There’s no doubt that our CMpros are busy.  They have families to care for, jobs to maintain, many have businesses to look after, and they all know how to take stunning photographs.  Have you ever wondered what a day looks like for one of the CMpros?  How do they manage their time?  When do they get it all done?  You loved Sara’s ‘A Day In The Life’ post so much that we decided to make it a regular new series(…)

It’s time for another installment of one of our favorite blog series, a peek inside.  Today, we have new CMmentor to feature, Stacey Vukelj.  Stacey is one of CM’s newest mentors and an incredible street photographer out of New York City.  We are thrilled to get a glimpse into her life today!
a peek inside | stacey vukelj
It is a little embarrassing to say this out loud, but I love options. True for clothes, true for bags, true for books, true(…)

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(…)

You love hearing how other photographers got to where they are today and this week we have another inspirational ‘my photography journey’ here for you from one of our CMpros, the incredibly talented Cassandra O’Leary!
my photography journey | cassandra o’leary
I cannot tell you how happy and excited I am to have this opportunity to share my photography journey with you as well as to share my love and appreciation of all things Clickin Moms! I have so much that I(…)

It’s time for another installment of one of our favorite blog series, a peek inside.  Today, we have new CMmentor to feature, Celeste Pavlik.  Celeste is a brilliant hobbyist photographer who with a particularly appealing approach to lighting with some of the most beautiful black and white conversions out there.  We are so excited to have her on the CMblog today and know you will be too!
a peek inside | celeste pavlik
I upgraded from the Canon 7D (which I used(…)

by Emma Wood
  

It’s amazing how different crops can change the mood of an image or even just enhance them.  By just making a few little changes, you can add a lot more impact and drama.   I try as much as possible to think about cropping and where I want to place my subject within an image before I shoot.  But there are times when I realize during processing, how much more powerful an image would become with a certain(…)

Have you visited the CMpro Daily Project to get your daily dose of photography inspiration?  If not, it’s definitely worth checking out!  The CMpros, both hobbyist and professional photographers, are uploading beautiful photographs to it every day and each week we choose a favorite, the DOTW (daily of the week).  This week, this gorgeous and soulful portrait by Emma Wood (taken with her Nikon D700 and Lensbaby Edge 80) stole our hearts.  Congratulations Emma!

To see more of Emma Wood’s photography(…)

by Rebecca Spencer

If you are looking to add a little variety into your portraits why not try using a wide angled lens? Often overlooked as just a landscape lens, a wide focal length can open up a whole new world of possibilities and, contrary to popular belief, you can still get a flattering portrait of your subject – you just need to shoot in a slightly different way.

On a full frame camera a wide angle is anything smaller than 35mm,(…)

Another ‘peek inside’ is up today and this time we are featuring one of CM’s newest mentors, Megan Dill.  Megan is an incredible photographer with a knack for stunning low light photography.  We are thrilled to have her on the CM team and thrilled to have her here on the CMblog today!
a peek inside | megan dill

1. Canon 5D Mark III: Oh how I love its focus system and low-light capabilities. The perfect camera.

2. Mamiya c330: First medium format film(…)

It’s time for another edition of our ‘peek inside’ series and today we have CMmentor Caroline Jensen sharing her world with us!  Caroline is known for her soulful photography and is the instructor for one of CMU’s upcoming new online workshops, Shooting 301: The Art of Observation.  Please enjoy your glimpse into Caroline’s life!
a peek inside | caroline jensen
Someday soon my new studio will be built and I will have a lovely and professional work station. For now I have(…)

by Melissa Gibson

Blogging has become an important part of businesses, but also a fun little hobby for people like myself.  You can showcase your latest work, your child’s art and recent happenings in your life.  Perhaps you own a business blog where you post images and advice for clients.  Maybe you have a how-to blog that includes tips and crafts for the home. Or?  You could be like me, and have a personal blog where you post images and stories(…)

I’m not quite sure how it’s possible but it’s already March and that means there’s a new CMpro of the Month to introduce you too, Stacey Vukelj!  Stacey may be a New York lawyer but she also has a passion for street photography.  She’s crazy talented at her passion and we are so pleased to have her here today sharing her thoughts with us and giving us a taste of what’s to come!
march cmpro of the month | stacey vukelj
interview(…)

by Tracy Bradbury

Time – how do you find time to balance children, life, home and photography?  Its one of the questions seen an awful lot on the Clickin Moms photography forum.

I’m a single parent bringing up my children alone so for many years, to be able to follow my dream and pursue doing photography was put to one side, something that I used to dream I would “one day” make happen.  One day I decided that instead of just thinking(…)

It’s another day for ‘a peek inside’ with one of the CM photography forum Mentors and today we have the lovely Elle Walker all the way from Australia!  Elle is one of the kindest people you will ever have the privilege to talk to, an extraordinary photography, and instructor for one of the newest online photography workshops offered at CMU, Shooting 301: Fine Art and Visual Expression.  Enjoy your peek inside the world of Elle!
a peek inside | elle walker

1.(…)

by Celeste Pavlik

It wasn’t too long ago that I would seek out perfectly even, perfectly bright and perfectly direct light.  I quickly realized how much this style of shooting, while it isn’t wrong in any way, just wasn’t me.  I love capturing my subjects in pockets of light and indirect light, especially indoors.  What this means to me is finding light that gently meets the shadows on my subject.  Give me that and I’m a happy girl!

I think most of(…)

It’s time for another ‘peek inside’ from the CMteam and today you get to learn about the CEO of Clickin Moms, Sarah Wilkerson!  Not only is Sarah hard at work being the CEO of CM and all that it requires behind the scenes, she is also the instructor to some of CMUs longest running online workshops – Shooting 301: Composition and Creativity and Shooting 301: Elements of Design.  Not only is Sarah an incredible photographer but she is also one(…)

It’s time for another installment of our ‘peek inside’ series and today is CMmentor Lora Swinson.  In addition to being super kind, a great friend, and an incredible photographer, Lora is the workshops instructor for one of CM’s newest courses, Shooting 101: Posed for Success.  We are thrilled to get a small glimpse into Lora’s world today!
a peek inside | lora swinson

1. Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home

I have tried a few other bags that were much cuter but they never(…)

It’s time for another installment of our ‘peek inside’ series and today is CMmentor Lynne Rigby.  Superwoman, errr Lynne, is the workshop instructor for many of our online photography courses including The Best Darn Beginner Course Ever, Beyond the Basics, Finding Your Style, and Lightroom Start-to-Finish and has also written the popular eBook Shooting at the Beach.  We are so pleased to have Lynne on the blog today sharing her world as she is also one of the original members(…)

by Melissa Gibson
I am a mom and I am a photographer.  Since I am not a business owner, I am a considered a “hobbyist”.  However, I am not “just a hobbyist”.

I am an artist.

Even more than an artist?

I am a storyteller.

Seven months before my first girl was born, I was writing about her.  I wrote letters to her in her own journal.  Skipping by my old personal journal to now jot down notes about her life instead.  I remember putting(…)

It’s time for another installment of our ‘peek inside’ series and today is CMmentor Kristin Ingalls!  Kristin is an incredibly talented natural light photographer who is so kind and knowledgeable.  Our photography forum wouldn’t be quite the same without Kristin and we are happy to have her here today on the blog sharing a little glimpse into her world!
a peek inside | kristin ingalls

1. Ketti camera bag – I’ve always wanted a Ketti bag, and when Clickin Moms came out(…)

It’s time for another installment of our ‘peek inside’ series and today is CMmentor Emma Wood!  Emma is a brilliant photographer who particularly excels at black and white photography and in being a great friend and encourager.  Our photography forum wouldn’t be quite the same without the lovely Emma and we are happy to have her here today on the blog sharing a little glimpse into her world!
a peek inside | emma wood
I don’t have an enormous amount of gear,(…)

by Emma Wood

If you’ve never used a lensbaby before, they almost seem like a mysterious kind of secret, something unique and totally different.  This is how I felt before I joined in on the fun about nine months ago.   Lately I’ve found more and more people experimenting with them, and loving them.   They bring something fresh and new to images and they are not expensive compared to most lenses.   I remember being totally intrigued with them before(…)

Today we’re bringing you another ‘peek inside’ of one of our fabulous CMteam members!  This time, we get to learn a little more about one of our newest Mentors and Photoshop Elements guru Melissa Gibson.  If you’re already a member of the Clickin Moms photography forum then you’re familiar with Melissa and her kind, honest, helpful, and funny personality.  And today, we’re pleased that everyone gets a little dose of Melissa to brighten their day!
a peek inside | melissa gibson
My bag(…)

by Jessica Holden

A couple of months ago, one of my favorite CMteam members, CMblog Editor April Nienhuis,
approached me about writing a post about getting your family interested in photography. Summer had
just begun and life was crazy, but she said she was thinking of a fall/winter post date so I gladly signed
on, thinking that gave me plenty of time to come up with ideas. And think I did, all summer long. But I
kept hitting dead ends, because I felt like I(…)

Today we’re bringing you another ‘peek inside’ of one of our fabulous CMteam members!  This time, we get to learn a little more about CM’s Director of Vendor Relations and instructor of CM’s Lifestyle Photography with Kids workshop Ashley Spaulding.  Ashley is one of the kindest people you will ever meet and she’s a remarkable photographer (if you’re a member of the CM photography forum then this is all old news to you).  If you know Ashley then you’re one(…)

by Melissa Gibson
Oftentimes, during a session, someone is either not looking at the camera or is making a goofy face.  With my little ones?  It’s more than likely a goofy face.  However, no worries!  If you have a good handle on how to swap heads in Photoshop Elements (aka PSE) you’ll have a little less stress when you’re editing the session.  This is a really handy editing tip that you’ll love to use.

Keep in mind, this isn’t just used for(…)

by Sarah Wilkerson

Venturing out onto the streets with your camera can be an intimidating prospect. Beyond the anxiety that people often feel about photographing strangers (or even being observed by strangers while shooting), many photographers aren’t quite sure what their rights and responsibilities are when engaging in street photography. While specific regulations vary nationwide, let’s take a look at some general standards for street photography in the United States.

1. Model releases are generally not required…
This is one of the biggest(…)

For many of us, we spend the majority of our time photographing our children and perfecting those techniques.  Photography food, however, is a completely different ball game.  If you struggle with photographing food then you’re going to love today’s article brought to you by guest writer and CMpro Allison Jacobs.  She’s an incredible food photographer and she’s here to share some of her favorite tips with us!
6 tips for making your food photography shine
by Allison Jacobs

1. Find the light
Just like(…)

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(…)

by Jennifer Jentz

There is something about fall.  Never does change feel as good as stepping outside and breathing in something so lovely for the first time each year.   The crisp sweet air, turning and falling leaves, sweatshirts, Uggs, comfort foods…traditions.  Go ahead!  Say you don’t love these things!

Last year I had the great pleasure of adding a new fall favorite to my list!  I co-hosted Minnesota’s ClickinWalk with another local photographer, the amazing and faaaaabulous Amy Lucy, and from thereon out,(…)