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!
3 Ways to Shoot Landscapes at Night
Have you ever tried shooting scenic images at night? It’s not easy! At least, that’s what I was acutely reminded of during a trip to west Texas last month. I only had the opportunity to shoot under the desert sky on two different nights, but the experience was...
Now’s the Time to Gear up for HEAV!
I’m enjoying myself over here on the HEAV Facebook page tonight! Until 10:00, they’re throwing a HEAV Convention Facebook party! It’s a great introduction to what will be going on at Convention this year. Highlighting the speakers and vendors, talking about what’s...
The Implications of Talking Pictures
We are all familiar with the old adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. If this is indeed true, have you ever considered the implications? Beyond a shadow of a doubt, pictures speak. Pictures express things that words can not adequately express. Pictures...
Learn, Grow and Share . . . Together!
Remember how I've said I’ve been working behind the scenes on some things? Well, it's been a year in the making and it's no longer behind the scenes . . . in response to many requests and as a result of much prayer and preparation, the Lenspiration Community is...
Canvas on Sale Right Now
Hello Lenspiration Community members, 16x20, 20x24, and 20x30 custom canvas prints of any photograph on the portfolio will be 60% off until May 29, 2015 June 15, 2015. Discount available only to Lenspiration subscribers. If you are not already a subscriber, click...
Tips for Helping Young Photographers Get Started
Are there any young, aspiring photographers in your family? Here’s a question I received recently along these lines and thought it would make a great blog post. Here’s the question and my initial thoughts in answer. Hello, our children are too young to attend your...
How to Photograph an Auditorium Full of People
Have you ever been asked to shoot an assignment that you didn’t quite feel prepared for? A few years ago, I felt this way when I was first asked to take the group shot of an auditorium chuck full of people at the Big Sandy Family Conference. Now, after several...
What I Was Up To In the Past Two Weeks
Though I haven’t written much over the past two weeks, they have been very full and very productive! I can take the time to write more about what I was up now that I’m getting back into the swing of things. In a nutshell, last week was the Big Sandy Family...
Two Helpful Assignment Lists
Tomorrow kicks off the first Family Conference of the year in Big Sandy, Texas! It’s going to be a great event to cover. And I’ve been having a great time preparing for it! This year, because the photography team is so large, about twice as many as last year, we’ll...
The Day I Switched to Low Quality JPG
Resurrection Day dawned bright and sunny, warm and springy like only April mornings can be after a long and cold winter. A perfect day for taking family pictures outside. And that’s exactly what we did when we got back from church! So . . . have you ever set the...
Finally! The Moonset I’ve Been Waiting For!
The day had finally come. The day I had been waiting for since last November! Back in November, we were having a discussion on moon photography on the Forums. As part of the discussion, we discussed how to overcome the typical problem of moon exposure, and how to...
4-Wheeler Ride of a Lifetime
After the big snow earlier this month, the forecast indicated it would be clear skies the next morning. I couldn’t believe it! With 10 inches of snow on the ground with clear skies, I knew it was going to be an absolutely beautiful morning for photography! So I...
Challenges of Shooting a Family Conference
How some creativity helped in setting up a photo booth at a family conference.
21 Photographers and Counting
Just wanted to make sure everyone knew that registration was open for all five ACTION Event Photography Teams being held at home-school conferences over the summer. In fact, as of the end of last week, 10 photographers are registered for the Big Sandy Family...
Snapshots of Winter 2015
After a relatively snowless winter through January here in West Virginia, I was grateful for two recent, descent snow falls! The one in late February was about 6 inches and the other from just a few days ago was about 10 inches. This amount of snow makes...
The Most Expensive Calendar Ever
One of the goals on my “dream list” is to sell calendars through Hobby Lobby. Well, I’ve been at it for a couple of years. Last year, I was instructed to go to a Hobby Lobby store and observe their calendar selection to get a feel for what sells, then make my...
Canvas on Sale Until March 21
For the first three weeks of March, I’m offering a steep discount on Canvas Prints of any photograph on the Lenspiration Portfolio! Receive 60% off + free shipping . . . all you have to do is subscribe to the Lenspiration Updates to view the coupon code! Click here...
In Search of a Moon Rise
Remember the free book I wrote, Instinctively, on the 10 basic camera settings every photographer should know? I wrote that last year in an attempt to help beginner photographers prepare for the more intense, hands-on instruction that they would receive at a...
In Celebration of Creation Sunday!
I don’t think I have ever written a post on Sunday before. But there’s certainly a reason to do so today! Did you know today is Creation Sunday? I hadn’t heard about it until I read OneNewsNow’s article on Defending Genesis’ efforts to celebrate the biblical...
A Valentine’s Day Idea
Do you have an email account? Are you subscribed to various promotional email lists? Are those promotional emails all decked out in pink and red, love and hearts? If you’re like me, you glance over them before hitting the delete button (if you even open it),...
Get each article as soon as it goes live!
"*" indicates required fields
Recommended Ebook
"*" indicates required fields
What are we up to?
Follow along with Lenspiration travels…
Did you see the new, “Jesus, I Come” 2027 Calendar that launched last week?! It’s been encouraging to see pre-orders coming in already!
🎉Reminder: Anyone who pre-orders any quantity of Original or Personalized 2027 Calendars by August 31 will get 20% off the Lenspiration store* for the rest of 2026! 🎉
PRE-ORDER AT LINK IN BIO!
❓Did you know that you can take the Original calendar and get it personalized . . . for the exact same price?
Over the past several years, I’ve figured out how to incorporate custom elements on the calendar in an affordable way. And in small batches . . . like 25. You don’t have to order hundreds or thousands of calendars to get a bulk price! Churches, businesses, and ministries—small or large—can use them, sell them, or give them away to family, customers, or supporters without breaking the bank.
To keep processes streamlined and efficient, I’ve simplified the pricing structure this year so that there is no price difference between Personalized Calendars and the normal, Original Calendars.
So, if you or someone you know might be interested in personalizing calendars this year, now’s a great time to get the process going!
⏰ Place an order by August 31 and get 20% off the Lenspiration store for the rest of 2026! ⏰
*20% discount cannot be combined with other discounts or offers, and does not apply to purchases of Original, Personalized, or Artist’s Calendars, as well as Budget or Recommended Camera Kits.
--
Family-friendly photography training
www.lenspiration.com
--
#ChristianFineArt #ChristianArt #ChristianCalendar #ScriptureArt #BibleArt #ChristianHymns #HymnArt #FaithAndArt #ChristianPhotography #GodsCreation #LandscapePhotography #ChristianHome #FaithFilledHome #BehindTheArt #ArtistStudio #ArtProcess #ChristianInspiration #ScriptureInspired #MeaningfulGifts #ChristianGifts
It`s a choice to continue in sin. And it`s a choice to leave it. The way of escape is always open. "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;" Isaiah 61:1
--
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#verseoftheday #christianphotographer #faithandphotography #freedominchrist #exploretocreate
Which lane am I in? Headed toward the light, or fleeing from it? "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:20-21
I`ve driven through this pass scores of times, but I`ve only taken the time to photograph it once. I`m busy. I`ve got places to go. But because capturing beauty is important to me, I find ways to prioritize it. Same in my walk with the Lord. I am in such desperate need of God`s light in my life, I prioritize going to His word in the mornings.
--
Wholesome photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#walkinthelight #faithinfocus #christianphotography #sunsetlover #landscapephotography
🎉 Celebrate with us! 🎉
The new “Jesus, I Come” Lenspiration 2027 Calendar is here!
This year, I made some changes to the monthly design, giving it a fresh, clean look while retaining the aspects that everyone has come to know and love about the Lenspiration calendars—intricate cutouts, hymn lyrics, and Scriptures on each month.
Pre-orders start today, and calendars will begin shipping in October after they’ve been printed.
🎉 To celebrate the launch, we’re giving out a special gift for the next 10 days (until August 31). Anyone who pre-orders any quantity of Original or Personalized 2027 Calendars during this time will get 20% OFF the Lenspiration store* for the rest of 2026! 🎉
May the 2027 Calendar be a blessing to all who receive it, and a fresh reminder to come to Jesus each and every day throughout this coming year!
*20% discount cannot be combined with other discounts or offers, and does not apply to purchases of Original, Personalized or Artist’s Calendars, as well as Budget or Recommended Camera Kits.
--
Family-friendly photography training
www.lenspiration.com
--
#2027calendar #lenspiration #landscape_photography #JesusIcome #Scripturecalendar #Christiancalendar #inspirationalcalendar #christianphotographer #wvphotographer #uslandscapes
The following story is from a Lenspiration blog post which tells some of the behind-the-scenes stories from the photos I chose for the 2027 calendar (pre-orders for calendars begin on Friday, August 21!!).
But did any of the photos from that stop in western Virginia make it into the calendar?! Well. . .you’ll have to find out on Friday when the big reveal happens! 😉
"In May of 2025, we set out on a 4-day trek from Tennessee to Maine for the next event on our calendar, not knowing that the journey itself would offer some of the most memorable moments of the whole trip!
The first day’s drive was relatively short. On the way to spend the night with friends in Virginia, we savored the quiet drive surrounded by the beauty of the mountains. We indulged in a long lunch break at a picnic table tucked among trees with perfect temperatures and lighthearted birds flitting around us.
That evening, at our host’s lovely home in the Shenandoah Valley, we stepped out on the front porch to enjoy the spectacular view. There was no color in the sky, but that didn’t matter. Since photography is my work, I usually set it aside on Sundays to enjoy a day of rest.
However, as we sat and chatted in the peaceful beauty of the country surroundings, the sky started to get colorful and kept getting better and better. Finally, I looked at Julianna to see if this short interruption of our time together would be an acceptable exception, and her sweet smile was all the answer I needed! I jogged down to the van and snapped these photos before the perfect color faded away."
🎉SAVE THE DATE: Friday, August 21 - Calendar pre-orders open! 🎉
--
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#lenspiration #lenspirationcalendar #2027calendar #fineartcalendar #landscapephotography #naturephotography #behindtheshot #behindthescene #wvphotographer
"Thus saith the LORD, keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed." Isaiah 56:1
--
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#californiawaterfalls #waterfallphotography #explorecalifornia #chasingwaterfalls #landscapephoto
Join me for some LIVE photo coaching on Tuesday, August 25! Register at link in bio.
At this very moment . . . the Lenspiration 2027 Calendar is being assembled. The theme has been chosen. The design has been tweaked. Each photo has been carefully edited, and hymns and Scripture verses selected.
On Friday, August 21, we`ll have a big reveal and pre-orders will begin!
So, mark your calendar and get ready for the all-new Lenspiration fine art 2027 Calendar!
#wvphotographer #landscapephotography #calendar #FineArt #landscapes #creationphotographer #savethedate #2027calendar #creation
2026 marks the beginning of my foray into art exhibiting! Started off with displaying some calendars at the annual @salemwvofficial Salem Community Arts Showcase on Saturday. Next will be the Salem Apple Butter Festival in October. Special thanks to the Cultural Foundation of Harrison County for making both events possible! My goal is to use the exhibits to create a wholesome, educational experience for art-lovers to expand their knowledge in photography, geography, and the ethics essential to success in any professional field.
--
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#artexhibit #learnthroughart #salemwv #lenspiration #artwithpurpose
Super excited! Thank you FeedSpot for naming Lenspiration as #2 in the top 10 Best West Virginia Photography Blogs to Follow in 2026! Just after Wonderful West Virginia Magazine @wonderfulwestvirginia Read more at https://bloggers.feedspot.com/west_virginia_photography_bloggers Truly, there`s no other place I`d rather call home than wild, wonderful West Virginia
--
#onlyinwestvirginia #photoblogger #wvblogger #top10
I learned what "flash flood" means, the other day. No problem driving into downtown Indianapolis when the rain started. But it rained so hard and so long, our efforts to leave were thwarted over and over again as we backed out of street after street trying to find a way back to the Interstate. Never seen so much water on the road before. Thankfully we were able to get to an entrance ramp that was on higher ground....and begin our long journey home through more storms, tornado warnings, and flooded construction sites. So grateful that God "rulest the raging sea: when the waves thereof arise, Thou stillest them"! (Psalm 89:9)
--
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#flooding #travelphotography #travel #danger #flashflood
We almost left the overlook, when something happened.... We were on our way home from Connecticut, stopping in Virginia to meet up with @samuelchingphotography to photograph sunset at @greatfallsparkvanps. I chose the Maryland side of the river because the overlook faced west toward the sunset. However, we ran into two problems. First, the boardwalk offered no opportunity to descend down to the waters edge (offering instead severe penalties for leaving it). And second, it was not a pretty sunset. After spotting the landscape for a while, why stick around? Part of our group headed back to the car and I began packing up. And that`s when, out of nowhere, these long, pink, apparently altocumulus radiatus clouds appeared in the western sky in the perfect spot for landscape compositions! I can`t believe we almost missed it. I learned I need to be patient, even after the moment of sunset.
--
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#greatfallspark #altocumulus #sunsetchasers #patiencepays #landscapephotography
For this month`s photo assignment, we`re doing something a little unusual: we`re learning how to take photos and add creative text overlay. With resources to help you through the process, this assignment takes your photography to the next level and helps you understand design concepts.
The goal is simple - to create "Verse Pics": taking any picture you’d like, with a verse relating to the scene designed on it.
Learn all about it at the link in bio!
On my way back from that morning hike at the top of South Mountain, the main thought in my head was to get back to the car so I could get home. Then I started thinking about why I wanted to get home. Well, one of the reasons was because I wanted to be back with Julianna and finally tell her good morning (because I had left so early that she was still asleep). That made me start thinking about how much she likes wildflowers and I thought "Hey, I should take some pictures of flowers to show her when I get back..." And that`s when I started noticing all the flowers by the side of the trail! --- Moral of the story: sometimes you don`t see things till you start looking for them. 😃 "Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see." Isaiah 42:18
--
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#flowerphotography #phoneography #lookandsee #lovestory #scripture
I can`t believe I found a spot like this in Connecticut! I`ve know a great photo spot like this existed, but couldn`t figure out how to get there without a super long, exhausting hike. Finally figured it out thanks in part to @alltrails. I can DM hiking directions if interested. It`s still probably a 2mi hike.
--
Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
--
#onlyinconnecticut #hikingadventures #bestphotospot #overlook #landscapephotography
Join me for some LIVE photo coaching on July 28 as we take a photographic tour across the world and explore "Picturesque Places"! Register at the link in bio.
I`ve had my eye on this location for years...and today I finally made the early morning hike out for golden hour. With the smoke coming down from Canada, would I get my chance for the photo I`ve been waiting for?!
A quick sunrise shoot with amazing potential. Right place at the right time. Would the sun show up and make it a perfect morning?!









