We are getting so close to open the doors and selling seats for our Ultimate Intro to Photography online workshop. So many of you have shown interest already and since there are only 50 seats available you will want to be the first to know all the details, dates, price and when the seats go on sale. Sign up here to be one of the first to know.

I’m so excited to introduce you to five incredible photographers who will help mentor the class. You can ask them anything as well as receive weekly video feedback on your images. I first met Beth in the world of Instagram sometimes last year. She has an eye for light and making everyday things like extraordinary. She is super friendly and is so kind to share her knowledge on her site, beth a-dilly.com. Be sure to check it out.

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1. Why did you start photographing?
After my hubby and I got married, I wanted to document every part of our lives so I took up photography as a hobby and took pictures of everything! When my hubby got a new job, I was blessed to be able to quit my job and stay at home…and I ended up going stir crazy! Staying home is really great, but I quickly learned that I needed to have a daily sense of accomplishment, goals, and something that challenged me every day. I turned to photography once again, but this time it was more of a passion than a hobby. Shortly after, I made the jump into the photography business world and it’s been a beautiful ride ever since! I love that I can see photography in my future, whether it is personal or business.

2. What were your early goals for your photography?
For personal photography, my goals were to simply document my everyday. I wanted to have pictures that our future children could browse through and to freeze even the everyday moments in time. As a professional photographer, my early goals were to give families a collection of photographs that were honest and genuine. I wanted, and still want to, give my clients those photos that truly capture them and their sincere emotions. There is nothing better than hearing a client say, “These photos are so us!”

3. What surprised you the most about photography?
I am always surprised by how many memories a photograph can hold. I noticed this last year, as I completed my very first 365 photography project. At the end of the year, I made a book of all 365 photos and, while I was looking through the photographs, I was taken back to the day I took the photo and it was really emotional. Some of the photos took me back to sad days and some to days of celebration, but I was surprised that a photograph could instantly make me feel the emotions that I felt the day I took it. It inspired me, more than ever, to continue photographing my everyday, as a way of preserving my memories.

4. Your most embarrassed photography related moment.
Oh, I don’t even like talking about it! Last fall, my DSLR started acting funny during a client session. At first it was showing black ink spots all over the photos and, before I knew it, the shutter completely stopped working. Thank heavens, I had the sweetest clients in the world and we were in the last ten minutes of our session when it happened. Thankfully, I was able to deliver all of their photos…plus a few more for the trouble. After a long trip to the camera doctor, my camera is working again so I had a happy ending! But it encouraged me to buy a backup camera, especially for fall season!

5. Please show us a photo from the beginning of your journey and one now.
Oh goodness! When I started my photography journey, I sure loved those Instagram filters and I thought they looked amazing! I have definitely come a long way! It is really interesting, and honestly encouraging, to see my photography from the beginning of my journey and compare it to where I am today. I have had such a fun journey with photography so far and have learned so much about editing, color, tinting, composition, lines and horizons.

6. What is your favorite picture right now?
I love this question because, as I am picking up my camera every day for my second 365 photography project, my favorite picture is always changing. As of today, my favorite picture is one that I took of my puppy on a walk. One of my favorite things about photography is capturing things I want to remember, and I love that I finally got a photo of how floppy his ears truly are!

7. Favorite part about photography?
Without a doubt, experiencing client reactions when they see their collections for the very first time. I have had many client emails tear me up, as they tell me how much they love their photos. There is nothing better than being able to give someone the gift of photographs for them to enjoy and hang on their walls for years to come. It’s a timeless gift.

8. What one piece of advice would you give yourself when you were just starting out?
I would give myself the same advice that I tell other new photographers: don’t compare yourself and your photography to others. I would tell myself that it isn’t fair to compare yourself to other photographers who have been in the business for years and have spent more time perfecting their work. Just compare yourself to yourself! As long as you are improving and learning, you’ve got this!

9. What was your biggest lightbulb moment?
My biggest lightbulb moment was when I finally understood manual mode. After feeling like I would never get it, I purchased Courtney’s eBook The Unexpected Everyday. hoping it would help me gain a better understanding of the M on my camera. A few pages into the book, I finally had that moment that I had been waiting for. I put the eBook down, switched my camera to manual mode, and I have been shooting in M mode since. What used to seem so complicated finally made perfect sense, all because of Courtney’s eBook.

10. What other photographers inspire you?
I am always in awe of the soft and beautiful images of Lizzyrose Photography. I love her perspective and the honest emotion in her images. I also really enjoy seeing the gorgeous work of Tish OConnor Photography. Her work is really refreshing and stunning, with a beautiful use of light.

11. What do you consider your biggest success as a photographer? Failure?
So far, my biggest success as a photographer is completing my very first 365 photography project last year on Instagram. It is such a commitment, but so worth it! And it encouraged me to get in the habit of documenting my everyday, which I really enjoy! I am still so amazed at how much my photography skill and style improved, simply from taking one photo every day for one year.

My biggest failure as a photographer occurs during image selection after a session. I just cannot delete good photos. Even though I only promise clients a certain number of photos, I always edited way more than I should because I want my clients to have every single memory made during our session…even if it means working way longer than I should. I guess I have a hard time saying no.

12. Favorite place you ever lived or visited?
My favorite place I have lived is definitely Washington DC. I love the history and classic style, plus date nights and weekend outings are really fun in the city! As for visiting, my hubby and I love Cabo San Lucas. Talk about relaxation! I love to bring a handful of paperback boots and sip pretty drinks in the sunshine all day. That’s definitely our kind of vacation!

13. If you could go on a photography vacation and photograph anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would definitely go to London! I think that the charm, style and all of the little details would be fascinating to photograph.

14. 3 words to describe you.
honest, simplistic, organized.