So I mentioned I signed up for a workshop right? It’s my first instructional photography class I’m taking. It is called Shooting 201 – Beyond the Basics. After about 9 months of shooting in manual I figured it was time

I signed up to just study along since I’d never taken a photography class before and was hesitant to pay the full amount for a full participation seat. (The study-along is half the price of the full participation). I’m glad I signed up for this class. Although there is a lot of information I already know, the class fills in gaps in my understanding of photography and the basic fundamentals in what makes a great shot.

We are only in week 1 of 4 of this course. I’m bummed I don’t get to submit my photos for critique, ask questions or just interact with the other participants. But I do get to read everything they ask and post. So I am definitely learning a lot. Since I can’t post there, I thought I’d share what I’ve been working on here on my blog. I’m hoping all you fellow photographers reading my blog will offer critique! I am open to any and all advice and opinions you want to share with me about these shots!

We’re mainly covering Environmental Portraiture this week and how to pose the subject according to the basic rules. The instructor also covers basic edits and the importance of exposure and skin tones. I am learning how important it is to get my skin tones right. And also how amazingly hard it can be sometimes!

Everything I’m sharing in this post today has been cropped and edited in only the Basic panel in Lightroom. No cloning, smoothing, noise reduction or any other fancy presets have been applied. Wow, this really forced me to focus on clean edits and getting my shot right SOOC (straight out of camera). Plus I’ve been working on getting catch lights in the eyes too so I had lots to remember when I shot these!

As you all know I have 3 subjects I can usually coerce to let me take their picture. Well, one is away on business for most of the week so that left me with 2. I tried with the youngest one. She doesn’t sit still very well. She’s on cookie number 3 here in these shots and she still moved too much for me to get great clarity and sharpness in her eyes. And yes the rocking chair didn’t help…

So I bribed my older one. I took him for an after school treat at the Ice-cream Bar one day and promised him a special reward if I got the shots I needed. I have also been telling him that I was taking a photography class and this was my “homework assignment”. It definitely made him more cooperative and helpful.

Usually when I photograph my kids (or anyone for that matter) I like interesting angles, catching moments and artistic composition. I realize though that because I have just skipped to that in my photography journey I lack a lot of the fundamentals of taking a good picture. It’s fine to break the rules and compose artistically, but I am finding it is really important to know and be able to explain why I’m doing it when I do it.

So I’m at the end of my week 1 assignments. I’m out 3 Valentines cookies, 1 Skylander character and skipping a Faceless Friday post. But I’ve learned so much already. I’m really happy I signed up for this class and am looking forward to week 2!

Have a great weekend everyone!