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!
Photography, Excellence, and the Bible
The family was comfortably settled around the dining room table. The orange and sage striped tablecloth lent a cozy feeling of autumn inside while dusk set in early over the landscape outside. I was working a nutcracker while Mom and Julianna picked out the meat...
Does Aperture Affect the Thickness of a Lightning Bolt in a Photo?
After an enlightening workshop in Pennsylvania and a busy HEAV Convention Photography Team, we were headed back to familiar territory. Our spring travels had taken us away from home for 5 weeks! But before crossing the finish line we wanted to make one last stop: a...
How to Capably Shoot the Photo Assignment, “Happy Homeschoolers”
This assignment may feel intimidating at first. However, photographing happy homeschoolers isn't necessarily as difficult as it may seem.
6 Takeaways from a Photography Workshop That Didn’t Quite Go As Planned
It was about as normal a summer afternoon as it gets in Pennsylvania. Hot, sunny, and humid. A typical June day in the countryside along the wide Susquehanna River. But the events of the day were all but normal!
6 First Impressions of One of the World’s Most Iconic Lighthouses
On the way down the Maine coast, we couldn't resist a detour to one of the world's most iconic lighthouses, Portland Head Lighthouse. We were not able to be there during ideal lighting, but this would be a good scouting excursion for potential visits in the future. What would be my impression of the location? Is it really as photogenic as people say? How much freedom would a landscape photographer have to explore different angles and compositions?
On Assignment: Your 12 Best Photos
I can't believe it's been a whole year since we've last sorted through our photos together! Remember the interview I had with myself last year? In that video, I talked about the 7-step process for finding and choosing your best photos from the past 12 months. Making the time to assemble your very best!
The Worst Year In History
The other day I was reading Psalm 25 and verses 4-5 really stood out to me. Then, as I was thinking about what to post today, those verses came to mind in conjunction with some other things that I'd been thinking about over the past several months. Plus I had just...
How I Chose the Theme for the 2026 Calendar
A few days ago, I was driving around Dallas. We were about 5 minutes from our destination. I had just pulled out of one of those incredible, multi-layered highway interchanges when low and behold, straight in front of us, there was this strange natural phenomenon in the sky! Awe-struck, I pulled over on the shoulder, grabbed my camera, and ran into the freshly plowed field beside the road in my dress shoes, suit pants, and white shirt to capture it before it disappeared!
18 Photos Ranked from Best to Worst
Thank you, everyone, who furnished your impressions on the 37 photos listed in the Lenspiration 2026 Calendar photo survey! Now that all the results are in, would you like to see which photos in the survey ranked the highest . . . and which ones ranked the lowest?! Get ready for some intriguing insights gathered from public opinion! Two things before getting started.
On Assignment: Prayer at Bible Time
When this assignment concept came along, I was excited to take these pictures to encapsulate the concept of prayer. It's so simple, yet there are so many variations one can explore within the concept. And "simple" doesn't necessarily mean "easy", but there's enough room in the assignment details that really anyone can photograph it!
Arizona Or Bust
Our favorite mode of transportation is by automobile. A minivan has all the room in the world for transporting all the stuff we need for all the crazy things we do, whether its dispersed camping, working a Lenspiration booth, running a photography workshop . . . or...
A Day In Acadia Enjoying Heaven’s Special Touch
Our eager group of young photographers maneuvered down the short path toward an eastward view of the old, historic lighthouse at Acadia National Park. None of us had been to that location before, so we were anxious with anticipation of what might be awaiting us! Rounding the corner, we were greeted with . . .
An Opportunity to Furnish Your Impressions on My Photos
It's only July, and all of my photos for the 2026 Calendar Survey are finished! The survey is now ready and waiting to receive your coveted opinion! Click here to let me know which of these 37 photographs are your favorites!
Searching for Scenic Photos In Scenic Spots
I've been building the Lenspiration Scouting Guide over the years. After photographing some place, I'll add what I learned about that location to the map when I have time. Now, I've been adding locations for a while now, but it doesn't just have to be me. Anyone can add locations to the Scouting Guide! And that's the purpose of this month's photo assignment. . .
Keeping An Eye Open for Hidden Beauty Along the Way
When we left the breathtaking beauty of that unexpected golden hour in Cades Cove, it took me a while to mentally switch into convention mode. I arrived at the loading dock at the Teach Them Diligently homeschool convention with my brain reeling from the realization that I would be speaking to a class of students in just a few hours . . .
Chasing the 4th and Final Chance for Golden Hour Light at Cades Cove
The light from my headlamp illuminated the canopy of forest surrounding the deserted path stretching out in front of me. The pitch black darkness beyond was deep and impenetrable...
New Photo Assignment: Filling Your Niche
Being on the road for most of the month of May, there wasn't enough time to create a video to demonstrate how to shoot the next Shoot to Serve photo assignment. However, I did take some great photos for it! Having spent some time with Julianna's family this week, it wasn't hard to ask her and a couple of her siblings to pose for me as they were going about filling special niches in life...
A Christian Photographer’s Inspiring Perspective
Friends of mine first recommended Jeffrey Cummings to me because he's a Christian photographer who shares great perspectives on photography. When I read the following post on his blog, I thought it would be an excellent read for everyone here at Lenspiration, and Jeff was more than happy to share...
Fortunately Unfortunately: My Adventures In Landscape Photography At Cades Cove
Have you ever played the game, "Fortunately, Unfortunately"? Well, I recently had a landscape photography experience at Cades Cove in Tennessee that made me feel like I was living out one of those stories! And at first, I wasn't laughing.
On Assignment: 5 Types of Birds
On the heels of April's early-rising Shoot to Serve assignment comes another assignment that just might have you getting out early as well! 5 distinct categories of birds are mentioned in the Bible, and this month, our goal is to capture a quality photo of a bird from each of those five categories . . .
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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
