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!
Proving a Point from a Midday Photo Shoot
Every year as I prepare for homeschool conventions, I like to keep the Photo Classes fresh and interesting...
Stepping Outdoors for some Epic Landscape Workshops!
While preparing for upcoming landscape workshops the other day, I ran into some photos in my Lightroom catalog that I don't think I had ever shared here on the blog before! So, sit back and get ready to enjoy some pretty photos from random excursions from the past!...
Miracle Mountain Ranch Photo Summit: Snapshots from My Journal
Thursday, April 3, 2025 - Last-Minute Car Swap Julianna & I headed to the homestead after work to celebrate Joshua's birthday because Robert & Kendalyn were in town from Texas. Driving over, I could tell the knocking noise coming from under the car was...
On Assignment: The Glory of the Morning
As soon as I found out what this month's Shoot to Serve photo assignment was going to be, I knew immediately where I would shoot it. In some respects, the location I had in mind wasn't ideal, but there were some special, morning memories associated with the spot that I wanted to revisit. And as it turned out, the location happened to be better for the photo shoot than I had originally thought!
Top 10 Favorites from IAHE
Ever been to a homeschool convention before? If not, here are some photos to give you an idea of what it's like! The Indiana Association of Home Educators (IAHE) invited me come out to Fort Wayne last weekend to cover their annual event and teach the IAHE Photo Class. I took hundreds of photos, but here are my top 10 favorites.
An Exciting Long-Distance Photography Adventure
You never know what adventures you’ll find yourself in as a photographer, or as a family member of a photographer. I happen to find myself simultaneously in both of those positions. 🙂 However, sometimes it’s not even the photographer in the family who initiates the photography adventures, as you’ll see in the story below. . .
It All Started With Some Pretty Pictures…
Mordecai's fussiness suddenly ceased when he saw the smooth, dark green object in my hand. Wherever it moved, his eyes moved with it...
Every Beautiful Photo Relies on This One Essential Element
Some time ago, Julianna and I spent time with friends in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. Almost every day was spent searching for a beautiful photo of a beautiful object in a truly beautiful area...
On Assignment: Portraits of Flowers
I couldn't wait to photograph this month's photo assignment! I have wanted to try taking a studio portrait of flowers for a long time now and here was my opportunity...
Come Take Pictures With Me!
"Darling!" James spun around in his office chair and flashed an excited smile . . .
Illustrating Bible Verses with My Rock Collection
In my previous post I described my icy venture into sub-zero temperatures to photograph this month's photo assignment, The Solid Rock. Being away from home, I used what I could think of in the vicinity, and the stately, stone structures that dot the landscape of...
On Assignment: The Solid Rock
It's not every day that you get to experience the extremes we find in God's creation. But when the day came for me to film the next Shoot to Serve photo assignment, The Solid Rock, I came face to face with an extreme I had never encountered before...
Is It Safe to Use My Camera in Extreme Cold?
I tramped through the blowing snow, camera dangling around my neck, hands dug deep into my pockets to protect them from the extreme cold. The clouds were thick and puffy above me. Every once in a while a flurry of snow would come swirling through the valley. But it...
A Lenspiration Adventure: How Rubber Floor Mats Saved The Day
If you've been following along with what we've been doing here at Lenspiration, you'll know that this month's photo assignment is "Scenic Seasonal Paths" and that I went to go take pictures for it on the spur of the moment because snowflakes were accounted as gold...
On Assignment: Scenic Seasonal Paths
After last month's relatively difficult assignment, I was excited to get out and photograph something a little more up my alley. But just because this assignment is easier doesn't mean it doesn't have its own special twist. The fun part about this assignment is the...
Is A Bug’s-Eye View The Ideal Perspective In Photography?
I do a lot of traveling and I have seen a lot of places. Let me tell you about one recent trip from my perspective! I don't think many people wake up with branches arching above them and a window-view of orange leaves at their feet, but I am used to waking up in...
How Do I Expose Properly for Christmas Lights?
I rushed out into the cold, winter night. Blue hour was quickly slipping away. But before it did, I wanted to capture the amazing display of Christmas lights that my brother had put on the house! The contrast between the lights on the house and the darkness around...
Photographing As A Group Revealed These 4 Interesting Things
It's hard to believe it's been over a year since the St. Simons Island photography workshop! As I was editing my photos from that excursion the other day, I started to notice something interesting. During the day, the group of us 5 photographers were shooting the...
On Assignment: Young Person Preparing Food (and Tips for Great Lighting!)
It's not very often that we receive a photo request from a publisher who goes into great detail about the kind of photo they are looking for. Usually, a publisher doesn't need something ultra specific, so a typical request can tend to be broad and brief. However,...
First Impressions of the Canon R6
In a previous blog post, I shared some autumn photos from a pleasant, October excursion to Swallow Falls State Park with my new Canon R6 mirrorless camera. It was my first excursion with that camera. But now that several weeks have passed and I have had opportunity...
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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
