Inspiration Photography Photography Education The Art of Storytelling The Art of Storytelling by Kristy Steeves, M.Photog.M.Artist,Cr, CPP, F-ASP, APPI Storytelling is considered the heart of powerful photography, transforming simple images into meaningful narratives that evoke emotion, context, and connection. While technical skills, like figuring out the right camera settings, composition, and light direction are essential, there are other important elements needed, such as […] Written by Kristy Steeves March 19, 2026March 13, 2026
Photography Photography Education How to Recognize the Right Light as a Photographer I just received the shot list for a session happening next week, and something stood out that was half amusing and half absolutely annoying. A significant number of items on the shot list had notes from the client specifying that they wanted natural light under certain sections. It was things like “close-up natural light portraits by […] Written by Oona Breyer March 12, 2026March 12, 2026
Inspiration Photography How Having Images on Line Led to an Unexpected Experience Some stories arrive quietly. Others walk right through the door and change you. This one started with a phone call. A woman reached out after seeing my work online. She said she was the wife of Dr. Guy Fisher, and before I could ask more, she told me I was in for a surprise. I […] Written by Rich Johnson February 24, 2026January 21, 2026
Inspiration Photography Photography Education How Photographic Creativity & Imagination Can Lead to Big Awards When I photographed Mushka, it wasn’t for a competition or a client. It was just a creative day spent with my longtime friend and model, Jackie Apple. I’ve known Jackie for years, and she always brings character and soul to every image. That day, she brought in her two pet rats, and as soon as I […] Written by Laura Dark February 17, 2026October 15, 2025
Inspiration Photography Photography Education How Dance Photography Led to an Award Winning Image When a local dance school reached out about photographing their upcoming season, I figured it would be a fun challenge. I’d photographed ballet before, but not enough to feel fluent in it. The few times I had tried, I left feeling puzzled. I’d spent hours perfecting the lighting, composition, and exposure, only to have the […] Written by Rich Johnson February 5, 2026October 21, 2025
Inspiration Photography Photography Education The Importance of Making Every Wedding You Photograph Unique Our company now photographs about 60% multicultural weddings, but at the time this image was taken, that wasn’t yet the case. We were just beginning to lean into the idea of this being our niche and loving the focus on multicultural and heritage-centered events. This couple was celebrating a blended cultural wedding, with the bride […] Written by Oona Breyer January 29, 2026December 5, 2025
Photography Photography Education Techniques 10 Tips for Photographing Children in a Storytelling Way One of my favorite things about photographing children is that every session tells a story. It’s not just about smiles and poses. These sessions are about capturing authentic personalities and fleeting childhood moments. Over the years, I’ve found that a blend of photojournalistic instincts, thoughtful direction, and playful prompts brings out the magic. I don’t […] Written by Paula Swift January 15, 2026January 19, 2026
Photography Photography Education How Street Photography Can Change Your Perspective During a three-week trip to India, I was captivated by the rhythm of Varanasi’s mornings. Before daybreak, the streets filled with vendors, each surrounded by a steady stream of customers. Among them were the tea sellers — simple stalls with steaming pots, clinking cups, and conversations carried over a cup of steaming hot tea. It […] Written by Joan Walker January 13, 2026October 21, 2025
Inspiration Photography Photography Education True Grit: Behind the Scenes A small black Shih Tzu mix named Mushu became the star of one of my most memorable photographs. The image, True Grit, was awarded Imaging Excellence during PPA’s 2023 Merit Image Review and later earned a Silver Medal at IPC 2024. What looks like a single, effortless leap in the final print was the result of […] Written by Joan Walker December 11, 2025September 10, 2025
Inspiration Photography Photography Education How One Teen Found Confidence Through a Powerful Portrait Session Andrew’s mother recently spent a special day with me for her 40 Over 40 Portrait Experience Campaign session. Not long before her Reveal and Ordering Session, she called and asked if we could talk privately about her son. She shared that her 13-year-old—slight, self-described as “nerdy,” and biracial—had been experiencing bullying at school. As she told me […] Written by LuAnn Warner-Prokos December 4, 2025August 6, 2025
