Today we are going to have tutorial on LIGHT - specifically how to find and use open shade in photography, so you can take more flattering photos.

First of all, raise your hand: how many times have you read / heard that you should shoot in the hours just before sunset or just after sunrise (a.k.a the Golden Hour), for the best light?

And how many times did you mutter under your breath that that’s freakin’ impossible to do all the time, especially if you have kids? (yes, I hear you)

The good news is, there is a way to photograph in full sun, even at midday, hat still allows you to get nice, soft even light on your subjects, AND is easy to use!

It’s called open shade, and in this photography lighting tutorial, I’m going to show examples of where you can find open shade, and how to use it for the most flattering results.

Let’s jump in!

When we take an image, we flatten our three dimensional world into something two dimensional.

And as a result, our images can look a little...er... flat.

Adding depth is simply a way of bringing back that three dimensional feel - in other words, more closely mimicking how we see in the real world.  It helps our viewers feel like they are in the photograph, and adds more complexity to your image, in turn making it more inviting and engaging.

Luckily for you, that complexity only exists in the resulting image, because it can be super easy to do, you just have to remember to do it 😁

So, here are three simply ways that you can start to incorporate depth into your images, that will take you only a few seconds to do.

When photographing movement, you have a couple of options on how to capture it: either freeze the motion completely, or allow the subject to show a bit of motion blur.

Motion blur is simply when you get blur to just certain parts of your image - those areas that had a subject or item moving faster than the shutter speed you chose. 

Although unwanted motion blur is a bad thing, it can also be a used as a creative tool!  The difference is that we are using it with intent, rather than getting it when we don’t want it.

So, this week’s blog post is all about how to capture movement with motion blur, as usual, broken down step by step.

Every single one of us will doubt our photography skills at one point or another - in fact, I would say it is at least a yearly occurrence for me 😀

It also doesn't seem to matter whether you are completely new to photography, or been shooting for a while, there will always come a time when we feel doubt creeping up on us, and it can be paralysing.

Understanding how to keep moving forward, even when you doubt your ability, is key to making sure that you carry on on your photography journey, and achieve your goal of becoming a photographer.  

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.

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.

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.

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)

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...

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….

It’s getting to be that most magical time of the year: the time when you might be allowed to get your hands on some new photography loot!

To help you with some ideas of what to put on your own wish list, or what to give a photographer friend or family member, here are some ideas that I know you would love to receive in your stocking this year.   

Pin it or share it with your family so they know what they can get you!

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought I'd pop in to give you some tips for getting the best pictures you can during this fun holiday!

This is one time where I think I have as much fun capturing the event as other people have in taking part :)

We've all had it, images where our subject looks soft, and out of focus and we wonder where the heck it has all gone wrong!  

There can be several reasons why your images aren't looking as tack sharp as we want them to be, and (luckily!) few things we can do to make it better. 

So here are THREE things to check if you feel you are constantly getting soft or out of focus images.  Of course, there are a other involved in getting a tack sharp images, but chances are if your images aren't as sharp as you want them to be, it's one of these :) 

When I first started my photography journey many years ago, my whole reason for picking up my camera was to ensure that I could capture all the things that made my son special .  It's amazing just how quickly it all changes, and before you know it they have moved onto the next "phase" of their own journey - and you blinked and missed it :) 

When you are in the thick of the daily grind, it can sometimes be hard to stop and think about what's important to capture.  So today, I'm giving you five different things you can capture so that you can document this current "stage" of your children. 

I used to be terrified of shadows when I was taking pictures!  I wanted the image to be as shadow free as possible, because dealing with the shadows are where they were falling on my subject was a nightmare I wasn't ready to contend with. 

But once you have got to grips with the basics of your camera, introducing shadows is an amazing way to make your images more engaging. 

Here's four reasons why shadows can add impact to your photos, and why you should start to try to incorporate them today!