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I love working with kids. Here are my tried and tested tricks for photographing them: be patient, be prepared, use natural light, make them laugh, get down to their level…
Real stories, honest moments, and helpful tips from behind the lens.
Follow along with Katie Donnelly Photography for inspiration, session highlights,
and Paris photography experiences, plus guidance for your next photo session.
I love working with kids. Here are my tried and tested tricks for photographing them: be patient, be prepared, use natural light, make them laugh, get down to their level…
A mother daughter photoshoot in Madrid with Mimosa Lane: the Real Jardín Botánico, the Prado Museum and El Retiro park, plus why these photos matter so much.
Bought a nice camera, but your photos are not coming out like you hoped? Here are 10 common photo mistakes, from the wrong ISO to a crooked horizon, with a…
A prime lens has one focal length. A zoom lens changes smoothly between them. Here is a brief rundown of the lenses you will come across, and which I prefer.
The secret to good composition is balance. Try repeating lines, leading lines, natural frames, and giving each part of your photo its own space.
The rule of thirds divides your photo into nine sections with two vertical and two horizontal lines. Put your subject on one of the intersections for a more interesting photograph.
A megapixel is one million pixels, the tiny squares that make up your photo. Here is why megapixels matter when you zoom, crop or buy a camera.
White balance defines how the colors in your photos come out: how warm (yellow-ish) or how cold (blue-ish) an image looks. Here is when to use each setting.
We spent a quick hour together and ended with the sun rising behind Pont Alexandre III, overlooking the Seine. It could not have been more romantic.
RAW is a photograph with all the raw information that was saved when the picture was taken. Here is how it differs from JPEG, and when to use it.
No gimmicks. No putting on a fake smile. The parents make their kids crack up and the girls do the same to their parents. This is what family looks like.
ISO is the sensitivity of your camera to available light. The higher the ISO, the brighter the photo, but the more grain. Here is how to use it.
One of the most romantic things to do on a honeymoon in Paris is a couples photoshoot at the Eiffel Tower. Here is Whitney and Matt’s session, and what she…
A babymoon is like a honeymoon, but before baby. Here are romantic babymoon ideas in Paris, with a maternity photoshoot on Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité.
Shutter speed determines how long your camera’s shutter stays open to let light in. Here is how to choose it, and the speeds that keep hand-held photos sharp.
A free iPhone photography course in three parts: before, during and after taking the photo. Updated for the newest iPhones, and useful on any iPhone you own.
Aperture is how large or small the lens opens. Low f-stop numbers let in lots of light and blur the background. High numbers keep everything sharp.
Building outfits for your photo session is easier than it seems. Choose one base outfit you love, then build everyone else’s look around its colors.
I photograph up close, inside the action. Here is why getting closer gives you the stolen glances, giggles and surprise kisses that make a photo feel real.
Lighting indoors is tricky. My biggest hack: look for natural reflectors, like a big white wall, to bounce window light back onto your subject’s face.
There are no magic sit-still-and-smile beans. My biggest tip for photographing kids is to be prepared, then stop saying “cheese” and engage them instead.
An original baby gender reveal idea in Paris: toss colored flower petals in front of the Eiffel Tower. Blue for a boy, pink for a girl. See how this maternity…
Gloomy outside? Follow the light. Open the windows, sit your subject in that soft light, and circle them to see every angle. Here is how to take creative photos indoors.
It's totally true, the French just dress better (even Emily in Paris agrees!)
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