Live Snap Create

A Creative Life Through A Photo Lens

What’s In My Camera Bag

Camera equipment and accessories to keep in your camera bagDo you ever look at another photographer and wonder what’s in their camera bag that you may be missing?  Or are you curious about what equipment actually makes a difference in photography?  I am going to give you a peek into my camera bag, to show you what I use the most.  Some of these products are relatively inexpensive and some do require an investment.  I will explain when you do and do not need to make a large investment in your equipment.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.

First thing first is the actual camera that I use.  I still use the Canon T3i that I received about 7 years ago.  I have found that I have not outgrown all its features and capabilities yet, some I haven’t even explored.  If there is one thing I want to impress on people, its that starter camera equipment will get you great photos once you know how to use it.  My version has been discontinued and replaced with the Canon Rebel T5 and can be seen in the image below.

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How to Add Pops of Color to Black and White Photos

How to add pops of color to black and white photosMaking photos black and white can be quick and easy and make your photos more interesting.  But adding pops of color to black and white photos can take an ordinary photo and make it extraordinary.  I am going to show you how to add pops of color to your black and white photos with a free online editor. It is easy and you don’t need to learn an entire software program to do it.  

I use the free online photo editor BeFunky, to edit most of my photos.  It is a point and click software program that lets anyone get creative with editing their photos.  Instead of having to read how to use BeFunky to edit photos, I made you a short video tutorial, so that you could quickly learn how to add pops of color to black and white photos.   [Read more…]

How To Set ISO

How to set your DSLR ISO

You have this fancy DSLR camera but you are still a little unsure on how all the settings affect your photos.  ISO can be one of those camera settings that can be very confusing to beginner photographers. But don’t fret, once you figure out what ISO is and how simple it is to choose a setting, you will be on your way to better photographs.  

What is ISO?

ISO stands for the International Standards Organization and it is the standardized industry scale for measuring sensitivity to light.  So you say “WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???” In plain English, ISO is the amount of noise, or graininess, that you will allow in your photo in a trade-off for proper exposure.  The ISO settings are dependent on the light level that you have while shooting your photo.   [Read more…]

5 Photography Composition Tips

photography composition tipsPhotography composition can be what makes or breaks a great photo.  Some say there are rules to follow when it comes to photography composition, but I hate rules so I will call them guidelines or tips.  I have 5 quick and easy photography composition tips to help make your photos better right now.

Photography Composition Tip 1:  Rule of Thirds

Okay I know I said I hate rules, but some genius (I don’t know who), came up with the title “Rule of Thirds”.  Again, I say it is a guideline that can create interest in your photo. So here is what the guideline of thirds means:  

rule_of_thrids

The photo frame is overlaid with a tic tac toe board.  The subject of interest in your photo should be placed at one of the intersections of the lines.  Here is another example without the grid.

sun glare photo

Again this is just a guideline, and one I don’t often follow.  I like my subjects front and center, but there are a bunch of photography pros that swear it is a “rule” that must be followed.  I will let you decide. [Read more…]

DSLR Beginner Photography Course

DSLR Beginner Photography Course

Do you find yourself struggling with your DSLR camera?  I know I did when I first received mine 8 years ago. I spent countless hours trying to figure out how this camera was any better than my iPhone.  I did finally figure it out but really would have benefited from a beginners DSLR photography course that wasn’t too expensive.

There are a lot of courses out there, but most exceed the $100 mark, and at the time I wasn’t really willing to pay that.  In addition to the prices, the courses seemed way over my head and didn’t really explain, in plain English, how to use the camera.  That’s why I decided to create my own DSLR photography course for beginners. This course is geared towards the Canon camera, (The Nikon version will be out soon) so that you can really learn with specific instruction tailored to your camera.  Most courses out there are really general, but this course that I created is specific to the camera.

DSLR beginners camera course

Beginner Photography Course Pricing

This course is also extremely affordable, priced at just $39.  And that is not because the course is lacking! You will learn all the elements of DSLR photography, including how the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance work and affect your photos.  And you will learn this in an easy to understand, plain English, way. You will also learn how to put all those elements together to take great photographs in any condition.  We are not all aiming to be professional photographers and I understand that, which is why I explain how to operate the camera and get the photos you want in a clear way.

Beginner Photography Course Content

In the DSLR Photography Course for beginners, you will learn how to use your camera by watching videos and using the cheat sheets I provide.  There is 1 hour and 45 minutes of video instruction in this course covering the topics seen in the course outline below. I promise you can learn your camera in this amount of time, but this does not include the practice time! You will need lots of practice, especially if you want to learn to use manual mode, which is covered in this course.  I am still practicing!

DSLR Course Outline

Beginner Photography Course Goals

So what will you get with this course?  

  • You will get off Auto Mode
  • 1 hour and 45 minutes of video instruction
  • 10 cheat sheets
  • Confidence in using your camera
  • Learn to take great photos

So what are you waiting for?  This course is only $39 and will transform your photography skills.  If you complete the course you will be able to stop paying for expensive photographers to take your family photos and empower you to do it yourself.  Imagine the money you will save on that alone!!!

Yes I want to Take Better Photos

If you would like a sneak preview of some of the DSLR Beginner Photography Course cheat sheets you can click the photo below.  If you have any questions about the course please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

Free DSLR Settings Cheat Sheets

10 Best Mother’s Day Gifts for the Mommy Photographer

Mother's Day Mommy Photographer Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and some of you may be looking for that great gift to get your Mom or Wife.  This is a pretty special day and these Moms work really hard to take care of everyone in the family, so they deserve a little something special.  (Although just being a Mom is pretty special in my book!) If you are looking for the perfect gift for that Mom who loves being behind the camera, catching those precious memories, then look no further.  I have 10 photographer gifts, all of which I use myself, that Mom will love.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.

  1. Camera Remote:  This is essential for getting Mom in front of that camera and not always behind it.  She can use it to take family photos that include everyone.

  1.  Tripod:  This kinda goes with the remote.  It will help make setting up those family portraits easy.  And all Mom’s love great family photos.

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How to Take Outdoor Portraits Like a Pro

How to Take Outdoor portraitsPortrait photography may seem daunting, but it really is just a few simple steps to get the best portraits.  I say this because I no longer hire a photographer to take my kids or family photos anymore. Once I bought my Canon DSLR camera and learned how to use it (this takes a bit of time and practice), I was done with paying exorbitant amounts to get photos of my kids (some of which I didn’t even like because the photographer didn’t really know my kids).  First I am going to give you the tips on taking great portraits, and then I will list the equipment needed.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.

Basics of Portrait Photography

    1. Location, Location!!!  Choose a place that has a background to your liking.  Are you outdoorsy, choose a park. Are you trendy, choose a famous wall in the city?  Are you someone who likes sleek lines, choose a railroad track (make sure it is not operational, this can get dangerous) or a long straight road.  Whatever location you choose, make sure that you like it, it’s not too crowded (who wants other people in their portraits), and there isn’t too much going on in the background to take the focus away from the subject.  If you need ideas for locations in Northern Virginia, check out my post about 6 great spots for portraits.  
    1. Weather:  So most people think choosing a bright sunny day is the best day for portraits.  This is absolutely false unless your subject is going to be wearing sunglasses in the picture or the squinting look is what you are after.  The optimal weather is an overcast day. I promise your pictures will come out just as bright (with the right camera settings) as a sunny day.
  1. Camera settings:  So here is where it gets good.  I am going to give you the basic settings for an outdoor session.  These are not full manual mode settings but gets you halfway there. You will use one of two modes depending on the style portrait you would like.  

Blurry background subject popping photos:  

If you want that blurred background, subject popping portraits you will want to set your camera to the Aperture setting (AV on Canon, A on Nikon).  Then use these settings:

    1. F-stop – lowest value your camera will allow (more on this in the equipment section)
    1. ISO – Bright day – 200, Overcast day 400
  1. White balance – Daylight or Cloudy depending on your conditions

The camera will automatically choose the shutter speed for you to get the best exposure.  Read below about a lens that can get you the best blurry backgrounds.  The picture below illustrates portraits taken in aperture mode.

Outdoor portrait photography [Read more…]

How to Edit Photos for FREE Using Befunky

 

 

Hi everyone, I wanted to give you a quick video tutorial showing you how to edit photos for FREE online using BeFunky.  This is an online editing software that is free to use, or you can upgrade to a subscription.  So far I have found that it is easier to use than Canva and has many great free options included.  All the photos in this post have been created using the software.  You can find it at www.befunky.com! [Read more…]

Free Canon DSLR Button Cheat Sheet

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.

Hi all, hope everyone’s well.  I have put together a great freebie explaining all the buttons on your Canon DSLR camera.  All you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter to get it!!  (I promise no spamming!!! I hate spammers.)  I will be doing a series of posts about getting your DSLR out of auto mode soon, so stay tuned!

Oh and if you don’t have a Canon DSLR you can purchase one here!!  It is an awesome camera. 

If you are interested in any more of my photography posts be sure to check them out here.

Thanks for subscribing and have a great day.

6 Best Places for Photo Sessions in Northern Virginia

Hi there friends!

So you are planning to take your family photo or your yearly photos of your kids and you want a great place to take the pictures.  I have the answer below.  I whipped out my camera and drove around to find some of the best places to take those photos.  These are all outdoor locations that are free (best part right!).  They offer beautiful back drops for those priceless photos.  Here we go:

EC Lawrence Park

This park is located off Walney Rd. in Chantilly VA.  It offers a great pond, bridge and steps.  This locale is great for that outdoorsy feel and is absolutely beautiful in the fall.

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