It’s Michelle with Fabulous Find Friday!
Today I am sharing my favorite photography resources. It doesn’t matter what kind of camera you use, I have a little something for everyone.
As my love for scrapbooking grew, so did my interest in photography. I wanted to learn how to make my pictures the best they could be. I went through several cameras in an endless cycle, blaming my so-so pictures on my camera. I upgraded to a big girl DSLR camera in 2006 but for years never took it out of auto mode. It made me wonder why anyone would bother with a big bulky camera that didn’t take much better pictures than my point and shoot.
I finally got fed up with buying a new camera every 6 months and instead started looking into learning more about photography and post processing.
First I started by taking a few online classes. I have taken similar classes
I took Maggie Holmes’ Online Photography Workshop last summer and it was the class that finally got me to move the dial on my DSLR camera out of auto. Maggie is an amazing photographer, superstar scrapbooker and awesome teacher. I have also had the opportunity to take a few scrapbook classes from her too. In addition to being fabulously talented, she is a really sweet lady. I live near Maggie and was able to have our family photos taken by her last fall. She did a wonderful job capturing the personalities of my little ones. Maggie Holmes has two Beginner/Intermediate sessions left in 2011 (July and October). Registration is open now. Maggie also offers an advanced class, which is scheduled for late August.
Big Picture Classes runs few different photography offerings, and I have personally taken a few of them.
Elisha Snow is another great photographer and scrapbooker. She has offered at least 3 different fantastic photography related classes through Big Picture Classes that I have taken. My understanding is there are plans to repeat each of them. Mastering Manual Mode starts July 28th and registration is now open. I took this earlier this year, and it really helped me get more comfortable with my camera. Elisha has repeated her Get Great Photos with Any Camera class, no DSLR required and really good for someone just getting into photography.
I just finished up Photo Finish with Elisha, a 4 week class on post processing in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I have been dabbling in photo editing for a few years, but I learned more in those 4 weeks than I have in the past several years.
Tracey Clark from Shutter Sisters has run several “Picture” workshops at Big Picture Classes. These classes are full of photo tips and 30 days of daily inspiration. Picture Color just closed for registration but you can sign up for Picture Inspiration, a 52 week ongoing class and Picture Spring is available as a self paced workshop.
Katrina Kennedy teaches at Get It Scrapped. She has a very affordable self paced class that I plan to take really soon, The Very Basics with Katrina Kennedy.
I have also heard really good things about photography classes taught by Karen Russell and Candice Stringham’s (at JessicaSprague.com). There are no available classes at this time, but ones to keep in mind.
I also found a FREE workshop in the 2Peas archive, 12 Weeks to Better Photos. This is definitely one I will be checking out.
Inspiration
Katrina Kennedy’s Capture Your 365 – daily photo prompts, tips, tutorials, and a monthly photo inspiration list.
Shutter Sisters
Learning, Tips & Tutorials
Digital Photography School – get photography and post processing tips and tutorials, a weekly newsletter with weekend assignments, participate in photography challenges and so much more at this site….and it is FREE!
KelbyTraining.com - This site has a huge selection of photography and post-processing video training (mostly Photoshop and Lightroom), you get unlimited in depth training for $25 a month. I subscribed to this for a few months and learned a lot about Lightroom. They also offer free webinars, just sign up for their newsletter to find out when they are offered.
OnOne Software - Offers free webinars and a library of free videos on photography and post- processing.
Pioneer Woman – Ree Drummond seems to do it all! Her photography blog is full of inspiration, tips, tutorials, technique and free Photoshop and Elements Actions.
Digiscrap101 – Kayla Lamoreaux recently did a Lightroom series that was amazing and FREE. If you use Lightroom you need to check this out.
Lynda.com – A subscription site that offers video training on just about any software for photography you can find, as well as training on photography.
Lastly, here are my favorite places for Photoshop (PS) and PS Elements (PSE) Actions as well as Lightroom Pre-Sets. Because once you learn more about photography, you may get bitten by the post-processing bug.
Pioneer Woman – PS and PSE Action Sets and they are FREE! I used these almost all of the time when I was doing my editing in PSE.
MCP Actions – My new favorite actions. Available for both PS and PSE. There are a few freebies that work really well. My favorite action that I recently purchased is the Eye Doctor and Dentist. The Eye Doctor really sharpens the eyes make them pop. I was amazed at what it could do. I also really liked the Magic Skin Action. This site also offers informative video tutorials on using their actions.
Maggie Holmes Action Sets – Cool color and vintage effect actions for PS or PSE
Indie Actions – Another cool color and black and white effects set. PS only.
Mindy Bush Photo Actions – One of my first PSE purchased sets that I used the heck out of.
Totally Rad Actions – PS Actions Sets and Lightroom Pre-Sets – Awesome photography effects with these actions. A bit spendy but I love to play with them.
OnOne Software – Free Lightroom Pre-sets
Favorite Photography Podcast – I enjoy listening to this even though it is sometimes way over my head.
Books – If you like to read about photography here are a few I recommend:
The Digital Photography Book, Scott Kelby
Understanding Exposure, Bryan Peterson
David Busch Guide To Books – If he has written one for your camera this is way better than just reading the manual
The PhotoShop CS5 Book, Scott Kelby
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers, Scott Kelby
Here are a couple of my recent favorite photos using some of my newly learned techniques. I still have a lot to learn, but having all of these resources will help me on my way.

Hope you enjoy!
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