If you’ve been around the blog for any length of time, you know how much I love taking photos. With five kidlets, there’s no shortage of subjects at my house. Last spring, I finally hit the wall. I had a great camera, but was consistently frustrated with the outcome of the photos I was snapping. Somewhere down the interweb rabbit hole, I found a delightful photographer, Kristen Duke. Not only was she cute as a button, but she lives in Austin. Holla! (Isn’t that the best, when someone you admire lives in your area?) And she offers photography workshops. Double holla!! And, she has two fabulous ebooks. Triple holla!!!
I asked (begged) Scott to make the workshop my early Mother’s Day gift and he obliged. A good friend and I carpooled to the class and we never looked back. I can happily say I’ve only used the auto setting on my camera a couple of times since last May. 99% of the time, I am a manual gal and lovin’ every minute. See far right for proof. I think I have four chins in that picture.
Here’s the deal. The moments are tick, tick, ticking away and no amount of wishing makes them come back. I had to figure out my fancy camera and start loving what it could do. This month’s giveaway is for Kristen’s ebook, Say No to Auto. Even if you can’t make one of her workshops in person, the book will most definitely give you real, practical, easy-to-use tools to make you fall in love with your photos again. She threw out the big, fat manual and boiled it down to the basics of taking photos on the “M” dial. Don’t be shy, y’all. Every time I take a photo now, I holler to Scott, “Look how it turned out!” and then flash a big smile. Kristen’s book is just that awesome.
My photos went from this…
To this…
I’m no pro, but I am a happy momma who now loves taking photos. I hope it’s not too dramatic to say that I feel like I’ve gotten my kids’ childhoods back, one digital image at a time. If taking better pictures is one of YOUR 2013 goals, I might be able to help with that.
If you live in Austin or Houston, Kristen has workshops ‘a coming your way. This is me at last spring’s Austin workshop, second from left in green. Well, get to it y’all! The giveaway ends next week.
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Here at Team Whitaker, I blog about life as it happens: big families, carpool, Catholicism,Texas Aggies, prematurity, DIY/organizing projects, sanity checks and the occasional glass of wine at 10am. You get real Kathryn. Unedited, honest and hopefully funny. Motherhood and our faith lives are a journey, join me. 
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! I had no idea such an improvement in picture quality was possible without expensive software!
I could really use this. My husband takes the world’s worst photos, and he could use some tips! I’m never in the photos because I always have to take them!
I could really use this book since I just bought a new camera and am eager to learn how to use it. Your pictures Kathryn always look awesome.
Guh… I really need this thing! I have had my camera for TWO years and still have yet to take a class. Sad, right? Life got in the way! I love using my camera and would LOVE to know how to use it better!
Such a great giveaway! I always think how great your pics look on your blog!
This is just what I need. To see your before and after pics of your daughter really shows the difference!
One of my top 2013 Resolutions/Goals is to stop using my ancient iphone3G to capture fabulous moments with the Kiddos! I am treating myself to a proper camera & this ebook would be the ideal companion!!
I love Kristen’s blog and her pictures and photography style. I wish I could have her shipped to me, so that I can have those amazing pictures I dream of. What a great opportunity to win her tips and tricks! Thanks for the giveaway.
You’re so sweet, Nicole, that made me smile!
Thanks for another great giveaway. If I win the book, I’m going to give it as a gift to a photographer friend of mine!
We have so many mutual friends! Kristen is a close friend of one of my friends from high school, so I’ve followed her blog for a long time and have been wanting to get this book! Maybe one of these days I can make it to her course too
Thanks for the giveaway!
Crazy, crazy. Her blog is fantastic and I love her tips.
Hi Blair! Nicole’s neighbor, right?
I love Kristen Duke’s photography. I think I came across her site through ClickinMoms. My goal for 2013 is just take MORE photos!
Hi Jiza, That’s a wonderful goal!!
I just got my first DSLR for Christmas and am trying to figure out how to take full advantage of all is has to offer. This ebook would be perfect!
I would love to read this book! My babies are growing too fast…
Would love to read this book! Your pictures are always gorgeous!
I’m glad you posted a before picture. I was getting pretty mired in jealousy.
Two questions …. Did you buy a new lens, or are you still using the stock that came with the camera? Also, for the photos with you in them, are you just dialing in the settings and handing it to Scott, or did he take the class too?
No need for jealousy girl, I have so many “before’s” it’s not even funny.
Great questions.
#1: I bought a new lens, the “nifty fifty”, 50mm 1.8. Cost was $125 (with tax). Best investment I’ve ever made, camera-wise. I shoot with it ALL the time.
#2: For the photos that other people take, I select all the settings, take a quick test shot and then hand over the camera. If it’s a total stranger, I even tell them where to stand. Scott knows some of the class stuff, but not all. I haven’t shared it all with him yet, but he’s a quick learner!
It’s like you were reading my mind. I was just thinking of looking for a photography class. Our kids are so darn cute but our pics do not turn out like that. We have been blaming the kids for not sitting still but maybe it’s us
Loving your blog as always, and so excited to get some photog tips, whether I win, or buy it myself!
Completely on my list of to-do for 2013… master. the. camera.
Oooooh, my camera is my new THANG! Obsession maybe? So excited to have a new hobby that is so….enjoyable! This book would really help me start taking the pics I know are out there
This is awesome. I am terrible at picture taking- would love some good tips and the opportunity to put my camera to good use and start snapping more pics of the six monkeys that run around here all day!
So excited to check this out! I read Mamarazzi last year and it helped, but I need something even simpler. An ebook is great because it can be with me on my iPad wherever I am.
Thanks for offering the giveaway!
So glad to have been “the good friend” that went with you. I had such a great time and I learned so much too. I admit, however, I need a lot more practice. Thanks for inviting me!
Keep up the practice, Renee, and don’t get discouraged! Go out with Kathryn and have a shooting day of fun!
Would LOVE to turn off the auto setting more often and be successful when I play with the manual settings. This book would totally jump start that goal.
A new camera is on my list for my birthday or Mother’s Day! What do you have? What does she recommend as a good basic camera- there’s always so many to choose from & it’s confusing!
I need HELP! With lots of things, but improving my photos is at the top of my list for the year! This sounds like it would be a great start.
What a graet idea to help us take better photos.
Pick me!
I could definitely use the guidance. I turned off Auto a while back, but my pictures don’t look anything nearly as good as yours do!
Actually, we’re in the market for a DSLR, so it can’t hurt to hit the ground running with these tips!
My husband has a DSLR from before we got married and while he is getting pretty good at taking pictures with it, I’m still semi-clueless and would like to have someone other than him be my guide as I mess up.
I need this!!! Oh my – with five kiddos – I take lots of pix but often keep the Canon Rebel on the manual settings… A girl can wish she’d know better how to do it, right?
Sadly, my DSLR is usually on auto. I’d love to learn how to take brighter, more poppin’ photos so I don’t have to rely on photo editing software!
Did you see my last blog post? I tried to use one of the non-manual settings and the results were, ummmm, awful. I would love to take better photos! Wish she could do a workshop in Denver!
I so totally need this!! We got a good camera a couple of years ago (Canon T1i) but still haven’t figured out how to use to it’s potential… so we are still getting shots like we were with old camera.
I have been really wanting this book! Great giveaway!
I could definitely use this book because I’d love to take better pictures and sadly I have no idea how to operate our DSLR camera apart from automatic mode
It’s time for me to learn how to use my old cannon power shot g5 for our self employment. It’s a new year & the gifts God has blessed with need to be used for Him.
Is o need to get off of auto to improve my photography I would love to learn more!
Thank you, Kathryn, you are too sweet, and your photography is fabulous!
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