I know photography is an area of blogging that be overwhelming. You may drool over gorgeous, magazine quality photographs on other blogs and feel like you can never do that, so there’s no point in trying. That’s how I felt when I first started my business, then my blog. I just raised the white photography flag and took pictures on automatic. This was the result of that mentality…
Here are some posts and resources that may help you…
My past posts about photography
Centsational Girl – Photography
Funky Junk Interiors – Photography Tips
I know the technical nature of photography is intimidating, but it’s a great “life skill.” If you don’t use it to take better photos for your blog or business, you can at least take better pictures of your friends and family.
I am an affliate for Shoot Fly Shoot, but this is not a sponsored post. I think it’s an awesome resource and wanted to share it.
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Thanks for the encouragement! I am learning bit by bit, but have a LONG way to go! I will check out those sources. Thanks for sharing!
I love your photography! Your staging/styling is always amazing! Quite an inspiration if I say so myself!
Thanks for the great links. I’ll definitely be checking them out!
Allison
Yes! You’re right! Good photos is an important thing in a blog…
Thank you very much for your links, I’ll visit them.
Your blog is great!
Besos from Argentina, Silvina
Thanks for this post Marian, it’s amazing to see how much you’ve progressed in three years.I used to think of photography as a skill not everybody had but it’s good to know I can get better if I keep trying.
O Bless you,this is one of the area I know, I need to spend time on….I thank you so much for showing those from your beginnings….I know one of my biggest challenges is where I take my pics…those done outside I find to be a vast improvement over those…that I have taken inside…my house is more lodge casual ,does not fit often the vintage I am doing…All your comments in this post appreciated and yes I need to look into your suggestions….
This was PERFECT timing! I just bought my first DSLR today! (Canon Rebel T3) I’m so excited to start taking nice photos.
Your progression is total encouragement. Thank you thank you!!!!
You are so sweet.
I just got the catalog for my local community college this week and I’m planning to take a class on photography and reupholstery. Both skills I’d like to have/improve.
One of the best photography tutorials I have read is the one that “Pioneer Woman” wrote. It’s very clear and concise!
Just the words God knew I needed to read this morning! That has been my reason well EXCUSE for not growing my blog or giving it the attention it needs.
Thank you for being the inspiration that you are.
Thanks for the link information. I will check it out for sure. Does anyone have any tips on photos in Blogger?They always come out blurry. The best pics look horrible one uploaded. Thanks!
Boy howdy you have come a long way!! What a difference a few years of practice can make. I took Kevin’s online class and learned sooooo much. I just started blogging (and photography too) in April. I would not have even started without taking that class…not that I am very good now. I was just starting with zero knowledge and my first dslr camera – so I HAD to start learning it. If anyone out there needs a class this online one is very good.
I absolutely love this post! I’m actually embarking on a journey, attempting to transform my love & hobby of photography into a profession. This is a long term aspiration, of course, but it’s the little steps along the way – just look at your accomplishments! Awesome job:)
Good for you!!
Thanks for the encouragement! The photography part of my blog is the hardest to me and actually stops me from blogging, I’ll take pics and think they look great and then look at them on my computer and think “was I drunk”? lol But I’ll keep at it and seeing your earlier photos compared to your now beautiful photos has really inspired me!
It takes allot of practice.I have only been blogging for a short time.But I have learned allot already.But still have so much more to learn.We just upgraded our camera recently.So my husband and I are both learning together.He also enjoys photography.
xx
Anne
I highly recommend Kevin’s class, Shoot, Fly, Shoot if you are just starting out…which I am…..It is wonderful. I have got to go through my class again and start using my DSLR. I have been hooked on my iphone of late. I have not made it a priority and I know I need to do so. Your pictures now are amazing. So enjoy you and your blog!
Thank you for sharing this. I struggle taking photos!
It has been a real pleasure to watch your photography skills grow. You’re a true inspiration.
What a great post. I’m so glad you haven’t “scrubbed” those photos – they are great markers of how far you’ve come and an encouragement to folks like me! I wasn’t really interested in photography before starting my blog and it’s only this year that I’ve become proactive in improving my photography “chops” and I’m so glad I have! I’ve taken a couple of workshops and while I still have a ways to go I’m beginning to feel proud of the photos I’m taking and love that I don’t have to rely on someone else to “capture my vision” of my project – I can do it myself! yay!!! I also got a really good book called “From Plate to Pixel” – I’m a book kind of gal and love having this resource that I can open whenever I need to. It’s geared towards food photography but the principals apply to other photography too. Anyway, thanks Marion for being SUCH an inspiration!
Thanks Marion- I am shooting my pictures with a Vivitar T328 and they are horrible.
I have asked a couple of great photographers what cameras do they recommend,
one suggested the Canon D90 DLSR, but it’s to expensive for a beginer like myself.
What camera do you use and what did you start out with?
Margaret
I started out with a refurbished Nikon D50 and used that up until about 18 months ago. It did a great job and the body was only around $300. I saved my pennies and birthday money for that camera!! I then upgraded to a Nikon D7000 and have added on some lenses and other accessories when my blog was making enough money to warrant it.
Thanks for the advice. The D50 sounds like a winner.
I have gone to the Shoot Fly Shoot website and love
it! I am determined to take better pictures.
Look how far you’ve come in just 3 years! Pretty amazing! Sometimes, I feel like I’m wearing so many hats! They’re falling off my head. Learning how to use my Canon before it becomes extinct is one of the things on my to-do list!
Look how far you’ve come in just 3 years! Pretty amazing! Sometimes, I feel like I’m wearing so many hats! They’re falling off my head. Learning how to use my Canon before it becomes extinct is one of the things on my to-do list! Thanks for showing us your “befores”! There’s hope for the rest of us!
Thanks, Marian! Improving my photography is one of the things on my “to do” list. Nice to have a bunch of tutorials in one place! I pinned.
I too have the same temptation to delete all those early, sub-par photos! You’re not alone!
The one tip I give anyone struggling to learn and understand the fundamentals of photography is to get the book “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson. This book will unlock the key and turn the light on all at once. You WILL become a better photographer, and it WILL all finally make sense, I guarantee it!
You must have been reading my mind. I have been struggling with this for months now, and know it is something I need to improve drastically. I take 50-100 pics of any one project and may feel that 1-3 are worthy. Thanks for all of the sites which offer tips. I have been studying pictures on the Pottery Barn site – their sense of structuring the picture and lighting, etc. I may never be that good, but I can dream can’t I?
I struggle with the whole “blog” thing at times, but photography is one area that has definitely been stretched since starting my blog… and for that, I am grateful. I can see that my photography is getting better, but I have little to no editing skills. I recently bought Lightroom, so I hope to learn more about that soon.
I have learned a lot about photography and equipment from you and your blog as well as some other blogs. Thanks for being so inclusive and transparent. You are a wonderful encourager and teacher.
I started using Lightroom a few months ago and I LOVE it! I find it so much easier to correct the lighting issues I have with some photos.
As a new blogger and one who just apologized for the poor photographs in my latest blog, this was a great encouragement to me. Thanks for being willing to bring out the old photos – even though I’m sure you would rather not. I’ll definitely be checking out the tutorials so my blog photos can improve as well.
Thank you for this post. I feel like my photos aren’t as great as they could be on the blog, but I feel like all that math stuff – focusing, lenses etc is just so confusing, but I need to get better. I do know how to do basic edits in picasa and creative kit. I look forward to checking out all the links you recommend.
I am not able to open up your blog on my computer. I got here from the e-mail you sent me. Then when I’m here and try to get to your home page, I just get a blank page. I was wondering if anyone else was experiencing this, or if it is just a problem with my computer. I’m not having a problem with any other sites.
thanks for sharing, sometimes we think everybody else has it all together from the beginning, it is good to be reminded that it is a learning experience and we can excel at whatever we choose – baby steps lead to great things
VERY well said, Heather!
Hi Marian,
I have save the Shoot Fly Shoot from the first time I saw them I first need to purchase a DSLR camera and then plan to take their course. You pictures are so nice, you do look like a professional. I hope with practice I can progress as you have done.
Poor me! I only have a Nikon D50! I am shopping for a new camera now and can not decide between a Nikon again or Canon. Thinking the Canon7D today – tomorrow it could be something else. I love your kiwi photo. Worthy of a cover on a food magazine!!
I had a Nikon D50 and it should do just about all you need it to do unless you’re getting into some more serious photogrpahy. I upgraded to a D7000 when I started shooting for magazines and websites and when talk of a book was on the horizon. If you like your Nikon, I would suggest sticking with it. You can use the lens you have now and keep your D50 for a backup body.
Love these! I wish I did more photography but I can only do so much it seems like.
I have you on my blogroll (hope thats okay) and wanted to let you know that I am doing a beauty giveaway worth $200! Check it out at http://borntobeblonde.com/beauty-giveaway/
I LOVE your blog!
Wow its so humbling that you left your before shots for us to see and realizing that the dream is attainable.I love to take photos but all I have is a cheapy Nicon pocket camera BUT Im using it to its full potential and hoping for a “real” camera with a nice lense someday soon:) God has a plan for me! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us and for helping us to realize the dream as well.
I can honestly say that photography is not my strong point in my new blog. Thanks for offering hope and showing us what to do to improve. xo
I have learned alot about photography thru blogs, and you are a true inspiration. I love the way your shots look and it does encourage me to play with my camera more to try to achieve your look, or a better look of my own. I always say that if I am not learning something new, I must be dead. Weird, I know, but you know what I mean
Thanks for the links!
Thank you Marian once again a great post!!!
Thanks for sharing…and congratulation for the nice article and beautiful photos on the issue of “Cottage and Bungalow”!
Carolina
Thank you Marian! I’m one of those “white flag” bloggers myself. It seems like every photo shoot session culminates in, well, more swearing than viable photos.
I use your photos and your blog as my benchmark/goal and I appreciate your honesty about your growth with the skill and the resources you provide.
David
It is tempting to get discouraged. I am encouraged by seeing the pictures from your first blog post. It makes me feel that my early ones are normal for a new blog.
I will keep working on it.
I also appreciate that you said you didn’t go out and get a fancy camera. I have felt such pressure to do that and it just isn’t me.
Katie
Thank you so much for not deleting your earlier posts. confession: when I am feeling lame about the growth of my blog, I frequent those of you who are shining stars, and look at your earlier posts. It gives me hope. (that’s not meant as an insult.
)
I’m still struggling with learning in manual though. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. I signed up for the shoot fly shoot series, but since they use a Canon, some of the things I need to know for a Nikon don’t completely translate. Instead of my pictures getting brighter, they turn out completely black!!?? I don’t know…? I guess I need to talk to someone in the camera biz or buy one of the Dummies series books!!