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!
Watch An Entire Photo Critique Webinar for Free!
The photo critique webinar on Tuesday night was fantastic! We delved into more advanced stuff like color schemes, balance in composition, and the difference in twilight zones at blue hour. But while that video replay is not available to the public, I thought it...
How I Came to Discover One of Illinois’ Hidden Landscape Photography Gems
We’re all familiar with the place in Colorado called Garden of the Gods, but did you know there was a hidden landscape photography gem in southern Illinois that goes by the same name? Here’s how I happened to discover it… Once upon a time, several years ago, I...
Behind the Shot: Castle Crags
Castle Crags Wilderness in the shadow of Mt. Shasta in northern California is a pretty amazing place! But even with epic surroundings, I still have to put thought into how I compose my shots (among other factors) so they’ll still look epic when I view them later on...
11 Tips From My Photography Trip To California
You might say it was cheating on the last trip … It was to California, a true vacation of backpacking, hammocking, pristine wilderness, alpine vistas, epic sunsets, snow-capped mountain…yeah, who needs to be a pro to get awesome pictures with surroundings like...
Favorite Shots from the Sacramento Photography Team
Similar to last year’s Photography Team, it was awesome to see the team at the 2017 Sacramento Family Conference grow from an initial 3 expected photographers to a grand total of 6! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the team, and why I like them. Photo by...
How I Bought A New Tripod Head . . . And Why I Returned It
I’ve been learning a lot about tripod heads recently. You see, the tripod head that I’ve been using for the past 6 years finally bit the dust. So, I started looking for a new one. Here were my 5 prerequisites: Prerequisite #1 It needed to be a ball head, not...
West Virginia Rainbows
With the frequent thunderstorms that have passed through West Virginia this summer, there have been a surprising amount of opportunities to take pictures of rainbows. Most of the time I only have my phone on me to take pictures with, but still, it’s better than...
How to Watch Tuesday’s Photo Critique Webinar for Free!
Every month, as PRO members learn photography one step at a time working through the Roadmap and fulfilling their shooting assignments, they have the opportunity to submit their photos to be critiqued during the monthly Photo Critique webinars. Outsiders can listen...
What Is Correct Exposure?
What do you say? Is the first shot or the second shot correctly exposed? After looking at the first shot, the second one looks too bright. But what if I had shown you the brighter shot first? Now the second one looks too dark! So who determines what “correct” looks...
How To Photograph Tack Sharp Reflections
Reflections are awesome! And they’re awesome-er if they are truly sharp. Notice how in this photo the reflection isn’t quite perfectly, tack sharp? This is what a PRO member was talking about when they asked this question recently on the Q&A Forum: Do you have...
A Creative Perspective on the Photography Team Group Shot
Saturday was the last day of the HEAV Photography Team! As always, we took a team group shot. Instead of doing it at the exact same location every year, I like to try and be creative by changing up locations if we have the time. This makes things a little more...
2 Things You Won’t Want to Miss Today
First, obviously, is the time-sensitive discount I mentioned the other day for those who might want to try PRO free for a month: Remember! Only available today, tomorrow and Saturday (June 8, 9 and 10) Go to www.lenspiration.com/pro and click to Join PRO Enter...
Special Discount Available This Weekend Only!
Summer is the time for conferences and conventions! And there’s something very special about the one that’s happening this weekend… At the last Conference, the one at the end of May in Toccoa, Georgia, it was special in it’s own unique way. Southern sweet tea, of...
Behind the Shot: Belvedere on the Gorge
Belvedere on the Gorge Endless Wall Trail, New River Gorge Trail, West Virginia Subscribe to Lenspiration updates to download as a desktop background in the next Latest from Lenspiration update Behind the Shot It's sure is fun to explore and find beautiful...
Discover the Best Methods for Photographing Steam
I wish I had more time to expound on this! For now I’m just going to have to leave it at this… For me, “steam” was just one of those subjects I had never thought of trying to photograph before. (Like, have you ever tried it?) So, when a PRO member asked me how to...
Photography From the Perspective of a Designer
Just a quick reminder that the deadline for this week’s photo assignment is coming up quickly! Midnight, Friday the 26th. Have a picture that portrays the idea of “the passage of time”, or some creative representation of Acts 24:25, “And as he reasoned of...
Why This Designer Really Liked This Photo
PRO member @creative-click-photography stole the prize for the 1 Peter 3:15 VersePic Opportunity with her fantastic submission featuring a girl reading her Bible! Here’s her original submission and the finished VersePic: And here are the VersePic Director’s...
Something New for Everyone!
In PRO or no, I’ve got some great new stuff for everyone today! PRO Members: if you didn’t see it on Friday, the May PRO Report—your source to exploring what’s new in PRO—is now available at www.lenspiration.com/proreports! The report includes articles on: How to...
5 Things to Consider When Shooting a Wedding As a 2nd Photographer
Ever been asked to shoot a wedding as a 2nd photographer? Here are 5 things to consider when stepping into this role.
Lenspiration Forums Now Simplified!
Hey, just a quick update here on some changes I’ve been making to the Lenspiration Forums… Instead of using the secluded PRO Forums, PRO members will now be using the regular Photo Critique and Photography Q&A forums to submit their photos and ask questions...
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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.
