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!
10 Steps to Creating a Calendar
Ever wondered what it might take to put together one of your own calendars? It still surprises me, every year, how much time it actually takes to assemble one! Here are the 10 steps it takes me to pull mine together every year: 1. Choose 12 photos This is what you...
4 Takeaways from a Business Portrait Shoot
Jonathan, with VizaFrame, is hands-down the best real estate photographer in town! If you haven’t seen his work, you gotta check him out at Vizaframe.com. Or why not follow him here on his Facebook? Well, it turns out that this famous guy needed some professional...
Revealing the Best (and Worst) Candidates from the 2024 Calendar Survey!
The results have come in! A big thank you to all who participated in the survey of candidate photos for the soon-to-be-released Lenspiration 2024 Calendar. Seeing your ratings and reading your comments was extremely helpful. It was like getting good critique on my...
Which Photos Are Your Favorite?
It’s that time of year to be thinking about calendars again! Would you like to help me choose which photos I decide to use in the Lenspiration 2024 Calendar?! Each year’s calendar can only have 12 photos in it. And that’s not very many! I sorted last year’s...
On Assignment: Scenes of Faith & Freedom
Browsing through the Christian Law Association’s Instagram feed is a feast of scenic inspiration! I love the beautiful photos they choose. It’s the kind of collection that makes me think, “I wish one of my photos could be on there. . . .” Well, it can be! If you...
Beware of Beauty
The day after exploring Snowshoe, we headed over to another iconic West Virginia attraction. The old, historic Cass Scenic Railroad! The 11-mile long heritage railroad takes you back in time to an era when steam-driven locomotives were an essential part of everyday...
Choosing the Best Photo from Snowshoe
This year, my family did something we have never done before. You see, my family is from West Virginia. And this summer, we decided to take a family vacation to . . . West Virginia! Not a field trip. Not a day trip to and from a vacation destination. This was a...
On Assignment: Balloons!
Last week, I meandered through the Exhibit Hall at the Southeast Homeschool Expo. At big events like this, I try to talk to as many vendors as I can. If I can find out what kind of photo needs they might have, I can turn them into the monthly Shoot to Serve Photo...
One Thing You Can’t Fail To Do Before Photographing A Wedding!
Beautiful photos are not an accident. So, what can you do, as a wedding photographer, to make sure your photos are the best they can be?On our way back from 4th of July concerts and celebrations in Connecticut, Lydia (the second photographer), Julianna, and I...
A Visit to America’s Newest National Park
The New River Gorge National Park & Preserve is America’s newest National Park. And it’s in West Virginia! With free admission, how could I not be excited about this?! Over the years, I’ve enjoyed exploring the the New River Gorge when I’ve had the chance....
On Assignment: Photography Equipment Macro
Ever wanted to take macro photos, but didn’t have a macro lens? That’s when it’s time to pull out an extension tube! An extension tube takes a regular lens and turns it into a macro lens by simply adding more space between it and the camera body. And what if you...
An Unlikely Subject
It’s a long drive from West Virginia to Connecticut. Sometimes, on our trips up there to visit family, we get off late and don’t have time to stop and take pictures at random places along the way. Other times, if we can get off early like we did this time, we...
Put On The Camera!
On our way back from the HEAV Convention last week, Julianna and I met up with some friends to go for a hike and spend some time together! The hike we decided on was Bear’s Den Overlook on the Appalachian Trail. I hadn’t ever been there before, but it seemed like a...
My Favorite Photos from HEAV
Just finished up editing all my photos from the HEAV Convention last weekend! I didn’t have much time to shoot, my time being split up between the Photography Team, Photo Class, and booth, but I was able to contribute a few photos to the collection harvested by the...
On Assignment: Multi-Generational Family
Buried deep in the work of finalizing brand new Lenspiration photography courses, James' voice came over the phone, "You know, it would be really helpful if you could shoot the demonstration video this month". When I heard the details of the new assignment, I got...
How Important Is It To “Remember”?
I have driven down Route 50 through Grafton, West Virginia, many times. But it wasn’t until yesterday that I realized that all these years I had been driving right by a National Cemetery! It is up on a hill, set apart just enough that you can’t see it from the...
A World of Words
The other morning, I was reading Matthew 12. As a photographer, verse 36 popped out to me: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”“Idle” in that verse literally means lazy, the trait...
A Waterfall in the Middle of the Day
Between conventions earlier this month, we were staying with friends in Tennessee and decided to go for a little hike. They lived close to the Smokey Mountains, so we headed out to a trail that led out to Falls Branch Falls. I was working in the earlier part of the...
On Assignment: Scientific Investigation
What a fun assignment this is! Creation Today is looking for photos related to science or investigation. You can read all the details on the assignment page here, but here's how I ended up going about photographing it: https://youtu.be/SF97emxnIXQ This assignment...
The One-Minute Photo Challenge!
Have you ever been in a competition with an intense deadline? Do you remember your heart pounding, your hands sweating and your mind racing with a million thoughts a minute? It’s almost impossible to think.The 8 students I worked with at CAPTURE Indiana had...
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Follow along with Lenspiration travels…
Found a rare spot for WV this morning where you can see the moon basically all the way to the horizon from a cleared, high elevation (that is at least fairly scenic)!
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#landscapephoto #landscape #landscapephotography #art #nature #photo #godscreation #creation #greatoutdoors #outdoors #explore #optoutside #landscapeshot #canon #outdoorlife #photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #gotowv
I love covered bridges very much. Grateful today that there are so many restored ones! This one is Albany Bridge, in New Hampshire.
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#landscapephoto #landscape #landscapephotography #art #nature #photo #godscreation #creation #greatoutdoors #outdoors #explore #optoutside #landscapeshot #canon #outdoorlife #photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #coveredbridge #nh #newhampshire
Enjoyed doing a portrait shoot for @vizaframe_real_estate the other day!
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#photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #portraiture #portraitphotography #peoplephoto #pose #posing #lightandairy
It was VERY interesting to see how survey responders rated this photo! May not be what you would think. See survey results in link in bio! www.lenspiration.com/blog
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#calendar #printit #printyourwork #landscape #landscapephotography #christianphotographer #fundraiseridea #fundraiser #calendarphoto #photographyeducator #photoblogger #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #survey #results #voteisin #vote
Last day!! Help me decide which photos I should put in the 2024 Lenspiration Calendar! Deadline is midnight tonight. Follow the link in description: www.lenspiration.com/blog
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#calendar #printit #printyourwork #landscape #landscapephotography #christianphotographer #fundraiseridea #fundraiser #calendarphoto #photographyeducator #photoblogger #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #landscapephotography #landscape #homeschooled #contest #survey #ineedhelp #ineedyourhelp #favoritephoto #favoritephotos
The rolling hills of western Virginia is a gorgeous place to shoot a wedding!
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#wedding #weddingphoto #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #weddingday #photographyeducator #photoblogger #photography #photographer #christianphotographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #lightandairy #vaisforlovers #christianwedding
Beware what we think is so amazing today....one day it will be no more.
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#travelphoto #travel #lifelearning #optoutside #travelphotography #traveling #adventure #explore #ventureout #outdoors #thegreatoutdoors #photographyeducator #christianphotographer #photoblogger #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #gotowv #allisvanity #bygonedays #bygoneera #ruins @cassscenicrailroad
The September photo assignment is live! Photograph a "scene of faith & freedom" to win a cash prize from CLA and be published on their Instagram! @christianlawassociation
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#assignment #photoassignment #onassignment #assignmentphotography
#homeschooled #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #homeeducators #homeeducate #homeschoolingteens #lifelearning #homescool #photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #lantern #lamp #bible #america #americanflag #religeous #cla
Another fav from Cass Scenic Railroad! Read more about photographing at this iconic West Virginia historic attraction in the new blog post, "Beware of Beauty".
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#landscapephoto #landscape #landscapephotography #art #nature #photo #godscreation #creation #greatoutdoors #outdoors #explore #optoutside #landscapeshot #canon #outdoorlife #photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #story #blogpost #steamlocomotive #steamengine #history #historic #gotowv #wildwonderfulwestvirginia
Cass Scenic Railroad, West Virginia. I was laying by the side of the road for this shot. Do not have to pay to stop, park and take pictures here at the Cass depot!
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#landscapephoto #landscape #landscapephotography #art #nature #photo #godscreation #creation #greatoutdoors #outdoors #explore #optoutside #landscapeshot #canon #outdoorlife #photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #railroad #locomotove #steamengine #steamlocomotive #vintage
One of my favorite shots from a family photoshoot a few weeks ago!
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#photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #portraiture #portraitphotography #peoplephoto #pose #posing #familyphotography #family #lightandairy
Scouting for photographing tomorrow`s wedding!
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#wedding #weddingphoto #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #weddingday #photographyeducator #photoblogger #photography #photographer #christianphotographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #virginiaisforlovers #golfcart
Anyone know what kind of clouds these are? Saw them as I was driving down the Interstate the other day after a big storm.
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#travelphoto #travel #lifelearning #optoutside #travelphotography #traveling #adventure #explore #ventureout #outdoors #thegreatoutdoors #photographyeducator #christianphotographer #photoblogger #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #clouds #identify #sunset
Sunset was crazy pretty tonight! In the opposite direction was a rainbow and lightning. Was just driving down the highway so stopped at the first thing I hoped would make a nice subject.
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#travelphoto #travel #lifelearning #optoutside #travelphotography #traveling #adventure #explore #ventureout #outdoors #thegreatoutdoors #photographyeducator #christianphotographer #photoblogger #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #sunset #amazing #church
Trying to get it just perfect 📸
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#landscapephoto #landscape #landscapephotography #art #nature #photo #godscreation #creation #greatoutdoors #outdoors #explore #optoutside #landscapeshot #canon #outdoorlife #photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #beach #sunrise #shell
Sunrise wasn`t epic, so just waited for golden hour 😊
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#landscapephoto #landscape #landscapephotography #art #nature #photo #godscreation #creation #greatoutdoors #outdoors #explore #optoutside #landscapeshot #canon #outdoorlife #photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #florida #goldenhour #morning #earlyriser #earlymorning #camera
Normal to locals, probably, but nice to me was our first #sunrise on the #beach 🤩
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#landscapephoto #landscape #landscapephotography #art #nature #photo #godscreation #creation #greatoutdoors #outdoors #explore #optoutside #landscapeshot #canon #outdoorlife #photographyeducator #photoblogger #christianphotographer #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #golden #florida
Enjoying lunch with a view! Can`t beat #free 😄
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#travelphoto #travel #lifelearning #optoutside #travelphotography #traveling #adventure #explore #ventureout #outdoors #thegreatoutdoors #photographyeducator #christianphotographer #photoblogger #photography #photographer #wvphotographer #lenspiration #florida #picnic
