View All The Photos From Todays Photo Walk - https://beginnerphotopod.com/finalphotowalk

#596 In today’s episode, Raymond Hatfield shares why letting go of the Beginner Photography Podcast is the decision that could recharge your creativity and rekindle your passion for shooting.

If you’re feeling burned out, stuck in a creative rut, or like your camera’s gathering dust, you’re not alone. Many photographers reach a point where obligations overshadow the joy that got them started. Today, Raymond opens up about the hard lessons learned after years of balancing business, creativity, and community, and why it’s sometimes necessary to step back to move forward. By listening, you’ll discover how to protect your passion, recognize burnout, and find the courage to say yes to new opportunities for growth behind the lens.

Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets at
http://freephotographypresets.com/

Connect with Raymond!

• Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle
• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#595 In today’s episode of the podcast I share a simple, recipe-inspired approach to mastering manual camera settings. You’ll understand ISO, aperture, and shutter speed from a fresh, food-themed perspective, so you can finally create photos with confidence, not confusion.

Ultimate Photography Education Bundle: Step-by-step online photography course — https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle

What You’ll Learn:

• The exposure triangle (ISO, aperture, shutter speed) controls photo brightness and artistic style.
• Each element is connected, and changes in one require thoughtful adjustments to the others.
• Mistakes are part of the learning process—experimenting and “tasting” your results is essential.
• Practical, easy-to-remember ISO settings based on different lighting scenarios are provided, along with advice on aperture and shutter speed choices.

Discussion & Reflection Questions

• How does thinking of camera settings as ingredients in a recipe affect your approach to shooting in manual?
• Which setting (ISO, aperture, or shutter speed) do you find most challenging, and how might you experiment with adjusting it?
• What parallels do you see between culinary mistakes and photographic errors, and how can embracing them help you improve?

Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets at
http://freephotographypresets.com/

Connect with Raymond!

• Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle
• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

#594 In this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, we explore the fundamental role that light plays in photography.

Enroll in the Ultimate Photography Education Bundle Today - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle

The learning objectives are clear: listeners should be able to identify and observe how light intensity, direction, color temperature (white balance), and the shape of light (hard vs. soft) influence the mood, feel, and technical quality of their images. Raymond emphasizes that no amount of gear or editing can substitute for a keen awareness of light. He encourages photographers to practice seeing and understanding light even without a camera, and to apply these lessons intentionally in their photography.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Element 1 - Intensity of Light:
   Raymond explains how the brightness of light affects both exposure and the emotional impact of a photo. He gives examples of how harsh midday sun creates energetic, high-contrast scenes, while softer light (such as shade or overcast) leads to more intimate, flattering portraits.
2. Element 2 - Direction of Light:
   The direction from which light hits a subject dramatically alters mood and visual interest. Through familiar analogies (like campfire stories with a flashlight), Raymond demonstrates how front, side, and back lighting can make images feel flat, dramatic, or mysterious.
3. Element 3 - Color of Light:
   Color temperature (white balance) is covered in depth, with practical advice on using camera presets (cloudy, tungsten) for consistent results. Raymond illustrates how warm and cool lighting can change both the look and mood of a scene and why setting white balance in camera can simplify editing.
4. Element 4 - Shape of Light (Hard vs. Soft):
   Using stories from daily life, Raymond helps listeners visualize the difference between small, harsh light sources and large, diffuse ones (like a cloudy sky or a softbox), stressing how soft light is generally more flattering for portraits.

Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets at
http://freephotographypresets.com/

Connect with Raymond!

• Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle
• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!