Lenspiration Blog
Welcome! Wherever you are on your photography journey, learn to take better photos through the photography tips and stories you'll find in the following free articles. By learning from the experience of others, you can also start taking pictures that you're excited to share with others!
Can You Guess That State?
The Apple Butter Festival Art Show is around the corner, and I intentionally curated the gallery to showcase 40 photos from 40 different states. Here are some clues on guessing the states!
8 Helpful Foods and Snacks For On-The-Go Photographers
Discover simple, practical snack ideas that make travel days smoother and healthier. These easy, packable options keep you energized whether you’re commuting, road‑tripping, or heading out for a full day of photography.
What Photography Techniques Help Capture Clear Evidence After a Car Accident?
A quick guide to photographing a car accident clearly—wide angles, damage shots, documents, and road clues that preserve what happened.
Inside the Making of My First Ever Fine‑Art Exhibition!
I slowly walked through the hushed room, looking at the beautiful watercolor paintings hanging on display panels or laid out on tables all around me. The artist was across the room, showing my brother some of his paint-mixing techniques. It wasn't fancy. But it was...
10 Amazing Connecticut Photography Locations . . . You Can Explore as a Family!
There's plenty of adventure for a landscape photographer in the State of Connecticut! Here are 10 of the best landscape photography locations in Connecticut. . .
8 Creative Ideas to Add to Your Calendar Theme
For the 2027 calendar, I kept some ideas and added others, refining the calendar theme one step at a time. Here are eight ideas that shaped this year’s calendar. . .
From Hobby to Profession: Making the Jump to Brand Photography
I wasn't coming up with enough time to write a blog post story this week, as I was starting into preparing the Lenspiration 2027 Calendar, making plans for photographing a wedding in September, and assembling content for my first Art Show at our town's local Apple...
Sunrise Composition Tips from a Photo Adventure on Ragged Mountain
It has been a long time since I set my alarm clock for 3:30am. But there was no way around it!
Sunrise was at 5:31am.
I wanted to be on location at 5:00am. If it took half an hour to hike to the overlook, I needed to be at the trailhead at 4:30am. Google Maps said it was a half hour drive to the trailhead, giving me a departure time of 4:00am. And because I figured it would take half an hour to shake the sleep out of my eyes, get ready for the day, pack up some snacks, and put on my hiking shoes . . . I needed to set my alarm for 3:30am.
The Photo That Lost the Popularity Contest
It's time to reveal the results from the Lenspiration 2027 Calendar Photo Candidates survey! 72 different people participated in the survey this year. And to find out which photos they thought were the most popular, I pulled all the information into a spreadsheet...
Student Photographer Spotlight: Leanne Loewen
In early 2024, a "New Order" notification arrived in my email inbox that perked my interest. "Wow, this family is from Alaska. And look at that, they live quite close to where I visited back in 2013!" I wrote back to ask if they knew any of the people and places I...
5 Reasons I Love July (As a Photographer)
Summer's here, and I'm so excited for it. As a photographer, here are the top 5 reasons I'm lovin' this July!
What Do YOU Think About These Photos?
As we look back on 250 years of American history, so much has changed—our cities, our technology, our pace of life. Yet some things remain wonderfully unchanged. I’m grateful for every chance I've had to explore even a small portion of this immense continent. Over the past year, as I’ve sorted through images for my 2027 Fine Art Calendar, I’ve found myself reflecting on the incredible natural beauty God has placed across this country. And now it's your turn to share your impressions & feedback on my photos!
Unexpected First Step into Color Theory
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy...
Why Great Photos Depend on the Small Stuff
In a past blog post, I said I'd share more photos from our short stop in Sedona, Arizona. Well, here they are, plus a fascinating tidbit behind great photos that I discovered while as I was editing them.
I didn't know my way around Sedona very well. But after doing some online scouting, I was convinced that Bell Rock was the place I wanted to go for my only sunset in the area. Naturally, I followed Google Maps to the "Bell Rock Pathway Trailhead Parking Lot." But when we got there, I didn't see any Bell Rock.
How My Love for Outdoor Photography Deepens My Understanding of Scripture
The snow fell thick and fast. Wind whipped across my face. Just days earlier, I had been strolling with the family through early, spring blossoms in beautiful, warm weather. But on this mid‑March afternoon, winter wasn’t giving up without a fight. To get any sort...
The Cost of a Relaxing, Sunset Photo Shoot with Family
The last bit of light after sunset doesn't take long to disappear. Sparkling stars were peering through the pinyon pine boughs above us. We were in the deep shadows of dusk as we picked our way down the rock strewn trail back to the parking lot.
How We Took Amazing Rainy-Day Photos in the Smoky Mountains
Rain poured down in torrential waves as we made our way through the Smoky Mountains. We had gotten up insanely early—long before dawn—to make the most of our time photographing at the high-elevation overlooks before the storm. But now the rain was coming down so hard that even the most dedicated among us didn’t feel like stepping out of the car for a photo. Until we rounded a bend and saw...
Rainy Day in the Smokies
The photographer who makes decisions based on comfort won’t get out in the field, even in a place like the Smokies—and therefore won’t come home with any photos.
My Favorite “Next-Level” Photos From Big Sandy
At the Big Sandy Family Conference last week, the students got so many great photos! Families together, faces smiling, kids all excited, speakers in action—exactly the kind of images we were going for. Like these . . . But as I was reviewing the photos afterwards,...
A Lesson in Faith from Banks Lake, Washington
I can’t tell you how rejuvenating it is when I cross paths with a Christian photographer loves to write and share Christian perspective in photography! Not that long ago, a friend of mine introduced me to the photo blog of Jeffrey Cummings, a nature photographer on the west coast. And I’ve been enjoying following his blog ever since! When I read the following post about his experience at Banks Lake in Washington, I thought it would be an excellent read for everyone here at Lenspiration, and Jeff was more than happy to share. —James
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What are we up to?
Follow along with Lenspiration travels…
I had heard enough about Nubble Light to get up at 3am to drive a few hours from where I was staying in New Hampshire to the Maine coast to photograph it at sunrise! That was back in 2015, and was my first time to Maine. A few minutes after this photo was taken, the sky erupted in vivid pink, but I still come back to this photo as my favorite for it`s quite drama and illusion of movement in the blurred waves.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#mainecoast #nubblelight #landscapephotography #shutterspeed #lighthouse
Time to get back to posting pretty pictures! The Art Show, Lenspiration stuff, and the 2027 Calendars are funny to post about, but hearing about those things is probably not the reason you`re following this account. 😊 So, let`s head out to Minnesota on a frigid, February morning! I had flown into Minneapolis the night before, picked up a rental car, and started driving north in preparation for shooting a wedding in Fargo. I car camped in a Walmart parking lot half way, and got up before dawn to drive the rest of the way. As the sky started to get light, I began looking for an exist that might offer something interesting to photograph. Nothing presented itself on that flat, endless prairie of western Minnesota. I took a random exit, knowing I had no more time left before the sun would came up. Then, out of nowhere, this fantastic old schoolhouse appeared next to the road not a minute`s drive from the Interstate! Needless to say, I rushed to find a pleasing composition before waiting only a few minutes to snap this shot of the sun peeping up over the horizon in just the perfect spot.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#landscapephoto #behindtheshot #storytime #sunrisephotography #minnesota
Wrapped up the festival with 1st place in our division in the parade, thanks to my brothers help decorating our family fan. 🤗 First time ever for Lenspiration to be in a parade!
The Lenspiration 2027 calendars have arrived!! I`m starting to put them in the mail beginning TODAY! So excited to get them into your hands. 🎉
Haven`t ordered yours yet?! Place your order at link in bio.
New blog post! The Apple Butter Festival Art Show is around the corner, and I intentionally curated the gallery to showcase 40 photos from 40 different states. Here are some clues on guessing the states! Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
We just launched October`s photo assignment, and our goal this month is simply to work with a family you know to take their family photos.
Whether you have done a family photo shoot or not, don`t worry! We will guide you through the assignment with ease. When you’re finished, you’ll be genuinely glad you took the time to complete it.
View details at link in bio.
All frames and prints have arrived! Now to assemble all 30bof them . . . before the @salemwvofficial Apple Butter Festival art show begins next Thursday!
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#westvirginia, #festival, #applebutter #salemwv #diyart
New blog post! Discover simple, practical snack ideas that make travel days smoother and healthier. These easy, packable options keep you energized whether you’re commuting, road‑tripping, or heading out for a full day of photography. Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
Take a close-up look at the Lenspiration 2027 Calendar physical proof with me! 🎉Pre-order your calendars NOW to be included in the first batch of shipping!
✅ View pre-order link in bio.
Why visit a landscape photography art gallery? Here are at least 8 ideas....
1. An invitation to slow down
2. You experience similar feelings to being at iconic places... without the travel
3. A mini vacation without leaving town
4. Expands knowledge of places you didn`t know existed
5. A worshipful mood for magnifying the Creator, Jesus Christ!
6. Generates conversation about far off places and interesting subjects
7. Broadens appreciation for detail, color combinations, and photographic composition
8. Helps discover or refine your own tastes
Why would you visit an art show? Let me know in the comments!
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#artshow #fineartgallery #landscapephotography #creationproclaims #seetheworld
I`ve been preparing for the Apple Butter Festival Art Show in October and needed a shot that said "Wisconsin". I had some generic scenic photos from across the state, and no photos of cheese. But when I started playing around with this round barn image that I originally intended to be documentary, it really started to grow on me. I took it in the middle of the day, on the way home from attending church, almost as an after thought. It was even in late October, after the leaves had fallen, a bad time of year for color. But the light, composition, and dramatic clouds all worked together to pull it out of the forgotten archives and into my gallery portfolio! And if you didn`t already know, Wisconsin has the most round barns of any state in the US, and speaks heavily of the rich dairy heritage of the area.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#onlyinwisconsin #roundbarn #fineartgallery #storybehindthephoto #behindtheshot
I`ve been printing calendars since 2009, and there`s something very interesting that I`ve discovered.
I always included a verse of Scripture and the lyrics of a nice hymn on each month. “What a great way to share God’s Word and connect with my neighbors in a meaningful way!” I thought.
Some neighbors took them courteously with a smile. Some neighbors opened right up and we would talk for half an hour or more! “You mean, you took these photos?” they would ask in surprise.
The reason friends and neighbors connect so well is because it’s not just a regular calendar. It’s an “I-know-the-photographer” calendar. It gives neighbors a glimpse of who I am, what I do, and what I’m like.
📷 And you can do the same, with your friends and family, or in your community, with Artist’s Calendars! 📷 View details at link in bio!
As photographers and artists who are Christians, every time we share our work, we offer a small, concentrated glimpse of God’s glory as it has been revealed to us. And in sharing it, we invite others to pause, to wonder, and to recognize the fingerprints of the Creator woven into the ordinary and the extraordinary alike.
Wow. What an opportunity for us photographers to use our skill, our talents, our art—for the glory of God!
Whether it’s through a calendar, or if you share your photos in another way, be encouraged to let your photography act as an avenue of God’s beauty and the reality of Christ in you to the world around you.
Interested in printing your photos in a calendar? Learn more at link in bio.
#artistscalendar #printyourphotos #fineartphotographer #calendarforartists #christianphotographer #christianartist #customcalendar
Join me for some LIVE photo coaching next Tuesday! Register at link in bio.
Uncle David came over to help Mordecai and I put together a sign for the Apple Butter Festival Art Show! #applebutterfestival2026 #applebutterfestival #artistatwork #workingwithkids #onlyinwv
New blog post! The journey to my first ever fine-art exhibit has been pretty crazy. But the purpose behind it is so fulfilling. Read more at link in bio!
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Become a photographer: www.lenspiration.com
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#artexhibit
#fineartphotography
#salemwv
#landscapephotographer
#wvphotographer
@salemwvofficial
A snapshot that encapsulates the fun Mordecai had on a farm with friends the other weekend. 🤗 #farmlife #familyfun #funonthefarm #fruitoflabor #akidslife
God provided an amazing spot to do couple photos for a wedding in Indiana over the weekend! Every spot I had on my list to scout ahead of time fell through...but God stepped in. Will plan to give the whole story in a blog post some time. It was such a pretty stop I decided to relax by doing a bit of landscape photography there after the couple shoot was over. 😊
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#relaxing #selfie #Godprovides #Godanswersprayers #landscapephotographer
