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The photography journey of Nevada photographer Shannon Wilkinson

My Photography Journey: Shannon Wilkinson

3 Comments / Photographer Stories /

When I was a child, I had an old 110 camera. We lived around the corner from a Kodak kiosk and I would ride my bike over to the kiosk to get film developed. I don’t remember how old I was or when I got that camera but for as long as I can remember I have loved photography.

I was born in the late 60’s and digital cameras were not even a blip on the radar. As I grew, I documented my life with that old 110. When my first child, Alyssa, was born in 1990, I purchased my first 35mm camera and used it to document her childhood and in 1997 I got my first digital point & shoot. It was then that my obsession with photography truly began.

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girl playing on playground by Allison McSorley

6 secrets to more compelling photos

14 Comments / Photography Tutorial /

Someone once said that the best camera is the one you have with you. Whether you’re shooting with an old school point-and-shoot camera or a fancy new dSLR though, there are some universal techniques to keep in mind that will help you create more interesting and visually pleasing photographs.

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photography interview with CMpro Lauren Sanderson

11 questions with photographer Lauren Sanderson

4 Comments / Interviews /

Hi Lauren! Big congrats on being the CMpro of the month. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in photography?

Thank you! I’m a mom of three sweet girls five and under, and my husband and I are high school sweethearts and have been married for almost 12 years. I’m a part-time professional photographer in Huntsville Alabama and mostly photograph families and children, with a few maternity, senior and newborn sessions sprinkled in. I’ve always loved taking pictures… I was that girl in high school who was always taking pictures, had double glossy prints developed at a one-hour photo, and then passed out the doubles to all my friends. When I started a family, that natural love of photography turned in to a real passion and hobby, and before I knew it, I was in business.

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Metering modes explained and how to know which one to use

17 Comments / Beginner Photo Tips, Photography Tutorial /

Choosing a metering mode can be as important as choosing an ISO or aperture when you need to nail your exposure. Metering affects how your camera processes the scene, thus giving you a reading on your exposure in camera. I know that with the ability to “chimp”, or stop and look at the back of your dSLR after each image, we can take our meters for granted. As a wedding photographer (and as a mother to two young children that don’t allow “do-overs”), however, I simply do not have the time to second guess myself after each frame.

Most of today’s modern cameras have at least three different metering modes to choose from; matrix (evaluative), center-weighted, and spot. Some cameras are also equipped with a fourth metering type called highlight-weighted metering mode. Both of my Nikon bodies have this newer mode and so I’ve included it here.

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The photography journey of South Carolina photographer Jan Tyler of One Boy Photography

My Photography Journey: Jan Tyler

27 Comments / Photographer Stories /

I have always had an interest in photography…of taking pictures of the people I love and the places I visit. Like many of you, my full-blown passion began the minute my son was born. I spent the first year of his life happily taking pictures with my little Canon point and shoot camera…and life was good.

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photo of Elizabeth Gilbert speaking at Click Away 2014 in Salt Lake City by Lacey Meyers

Interested in teaching at Click Away?

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Click Away 2015 is coming to San Antonio in October and is accepting applications from talented photographers who would love to share their passion, knowledge, and experience with attendees in boutique sessions and outdoor shooting experiences. Got a great idea for a program? Want to lead a fun session and connect with dozens of other photographers? Click Away wants to hear from you!

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child looking at shark display by Jennifer Bogle

10 questions with photographer Jennifer Bogle

8 Comments / Interviews /

Congratulations on being featured as the CMPro of the Month, Jennifer! Would you please tell us a little about your photography journey? First memory including a camera, what made you pick up photography as a serious endeavor and how you came to be where you are today?

Thanks! I’m really honored to be interviewed!

I had a camera in high school, and vaguely remember snapping through rolls of film, but I was never a student of photography. And then, predictably, my first son was born and I bought a DSLR–a Rebel Xti. Unfortunately, it took me five years (and two more kids) to learn that a dslr isn’t just an expensive point and shoot. A friend introduced me to Clickin Moms and I started reading! That was about two and a half years ago.

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black and white ballerina photo by Kate Luber

My photography journey: Kate Luber

7 Comments / Photographer Stories /

My photo journey began when…wait for it…my daughter was born! Surprise!

I guess the seeds were planted long before that. My uncle is a photographer in San Francisco. We don’t see him often, but once a year, he visits and brings his fancy camera. He not-so-secretly follows everyone around during holiday gatherings and takes candid shots of the family. We don’t see the photos for a year. When he comes again, he brings the photos from last year. It’s always fun to look back at the previous year…and also hope you’re not wearing the same outfit…

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Example photo of full frame vs crop sensor crop by Jessica Nelson

What the crop? Full frame and crop sensors explained.

8 Comments / Beginner Photo Tips, Photography Tutorial /

As with many photographers, I started my interest in digital photography with a smaller and less expensive camera. I wanted to dabble without spending a ton of money. So in 2007 I bought the Canon 30D. I knew this camera was a crop sensor, or APS-C, when I bought it and I learned how to adjust the focal lengths of my lenses to make it work for me.

Let’s start with the basics, what is the sensor?

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backlit photos of two girls laughing by Amy Schuff

55 amazing photos from 2014

22 Comments / Picture Share /

We see a lot of photos in a single year. Between the CM forum, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, our minds are constantly blown at the amount of incredible imagery being created. Your talent astounds us. A few weeks ago, we asked the forum members to show us their 3 favorite pictures they took in 2014. After receiving hundreds of photos, we took on the grueling task of narrowing it down. That was hard, the photos were too great, but we eventually did it and below is 55 of our favorites for you to enjoy.

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which-lens-do-I-choose-to-shoot-with-by-Kristin-Dokoza

Top 14 photography tutorials written in 2014

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It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone but it has and 2014 was a great year! Here on the CMblog we have continued to work hard in bringing you the type of tutorials and fun articles that you’re looking for. This past year was a success and we are excited to see what 2015 brings. In celebration, we thought we’d look back on the 14 most popular articles from the CMblog last year!

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10 questions with photographer Jessica Thomason

10 questions with photographer Jessica Thomason

4 Comments / Interviews /

Today’s interview is with Jessica Thomason! Congratulations on POTM, Jessica! What initially drew you to photography, and what made you stay? Thank you so much Megan! I’m still pinching myself. So let’s see… as far back as I can remember I’ve been intrigued by other people’s lives. I remember looking at my Grandmother’s photo albums …

10 questions with photographer Jessica Thomason Read More »

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