What’s the difference between manual mode vs aperture priority? When learning photography, it’s helpful to start with understanding your options when choosing camera modes. These different modes affect how your camera measures light and chooses (or doesn’t choose) exposure settings. As I have mentioned in previous posts, as a portrait photographer, the first setting I […]

Have you experienced Christmas at Opryland Hotel with kids? To be completely honest, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel had not been on my radar at all until I saw some ads for the Ice! experience while staying with my in-laws who live in Middle TN. It’s not an outing that I have ever heard my fellow […]

Wondering how to make a photo less grainy? Maybe you took a photo is less than ideal lighting conditions. Or maybe your settings were just off. Now you’ve ended up with a photo you like, except for the distracting digital grain and noise. How can you fix it? This post contains affiliate links. In this […]

Are you expecting a sweet new addition to the family and wondering when to take newborn photos? Then you’ve found the right post! Newborn photos are such a perfect way to document this exciting season of life. Let’s dive into the factors you need to consider. Before we get going, let me introduce myself in […]

Wondering how to fix a blurry photo? You’re going through your images. You find one that’s perfect. The kids have the cutest expressions. The lighting and composition look just right. You’re thrilled- until you zoom in on the photo and realize one of the kids is noticeably out of focus. Bummer!! Can you salvage it? […]

Have you heard photographers throwing around terms like “1 full stop” or “2 full stops”? Are you wondering, “what are stops in photography?” Today’s post is going to dive right into photography stops and how they are useful to know when dialing in, and changing settings for exposure! I’ll be honest, when I first heard […]

Have you heard of the Sunny 16 Rule in photography? It’s a simple way to estimate your camera exposure settings using day light when you don’t have a light meter or when your in camera light meter can’t be trusted. If you’ve been following along with my recent posts, you’ll know that I typically usually […]

Did you just purchase some new photography gear? Did you unbox it and feel a little surge of panic at the look of all the buttons? If you’re looking for tips about how to use the Godox V1 flash, then you’ve come to the right post. Confession: When I first purchased my Godox V1 speed […]

Who doesn’t love a good cheat sheet? If you are in the process of learning photography basics, I have a guide just for you! Download my Exposure Triangle Cheat Sheet for free. Keep it handy as you practice as a camera setting quick reference guide! In case we haven’t met, my name is Kelley Hoagland […]

The exposure triangle in photography is one of the fundamental principles you must master to start taking better photos of your family! Whether the exposure triangle refers to how a photographer dials settings into his/her camera to properly balance and manipulate the amount of light coming into the camera. When using the exposure triangle, the […]