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!
The Golden Hour
Life Along the Parkway Download as Desktop Background My brother Jonathan and I couldn’t help but stop and marvel at the beauty of God’s creation when we spotted this beautiful white-tail during our scouting excursion for CAPTURE North Carolina on the Blue Ridge...
What I Learned at CAPTURE NC
There are so many pictures to go through after shooting for three days straight last weekend! During the summer months, I never have much time to edit pictures, but with the efficient post-processing features of Lightroom, I feel that I can at least publish a...
What Happened at CAPTURE North Carolina
The CAPTURE NC Team So here’s a pictorial summary from last week’s CAPTURE North Carolina workshop! We prayed often on our way to our shooting locations for sunrise and sunset that it would stop raining and not once did it hinder us from taking pictures. On the...
Enjoying the Blue Ridge Parkway
Finished a fabulous day of shooting in the North Carolina highlands today with an awesome group of photographers on this CAPTURE North Carolina workshop! Here’s some snapshots of our time this morning shooting sunrise right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. We are all...
A Few Days of Scouting
My brother Jonathan and I have spent the last few days hiking and scouting out the Linville area in final preparation for the CAPTURE North Carolina workshop! Even in as naturally beautiful a location as this section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, “wow” pictures...
Making Memories at the Indy ATI Conference
I didn’t want the 2013 Indianapolis ATI Conference last week to slide by without posting some pictures! Most of my time was spent at my CAPTURE booth, but I made sure to get out and take some pictures that just might be used in next year’s ATI Conference...
First Booth Ever!
Lenspiration had it’s first display booth ever this week at the Indianapolis ATI Homeschool Conference! As of a few weeks ago, I don’t think the thought had ever crossed my mind to have a booth for Lenspiration and the CAPTURE photography workshops. But when God...
CAPTURE’s Going to Kansas!
Despite the late hour, I can’t help but announce what I’ve been working on all day long. CAPTURE Kansas. That’s right! The third and final CAPTURE Photography Workshop to be held in 2013. Mark your calendars for October 17-19! Imagine that, it’s still more than two...
Getting Started in Wedding Photography
This post includes a pamphlet which explains a list of criteria that helps a potential client determine if Lenspiration is the best photography option for their wedding.
Learn Lightroom
I’ve been thinking about how little I’ve written here on my blog about the curriculum or activities surrounding CAPTURE! This is probably because I do not exactly know what all is going to happen because I’ve never been on one myself. I’m sure I’ll have plenty to...
Excursion to Maryland
Of all the pictures I have ever taken, I can’t think of one single image that I have taken in the state of Maryland! That is, until a few weeks ago. On a weekend excursion to the Normoyle’s home in Dickerson, MD, our families took a hike close to their home to a...
Mistakes Don’t Always Turn Out Badly
These two shots of a very colorful Asian Lily in my Mom’s flower garden were taken about 20 seconds apart from each other. I set up and shot the first one in accordance with my typical style for nature shots. The second one was taken by mistake, due to an oversight...
CAPTURE Alaska Official Announcement!
The CAPTURE Alaska page has been up for a while already, but I thought it would be good to officially announce it; with the 4th of July behind us now, August will be here before we know it! Besides, I have purchased my plane tickets and there’s no turning back now!...
Parade Preparation
I jumped at the opportunity to play patriotic songs on the harmonica with other instrumentalists on the 4th of July float yesterday, so I didn’t get to take any pictures during the actual parade. However, I did get to take a few shots during preparation. What a ton...
Ready Always
Happy Independence Day! One reason I’m grateful for a day off the normal grind of every-day responsibilities is that one can be available for doing things that one wouldn’t normally have the time to do . . . like, agree at the drop of a hat to drive 40 minutes away...
Wallpapers for Summer
It’s been a while since I added some images to the Wallpapers Page. With preparing curriculum for CAPTURE, studying how the Bible relates to photography and preparing for future travels, I've been sticking pretty close to home these days and focusing in on the...
Smells of Spring
Spring brings smells of all sorts. We found this poor little guy evidently estranged from it’s mother trying to hide behind a leaf and too scared to run away. We just about touched it, we were so close, but after a while we decided to leave it alone….making sure to...
Getting Started in Portraiture
5 quick tips to keep in mind when you're getting started in portraiture.
CAPTURE NC Rescheduled
Just a quick update to let everyone know that CAPTURE North Carolina has officially be rescheduled! You can now mark August 7-10, 2013 on your calendar as the new dates for the workshop. Though several attendees and I were looking forward to having the workshop...
2014 Calendar: What Pictures Should I Use?
Would you like to have a voice in the creation of the 2014 Lenspiration calendar? I’ve selected around 60 of my best recent images, but now I need help narrowing them down to the top 12 that are suitable for a calendar. For the next week or so, you can cast your...
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What are we up to?
Follow along with Lenspiration travels…
Thank to @jonathan_vizaframephotography here is a sneak peek of the Art Show last week! More pics coming soon!
The activity folks are doing in these pictures is filling out a sheet of paper with their guesses as to which photos were taken in which states. 40 pictures taken from 40 different states were showcased and numbered in the gallery. The one who guessed the most correctly won a free pint of apple butter and a gift card to a local thrift shop! There was a lot of participation and it turned out to be one of the most interactive elements of the entire Apple Butter Festival!
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Family-friendly photography training: www.lenspiration.com
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#westvirginia #festival #applebutterfestival2026 #wvartist #wvphotographer
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
