small! Like five students small, at the max! Probably not the best way to grow rich but I love the interaction, the personal approach and that is my strength.
5 Reasons Your Images Aren’t Turning Out The Way You Want
It can be so disheartening when you pour your heart and soul into photography, but no matter what you seem to do, your images just don’t turn out the way that you want them to, or how you thought you’d captured them!
I know, I’ve been there too 😁
That’s why I wanted to write this blog post today, so you can know the MOST likely reasons why your images just aren’t turning out like you see in your head, and so you can go and do something about it!
The key to anything you read on this blog is ACTION. Have a look through these five reasons and see whether you are already doing the recommendation. If not, start to implement it as soon as possible to start seeing an improvement to your images!
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
How Do I Get Started Shooting in Manual Mode?
So, you’ve been hearing a lot about shooting in manual mode, and thinking to yourself “Hmmm, I’d like to try manual mode, but i’m still on AUTO, what do I need to do to help me make the switch?”
Well, wonder no more, because that’s where this blog post comes in.
I’m going to break down the steps you should take, and the things you need to understand before moving on to the next step , so that moving to Manual Mode is a smooth transition. Think of it as your own little roadmap for switching to manual mode 😀
You see, it’s not as simple as turning the dial on your camera to the big “M”, which is where a LOT of people fall down.
So, are you ready? Let’s dig in.
10 Most Helpful Blog Posts For Moving Your Photography Forward
This has been one of my favourite blog posts to write this year, because it has allowed me to look back at all the content I’ve created over the last few years, and give you a one-stop shop for the best bits!
Well, maybe not ALL the best bits - because that would be a heck of long blog post :-)
(yes, I’m so modest!)
So I had to narrow it down. I’ve chosen these based on a few different reasons: firstly, not only based on how good I think they are, but on how much I believe they can move your photography forward. And second of all, I also took into account which posts were the most popular, most read and most commented on, so you can see the ones that resonated most with others, not just the ones I loved (they can sometimes be very different!)
Of course, I have tried to mix this up a bit between beginner and slightly more experienced photographers - because let’s face it, how helpful these are on moving you forward with your photography will depend on where you are now, so there are still some gems that will remain nestled in the blog pages for sure :-)
So if you missed one of these blog posts first time around, be sure to read them now, or you’ll kick yourself for missing them!
(Don’t have time to read them all now? I hear ya! Pin this for future reference instead then so you don’t forget)
Step by Step Guide to Planning Your Photography Goals
One of the things I hear time and time again is that many people feel overwhelmed with everything there is to learn in photography, and that they feel like they are running around in twenty different directions trying to learn it all. I remember EXACTLY how that felt, and I want to see if I can help you avoid it!
One thing that can REALLY help with overwhelm is creating photography goals.
Photography goals are just as they sound - they are the things you want to be able to do by a certain time point. You assess where you are right now, and what steps you need to take to reach your goal. This helps avoid overwhelm and that feeling of trying to learn everything at once, since you are going to following a plan, not randomly checking blog posts and hoping it somehow all comes together :)
You know the saying, a goal without a plan is just a wish, so in this post, we are going to get super focused on planning your photography goals for the next six months - looking at where you are now, where you want to go, and what steps you need to take to get you there.
My hope is that you follow the steps laid out, and put them into action so you can make next year your best photography year yet!
Grab your wine, we’re going in...
Case Study: Auto to Awesome student Katie Lynn
One of the BEST things about teaching people photography is simply the impact it can have on your students, and the images they take.
Seriously, nothing makes me feel happier than when I get an email from a student saying how much more confident they feel after taking one of my courses, or how it is all coming together for them, or when I see a student on Facebook or Instagram and they are simply rocking their camera.
A few weeks ago, I was on Instagram and viewing some of the images posted by my students, when a few caught my eye. They were from the same photographer, Katie Lynn, and I was blown away by how amazing they were. I was even happier when I learnt that she shoots with what some would call “basic” gear - an entry level camera with a crop sensor and the kit lens - absolute, 100% proof that you honestly don’t need the most expensive gear to make great photographs!
So I asked Katie Lynn if she would do a case study for me, because I really wanted you to see the impact learning your camera can make on your images, and how it can improve your skills and images SO much more than getting the latest lens or a new set of actions.
I’ve done a few case studies on the blog (I’ve linked to them at the bottom of this post if you would like to read more!) as I love seeing the journeys of photographers, but this is the first time I have had a student do this so I am extra delighted to have Katie here!
Take it away, Katie….
Check Out These Reader Favourites
It's been quite a few years now since I made the switch from Aperture Priority Mode to shooting in Manual Mode, and it was one of the BEST things I ever did to improve my photography skills.
It was like a whole new world opened up to me, and I started TRULY understanding exposure, and in turn, getting the images that I wanted.
Of course, there was a lot to learn, and there are some things I wish I had known before I started!
So, here are 10 things about shooting in Manual Mode that you might just wish you knew…