photography. it's honestly a love-hate relationship with me sometimes. i love photos. i have scrapbooking. you have to have photos to scrapbook. and i want to have good photos to scrap with. i can get gorgeous photos. i can also get cruddy photos. i think that's where part of my frustration lies. in that i never know what i'll get.
here's one of my photos that i shared yesterday. looks pretty good, right? the colors look so much better on my computer, but i won't get into trying to figure out what typepad does to my photos. lol! but i guess i should show you what my original photos from that day looked like.
this is one of those photos that i can't really tell you what went wrong. could be settings, could be my external flash, could be lighting, could be user error. the thing is, i don't get the technical stuff behind photography. i have just never taken the time to learn it, like i should. luckily, i'm pretty good with the editing, so i can save these types of photos. but i'm at that point, where i'm ready to learn how to get the good shots straight out of the camera.
enter my good friend, and fellow CK dream teamer, maggie holmes. she's an amazing photographer, who i have admired for years. she's been teaching workshops for a while now, and i keep thinking that a class is exactly what i need. maggie is just getting ready to start another session of her beginner/intermediate photography workshop, on july 11th. and i'm excited to be participating in her class.
Online Photography Workshop: Beginner/Intermediate
Do you have a film or digital SLR but don't know how to use it? Do you want to learn how to shoot in manual and how to nail your exposure every time? Do you want to push your photography to the next level and learn how to capture more artistic and meaningful photographs? If so, then this is the workshop for you.
Workshop Description:
The workshop is a 6 week online course that will cover the basics of photography (and much more). Topics will include shooting fundamentals such as exposure, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and white balance. I will also teach you how to shoot in manual mode so that you can stop being frustrated with the images you get from auto mode and start to get the results you want from your camera!
But don't worry, it isn't all about the technical stuff! Much of the workshop is also focused on creativity, style, composition and lighting. I will even teach you how to get those sparkly eyes in your photographs! And, when I am teaching you the fundamentals and the technical stuff, I do it in a way that is understandable and fun!
Throughout the course I will also share my own personal opinions and "rules of thumb" as to how I do things and how I get the shots I get. This is your chance to get a peek into my brain and how/why I do what I do. In a nutshell – I am teaching in 6 weeks what it has taken me years to learn and figure out the hard way!
There will also be an exclusive message board for class members where you can share your photos, critique each other, share ideas and ask questions. This is where you will post your assignments to get feedback from me. Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of the workshop is the chance to get personalized and individual attention each week! I am here to help you through each and every lesson!
you can find additional information, on the dates and price, HERE. i highly recommend her classes, and know so many friends that have taken them and loved them.
maggie is such a sweetheart, and so super generous, that she has offered up a free spot in her class to one of my blog readers! that's a $250 value, people. that's huge! if you're REALLY serious about wanting to learn to shoot in manual and learn all the technical aspects of photography, you'll want to get in on this giveaway. just leave me a comment, and tell me one thing that you really wish you could improve on, in your own personal photography. comments will be left open until tuesday night, and i'll randomly choose a winner on wednesday. good luck!
Laura Vegas 
73 responses to “maggie holmes photography workshop *GIVEAWAY*”
Yes please! I also want to know how to get great photos, and not to rely on auto everytime.
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Awesome Giveaway…Actions photos…can’t seem to get it right! Ever!
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All my great photos are “accidents”. I have a canon 5D mark II and it’s about time to learn how to shoot in manual. I don’t know if I’m allowed to participate in this contest since I live in Holland (Europe), but I really hope so!
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Oh wow! I’ve heard nothing but great reviews from friends who have taken her workshops. I want to learn more about my camera, how to use the manual mode and do better in composition. Thanks for the chance to win!
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What an awesome giveaway! I’d love to learn more about settings, as I never get it quite right.
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This would be amazing!! I would love to work on composition – how to shoot something to make it visually appealing and interesting! I have a lot of trouble with that. Hopefully that’s a skill I can learn to improve my photos! Thanks for the chance!
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I’m with you on the whole love/hate thing when it comes to photography! If I spent half the time I spend editing my pictures actually learning to take photos better instead… I’d have more time to scrapbook! Thanks for the chance to win–this would be awesome!
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I am desperate need of this class :)!!! My goal for the summer is to learn how to take awesomer photos! Thanks for the chance to win!
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I need all the help I can get!
Thanks for the chance
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wow, what a giveaway! You are a great photographer girl! I guess my weekness in photography is motion/blury-ness…
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Oh yeah, I would love a chance to win!!! I would love to be able to take a photo, and nail it- without a ton of time editing in Photoshop. to be able to look at my lighting situation and be able to know which ISO, shutter speed, and aperture to use to get the proper exposure is what I am striving for! I am so not there! Thanks for the chance Laura and Maggie!
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okay, it’s good to know that you get those sort of photos too! 🙂 I got my first DSLR camera from this past Christmas and I can’t even claim to know what I’m doing, my thing that I want to learn more? it’s actually several depth of field, ISO, and aperature. Thank you SO much Maggie and Laura for this GENEROUS giveaway! 🙂
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This is such a super giveaway! Thank you both! I want to learn how to take better indoor and portrait-type photos. I’m good with action shots and anything outdoors, but inside, not so much. Thanks again and have a great weekend!
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What a great giveaway, Laura and Maggie!
I am so camerally challenged that I would love to win a spot in this class so I can learn to:
1. take great photos indoors
2. take better photos of people
3. take better photos of my dog
4. take photos at places like concerts, sporting events, and graduations and have them actually turn out
5. take photos at night
6. take photos in front of the lighted Christmas tree where the subject is in focus and not the tree
7. take photos of lit pumpkins at night
8. use Photoshop to correct my less than perfect photos and to enhance them with actions
9. know how to use the manual mode and other settings on my camera to capture the right shots the first time
10. make my scrapbook pages better with photos that aren’t grainy or dark.
I know you said to list one but there are just too many problems I encounter and I couldn’t narrow it down – LOL! Please help me to get out of auto mode!
Thanks for the opportunity to win such a valuable prize! Fingers double crossed!
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There is so much I want to improve in my photography…I guess lighting would be a huge one for me.
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Oh, Laura, this is just what I need! I have had my DSLR camera for two years and am still so hit and miss. I haven’t even mastered editing like you have. I almost always shoot in auto and have no idea what I’m doing when I try to shoot in manual, so that is definitely my priority. Thanks for the chance!
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It would be so awesome to learn to use all the bells and whistles of my camera. My focus would have to be on how to get out of Auto mode as well as better composition.
Thanks for the chance to win!!!
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I just need to be overall more comfortable using my camera. I don’t want to have to think through everything every time I take a photo; I just want to know what to do.
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Hmmm…what don’t I want to learn about my camera? I usually shoot in aperture priority mode but I also feel I’m getting the “good ones” by accident. I’ve always loved your photos Laura and have labeled you a pro. It totally shocks me to hear you experience some of the same frustrations I do. Thanks for the chance to win a spot in Maggie’s class! I would love the chance to learn some of her secrets!
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Oooooh!! I would love to win this giveaway! I have nothing to do for the next 2 months! This would help me play around with my new camera!
I want to improve on portrait photography. Although that might be hard to learn since my husband won’t let me practice on him :)One thing I need help with is harsh lighting outside and shadows if I decide to take pictures in the shade.
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I love Maggies photo’s and I want to be able to take great photo’s too! I really need to work on nailing my focus.
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Fantastic giveaway…Maggie’s workshop has been on my wishlist for awhile!
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What a great give away!! I really want to learn how to get out of auto mode. And I really want to learn how to take pictures indoors that are not all yellow.
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Omg!!! What a generous giveaway. I love Maggie’s photography! I have a Canon XTi that I got way back 4 years ago and I just need to learn how to take photos with it.
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Great giveaway! The one photography skill I would most like to improve upon is taking pictures in low/bad lighting. And of course getting out of auto mode would be great!
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Wow…I’ve been wanting to take her workshop! I would love to improve on composition and angles. She does such an amazing job with her photos.
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I love love Maggie and would want to learn how she composes her shots to get the vivid oolors. Mine are not that exciting.
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Generous and thoughtful especially to those of us that love to scrapbook and preserve our familys memories. Hubby bought me a new camera for my birthday and is ready to take it back because I keep complaining that I am tired of “yellow” pictures taken indoors. I have many occassions coming up that I need to hone my skills for. Have a very blessed weekend.
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Great giveaway! Do I ever need it. I take the worst photos ever. I need help with everything.
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Awesome giveaway! I would like to learn to take indoor photos that aren’t yellowish and also sports action shots.
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I would love to be able to move easily into manual and adjust for different lighting levels. Thanks for the chance!
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OHHH, I am so jealous, Laura! I want to take a class with her!!! Thanks for doing this giveaway!!! 🙂
Amy
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I wish that I’d be more confident with my picture taking – I just need to get right in there!
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Awesome giveaway! Thanks Laura and Maggie! What would I like to learn? I think mostly I’d like to learn how to take pictures in low light situations. Also, last week I visited an aquarium and every one of my pics was blurred – no matter what setting I put it to! I could really, really, really, really, really use some help! Thanks again!
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We have a new baby in the family and grammie needs to get some really good pictures of our tiny little princess!
Thanks for the chance Laura and Maggie!
ana
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What a dream come true winning this would be! I’ve been in love with Maggie’s work since I found her a couple of years ago!!! I’d love to improve in all areas, but in particular, lighting. I’d love if I could shoot in Manual regularly!!! 😀
Thanks so much for the chance- to both of you!!!
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Wow such a generous giveaway. I, also, am in desperate need of a class like this. I bought my DSLR almost 5 years ago and fully intended to learn right away how to utilize all the special features. Then life happened 2 weeks later and my daughter’s water broke at 30 weeks pg. We went through a month with her in the hospital and then 3 months of our little miracle boy in the NICU before he made it home.
Now over 4 years, 1 wedding, the birth of 2 more grandkids, countless graduations, family tragedies, etc. later I’m still planning on learning how to get my camera out of auto.
I’m not even sure I could pick one thing I want to know. I try and read my camera manual and it talks about, lighting, aperture, ISO, Exposure, etc. I’m just lost on it all.
Thanks for the chance to win such a great prize!
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Wow… talk about TMI. Sorry about that LOL
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Wow…what a prize!! I would love to learn how to take photos in a mode other than automatic!!
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WOW, this is amazing giveaway! I would like to improve my indoor photography skills… there is plenty to work on in that area…
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Eeeeeeeek! Pick me, pick me! 🙂 I get extremely frustrated with trying to pick the right settings. I so want to be able to capture exactly what I see! I would love to learn night photography.
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I would love to have more confidence when using my DSLR. It just intimidates me and my photos are hit and miss. I’d love to learn what to do in an indoor low light situation. Thanks to you and Maggie Holmes for offering the opportunity to win a spot in her workshop!
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I would say action photos are where I have the most difficulty. I love taking photos and believe I was a photographer in another lifetime – but for the life of me can’t figure how to use my camera to the best of it’s abilities! This class sounds great!:)
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My husband has a great camera that I want to learn how to use in the manual mode so that I have more options when taking pictures. For instance at a school concert when I don’t want the flash on what do I do?????
What an awesome giveaway!!!
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Please pick me! A lot of my photos turn out blurred or it seems to focus on the background not the main subject. aaargh it can be very frustrating sometimes.
kbritton
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WOW!! What an awesome giveaway. I would love to refresh my manual photo skills. I am in dire need of learning how use the aperture on my camera. I have a Canon digital rebel. I also would love to learn how to use lightroom!! Thank you again.
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I don’t know where to begin! I’m slowly and blindly?!? learning photography. Getting out of auto would be #1, followed very closely to learning the technical side as well as compostition, lighting, posing, being creative, how to manage/deal with time/parents/kids/weather/nature before/during/after photo session, learn how to edit and create a managable workflow. Hmm…and I’m sure I’m forgetting something else too! 😀 I’d definitely love to be given a seat! Thanks!
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WOW what a great giveaway, thanks laura and maggie you girls ROCK!! It would be easier for me to list what I do know about my camera then what I don’t know. I know how to turn it on and push the button, that’s it. I would love to have my photos come out more crisp, clean and bright like laura’s does and others that I know. I would love love this class, thanks again.
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wow what an amazing generous give away! i would love to learn how to get off auto in the camera setting world. I have purchased a new canon, with 35 times zoom that i just love and i get many of the happy accidents others talk of…but it would be great to know how to make that happen all the time. thanks Laura!
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Laura!! I am so excited…I would love to take Maggie’s class. I have been a follower of both of you for a long time, admiring both of your work.
I would like to be better at working in my manual mode…feeling comfortable with switching up the focus, and using lighting to my advantage.
Crossing my fingers 🙂
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