A few weeks ago I wrote a post on the differences between Lightroom Classic CC and Lightroom CC, going over the BIG difference between the two programs, how the features differ, along with questions to ask yourself when deciding which one was right with you (not read it? Start there and then come back here so this post makes sense!)

This week, I wanted to jump in and tell you the reasons why I personally use and in most cases, recommend, Lightroom Classic CC over Lightroom CC. I know for myself that I love hearing the “why” behind other people’s decisions, as it helps me make my own, so hopefully this is the same for you!

You can either watch a Facebook live I did on this very subject (it’s at the end of the post!) or you can simply read the blog post - whatever works for you :)

So without further ado, let’s go over why I use and love Lightroom Classic CC…

Are you struggling with getting tack sharp images? Do you feel like your images are too soft and that you’re consistently missing focus? Then keep reading!

Today I’m going to talk you about just ONE reason why you might be struggling to nail focus, and that’s due to your lens needing calibrated.

Before we start though, I should start out by saying that most of the time, our images are soft due to user error, not our equipment. There are so many factors that go into getting a tack sharp image (and can stop us from getting one) that it’s far more likely that you have gotten one of them wrong, rather than the lens be the problem.

That said, if you are not consistently getting the sharp focus you want, it might be an idea to quickly test your lens, that way you’ll know whether you have a problem with your equipment or not.

If you do, then you can calibrate your lens to fix the problem, or if you don’t, at least it will put your mind at rest that your equipment is fine and you simply need to learn the strategies that will help you get tack sharp focus!

Fall is almost upon us, which means it’s time for some fall photo ideas! These fall photo prompts will give you a great jumping off point to inspire you own ideas for fall mini sessions or photoshoots, whether that’s capturing your own family, or photographing someone else’s, or just capturing the elements that make up fall (In other words, not a person in sight)

So without further ado, let’s jump into our 10 fun fall photo ideas and see if we can’t spark some ideas for you…

Want to learn how to edit photos in Lightroom? Then you are in the perfect place! In this post, I’m going to teach you how to edit your photos in Lightroom Classic like a pro, step by step.

The right editing is that extra ingredient that lifts your images from being good, decent, run of the mill photographs, and takes them onto next level, awe inspiring images.

It's the final step in creating beautiful photos that look professional and polished, and if you skip that step, or just slap on a preset (hello AUTO for editing!) your images simply aren't going to look half as good as they could.

Being able to look at your photo, see what it needs, and then know which tools to use to help bring your vision to life is such an important skill to learn if you want to take images that go beyond snapshots.

And that’s what we are going to cover today! There are 2 ways to enjoy this post - watch the video, or scroll down for written instructions.

Adobe certainly knew how to confuse the living bejesus out of photographers when they began offering TWO choices for their Lightroom program - Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic.

So, what’s the difference between the two? What does each one do differently? Who are they for? And most importantly, which one should you get?!!

Find out the answers to all these questions below!

It's always fun having guest bloggers here at Live Snap Love, as it gives you a chance to learn something new, or just in a different way from me! So, today, we have Simon from Refractique on the blog to give you an introduction to lensball photography. Over to you Simon!

I came across lensball photography when I was perusing Instagram. As a landscape photographer and someone who loves to travel I came remember seeing some beautiful landscape photos from all around the world featuring the lensball. I was filled with wonder and have been hooked since! I even started a business to share this joyful hobby and distribute it!

It adds another dimension to virtually any type of photography however I most like using it in landscape photos because the wide angle lens the crystal ball provides. Check out the tips below if you’d like to learn more about lensball photography!

Ahhhh, Lightroom presets. One thing that divides many photographers is on the use of presets, and whether you should or shouldn’t use them.

I sit firmly in the middle - I think presets are amazingly wonderful, when they are used the way that they were intended: to speed up your workflow, so you can edit quicker, or share a particular workflow with others. There’s no way I could get as much done is as little time as I do, without the use of presets! I use them all the time, and can’t imagine editing hundreds of photos without them.

Unfortunately, many people see presets as a substitute for learning how to edit, and that is NOT what I believe presets should be used for. I strongly believe that you should learn how to edit FIRST, get to know Lightroom inside out, then use presets as a way of getting more done in less time.

I’ve also bought a few preset packs over the years (when I was first starting out with editing and didn’t really know what I was doing) and some have been great, and others have been awful and a huge waste of money. Spending your money on learning how to edit rather than on yet another set of presets will give you much more bang for your buck, because you’ll then be able to edit any photo, exactly how you want it, without relying on presets.

But let’s take a look at exactly WHY I think you should learn how to edit before using presets!

This blog post had been on my “brain dump” list (where everything single idea I’ve ever had for a blog post goes!) for a while. I figured now, when the challenges of homeschooling, working with home AND looking after your family means you probably have less time to yourself than normal. (Not that you probably had a ton of free time before!)

As I strongly believe that it is SO important that we continue to find time for ourselves and our hobbies (even if it may feel frivolous for some right now) during this lockdown period, I wanted to give you some tips on how you can continue to practice and learn photography, and make the most of the time you DO have, even if it’s not as much as you would like!

Do you feel nervous about sharing your photos with others? Do you worry that others will judge you, your skills and your creativity, and find you lacking? Do you fear that they’ll think “who does she think she is - Annie Lebowitz?!” and that somehow you’re not yet a “real” photographer, so you shouldn’t be sharing your work? 😬😬😬

If you are frantically nodding your head then you’re most definitely not alone - because I feel the same way too!

You might not know this because I share my photos every single week here on the blog, and again throughout the week on Facebook and Instagram, but that doesn’t mean that I actually enjoy doing it - it just means that I’ve gotten over the fear of sharing over the years, and feel confident that at least I love what I’m doing, even if no-one else does!

Catchlights are SO important in photography, as they add life and depth to the eyes in your portraits.

Eyes that look full of life and that sparkle are those that have catchlights in them, so for successful portraits, you’re definitely going to want to get catchlights in the eyes!

You can get catchlights in all sorts of lighting situations, from window light, to sunny days to studio lighting, but for today’s tutorial, I’m going to stick to using wonderful natural light, and how you can get catchlights in your portraits, both indoors and out.

Knowing how to price your photography business can be downright tricky at first, and it’s one of the biggest, and most common questions I get asked - both by new business owners, and those that have been charging for a while.

When you first start your photography business, you can easily find yourself at a total loss at what might be a fair price to charge, or simply feel nervous that you’re either over-priced, or not charging enough!

It’s SO important to price your photography services and products right, so on today’s episode we’re talking about 3 photography pricing mistakes you’re probably making - aaaaand most importantly, what you should do instead.

Making sure that you don’t make these mistakes will set you up on the right path to making a profit - which, after all, is the purpose of a business!

Thinking about starting a photography business but not sure what you should focus on first?

Then you are not alone! There are many different paths you can take, tasks you need to complete, and clients you need to find. And when you’re not sure what you need to focus on, it can stop you from moving forward as you feel overwhelmed and frustrated.

Which is why I think you’re going to love this week’s episode!

I’m giving you 5 key areas you should focus on when you’re starting a photography business - the ones that will help make sure that you are a success.

If you want to make this the year you start and maintain a profitable business that you love, this episode is a must watch!

Today we are diving into macro photography settings, tips and ideas! If you have been meaning to try out macro photography for a while, or you’re just curious about which settings to use, then you will love today’s post!

Organising your digital photos and wondering what the best folder structure for photos is?

Whether you are getting ready to create your first folder structure in anticipation of the many (brilliant) photos you are going to take, or you’re trying to sort out a mess of random folders and pictures from previous years, this episode is going to be a must-watch.

I’m going to walk you through two simple folder structures you can use for your photos, and help you choose the best one for you.

For the best experience, you should really watch the video, but you can also scroll down to see the written highlights if you’re short on time.

Looking for some photography ideas at home? Then I have you covered!

I know it’s tempting to think that we need to leave our home and go to some interesting or far flung location to get great photos, but there is a wealth of opportunity to practice your skills, AND get great photos, all without leaving the house.

In this video, I’m going to share 10 different photography ideas you can do at home.

These will kick start your creativity, give you some suggestions of photos to take, and give you some mini projects you can do to improve your skills!