Have you ever looked at photos from other photographers and wished that they would share their camera settings as well?

I know that I certainly did!

Which is why today I'm going to share with you some example, photos, along with the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings that I use, but most importantly, why I chose them.

I’ll just say it…..your entry level camera gear probably isn’t holding you back as much as you think it is.

I know it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that better gear is the answer to your image problems - it’s certainly something that I did, and I know that when I ask my audience what is holding them back, it’s the number one answer I get, so maybe you feel this way too.

But if having the best gear was all that it took to take professional level photos, then everyone who had pro level gear would take the most amazing photos, and we all know that’s just not the case.

The focusing method you use can have a major impact on how sharp your photos turn out.

In this video, I’m talking about a common focusing technique that many new photographers use that isn’t always the best option, as it can lead to getting images that are ever-so-slightly soft, and not the tack sharp images I know you want!

If you want to feel confident in your photography skills, then understanding how your camera works so that you can make informed decisions is so important. By doing this, you’ll see your image sharpness improve as a result!

Check it out and let me know what you think.

If you are a stay-at-home parent and a photographer,, and you'd like to be able to make a side income from your skills, then this video is for you!

Being able to contribute to the household finances, do something creative, and have something all of my own was SO important to me after I gave up my corporate job to become a stay at home mom, and this might just be you too.

In this video, I’m going to break down exactly what goes into a professional level image, so be sure to watch right until the end, so you can learn all the essential elements.

A lot of frustrated photographers, and this may include you, struggle with the exact same thing: getting their images to look like the polished, professional level images that they see in their head.

For many photographers I speak to, they are actually doing many of the same things.

They are chasing down tutorials on Google or YouTube, and as a result, they have a lot of information in their head around photography, but crucially they still can’t get the camera to take the image they see in their head.

One of the things that holds back many busy parents from learning photography is lack of time.

They struggle with juggling the demands of childcare, the household, their partner, and rarely make getting time for themselves, or their hobbies, a top priority - maybe something that you can relate to as well, because I certainly can!

But as I firmly believe that we are better parents and better partners when we do take time away from the household to do things for ourselves, today I want to share with you how you can create time in your busy schedule to learn photography, and most importantly, make the most of that time.

Getting sharp images is a major component of images that look and feel professional, so it’s so incredibly important to learn how to do it right!

Most new photographers get frustrated because their images constantly come out slightly soft and blurry, and they struggle to get the tack-sharp images they want. This is usually because they are either leaving most of the key choices up to the camera, or because they are focusing in the exact same way for everything they photograph.

In order to get photos that are tack sharp, you actually need to make conscious and informed decisions about your settings, and the techniques and strategies you use, and change these based on what your subject is, or what they’re doing. That way you get everything working together to get sharp images.

In this video, I'm going to break down the 5 different components that go together to get a sharp photos, so that you can start to increase your "hite rate" of keepers.

This week’s video is the final part in our 3 part series where I take you behind the scenes and give you a guided tour of what’s inside my camera bag.

In this week’s video, I’m going to talk about the actual camera bags I use (all 3 of ‘em!) and the other accessories / random bits and bobs that I don’t perhaps use on a regular basis.

Underneath the video, you’ll find links to absolutely everything I mention in the video, plus a link to my free photography class “Pro Tricks for Professional Level Photos”, where I teach you how to make your images look professional, no matter what gear you have! You’ll also find links to watch Part 1 and 2 of this series.

So, are you ready for Part 3? Let’s dive in!

Want to learn what lenses I have in my camera bag, when I would use each one, AND see some sample photos from each lens?

This is Part 2 of the 3 part series “what’s in my camera bag” where I’m giving you a behind the scenes, guided tour of my photography equipment.

In part one I spoke about my camera body and my shooting accessories - the things that actually do make it into my camera bag on a regular basis. So if you missed that and you want to watch it, go back one post and you’ll see it :)

Today, we’re going to tackle my lens collection, and I’ll be sharing what I have, when I use it each lens, and giving you a few example photos of each one.

In the description under the video you’ll find links to all these lenses, and that’s also where you’ll find a link to our free photography class, where I teach pro tricks for professional level photos, so that you can get pro level photos regardless of the gear you have.

Because, above all, remember gear does not make the photo -you do - your gear simply gives you more options and choices! If you don’t learn how to use light, composition, change camera settings and so on, your images just won’t have that WOW effect you’re looking for, regardless of which lens you use.

So, we’ve got 7 lenses to get through today, so click play on the video to find out what they all are, and see the sample images!

This week’s video is Part 1 of a 3 part series where I’m going to take you behind the scenes and give you a guided tour of my photography equipment!

Today I’m going to cover my camera body and shooting accessories, part 2 will be all about lenses (all 7 of them!) and part 3 will be the actual camera bags and other accessories that I don’t perhaps use on a regular basis.

Underneath the video, you’ll find links to all the gear I mention in the video, and a link to my free photography class “Pro Tricks for Professional Level Photos”, where I teach you how to make your images look professional, no matter what gear you have!

So, are you ready? Let’s go!

Have you ever wondered whether it's ever okay to take a photo in auto mode?

If so that is a question that we're answering today! This is a question that that was posted on my Instagram feed, and I know that many of you have the exact same question, so I wanted to come in and make sure that answer it for you.

As usual, there are 2 ways to enjoy this post - watching the video is your best bet (and it’s only 6 minutes long!) but if reading is more your thang, then scroll on down for the highlights.

I know you all love when we have a photographer “case study” on the blog, so I know you are going to appreciate this one, featuring Pam and the infamous Roxy the Kitty! We’ve all grown to love both Pam and Roxy in our Auto to Awesome student group - Pam is so wonderfully positive and helpful (she’s always there with a kind word for new students) and of course, we all get a kick out of seeing Roxy the trail blazing cat!

Although Auto to Awesome is geared toward “people” photography, you can definitely take those skills and apply them to different types of photography, which is exactly what Pam has done with her beautiful pet and nature photography (and her husband is a great model too!) Without further ado, I’ll hand you over to Pam to give the story of her photography journey….

Want to know how to take a self portrait, either with your DSLR or mirrorless camera? Then you are in the perfect place!

In this post I’m going to go over exactly what equipment you’ll need, how to set everything up, and how to take your self portrait, step-by-step. Plus I'm going to be sharing tips and ideas along the way to help you get best results, so be sure to watch right until the end.

As usual, the best way to experience this post is to watch the video, because there’s more info on there, but if you prefer to read, then scroll on down for the basic instructions.

Ready? Hit play on the video below to learn how to take a self portrait, step by step:

Today, I’m sharing with you 10 basic photography tips that every new photographer should know!

If you are a new photographer, maybe feeling a little overwhelmed with everything you need to learn, then this video is going to be perfect for you, as in it, I’m going to share some very simple tips that will help you lift your photos up, and give you some ideas about what to learn next (and what you should be aiming for overall)

Are you ready? Let’s dive in!

If you’d rather watch and listen rather than read, check out the complete video of this post here, but if you prefer to read than listen to my dulcet Scottish tones, then scroll down to read….

(it’s a good ‘un either way!)

Whether you’re planning to take photos of your own newborn, or dipping your toes into the world of newborn photography, there are some basic tips that will set you up for a successful and relaxed session.