In need of camera gear? Whether you're looking to get your first camera, or you're ready to add a few new accessories to the mix, we've got a great list of suggestions for your wish list this Christmas! If you're about to buy your first basic, starter camera with manual mode capabilities, read all about our top camera suggestions here.  As always, contact us if you’re needing more help making decisions! Most starter cameras do come with kit lenses, but we love what we call the "nifty fifty", or the 50 mm 1.8 lens. It's an affordable addition to your camera gear and such a great piece of e ..read more

You've probably heard or learned by now, photography is ALL ABOUT LIGHTING.  To take better photographs, it's critical to understand how to capture that light.  Last week on the blog we were talking about "6 tips for finding the best natural light inside your home." If you missed it, you can find it in the post right before this one! Today we'll teach you several things you can do to make the best use of natural outdoor lighting when shooting in manual mode.  Unless you are wanting to achieve a look with strong shadows you probably don't want to go outside at high noon and take ..read more

1. Keep your camera out!  This may seem like a silly tip, but keeping your camera handy and where you see it daily can be a great visual reminder to practice shooting in manual mode. This reduces the risk of your camera sitting alone, in a dark closet somewhere not being used. Often times we might miss everyday moments because our camera isn't out and easily accessible. #1 Keep Your Camera Out, “Tips for Photographing Your Kids in Candid, Everyday Moments,” by Kindred Photography Workshops, photo by Hazel and Haze Photography 2. Photograph everyday rituals.  For this tip, just ..read more

"As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful." - Laura Ingalls Wilder This quote couldn't ring more true for me today.  After having my daughter a little over two years ago, I now see the world differently.  I live for the little moments. The common everyday blessings.  I worry that I will forget these moments all together.  In this world of #hustle and striving for success and "go, go, go" it often times leaves little room or time to stop, brea ..read more

Example of Depth of Field by Kindred Photography Workshop , photo by Hazel and Haze Photography You may have heard us reference the term "depth of field" when talking about adding visual interest to your images.  Depth of field in photography is used at varying degrees to place either everything in the image into a sharp focus, or to narrow the focus and highlight a subject, allowing other elements to be blurry. Depth of field is used to create certain effects and draw the viewer's attention to particular elements of the scene.   Depth of field is determined by three primary fa ..read more

Last week we shared about the 6 tips for finding the best lighting outdoors.  If you missed it, you can find the post here. Today we are going to talk specifically about the glorious "GOLDEN HOUR." If you haven't heard of this term, "golden hour" refers to the time shortly after sunrise and before sunset during which daylight is softer than when the sun is higher in the sky during the day.   We could get super technical and talk to you all about how sun travels through a greater depth of atmosphere, reducing the intensity of the direct light, BUT we won't bore you with this type ..read more

If you're like us, picking up your camera to take pictures of your kids "doing their thing" happens inside your home A LOT!  Some of the best memories captured are when they're playing in their rooms, reading with their siblings, or eating their first foods in their high chair.   There are several things you can do to make the best use of the natural light inside your home when you're shooting on manual mode. Here are 6 tips to help you find the best natural light before you start snapping! 1. Choose a Room with Natural Light There are rooms in every house that are dark and rooms in ..read more

Learning manual mode takes practice and there is more than enough trouble-shooting if you're learning how to use your camera.  One of the things you may have experienced as a new manual mode user is detecting a certain amount of grain in your photo.  If this is the case, you may have instances in which your photos look great in terms of proper exposure but look grainy or "fuzzy".  In photography terms, this grain is called "noise".  Here's an example of noise.  An example of “noise” which is a grainy, pixelated look to the photography you get when your ISO setting is ..read more

An example of framing with foreground, “Be the Storyteller Behind the Lens” by Kindred Photography Workshops, photo by Kacey Gilpin Photo by Aubrey Lisa Photography at Kindred Photography Workshops Sometimes the moments that tell the truest stories are the sneaky ones: the little hands holding the paint brush, the feet sticking through the crib slats, the head bent over a favorite book. Un-manufactured moments like those are often the images we hold closest to heart. They don't involve direction and "say cheese" and "look over here!" They involve the subjects and the storyteller behind the l ..read more

Are you needing help with camera settings in manual mode? For those of us with basic camera knowledge in manual mode, it can still be challenging to choose camera settings in the moment, especially with the added challenge of changing light or moving children!  It takes practice to become comfortable quickly choosing settings and we're here to help you get there!  We're going to break some tips down according to lighting situations over the next few weeks in a way that will help you decide how to choose the best settings in real life situations! QUICK REVIEW The exposure triangl ..read more