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!
Ideas for Better Sunset Photos
Here’s a snippet from the lastest live PRO webinar. Regardless of how drab or how epic a sunset might be, here are a few tricks you can put into practice that will help you capture their color and attractiveness more effectively. Learn how to skillfully use focal...
How These Fine-Tuned Photo Editing Adjustments Were Done On A Mobile Device
Have you ever wanted to make fine-tuned adjustments to photos on a mobile device? Here’s how it’s done, as explained by Benjamin Holmes, Sharpening Character’s VersePics Director and expert mobile device photo editor… John 1:14 in a Phone VP layout I found the...
The Cold, Rainy Days of Christmastime
Unless you happen to be privileged enough to live very far north or very far south, Christmastime isn’t exactly a snowy time of year. While the air still holds a feeling of Christmas, the majority of us hear the rhythm of rain more than the crunch of snow...
Camera Buying Advice
For some reason, December is a popular time for buying cameras. Thus, it’s the time of year when folks are generally asking for camera buying advice. Here’s a recent one: Would you give any thoughts on these cameras or any other camera suggestions you might have?...
Wanted: A Picture That Illustrates “Walking Wisely”
Anyone happen to have a picture of a compass, a map, or a dangerous path in their archives? Put it to good use by submitting it for the latest Shoot to Serve Opportunity: Walking Wisely! Sharpening Character is looking for a picture to illustrate Proverbs 28:26,...
Detailed Photo Editing On Your Mobile Device Is Actually Possible With These 3 Amazing Apps!
A photo has been chosen! In response to Sharpening Character's request last week for a picture that depicted the message of Proverbs 16:9&18, members submitted pictures on Shoot the Serve and now one of them has been chosen for their weekly VersePic! View the...
How to Be Successful in Photography
Do you want to be successful in photography? I do, and I would venture to say that God wants us to be successful too (that is, if we are willing to let Him define what success means for us). Thankfully, the secret to being successful is actually quite...
The Secret To Amazing Golden Hour Portraiture
While there are many similarities between portrait photography and landscape photography, one must also realize that each certainly has it’s own nuances that are certainly unique to itself. Here’s what I mean…..
What Happened Over the Thanksgiving Weekend
Did you hear about the disastrously crazy turn of events that happened on Thanksgiving morning?! I just joined Instagram, and it’s all documented there . . . go to www.instagram.com/lenspirationphoto, click to Follow, then find and watch the video. It’s pretty...
What Helped Me Getting Started In Photography
Looking back over the years, the tips and “coaching” I received from photographers who were more experienced than I proved to be an invaluable element of my photography “education”. I mimicked my mentors. And still do. If I liked the way someone else’s picture...
Simple Edits Go A Long Way
How simple edits allowed family photos from a conference to be processed quickly!
Focus Stacking: When It Worked And When It Didn’t
Just got back from a fantastic weekend in Virginia, attending the Family Encouragement Weekend with the family! [Read more about what I’ve learned taking pictures at FEW Conferences in the past: Challenges of Shooting a Family Conference] But something else...
What Does It Mean To Vote?
With the choice of presidential candidates before us tomorrow, none of which are leaders I would have chosen to be in authority over me, I am perplexed with the question of what to do. Trump has led a life of immorality, is disrespectful in his language, is...
Where We Went for Epic Pictures During CAPTURE Virginia
This weekend was the CAPTURE Virginia creation photography workshop! Four photographers came. The goal was to exercise photography techniques in the classroom of creation. As we traveled from place to place, we put into practice the things we wanted to get better...
Heart of Autumn
Greetings from the highlands of North Carolina! After putting together a training video last week in Virginia on how to capture the unique beauty of early autumn, I’m excited to have now arrived at higher elevations here in North Carolina for another training...
Finding Fall Color on Old Rag Mountain
Fall is coming! And yesterday I had the opportunity to go on a quick hike with friends up Old Rag Mountain, one of the most strenuous yet beautiful hikes in Virginia. I’d been looking forward to this hike for a few weeks, and was expecting some autumn color to be...
The Man Behind the Video Camera
Thought you might enjoy this little teaser my brother Jonathan threw together for me the other day! 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D4dqDPrw3Y Jonathan loves to travel just like I do except his artistic bent is toward videography. We complement each...
Are You A Lenspiration Calendar Fan?
If so, you’ll be excited to know that the 2017 Lenspiration Calendar is now available! For this one, I chose hymns that feature the theme, Come, Praise the Lord with Me, based on John W. Peterson’s 1987 hymn so masterfully arranged by The Wilds. Do you notice any...
A Few Quick Critiques
Here are a few tips for you to enjoy from the latest PRO Critique webinar! I know it’s only 5 short minutes taken from the hour spent in critiquing the PRO members’ submissions, but I’m sure there’s something you could pull from it anyway:...
On the Edge of the Plateau
Bear Rocks is a widely recognized symbol of West Virginia wilderness and a frequently photographed scenic area in the state. Last week, I had the opportunity to spend an entire day photographing this well-known landmark on the eastern edge of the Dolly Sods...
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What are we up to?
Follow along with Lenspiration travels…
Calendar season is in full swing!
Original calendars are shipping, I`m working on Personalized orders almost every day, and I`ve been enjoying helping other photographers get their photos ready for their Artist calendars!
To keep the momentum going, I decided to offer a mid-season sale . . .
🎉 This weekend only, get free shipping on orders of 25+ Original or Personalized calendars, until Monday, Oct. 19, using the coupon code 2027SHIPFREE. It`s the only bulk-order sale I plan to offer this year, so don`t miss it! 🎉
Order calendars at lenspiration.com/original
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
