So, I’ve had some inquiries lately about teaching mamas how to use their cameras…and I can totally get that. When we had our second child, I bought my first DSLR camera. I was fooled into thinking that just because I had a “nice camera,” I would somehow morph into this super-awesome photographer. I just put the settings on Automatic and BAM! Incredible images magically appeared…ahem…I mean pretty much the same kind of photos that I had been taking with my other point and shoot quite un-magically appeared. So, I thought to myself, “Self, what am doing wrong here? I just spent tons of money on this thing!”
I did the next logical thing I could think of. I read the manual. Huh. I might as well have read it in French because it did not make a lick of sense to me. Then I thought I would just “experiment” with the manual settings…eep. I was definitely experimenting…every shot I got was blown out, blurry, or super under exposed. Sheesh. This stuff is hard. So, then I did the next logical thing I could think of. I switched it back to Automatic and went on my merry way.
Until I actually wanted to pursue photography as a profession. But that’s a different post…
What I want to share with you today is about my first Mamarazzi Camera Mentoring session with Nichole! She contacted me about wanting to learn how to shoot in Manual. Bless her heart, *on her birthday* she drove a couple of hours to meet me at my local coffee shop and spend the morning with me! Little ole me! We chatted about how we fell in love with photography, what her photography goals are, all about the different settings and verbiage, and then gave her the opportunity to practice her new knowledge on a model, Miss Ava. Here’s a shot of Nichole (and Ava) in action!
Nichole was so gracious in offering these kind words as a review of the morning:
“Thank you Jaci for taking the time to share your knowlege, experience and time with me. In just a couple short hours, I was able to overcome a fear of the big fat “M” on my camera. I have been using it ever since! The mamarazzi session I had has opened up a whole new world for me in photography. I not only got hands on experience with learning how my camera worked,as well as all the technical jargen, but also as a Photographer putting my new skills into action with a beautiful young model. My mamarazzi workshop was a confidence booster as well as an eduational experience. Best present I have ever gotten!”
I was able to see some of the shots she took of Ava that morning…they turned out fantastic!!