My enthusiasm for photography began when I was just eighteen years old. Lucky for me, my brother Brad, was a professional photographer and got me pumped up about photography. He recommended my first camera, the Olympus Rangefinder. I toted my new camera with me wherever I went and I got hooked on photography. That led to me upgrading to a film SLR camera, the Olympus OM-1. I was fortunate to have learned photography in the film days. Learning and knowing how to make a correct exposure was a must, unless you wanted to burn through film and processing.
Other commitments got in the way for the next couple decades, but I never stopped enjoying photography. I worked in the real estate industry while I raised my family, but still continued to learn all I could about photography. That path led me to starting my own photography business in 1997 when I opened a portrait studio, Lightscapes Photographic Artwork.
I started to teach beginner level photography at my studio in Duluth GA when the recession hit in 2009 as a filler for my portrait business. I had no idea where this would take me. In the next nine years, I taught over 1500 people how to use a DSLR camera. I eventually expanded my program to include intermediate and advanced level courses. I taught specialty courses on lighting, Photoshop, still-life photography and flash photography. I was so busy teaching photography that I decided to start an online program in 2014. Studio 2.8 Photography Learning Center was born and since then I have taught people from all over the world “How to Take Creative Control of a DSLR Camera.”
In 2016, I was struck with tragedy, when my husband died suddenly and unexpectedly in a bicycle accident. I began to travel to subdue my grief. I realized life is too short not to live your passion so I decided to combine my new found love of travel with my long lasting love of photography. I knew my husband would want me to continue my life with zest and passion.
In mid-2017 I embarked on a new business venture; learning photography through immersion. I used the same business model as learning a foreign language. If one can learn a new language through immersion, why not photography? My first Immersion Workshop was in October of 2017 at Amicalola Falls in the North Georgia Mountains. The three day workshop was beyond my expectations as I saw how the seven students in the class grasped the information so readily through the immersion model. I also underestimated the camaraderie that would develop. It was a fun and magical three days!
I am happy to announce my new venture: CLICK + TRAVEL + LEARN – Photography Immersion Workshops and Lessons. I am continuing my passion for photography by teaching full day photography immersion workshops in the North Georgia Mountains. I will be expanding outside of Georgia in the near future.
To find out more about the workshops visit the webpage.
