A Sharpener Made for Drawing Pencils
Yes, the pencil sharpener actually matters.
Artist pencils have different cores than the standard yellow pencil sitting in your junk drawer, and a poor sharpener can break the core, chew up the wood or leave you repeatedly sharpening a pencil that's getting shorter without ever getting sharper.
I prefer a STAEDTLER handheld sharpener designed for their pencils. It gives me the point I want without unnecessarily eating through my drawing pencils.
A sharp pencil isn't just about drawing thin lines, either. Learning how to use different parts of a properly sharpened pencil is part of learning good drawing technique.

My pick: STAEDTLER Double-Hole Pencil Sharpener

Drawing Board— Optional, But Very Useful
You certainly don't need a drafting table to learn to draw, but I do recommend getting your paper off a completely flat tabletop when possible.
A portable drawing board lets you work comfortably in different places and position your drawing at an angle.
More importantly, changing the position of your drawing makes it easier to step back and look at it properly. When we're bent over a drawing on a table, our viewing angle can distort what we're seeing. Bringing the artwork upright helps you check proportions and perspective and catch problems that aren't nearly as obvious when your nose has been six inches from the paper for an hour.
It's also simply nice to be able to take your drawing to the couch, porch or wherever you happen to be comfortable working.

My pick: TX Liteart 13" × 17" Drawing Board with Clip (optional)

You Really Don't Need Much
Art stores can make drawing look as though it requires an entire tackle box of mysterious supplies. It doesn't.
A good set of pencils, kneaded eraser, blending stumps and decent drawing paper will take you a very long way.
As your skills develop, adding Bristol paper, a mechanical pencil and a drawing board gives you a little more control when you're ready to create finished artwork.
Good supplies help—but they don't do the drawing for you. Learning to see shapes, proportions, values, edges and light is what makes the real difference.
Start with the basics, learn what each tool can do, and then practice. Lots and lots of practice.

If you’ve ever bought a “nice camera” hoping to take better photographs, only to discover a collection of buttons, dials, settings, and numbers you don’t understand, you’re definitely not alone.Modern cameras can do an incredible amount — but you don’t need to understand everything they can do before you start taking control of your photography.
Let’s start with the basics.

What Is a DSLR Camera?
A DSLR is a digital camera that uses a mirror inside the camera to let you see through the actual lens when you look through the viewfinder.
For many years, DSLRs were the standard camera used by professional and serious amateur photographers. Canon and Nikon made many of the most popular models, and there are still a tremendous number of excellent DSLRs in use today.
One of their biggest advantages is control.
Instead of asking the camera to make every decision for you, a DSLR allows you to get off auto and into manual, allowing you to control things like:

• How bright or dark the photograph is
• Whether movement is frozen or blurred
• How much of the photograph is in focus
• How soft or blurry the background appears
• How the camera responds to different lighting situations

And, unlike most point-and-shoot cameras, DSLR cameras allow you to change lenses depending on what and how you want to photograph.

What Is a Mirrorless Camera?
A mirrorless camera gives you much of the same creative control as a DSLR, but it works a little differently.
As the name suggests, it doesn't have the internal mirror found inside a DSLR. Instead, the image coming through the lens is displayed electronically on the screen or through an electronic viewfinder.
Mirrorless cameras are newer technology and have become increasingly popular with both professional and hobby photographers.
For a beginner, though, the most important thing to understand is simple:
Both DSLR and mirrorless cameras give you the ability to move beyond automatic mode and actually control how your photograph is created.

DSLR vs. Mirrorless: Which Is Better?
You can take beautiful photographs with either.
Mirrorless cameras generally offer newer technology, while DSLRs have been around longer and have an enormous selection of cameras and lenses available — including many on the used market.
If you already own either type, you have a very capable tool for learning photography.
Learning how to control your camera will make a much bigger difference than simply owning the newest one.

What About Point-and-Shoot Cameras?
A point-and-shoot camera is designed primarily for convenience.
You point it at your subject, press the shutter button, and the camera handles most of the decisions for you.
That's useful when your goal is simply to capture the moment. But it becomes limiting when you want to decide how the photograph should look.
For example, perhaps you want to photograph a child running and completely freeze the movement. Or maybe you intentionally want movement to blur.
Maybe you want your subject sharp against a beautifully soft background.
Those choices require more control over the camera.
That ability to make creative decisions is one of the biggest advantages of learning to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera manually.

If your camera came with a lens, it probably came with what is commonly called a kit lens. A typical example is an 18–55mm zoom lens.
A zoom lens allows you to change your view without changing lenses. At 18mm you can capture a wider scene, and as you zoom toward 55mm your view becomes tighter.
Zoom lenses are convenient, but there is one thing beginners should understand about many inexpensive zoom and kit lenses.

Why Does My Exposure Change When I Zoom?
You may see numbers printed on a kit lens that look something like:
18–55mm f/3.5–5.6
Don't worry if those numbers mean absolutely nothing to you yet!
The important part is that many kit lenses cannot use the same widest aperture throughout the entire zoom range.
For example, your lens may allow you to use f/3.5 when you're zoomed out, but as you zoom in, the widest available aperture may change to f/5.6.
That means you can carefully set your exposure, zoom your lens to reframe the photograph, and suddenly discover that one of your settings has changed.
There is nothing wrong with the camera or the lens. That's simply how that particular lens is designed.
But when you're first learning how aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together, having another number change while you're trying to understand everything else can be confusing.

Why I Like a Prime Lens for Beginners
A prime lens has one focal length and doesn't zoom. A 50mm lens, for example, is always 50mm.
At first, not being able to zoom may sound like a disadvantage. When you're learning photography, however, I actually think it can be an advantage.
You have fewer variables to think about.
Instead of zooming the lens, you move yourself. Step closer. Step farther away. Look at your subject from another angle. Decide what belongs inside the frame.
A prime lens also typically allows for a much wider aperture than an inexpensive kit lens. A common 50mm f/1.8 lens, for example, gives you more flexibility in lower light and makes it much easier to experiment with shallow depth of field and those soft backgrounds everyone loves.
Most importantly for a beginner, the lens stays consistent while you're learning what your camera settings actually do.
Do I Need a Prime Lens?
Absolutely not.
If you already have a kit or zoom lens, you can learn photography with it. There is no reason to think you have the “wrong” lens.
But if you're just beginning and would like to add an inexpensive lens to your camera bag, a 50mm prime is one of my favorite lenses for learning photography.
Basic 50mm lenses can be surprisingly affordable — some are available for around $150.
Before purchasing one, make sure you choose a lens that is compatible with your specific camera body. Canon, Nikon, Sony and other manufacturers use different lens mounts, and even cameras from the same manufacturer don't necessarily use the same lenses.
[Amazon link: this is the prime lens I use with my Canon Beginner 50mm Prime Lens Options]
If you're unsure which lens fits your camera, check your exact camera model before ordering.
And if you already own a zoom lens?
Keep it. As you learn more, you'll begin to appreciate the flexibility of a zoom lens and understand when you might choose it instead.
The goal isn't to decide that one type of lens is “better.”
It's to understand what each lens does so you can choose the right tool for the photograph you want to make.

The most important tip.
Keep your book! It has very valuable advice on how your particular camera works.

​When you receive your gallery from a professional photographer, you'll often hear the terms print rights and copyright. While they sound similar, they are actually very different things.
Understanding the difference helps you know exactly what you can do with your images—and what remains the photographer's responsibility.
What Is Copyright?Copyright is the legal ownership of a photograph.
In the United States, the photographer automatically owns the copyright to any image they create. Copyright gives the photographer the exclusive right to:

• Reproduce the photographs
• Sell the photographs
• Publish the photographs
• License the photographs for use
• Create derivative works or alterations
• Control how the images are distributed

Simply put, copyright means the photographer owns the artwork.
When you hire a photographer, you are purchasing their time, expertise, and the rights granted in your contract—not ownership of the images themselves.

Print rights are permission granted by the photographer for personal use.
When a photographer provides print rights, they are allowing you to:

• Download your images
• Print your images at the lab of your choice
• Share your images with family and friends
• Post your images on personal social media accounts

Print rights do not transfer ownership of the photographs.
You are receiving permission to use the images for personal purposes while the photographer retains copyright ownership.
What You Can Do With Images That Include Print RightsMost family photography clients may:
✓ Print photographs for their home
✓ Order holiday cards
✓ Share images on Facebook and Instagram
✓ Email images to family members
✓ Create personal photo albums
✓ Display photographs in their home

These are all considered personal uses and are generally covered under a standard print release.
What You Cannot Do Without Permission. Because the photographer still owns the copyright, there are some things that are not permitted without written permission.
These typically include:
✗ Selling the photographs
✗ Entering the images into contests
✗ Using the photographs for advertising or commercial purposes
✗ Editing or altering the images
✗ Removing watermarks
✗ Claiming the images as your own work

​Your photographs were made to be enjoyed long after your vacation ends.

Trying to figure out the new reservation system for Henderson Beach State Park? You are not alone. The new Florida State Parks booking system has confused a lot of visitors, especially when the website redirects to the wrong pages. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide showing exactly how to reserve your Henderson Beach day-use pass online without losing your mind.

Be sure to use this link: ​https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/#!park/26 reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/#!park/26

​ You will be required to create an account before adding to your cart.
After creating an account or logging in, you should return to the same page. 
If it does not, check out the troubleshooting section at the bottom of the page.

​

Yes, you will need to obtain your pass online to enter the park. 

Yes, you can use your pass, however, you will still need to make a reservation online. You will enter your pass information to obtain your free reservation. 

You can reserve your pass as far as 60 days out.

You will not be allowed to enter the park if the reservations are full. Keep checking back, there may be cancellations that will open a spot. 

Yes, you can cancel your reservation and receive a refund. 

Yes, you can.

Planning family photos at the beach should feel exciting—not stressful.
If you’re visiting 30A, Destin, or Santa Rosa Beach, there are just a few simple things that can make a huge difference in how your photos turn out.
After years of photographing families along the Emerald Coast, here’s what actually matters (and what doesn’t)

When to Schedule Your Session
The biggest factor in beautiful beach photos is light.
We schedule sessions in the hour before sunset, when the sun is lower, softer, and more flattering. Midday light is harsh, creates strong shadows, and can make everyone squint—so we avoid it whenever possible.
If you’re visiting, try to book your session early in your trip.
That way:

• No one is sunburned yet
• We have flexibility if the weather needs to shift
• You’re not stressed trying to fit it in at the last minute 

Choosing the Right Type of Session
Not all sessions are created equal, and choosing the right one makes everything easier.

• Mini Sessions
  Best for small groups who want something quick and simple. Limited time means less variety and less flexibility.
• Classic Sessions
  The most popular option. More time for natural posing, movement, and a relaxed pace.
• Group Sessions
  Ideal for large families or multiple families together. More time is needed to organize and capture everyone well—especially with young children.
• ​If you’re unsure, we’ll help guide you based on your group size and what you’re hoping for.
  

What to Wear for Beach Photos
​This is one of the most common questions—and it makes a big difference.
A few simple guidelines:

• Stick with light, neutral colors
• Avoid logos and bold patterns
• Softer, flowy fabrics photograph beautifully
• Coordinate, don’t match exactly

The goal is to keep the focus on your family—not the clothing. We go a little more in depth in the article "What to Wear for Beach Photos" 

​What to Expect During Your Session
Most people feel a little unsure about being in front of the camera—and that’s completely normal.
You don’t need to know how to pose.
We guide you the entire time:

• Where to stand
• What to do with your hands
• How to interact naturally

We keep things moving so it feels relaxed, not stiff or overly posed. The best images come from natural moments, not forced smiles.

​Special Situations & Comfort
Every family is different, and we approach sessions with that in mind.
Whether it’s:

• A child on the spectrum
• Someone who feels uncomfortable in photos
• A large or blended family

We take the time to make everyone feel at ease and create an experience that works for you.

After Your Session
​After your session, your images are carefully edited and delivered in an online gallery.
Typical turnaround time:

• 2–4 weeks
• Summer months: up to 3–5 weeks

From there, you’ll be able to download your images and order prints if you’d like.
Curious about our editing process? You can read about it HERE. 

​Ready to Plan Your Session?
​If you’re thinking about booking family photos along 30A, we’d love to help.
Tell us your dates, your group size, and what you’re hoping for—we’ll guide you through the rest and make the process simple and stress-free. You can reach us at [email protected] or through our contact form.

As family photographers in Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and along 30A, one of the most common questions we hear is, "What should we wear for beach photos?"
The good news is that choosing outfits doesn't have to be stressful. A few simple guidelines can help your family look coordinated, comfortable, and timeless in your portraits.

When planning outfits for beach portraits, the goal isn’t perfection or matching head-to-toe. The goal is coordination, comfort, and clothing that feels like you on your best day. What you wear helps tell the story of who you are as a family, and it should feel natural, not forced.

​Printing digital artwork should be simple—but a few common mistakes can turn a beautiful image into something flat, muddy, or pixelated. This guide walks you through how to get the best possible results, whether you purchased a digital print or are printing artwork for your home.
I’ve been a professional photographer for over 15 years and hold a Bachelor of Fine Art degree. I prepare every image with printing in mind, but the final result depends heavily on how and where it’s printed.
This article will help you avoid the usual pitfalls.

​This is the most common issue I see.
Do not download your files on a phone or tablet.
Mobile devices often:

• Compress files
• Change file names
• Reduce resolution
• Strip important print data

Even if the image looks fine on your screen, it may print soft or blurry.
​
Always download your files using a laptop or desktop computer.
Once downloaded, you can transfer the file if needed—but the initial download matters.

Recommended Print Labs
For consumer-quality professional results, I recommend:

• MPix.com – consistent color, excellent paper options
• Nations Photo Lab – another solid, reliable choice

These labs use professional printers and proper color management, which makes a noticeable difference—especially for large prints.

Why I Don’t Recommend Store Kiosks
Most big-box store kiosks:

• Use limited color ink sets (often only 3 colors)
• Automatically alter images
• Print too dark or muddy
• Lose detail in skies and shadows

They’re fine for quick snapshots—not artwork.

Paper Choice: Keep It Simple
For wall art, these finishes work best:

• Matte – soft, timeless, no glare
• Luster – slight sheen, good detail, very popular

Glossy paper is not recommended for large wall art due to reflections and fingerprints.

Color Differences Are Normal
​Every screen displays color differently.
Your phone, tablet, laptop, and TV are all calibrated differently, and printers interpret color in their own way. Small variations in warmth, brightness, or contrast are completely normal and do not indicate a problem with the file.
This is one reason professional labs produce more consistent results.

Your purchase includes personal print rights, meaning you may print the artwork for yourself or your home.
Print rights do not allow:

• Resale
• Redistribution
• Commercial use
• Uploading to other websites

If you have questions about usage, feel free to reach out before printing.

TV Screensaver Files
If your download includes a TV screensaver file, it is sized specifically for modern flat-screen televisions.
Use the file as provided—no resizing needed.

They were instantly comfortable together, laughing, goofing around, and slipping into those quiet moments that make engagement photos feel real instead of posed.
We chased the light, we dodged the tourists, and we ended with the prettiest pastel sunset rolling in.
Easy couple + beautiful place = photographer’s dream.

AFTER THE SESSION
I upload the images to my computer and back them up on an external hard drive. Then get to work culling and editing.
Once completed your images will be uploaded into an online gallery where you can download the full resolution digital files.
We will set up a time to chat and go over your online gallery. You can ask questions and we can help you decide on what to order and get the best choice for your budget. We are fully educated in the printing process and can help you decide what to print at what size. 
​

WEATHER
Ahh, weather. The only job where you can be wrong 80% of the time.  In a traditional Florida summer it is raining somewhere, it could be a mile down the street and sunny where you are! I have five weather apps that I refer to constantly, I go with three out of five similar forecasts. The short version is we try to wait until the session day and just before everyone begins the process of getting ready to decide. You can read more about the weather policy HERE. For more information on what to expect during windy conditions, you can read HERE.  
TIMING
Timing is especially important in a mini session. Our beach sessions are held just before sunset so we do not have the option of starting and ending late. When the sun is down we are out of time. If you are not sure if you may need longer time let us know. We can begin earlier and if we have everything after 20 minutes great, if not we can go for a Classic session. We have an article you may want to check out titled 'Is a Mini Session right for us?"
We do account for time walking to the location when setting the meeting time so we aim to meet at the agreed upon time. Traffic here is unreliable however so you may want to leave early. We have a lot of bikes and golf carts that like to ride on back beach roads and in most areas there is just 98 so if there is an accident there is no way around it. However arriving early does not necessarily mean we will begin early,  light is everything in portraits. 
We will typically meet in the parking lot and from there we will walk down to the beach while discussing final details. I will ask if there is anything you especially want to get or if there is something you are wanting printed large. We will prioritize getting those shots first to capture optimal lighting suitable for large prints. ​