What Judges Look for in a Photography Competition (and How to Improve Your Entry) Entering a photography competition can feel a bit daunting. You might be wondering what the judges are actually looking for and why do some images stand out instantly Having run photography competitions and looked through lots of entries, I often see […]
How to take better photos of children – 8 simple tips (phone or camera) Easter, weekends, holidays… these are the times we naturally reach for our phones or cameras. Families spending time together, children playing. Days out, walks, and lots of little moments that you want to remember. And yet, when you look back at […]
Why Are My Phone Photos Not Sharp?Phone cameras are very good now, so when a photo isn’t sharp it can feel frustrating. The reason is usually quite simple, but because the phone is doing most of the work for you, it’s not always obvious what’s gone wrong.In most cases, a few small changes make a […]
If you’ve worked through the basics and your photos still aren’t consistently sharp, it can start to feel frustrating.At this stage, it’s usually not one obvious issue, but a combination of settings and situations that are slightly more nuanced. The good news is that once you understand what’s going on, you can make small adjustments […]
Why are my photos not sharpIf you’ve ever taken a photo that looked sharp on the back of your camera, only to realise later that it’s slightly blurry, you’re definitely not alone.This is one of the most common frustrations I see on my photography workshops. The good news? It’s usually caused by a handful of […]
Want to get off Auto mode but not sure where to start? Here’s a simple, practical way to take more control of your camera without feeling overwhelmed.
Auto mode works well in straightforward situations, but it can only make technical decisions, not creative ones. Here’s why moving beyond Auto helps you take more control of your photography.
Why my phone camera was more than enough on an adventure packed trip to Finnish Lapland
Are you struggling with how to organise photos on your phone? If you’re anything like most people, your phone contains thousands of photos. Family moments, holidays, pets, screenshots, accidental shots of the floor, photos you meant to delete but never did. And despite the AI search tools built into modern phones, finding a specific photo […]
Phone cameras have become incredibly capable, and with all the talk of AI, new lenses and clever software, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or worried about choosing the wrong one.
Click here if you missed part 1: Should you bring food photography in-houseCreating your own food photography setup doesn’t have to involve expensive studio equipment or a large space. In fact, most businesses are surprised by how little they actually need to get started – and how big the improvement can be when they have […]
Before editing – this image has a strong green tintAfter editing. The colour looks more natural and there’s more contrastOne of the questions I’m asked most often in my workshops is “Why should I edit my photos?” It’s a great question and a very common one among beginners. Many people feel unsure about photo editing. […]
Do I Need a Camera If I Have a Phone?Smartphones have completely changed the way we take photographs. The cameras in our pockets are now so clever that they can produce stunning images – often better than what you’d get straight out of a digital camera. So, it’s no surprise that people often ask me: […]
Is Lightroom really worth it? What you need to know before you buy If you’ve ever thought about using Lightroom to edit your photos but stopped yourself because it seemed too expensive, too complicated, or “just for professionals,” you’re definitely not alone.
Why Natural Light Is So Good for Food Photography (and How to Make the Most of It)If you want to take mouth-watering photos of food, whether for your blog, your business, or just for fun, natural light is your best friend. Natural light brings out the true tones and textures in your dishes. It can […]
Think you need a camera to take professional-looking food photos? Think again.Five years ago I would have said that you did need a camera. But phone cameras have come a long way in the last few years. They’re sharper, smarter, and more capable than ever. With a few simple techniques, you can take stunning, professional-looking […]
Great food deserves great photos, especially when you’re promoting your business on social media, your website, or delivery platforms. But all too often, amazing dishes are let down by dark, blurry, or unappetising images. The good news? With a few tweaks to how you use your phone and set up your shots, you can massively […]
Pixel Perfect: A Simple Guide to Image Size and QualityHave you ever submitted a photo to a competition or tried to print it large, only to be told the resolution is too low? You’re not alone! In my Facebook photography group Love Your Lens, I often see gorgeous images that sadly don’t meet the technical […]
Photography Competition ResultsWe are delighted to announce the results of the photography competition that took place in Spring 2025. Participants had the opportunity to showcase their talent across multiple categories. Each category winner will receive a £25 gift voucher to redeem in store at Share Your Story, an exciting new retail store and training hub opening soon in […]
Share Your StoryGot a story to tell? Whether it’s through photos, videos, writing, or even the spoken word, a brand-new creative hub is opening in Altrincham that’s designed to help you bring your ideas to life. Share Your Story is more than just a shop — it’s a place where creativity meets community, where memories […]
Food created by @Kitchen_MaverickWhy Your Food Photos Look Flat (Food Photography Tips That Work)You’ve styled a beautiful plate of food, chosen your favourite props, clicked the shutter… and the photo still looks a bit “meh.” You can read endless food photography tips, but the real game-changer is understanding the importance of food styling and composition.The […]
If you’re looking for books on camera settings and equipment, don’t buy these. I’ve had stacks of books over the years that explained exposure, metering, focusing, editing and, to be honest, they weren’t very helpful. Not because they weren’t good books but because I learn technical stuff by doing it rather than reading about it. And […]
This article first appeared in Cheshire Life magazine December 2023.Festive Food Photography with a PhoneWaiter: “Is there something wrong with your food, madam?”Customer: “No, it’s delicious. Why do you ask?”Waiter: “Well, it’s just that you haven’t photographed it.”Before social media was a thing, food photography was the realm of the professional photographer, shooting for restaurants, […]
This article first appeared in Cheshire Life magazine November 2023.How to take beautiful winter photographs“Wow! That’s a great photograph, you must have a really good phone…” A seemingly innocuous comment and well-intentioned but consider this instead: “That’s a delicious cake, you must have a really good oven…”. I know this isn’t exactly a like for […]
Taken with an iPhoneSony ZV-E10, f22, 30 seconds, ISO 100Long exposure photography on an iPhone or cameraLong exposure photography is one of the easiest ways to create dramatic, professional-looking images – especially of moving water, light trails or clouds.The good news? You can create beautiful long exposure photos using either your iPhone or a camera […]
Joby asked me to select a tripod from their range and to give it a whirl and write about it. I chose, what I hoped would be the ideal tripod for beginners, that was capable of holding a small to medium sized camera or a phone (even the big ones). I selected the Joby RangePod […]
The golden spiral is a great composition rule to use for food photography… or is it?I’m a self-taught food photographer and have relied on resources like food photography books and good old Google to pick up tricks and techniques. I, like many people I now teach, found composition one of the most daunting areas. I understood […]
This article first appeared in Cheshire Life magazine November 2023.I love autumn and I know I’m not alone. Writers and poets have waxed lyrical on this magical season for centuries. Searching for a suitable quote, this one spoke to me more than most:It was a beautiful, bright autumn day, with air like cider and a […]
Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO carbon tripodWhich tripod is best for food photography?I get asked this question a lot! And as is the case with most photography gear, there are many confusing alternatives and a risk of making an expensive mistake.But before we dive into the features you should be looking for in a tripod you’ll be […]
Ramen styled by Jan Cron @kitchen_maverickCan you use a phone to photograph food?I get asked this question so often and a few years ago, I would have hesitated and replied that it would be okay for certain shots, but that a camera would be much better. Oh, how times have changed… there have been some […]
Are your photos going soft or poorer quality when you zoom in on your phone?If you’re using the familiar pinch-to-zoom gesture, that could be exactly why.It’s something I see all the time in my workshops – and people are always surprised when they realise there’s a much better way to zoom that keeps your images […]
This article first appeared in Cheshire Life magazine April 2024.One of my favourite things about spring and early summer is seeing hedgerows, woodlands and gardens coming alive once more with a riot of colours. Nature has hit the reset button and buds are appearing on once barren branches and flowers are unfurling their petals. I […]
This article first appeared in Cheshire Life magazine March 2024.Visual storytelling – a picture is worth a thousand wordsThe saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is usually attributed to an American called Fred R. Barnard, who wrote it in 1921 in relation to the power of images in advertising. It has since been […]
what is mindful photography?This article originally featured in Cheshire Life magazine January 2024.January owes its name to the Roman god Janus, the god of portals, doors, endings and beginnings. He has one face turned to the past and another looking towards the future. Hence this has become the month for making new year’s resolutions, leaving […]
A few of my favourite things:Photography ~ Writing ~ Being OutdoorsAnd just before Christmas I got to indulge in two of them. I hadn’t used my ‘proper’ camera (Sony A7ii) for pleasure for a long while and was getting a little snap happy with my phone. I suddenly realised I was missing the feeling of […]
How to choose the best phone camera as a non-geeky photographerThe time has come to upgrade your phone. And although on one hand it’s exciting (ooh! a new gadget to play with!), on the other it’s all a bit overwhelming. If you are anything like me, your main criteria is that the camera has to […]
Unlock the hidden potential of your phone cameraThis article originally featured in Cheshire Life magazine October 2023.Capturing life’s precious moments in stunning detail has never been easier, with the staggeringly good cameras on smartphones. However, many of us just point and click, hoping for the best, and we are often frustrated with the results. Join […]
‘Phojo’A joy and passion for photography.Having the motivation, inspiration and creativity to enjoy photography.(Not yet an official word… rejected by Collins dictionary but I love it!)Is this your camera? Sitting alone and gathering dust on a shelf? Or is it ages since you’ve used your smartphone camera for anything other than quick snapshots? Are you experiencing […]
Travel photography tipsThe phrase ‘travel photography’ conjures up images of buddhists in temples in Thailand or riotously coloured festivals in Delhi, but actually ‘travel’ just means to go from one place to another. And photography is just capturing the experiences you have.Whether you’re travelling half way around the world or two hours to a beautiful […]
4 ways that improving your photography can help your business1. Engagement: great photographs grab the attention of your potential customers. They halt the scroll on social media and are more likely to be liked and shared, increasing engagement and getting your brand in front of more pairs of eyes.2. Sales: fabulous photographs show your products […]
SidelightBacklightTwo ways to use natural light for food photography(And a great exercise in studying one subject in depth).A very simple subject – pak choi – photographed and lit very differently, both with just the available light from a window.It’s a great exercise in itself to get one ingredient and photograph it in a number of […]
The next Birds Of Prey Photography Workshop is 26th November 2022. Book now.I was amazed at what we were able to capture.Okay so I’m a professional photographer with around twenty years experience of using a variety of cameras and lenses, exploring and using lots of camera settings. I understand the theory and know what settings […]
It’s almost that time of year again isn’t it? Instagram and Facebook will soon be filled with photos of children dressed in brand new, too big school uniforms, shiny, un-scuffed black shoes and they will be stood awkwardly in front of a door (causing much hilarity as we see yet another cute #frontdoorpic). It’s such […]
January, I have to admit, is not my favourite month. It’s long, I’m usually skint, I have to do my tax return (which I should have done last May I know!), it’s cold and damp and dark. And yet, it’s supposed to be a time for new beginnings, goal setting, resolving to get fit, budget […]
It’s National Make Your Dreams Come True day today so I thought it might be useful to get you thinking about your photography goals or dreams. We’re already almost halfway through January and, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably already ditched a few of your New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t tend to make any […]
There comes a point when you’ve mastered the technical stuff enough to get exposure right and you understand what makes a shot feel well composed. But you know that’s not really enough to satisfy your own aspirations and it’s not going to make your images stand out. You want to know how to take your […]
And do you know where you want to get to? People take up photography for different reasons and not everyone is on any kind of path with it. The camera can be just a tool to record moments so that they aren’t forgotten. But for others it’s a passion that drives them to seek continuous […]
Moody food photographs are all over Instagram and Pinterest and it’s a style that looks set to stay for a while. So, it’s no wonder that lots of people want to give it a go. However, unless you know a few techniques and tips, it can be hard to achieve the look.In this blog post you will […]
I’ve got a LOT of different food photography backdrops and am always on the lookout for more! They make or break an image, so they are vitally important. This is what I’m looking for:A matt surface. Any shine or lustre is incredibly difficult to work with.An interesting texture or pattern but without really strong and dominant […]
Ever tried to take a long exposure photo but don’t have an ND filter? You’re not alone – and the good news is, you absolutely can still create that soft, dreamy motion blur without one. In this guide, I’ll show you how to take long exposure photos without an ND filter using simple techniques. Why […]
What does a polarising filter do?A polarising filter is a really useful addition to your kit if you enjoy landscape photography. It works by reducing atmospheric haze and cutting out reflected light – both of which can make a big difference to your images.One of the most noticeable effects is in the sky. A polarising […]
WHITE BALANCE This is really meant as a quick intro for people not familiar with this setting. Light can be different temperatures and degrees of warmth from cool to warm. You will have encountered this when buying light bulbs. The colour temperature of light is measured in degrees Kelvin as shown in this chart from Digital […]
Silhouette images have a certain magic about them don’t they? A simple story told with an outline against a beautiful backdrop, usually a sunset or other beautiful sky. They can be quite difficult to create though, often occurring by chance rather than intention. Here are some tips: Shoot towards the sun – but remember that doesn’t […]
This is a photo I took of a friend’s lovely white Alsatian (Luna?). You might not be able to tell at this low resolution but it is nice and sharp. Although the auto focus on modern digital cameras is awesome, you do need some knowledge on how to take advantage of it to avoid operator error. […]
1/3 sec; f/22, ISO 100 How to Photograph Waterfalls: Get That Smooth, Silky Water Effect Photographing waterfalls using a slow shutter speed is a great way to create that smooth, silky water effect. It’s a technique that can look complicated, but once you understand a few key settings, it becomes much easier to achieve. Shutter […]
C for CONFIDENCE – it’s hard to photograph people you don’t know. I’m not comfortable with it, but there are some amazing shots to be had if we could just get over our fear. So I want you to go for it this week. I’ve had a go over the last week, knowing this topic was […]
I’m taking a slightly different approach with this post and not taking you through all the classic composition rules for landscapes. I’d like to concentrate on WHY you are taking the photograph and what you should CONSIDER before you press the shutter. I’m a huge advocate for slowing down and thinking before you click away and end up with […]
5 family photo shoot tips We all want lovely photographs of our family don’t we? And as our children grow older, we can foresee the day when they will have left home to pursue lives of their own. This was the case with this lovely family, where the oldest daughter will be heading off to […]
Well the inaugural Love Your Lens guided photography walk took place on Saturday and I hope it will be the first of many. I met up with six members of the Love Your Lens Facebook group at the famous Chester Cross next to a lively puppet show. Everyone was looking forward to seeing what the […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
I absolutely love it when one of my clients sends me pictures they’ve taken that show what they’ve learned and how confident they now are with their camera. I had a great email from new mum Louise today. She attended a Let’s Shoot The Kids course in January and has recently given birth to baby […]
Markets are great places to practise your photography. There are so many interesting and colourful subjects and people generally don’t mind photographers snapping away. At the Easter Sunday Makers Market Knutsford people were in such high spirits in the long awaited Spring sunshine, that there were broad smiles all round! A few market photography tips […]
I’ve been in the new studio 3 whole months now and it’s marvellous! It’s changed the way I work, given me a new lease of life, awoken my creativity and given me back my mojo! I’ve posted quick snaps along the way: befores, afters, durings, pictures of courses, shoots and a party, but I’ve not […]
“You’re buying another camera?!” I’ve lost count of the times I’ve heard this recently, but this time I had a good excuse: old age. Well OK I’m not ready to retire just yet, but certain bits of me are starting to protest every time I heave my camera bag onto my shoulder or lift my […]
Do I need a tripod? I get asked this a lot and I think it’s because people see professionals with tripods and assume that they, therefore, need one too if they want to take better photographs. I fell into this trap when I started out and between my other half and me we have either three or […]
Pancake Day has fallen in the school holidays – yes! We’ve got time to do it properly, which means Abii indulging in a spot of baking, me in a bit of pancake photography and the boys (Nic, Sam, Ferb and Buster) in stuffing their faces! Mixing the perfect batter was down to Nic, with no […]
6 months ago we decided to convert our garage into a natural light photography studio and office. Here’s the story in pictures. I still can’t quite believe we did it! I had a clear idea from the outset how I wanted it to look and used Pinterest to collect all the ideas. Click here to […]
We recently made a much anticipated visit to the Dr Who Experience in Cardiff, where fans get to take part in an adventure with the latest Doctor and then look at real props, costumes and prosthetics used in the show. Our kids are Dr Who crazy and were beyond excited and fascinated. All of the exhibits […]
The wet and mild conditions of Autumn provide the perfect growing conditions for fungi and this exceptionally mild Autumn means that there’s lots around at the moment, without having to look too hard. They have their own kingdom completely separate to plants and animals and there are tens of thousands of different kinds. They are fascinating to […]
Like it or not Hallowe’en is growing in popularity every year and if your children are anything like mine, the opportunity to dress up and be allowed to accept sweets from complete strangers is the ultimate in fun. Their costumes get more elaborate each year, as do the decorations in our house, even spreading out […]
In the first of this series we looked at How to Photograph Trees (click on the link if you missed it). This time we’re going to concentrate on how to photograph Autumn leaves and capture their many glorious colours, shapes and textures. It’s all about the Light. Well of course it is as without light we wouldn’t have […]
I LOVE Autumn (or Fall, for our friends across the pond!). Summer is fab while it lasts but around the start of September I yearn to wear fleecy jumpers and knitted hats, to walk through woodland, seeing my breath as white clouds, kicking through fiery coloured leaves with my wellies, spotting weird fungi on tree stumps and […]
We spent the second week of our summer holiday at my brother’s cottage in Marazion, Cornwall, with its famous landmark, St Michael’s Mount. Our accommodation is undergoing major refurbishment and we had been warned to have an “indoor camping” experience. It proved to be far more than this, with a beautiful kitchen, designer chairs in […]
Aberdaron and Abersoch with niece, great niece and nephew. Camera: Canon 350D with Tamron 28-300mm lens We’re having a two-centre holiday this summer, with a week on the Llyn Peninsula and a week in Marazion, Cornwall. You might think we’re mad choosing two locations so geographically far apart, but there was method in the madness! […]
When Sarah Gardner of Sarah Gardner Photography put out feelers via her Facebook Group as to whether anyone would be interested in a collaborative styled photo shoot with our teenage daughters, I jumped at the chance. It took all of two seconds to persuade Abii; the mention of hair stylist and make up artist did […]
Our little cornish break came to an end all to soon, but I managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Glendurgan, a National Trust garden, on the last morning. Miraculously I was able to drag Abii out of bed and persuaded her to come with me (anything was preferable to packing). This is a garden more about […]
Helford Passage is a lovely spot on the Helford River, offering everything you could want from a little seaside hamlet, a decent pub, boat hire, ice creams, crabbing, a tasteful gift shop and a dozen gigs! These are fast, narrow rowing boats and there’s obviously a thriving community of them in Cornwall, judging by the […]
Saturday promised to be a glorious sunny day and we had planned to head to a beach for a spot of boating, crabbing and exploring, but talk of a display by the Red Arrows over Falmouth changed our minds. It was windy on the harbour but we found a gem of a cafe with […]
340 miles door to door… seven hours (including stops to collect a teenager from a sleepover and obligatory leg stretching, Costa coffee buying and loo breaks) in the car with an over-excited dog. All made well worth while when we saw the view from the living room window of our home for the next few days. The two […]
Most of the images in my “how to” blogs are taken using a professional level D-SLR and some pretty fancy lenses and I imagine I can hear people saying, “well, she’s got expensive kit, no wonder her pictures are good!” I can’t deny that good equipment does improve photo quality, although you have to know […]
Most of my blogs are about how to take better photographs, but it’s time we looked at what to do with the ones you take. What do you do? Share a few on Facebook, send some to grandparents and every now and again print and frame the special ones? Gradually your hard drive gets full and […]
The RHS Tatton Flower Show gets scribbled on the calendar 1st January each year and we haven’t missed one yet, but this time it was pipped at the post by The Chelsea Flower Show, booked before the calendar was even out of its packet. A few glasses of wine and a bracing walk on a North […]
According to my site analytics blog posts with pictures of cute babies and children on get far more views than those with (toy) meerkats, so I won’t be using my little Sylvanian family again! They enjoyed their little trip to the Riviera (side of our pond) but are glad to be reunited with their dad on the […]
In Part 1 we looked at how Aperture plays a big role in how to get blurred backgrounds in photos. Low f/numbers (large apertures) give us a narrow depth of field and high f/numbers result in a wider depth of field. This sounds pretty straight forward, but like lots of techie things it’s not quite […]
How to get blurred backgrounds in photos is high on the list for people who want to take better images and it’s one of the things that distinguishes good pictures from snapshots. It can be easy to achieve but if you really want to understand what you are doing and how to control the amount of blur, you should read […]
Photographs of your baby beautifully dressed in your favourite outfit, with a shiny clean face and huge smile are fantastic and they are the pictures that end up in frames around the house. However, some of our favourite moments may not be “frame-worthy” but are still very special and the ones that make us laugh every time […]
I love babies and (most) kids and for some crazy reason I like to earn a living by chasing them around with a camera, capturing natural photos of them and selling them to their parents. Newborn babies are my favourite subjects as they don’t get about so much and because they are without exception extremely […]
