Blog

If you want to take better photos - whether with your camera, your phone or in Lightroom - you’re in the right place.

This blog is full of simple, practical tips to help you feel more confident, understand your settings and start creating photos you really love. You’ll also find plenty of food photography ideas and creative inspiration to try at home.

I’ve been teaching photography for over 17 years, and my aim is always the same: to help you feel less overwhelmed, more confident, and excited to pick up your camera.

Have a browse, learn something new, and start taking photos you love.

Great street photography tips for newbies.

Practical street photography tips for "newbies"I was in London last week, having won a four day trip! We had an amazing time sightseeing, eating, drinking and of course, photographing. I decided to try my hand at street photography, well aware that it was out of my comfort zone. I learned a lot and thought you might find my...
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How to photograph babies – 7 top tips from a professional

When my kids were born I barely knew which way up to hold a camera, never mind have any idea of how to photograph babies in the best way. As a result my photographs of them are very average (still very special to us though!).   The odd good picture happened by lucky accident and we resorted to...
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how to use a new camera

New camera? Why you need to get off AUTO.

Had a new camera for Christmas?If you are one of the lucky people who have been given your first D-SLR or mirrorless camera as a gift this Christmas, you are probably part excited and part apprehensive about getting to grips with it. Whilst it's fine to use it on AUTO for a while and enjoy the feeling of...
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how to photograph crafts

How to photograph crafts

How to photograph crafts Do you have beautiful products that you lovingly hand craft and sell? That you are proud of and passionate about? That people love when they see them in your shop or craft stall?Now for a harder question. Do the photographs of your gorgeous products do them justice? Do they stand out from the competition and shout...
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balance in photography

Photo Composition Rules: Balance

  This is quite a tricky composition rule to explain and it’s one that we probably apply unconsciously, as our minds seek balance in images and art. A balanced image feels right, pleasing and stable. In a balanced image there is perhaps some symmetry and the main subjects have equal weight or importance in the shot.   An image...
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do i need a superzoom lens

Superzoom lenses – are they the right choice for you?

I often find myself recommending “superzoom” lenses to students on Love Your Lens courses and one to one lessons and thought it might be useful to take a closer look at them. First off, what does “superzoom” mean? The term is commonly used to describe a lens that goes from a wide view to a...
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lenses for wedding photography

What's in the bag… for an Italian wedding

In just over 24 hours I'll be heading to a beautiful mountain village in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy to photograph a wedding for a lovely couple who live in the UK but are marrying near where the groom was born. I've photographed lots of weddings in the UK and one a long time...
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CHESHIRE-PHOTOGRAPHER

7 things that have made me a better photographer

I have never stopped learning and developing my skills as a photographer and I don’t think I ever will. Technology won’t stand still (!) and there will always be new subjects to explore: wildlife, landscape, low light or night time photography, macro photography, architectural, travel  – just some of the areas where I’ve only dabbled...
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How to take photos on a day out

My kids are older now – 12 and 14 – and although I still love photographing them, they are not as keen as they used to be (wild understatement – Abii acts like a vampire being shown a crucifix when I point the camera at her). So I concentrate more on what’s around me when...
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