by Monica Wilkinson

Like many of you, when I started my journey into photography, my favorite subjects to shoot were my two daughters. They were young and I wanted to capture as many memories as possible. As time passed by,
I still found joy in photographing them, but I felt myself succumbing to the pressures of getting it just right in camera. I felt overwhelmed with all the rules of photography. I would hear things like the skin tones are off, they(…)

by April Nienhuis

Do you struggle with who you are as a photographer?  Are you afraid to be yourself with your photography even it means shooting unlike everyone else? When raising children, we teach them that who they are is good enough. Even at a young age, peer pressure is around and we never want them to conform to others in an effort to ‘fit in’. Our goal as parents is to encourage the uniqueness that we see in each of(…)

The second run of CMs First Steps with a DSLR photography workshop with instructor Amy Lucy Lockheart is starting in just a few short weeks. If you’ve always wanted to take better photos of your kids, but haven’t ventured outside of Auto Mode because all those buttons and dials are confusing, then this is the perfect class for you! Some of the students from the first run of this class were brand new owners of their cameras and had no(…)

Education is a never ending process in the world of photography.  Some choose to read photography books while others visit blogs.  There’s also forums, mentoring, and conventions but one of the most common ways to expand your knowledge is to take a workshop.  Some of our favorite threads in the forum is when someone finishes a workshop and shares the images they took during that time.  Always inspiring!  So, why not share some of those photos with you today?  We(…)

by Ashley Spaulding
It’s been two months and 24 days since we wrapped up the last run of the Shooting 201: Lifestyle with Kids workshop, but who’s counting, right?!? I am!!! I cannot wait for the next run of the workshop to begin in less than four weeks!! I’m so excited to meet a new group of students, to be back to teaching again because I love it so much, and to see four weeks of gorgeous lifestyle images shared in(…)

Lighting is a crucial element to your photograph whether you’re using natural light or artificial light.  Do you know how to use studio lighting?  Have you been thinking about giving it a try?  We have the perfect workshop all about studio lighting to help you learn!  CMpro Jessica Gwozdz is a master of studio light and she is back this month for another run of her popular class Lighting 101: Studio Lighting for Beginners.  Interested in how others feel about(…)

Are you ready to learn about another one of our newest photography workshops set to debut in January?  Today Lora Swinson is here to share more about her upcoming workshop, Shooting 101: Posed for Success (teaching assistants will include Amii Wroblewski, Jennifer Dell, and Dana Tate).  You’ve asked for a class on posing and it’s finally here.  Read more below to find out exactly what Lora will cover in this awesome new workshop!
an introduction to the posed for success workshop

Posing(…)

The New Year is right around the corner and with the New Year comes a new lineup of photography workshops through CMU.  With that lineup we have four (yes, FOUR) new workshops being introduced!  We’ll be introducing each one of them here on the Clickin Moms photography blog for you and the first one up is Shooting 101: First Steps With A DSLR by CMmentor and Click Magazine’s Products Editor Amy Lucy Lockheart.  Amy has been kind enough to answer(…)

by Lisa Harrison
So are you still undecided about making the jump to Adobe Photoshop CS6? Go for it!  You’ll love it! If you’re familiar with CS4 or CS5, you really won’t have much of a learning curve at all. The main thing that is different is how the adjustment panel works. You still have an adjustment panel but you now have a Properties Panel where you make changes to your chosen adjustment. You still choose your adjustments from the adjustment(…)

We see it asked on the Clickin Moms photography forum all the time – which website should I get?  There are many great options available but the suggestion of ProPhoto comes up each and every time.  While it can be overwhelming to learn a new system we have the perfect solution for the new (and old) wordpress and ProPhoto users, Courtney Keim’s Business 101: Hands-On Wordpress Clinic!  Today on our photography blog we have previous student Czarina Nocon of Purple(…)

Megan Squires is set to start a new run of her inspirational and information packed photography workshop, Lighting 201: Natural Light with Atmosphere, on October 29th. This course will give you the tools necessary to shoot outside at any time of day from golden light to backlight to full sun and in any weather situation that Mother Nature can throw your way. Megan focuses on helping students to enhance their vision for an image through creative use of light. If you’ve(…)

Have you seen CM’s brand new editing workshop for photographers who use Photoshop Elements?  The lovely and knowledgeable Erin Peloquin of Texas Chicks Blog and Pics will be teaching this extensive course (along with April Nienhuis, Melissa Gibson, and Melissa Koehler helping as teaching assistants).  When new courses are added to the CMU line-up there are often many questions that arise and what better way to answer some of the most common questions than with an interview with Erin herself!

Erin,(…)

When it comes to photography education there are many avenues out there for you to use.  There are blogs filled with tutorials, photography forums, colleges, online workshops for photographers, and in-person photography workshops among others.  It can be difficult to decide which is best for you.  Today, we thought we’d offer up a little insight on CMU’s Shooting 201: Lifestyle Photography with Kids with instructor Ashley Spaulding via a mini interview.  Ashley is here to answer our questions and I(…)

We are thrilled to present a CMpro Breakout Session featuring Munchkins and Mohawks photography! Tiffany, September’s CMpro of the Month, is well known for her imaginative images that capture the individual spirit of her subjects. Tiffany’s photography has the ability to keep viewers continually coming back for more, as we can’t wait to see what she will create next! Join us in a Breakout Session that gives a peak into the magic that is Munchkins and Mohawks photography, while inspiring(…)

It’s a monthly occurrence – you get the open registration email in, you run over and read all the information provided on all the incredible photography workshops available, but you wonder, “which one is right for me?”  We may be a little biased (we think all the workshops are amazing), but today we’d like you to look a little closer at CMmentor Megan Squire’s Lighting 201: Natural Light With Atmosphere online photography workshop through CMU.  Instead of having Megan come(…)

Congratulations to our CMPro of the Month, Kristin Ingalls! Kristin has created a mini-breakout session that is full of beautiful imagery, plus great tips and suggestions for those of you who are working to perfect sooc image composition and basic light use. By covering how she uses the same lighting situation in several different ways, Kristin offers you ideas on how to add wonderful variety to any session in a short amount of time.
Getting it Right in Camera | Considerations(…)

Chicago based photographer, Audrey Woulard, is well known for her bright and vivacious client work, which always allows the viewer a glimpse into the personalities of the subjects. Through a 54 page PDF and a 20 minute video walk-through, Audrey shares with viewers how she works with clients to enable her to capture genuine expressions and natural interactions. Audrey also shares tips about achieving sharp focus at wide apertures, which is a signature of her work. A 1 hour and(…)

Weather can be a real pain and put a damper on that fantastic session you have planned but sometimes it’s worth it to roll with the flow and embrace the unexpected.  In all honesty, I absolutely love heading out right after it’s rained and the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds.  The light is always so beautiful and the natural colors of the earth and sky are rich and deep.  Do you not feel equiped to tackle alternate(…)

Lighting is such a strong key to a good photograph.  It can make or break your image.  Knowing where the light is coming from, what exactly that light is doing to your subject, and how to use it to convey your message is crucial.  If you find yourself struggling with lighting you may want to consider CMmentor Lisa Harrison’s beginner workshop Lighting 101: Intro to Natural Light.  Lisa is here today to share a little about her incredible workshop and(…)

Do you struggle with the thought of using studio lights?  Are you confused about softboxes, umbrellas, and beauty dishes?  Do you agonize over which lights and modifiers are best?  Do you need someone to help you turn the lights on?!  CMmentor Jessica Gwozdz who is a studio lighting expert is here today to show you the differences between modifiers.  Be ready to take some notes, try not to smile at her adorable son, and make sure to read all the(…)

Posing is an art.  Knowing how to achieve a comfortable, relaxed pose that is also visually pleasing makes a huge difference in ones photography.  CMmentor Amii Wroblewski is a genius when it comes to natural posing and she even touches on the subject in her From Shoot to Sale workshops.  Although her workshop primarily focuses on the business aspects of photography Amii does cover posing and shooting in one of the four weeks.  This is a great workshop for all(…)

It’s the biggest mystery in the world of blogging – what elements does it take to make the ideal blog post?  Our very own Sherlock Holmes, CMmentor Courtney Keim, has taken on the case of the perfect blog post and gathered up the evidence throughout her investigation.  She’s scoured the internet and ripped apart blog posts so she could report back to you, our favorite readers, with her findings.  Make sure you read all the way to the bottom too(…)

Have you seen photographers offering mentoring sessions but wondered if it’s right for you?  How do you know if you’re ready for a mentoring session?  CMpro Jennifer Dell has had a few mentoring sessions herself and she’s here to tell you why it may be the best next purchase you make regardless of where you are in your journey.
why choosing a mentoring session is right for you
by Jennifer Dell
Mentoring and having a professional critique on your body of work can(…)

To many, lighting is considered the key to photography.  Yes, there are many elements that go into a wonderful image but your use of light can make or break a photograph.  There are many different types of light available to use but one of the most daunting forms of light is off camera flash (aka OCF).  CMpro Michelle Turner, lighting extraordinaire, can help you in your journey to uncovering the secrets of off camera flash.  She’s a genius with that(…)

I think I may have inspired this particular tutorial.  I may or may not have emailed my good friend, Lynne Rigby, Lightroom master, when I was super frustrated trying to organize my Lightroom files.  These instructions below were exactly what I needed and I’m forever grateful to her (for this amongst so many other things.  Like I said – Lightroom master!) and you just might be too!  Thanks, Lynne!

Organizing in Lightroom
by Lynne Rigby
I’ve heard so many people say that they(…)

CMmentor, Lisa Harrison has been showcasing different little tips and tricks, picture plays, photo fixes,  tutorials and so much more Fridays here on the blog.   Our members are able to submit questions for her and she may choose their question to answer in her post – so fun and a great way to get answers to your Photoshop questions.  Blog readers are also welcome to submit questions in the comments section if there’s a topic you would like Lisa(…)