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 Day To Remember
The hard deadlines of filing taxes and preparing for an upcoming road trip prevented me from being able to write up a full blog post this week, but I did takes some photos over the Easter weekend that I thought you might enjoy seeing!
A Picture‑Trail Through the Desert
I had an unusual opportunity to wander the desert at my own pace. No schedule. No rush. Just me, my camera and the desert waking up around me...
One Simple Mistake that Ruins Great Photos
As you may have read in earlier blog posts, I had thoroughly enjoyed photographing the sunrises, sunsets and golden hours at the Grand Canyon during a trip to the southwest in July. I was beyond satisfied with the great photos I had. . .
Two Important Roles of an Event Photographer
We just got back from an exciting trip to the 2026 Indiana homeschool convention! Not only was I was responsible for teaching a Photo Class, I was also supposed to be the official event photographer in charge of photographing the whole event. Thankfully, I had two...
Student Photographer Spotlight: Ellie Handley
We first met Ellie when she came to a Photo Class at a homeschool convention in Arizona. Since then, Ellie has been taking Lenspiration's photography courses as a high school elective, and we've enjoyed having her participate in Photo Assignments along the way. Here's a bit of our subsequent conversation from this Arizona student photographer!
The Rarity of a Perfect Winter Scene
As a landscape photographer, there’s a part of me that genuinely looks forward to the kind of winter cold that brings snow, ice, and blizzards! Those are the days when the world is transformed—when every branch becomes a brushstroke and every field a blank canvas....
How I Organized My Phone Photos After Finally Making Sense of Google Photos
Is it just me, or is anyone else running out of storage space in Google Photos?
A Divine Composition: 9 Providential Encounters on Jekyll Island
Have you ever read the poem, "Disappointment - His appointment, change one letter and I see that the thwarting of my purpose is God's better choice for me. . ." After a year of planning and then cancelling our October EXPLORE Meet Up at Jekyll Island, choosing a date in January had its risks.
Student Photographer Spotlight: Summer Milligan
One thing I love about EXPLORE Meet-ups is the people! As I packed my suitcase and camera gear for the quick trip down to Jekyll Island, Georgia, I already couldn't wait to see the West family again along with their grandfather, Slade. And Lukas, who talks photography every time I see him at the TTD Convention in Pigeon Forge would be there too! This was going to be fun.
Who Wins the Prize for the 10 “Most Unique” Photos of a . . . Door?
Photos of a door? You read it correctly! For the Jekyll Island EXPLORE Meetup we did a unique photography challenge. “Go find a door and take 10 artistic photos of it. The one who comes away with the most unique set of 10 photos wins!” Yeah, I know. Sounds rather difficult. If not downright strange. But you should try it sometime!
The Jekyll Island Sunrise I Didn’t Choose
I could hardly believe I was actually on my way to Jekyll Island! I’m not even sure when I first heard about this small, unassuming island off the coast of southern Georgia. Maybe it was in an old issue of Outdoor Photographer I pored over when I was young. Or...
Student Photographer Spotlight: William Fallow
Congratulations to student photographer William Fallow on being chosen as the winner of the recent assignment, The Gift of Photography! We recently sent him some questions to get to know him a bit better, and loved hearing all the ways he has been enjoying photography. Let's sit down and have a chat and see some of his stunning photos!
Grand Canyon Photography: A Prime Sunrise Spot
We had found the Desert View Watchtower overlook to be a fantastic sunset location with its sweeping views to the west. I had taken a chance with sunrise at Grandview Point and discovered it to be the ideal location for that time of day. We hiked into the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail for an adventurous midday activity. And we were blown away with the incredible sunset God gave us at a small, yet ideal location at Navajo Point, complete with open views of the Dragon Bravo wildfire on the North Rim.
Grand Canyon Photography: Navajo Point
After a wonderful mid‑day hike partway down into the canyon, we freshened up at camp before heading out to what turned out to be the most photogenic location of our entire three‑day Grand Canyon photography excursion. This was our third golden hour in a row at the...
Grand Canyon Photography: A Perfect Midday Activity
After a short yet exhilarating hike into the Grand Canyon, it was so refreshing to get back to the car where Julianna and Mordecai were waiting. The day had hardly started, only just after 7:30am. We pulled out a yummy breakfast and kept warm and comfortable in the plush seats of our brand new rental vehicle. From where we were sitting, we could look out over the canyon with the rising sun now flooding the majestic rock walls.
Grand Canyon Photography: Searching for Ideal Sunrise Locations
My alarm went off at 4:00am sharp. Though I didn't feel like getting up, I was too excited about the potential of what would be happening that day to snooze the alarm for even one minute. I quietly slipped out of the tent and started the car. Julianna sleep-walked...
3 Gift Ideas for Your Photography at Christmas
This month's photo assignment is "The Gift of Photography". Whether it's as simple as printing out a photo and framing it to give to someone you love, or offering a free photoshoot to a family you know, we're going to use the month of December to not only grow our photography skills, but also to practically share them with others this Christmas season!
Keeping Family Vacation Blissful
It's amazing how easy it is to lose track of time when you're on vacation! The morning dawned over our campsite with a lazy reddish glow. A light breeze dried up the last drops of rain clinging to the sides of our tent. By the time I got back from an enjoyable...
How I Survived the Demands of Photographing an Outdoor Wedding in the Middle of Summer
I've learned what I need to do before and during the wedding day to make sure I don't get exhausted. But this year, I was asked to photograph a wedding in July that would put everything I knew to the test!
Concept Photography: 13 Simple Steps to Approaching it Like a Pro
Concept photography. What is it? And how does one go about conducting a photo shoot that successfully captures the "concepts" one is attempting to illustrate? I wanted to make the current photo assignment, Fashioning the Future, more instructional than usual, so I sat down and thought through exactly how I go about shooting these kinds of photos. And here's what I came up with!
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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
