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!
A Special, Unexpected Pass
Remember the blog post, One Picture Only!, recounting the hilarious encounter my friend John and I had while photographing in Virginia a while back? Well, that wasn’t the only crazy thing that happened that day. It only got better! Here’s what happened next, from...
A Rare Opportunity to Wait
Today, I was scheduled to drive up to Pennsylvania for Miracle Mountain Ranch's annual Photography Summit. Of course, it was canceled because of you know what (and they're working on something to replace it online . . . will try to keep you up on that). But this...
More Than Just a Picture of a Blue Bird
I had an idea of what I wanted to take pictures of for this month’s assignment, but I had to patiently wait for the right timing. It’s interesting how things worked out perfectly! Almost. https://youtu.be/_eMTvaLbPlc Now let me show you the photos I took in the...
First Real Snow Day of the Year!
Very soon after trying to shoot for the “Pure” assignment in the very un-pure looking surroundings that February was giving us at that time . . . it snowed! So I re-arranged things on my calendar and went out again hoping for some better shots. And I was kinda...
When What You’re Looking for Doesn’t Exist
This new assignment turned out much better than I expected! Isn’t it great that ideas from sources outside of yourself are often what help you find exactly what you could not find by yourself? https://youtu.be/Agj85RYA82E I think it’s interesting how, without my...
Behind the Scenes of a DIY Family Photo Shoot
How this low-budget lighting set up worked well for an indoor Christmas family photo shoot.
For Those of Us Who Prefer to Learn Hands-On
Most photographers I meet are the hands-on type. I remember last year at the MMR Media Summit, we talked for over an hour in the classroom about how to shoot in manual. And this was important. But it wasn’t until after we got outside for the hands-on stuff that it...
What To Do When “Wow” Subjects Don’t Look “Wow” In Your Photos
One catches a first glimpse of their destination. They scramble forward to get the best view, pull out the camera and take their prizewinning shot. But is it really prizewinning? Was it the subject that made the photo great? If so, the viewer will probably be...
On Assignment: Chasing the Light
Know the common thread between the four hymns Let Him Have His Way With Thee, O For A Closer Walk!, Precious Name, and Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord? Here’s the answer, and how I went about trying to capture it!It sorta felt like I failed miserably in my pursuit of a...
The Story Behind the Pro Posing Database
Learn the history and vision behind Lenspiration's Pro Posing Database.
“One Picture Only!”
It's pretty funny what happened on a recent photo excursion I went on with a friend. 🙂 I'll let John tell it to you in his own words . . . When was the last time you went to photograph an epic location and only took ONE photo? Recently I had a friend in town (i.e....
On Assignment: Spending an Evening with Grandpa
It's Christmastime! I figured most of us would be spending time with friends and family over the next couple of weeks, so that's why I decided to do this for this month's assignment . . .This month's assignment is "The Elderly". When I asked the Christian stock...
Random Comments from a Simple Sunrise Shoot
There aren't any beaches in West Virginia, so while traveling around in Virginia earlier this month, I did what I could to make the coast my destination a time or two. I didn't have a particularly enormous amount of time to spend just taking pictures, seeing I was...
How I Landed At This Incredible Place
Traveling for photography gets pretty fun when multiple events line up back to back. I'll pack up hiking clothes and rain gear for an outdoor workshop. Then I'll pack up a suit and tie for a wedding. Then I'll pack up all my lights and a backdrop for a professional...
On Assignment: In Search of a Grand Piano
When it came time to make a video for this current photo assignment, I found myself visiting friends in Virginia without a clue where I was going to find a grand piano! Thankfully they all loved photography too, so we got together to figure out where to find a...
Autumn in Connecticut
The Autumn in Connecticut photography workshop was so much fun! Thank you Richard Spearin and Lydia Bennett for teaming up to bring together your photography friends to make the Photography Field Day a success! I'm so grateful we found Castle Craig as a place to go...
What Is A Significant Photo?
Ansel Adams is said to have stated, "Twelve significant photos in any one year is a good crop." Great advice. Especially for us in this digital age! But, what exactly is a significant photo? I had my own ideas, but I thought it would be fun to find out from other...
How to Not Lose Your Photoshop Actions
The time had come. Two weeks shy of four years of steady operation, my computer hard drive decided it was time to die. Thankfully, most of my stuff was backed up. But it turns out that there was something I thought was backed up, but actually wasn't. My Photoshop...
Dealing With Low Light Situations
Answering the question, "What steps do you typically take to address a low-light situation? Do you start by lowering shutter speed? Then f-stop? Then ISO? Anything else? In what order? Or what combination? And what amount of adjustment do you start with in each instance?"
The Toughest Photo Assignment Yet!
Heritage Defense, a Texas-based organization dedicated to protecting the biblical family through legal assistance and public policy initiatives, is creating two life-sized posters to be used as part of their trade show booth backdrop display . . . and they have...
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New month - new photo assignment! And this one is pretty sweet. 🙂 Our goal is to take beautiful photos that reflect the truths of Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Get all the details at the link in bio!
Another behind the scenes shot....thanks to @real_lukas_n Though I usually use a tripod for landscape photography, there was no time in this situation where it was literally raining. When I saw the distant mountains after pulling in for only a short time at this open-to-the-public farm, I knew there was a shot somewhere. This vast field of flooded strawberry plants was the foreground I was looking for, offering perfect leading lines to the triangular peak framed by the sweeping mist.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#farm #landscapephotographer #shootingintherain #rainyday #behindtheshot
New blog post! 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. Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
Behind the shot photo.... When it`s rainy, and you`re not on lights`s time table, there`s time to chat with friends while you`re out in the field! 🤩 Thanks @real_lukas_n for the second photo! --
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#outdoorphoto #lowkey #mystery #photographyfriends #explorenc
Happy Memorial Day! Let us honor their sacrifice by using our freedoms not to do as we please, but to live as we ought. #freedom #integrity #selfcontrol #memorialday #Godblessamerica
New blog post! 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... Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
Join me for some LIVE photo coaching on Tuesday, May 26 as we look at "Glowing Scenery" photos. . . Register at link in bio!
Foreground element, framing, leading lines, human element, vibrant color.... Definitely one of my favorite shots from EXPLORE Springtime in the Smokies.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#photographycomposition #photoworkshop #composition #landscapephotography #springtime @greatsmokynps @blueridgenps
Before/after....look at the difference! A little editing is just what it needed to make it pop (IMO). What do you think?
"For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills." Deuteronomy 8:7-9 Every time I photograph a waterfall I should thank the Lord for letting me live in such a blessed land.
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#waterfall #verseoftheday #landscapephoto #thankful #godsblessing
New blog post! 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. Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
The photo assignment for May is live! Take beautiful, landscape photos that have a warm, glowing sense to them. Photos could include warm sunlight glowing at the end of a path, over water, over a stream, in a field, or over a mountain. Details at link in bio.
New blog post! Read more at link in bio.
#lenspiration #homeschoolphotography #homeschool #christianphotographer #photographyeducator #photoinspiration #photography #photoblogger
Someone got a photo of me taking the group photo at Family Conference last week! @familyconfs @alertacademy #familyconference #eventphotography #groupphoto #eventphotographer #adventurous
A quick stop in Paris for a selfie! 😄 #paristexas #travel #selfietime #texas
So much fun to photograph a family conference as an actual family! (Thank you Rebekah for the photo!)
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#family #behindthescenes #together #teamwork #wvphotographer
On the lookout for puddles on a rainy first day of Conference!
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Family-friendly place to learn photography! www.lenspiration.com
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#rainyday #homeschool #conference #familylife #puddlejumping
Join me for some LIVE photo coaching on Tuesday, April 28! Register at link in bio.
