Diverse Reflections -

My Favorite Photographers on YouTube

September 28, 2017 By: Megancomment

Hello, everyone! Today I’m sharing a list of my favorite photographers who post videos on YouTube. I am frequently inspired by the photography-related videos I see on Youtube, so I thought I’d share a few favorites with you!

Jana Williams // Her channel is full of DIYs, tips and tricks, and business advice.

Irene Rudnyk // She posts some photography prop DIYs in addition to her behind the scenes photoshoot and editing videos.

Jessica Kobeissi // Be sure to watch her challenge videos – my favorites are the “3 Photographers, 1 Model” videos.

Highlight Your Wrinkles Photography // She mostly posts behind-the-scenes videos, so there is a lot of photoshoot inspiration to be taken from her channel!

Jessica Whitaker // I’ve learned a lot from Jessica’s behind the scenes videos. She finds beautiful locations in the strangest of places (parking lots, anyone?), and her videos are full of helpful advice on posing, directing and using even the simplest (or strangest) of locations to create beautiful photos.

Xing Liu // Behind the scenes and editing videos are prominent on this channel (can you tell how much I love watching BTS videos? 😉 ), as well as a few photography tips videos.

I hope you check out the photographers on this list. I’ve gleaned a lot of knowledge and inspiration from their videos, and I know you will too!

Happy Fall, everyone! 📷

Mallory | Urban Ballerina Dance Session

September 26, 2017 By: Megancomment

This session was just too beautiful for words! This was my first (and most definitely not my last) dance photoshoot, and I’m excited to share my favorite photos from the session with you! I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed making them!

Mallory and I have been friends since fifth grade, and we finally organized a dance session – something that was two years in the making! It was a wonderful experience putting together our talents – hers, dance; mine, photography – and seeing them come through in the photos.

We started the session in a rose garden with a breezeway during mid-afternoon, so we stuck to the shade and got some beautiful photos in the garden, as well as in the shaded patio area. Mallory is a TeenPact alum, so she included her TeenPact snapback in the session, which was just awesome! I love when people tell stories in their photos by bringing props that are important to them.

We waited a while for golden hour (my favorite time of day to shoot because of the beautiful light and vibrant colors!) to come along, and headed to the downtown for an urban-ish vibe. Our first location was a gazebo located beside a small pond. The beautiful glowing sunlight made for some lovely back-lit photos, as well as some fun shots near the pond.

Our next location was a parking garage – who knew there could be such amazing photo ops there! One of my favorite photos from the session was taken there – Rays of sunlight were peeking out from behind a building across from the rooftop of the garage, so I placed Mallory so that the sunlight was shining beside her as she stepped into an arabesque. The result was simply gorgeous!

At the end of the session, Mallory posed just outside a pizzeria for some last-minutes-before-sundown photos. Fairy lights were strung along the awning of the pizzeria, adding an extra touch of beauty to the last photos of the session.

New Issue Of Teen Photographer Now Available!

September 20, 2017 By: Megancomment

Hello, friends!

The second Special Edition of Teen Photographer is available in the store! If you are a Senior photographer (or are interested in building a senior photography business), this edition is for you!

New Issue of Teen Photographer Now Available! | Megan Roberts DiverseReflections.com

In this Special Edition, Audrey Ann of Live Snap Love explains how to shoot a session without getting flustered, Angelika Johns shares advice for posing clients, and much more!

Buy your copy of this Special Edition issue HERE!

Happy Shooting! 📷

Summer Edition of Teen Photographer

July 1, 2017 By: Megancomment

Happy July, friends!

The Summer edition of Teen Photographer Magazine is now available as a FREE download! In this issue, we’ve included two awesome photographers and bloggers – Julie Christie and Anna Phillips – who have written some great articles which I’m sure you will enjoy.

In this issue, you will learn how to make a living by selling stock photography, stop comparing yourself to other photographers, take great vacation photos, and much more!

Download the Summer issue of Teen Photographer HERE!

Top 6 Best Cameras For Beginner Photographers

May 30, 2017 By: Megancomment

If you’re just starting your journey as a photographer, it can be tough to figure out which camera to start with. There are so many choices! No need to worry – I’ve narrowed down the list to six entry-level cameras.

Top 6 Best Cameras For Beginner Photographers | Megan Roberts DiverseReflections.com

(Post contains affiliate links)

As a beginner, you will need a camera that is easy to use and won’t break the bank. Point-and-shoots are cheaper, typically lightweight, and come with only the necessities. DSLRs are more expensive, heavier, and can sometimes be cumbersome with all the buttons and settings. Many beginners start out with a DSLR, only to end up using it on Automatic Mode because they find Manual Mode confusing and difficult to master. Only buy what you can handle – too much camera is never the best deal.

Point-and-shoots

Nikon Coolpix S33

Canon Powershot SX720

Sony DSCW830

DSLRs

Nikon D3400

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

Olympus E-M10 Mark II

What was your first camera? Tell me in the comments below!

P.S. Got Instagram? Tag your photos with #featureTPMag for your chance to be featured in upcoming issues of Teen Photographer!

We Want to Feature Your Photos!

May 3, 2017 By: Megan2 Comments

Hi, friends!

It’s May already! How did that happen? Anyway, Summer is right around the corner, and I have some special news regarding Teen Photographer Magazine.

News #1: Teen Photographer is going seasonal! A new issue will be available around each season (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter editions), along with a Special Edition which will focus on a main theme (senior, family, food, etcetera).

News #2: We are looking for your talent on Instagram! Tag your photos with #featureTPMag and grab your chance at being featured in upcoming issues of Teen Photographer!

That’s all, folks!

Happy shooting! 📷

8 Free Resources To Help You Become A Pro Photographer

March 22, 2017 By: Megan3 Comments

As with any art form, the best way to improve your photography is to study and practice what you learn. I know it can be difficult finding helpful, affordable resources, so I’ve done the work for you! And the best part? All of these resources are FREE!

Enjoy!

Click It Up A Notch – Tips, tricks and inspiration to improve your photography and boost your confidence as a photographer.

Digital Photography School – This is basically where I started learning about photography. Lots of great articles on how to use your camera, how to edit photos, and gear tips.

Zach And Jody – These two are amazing! They’re enthusiastic, they’re encouraging and they’re committed to helping other photographers pursue their dreams. Be sure to not miss their highly informative webinars!

CreativeLive – This site is full of video classes on everything from A to Z, including photography. You can watch live or buy the classes and watch them at any time.

Cole’s Classroom – So many tutorials, so little time. Plus, you can learn about presets, white balance and more with the interactive photo learning center.

Amy And Jordan – Their blog is full of some majorly beautiful wedding/engagement photography, as well as fantastic tips to help you capture your own stunning photos!

Pinterest – OK, so this isn’t strictly a photography-related website, but it is packed with photos that get me inspired and give me ideas for photoshoots.

Photography Concentrate – This website, run by a husband and wife team, is all about tutorials, blogging inspiration and freebies!

Happy Shooting! 📷

My Go-To Camera Lens

February 26, 2017 By: Megancomment

When I upgraded from a point-and-shoot to a Nikon DSLR, the only lens I owned was the lens that came with it – an 18-55mm kit lens. That worked fine for me…until the lens’ focusing mechanism started wearing out.

When all was said and done, the cost to fix the lens was more than the cost of buying a brand new, better lens. So, in case the kit lens suddenly broke down for good, I started a hunt for a versatile, affordable replacement lens…and ended up with a lens that instantly became my go-to for all my photography adventures.

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I sifted through a lot of reviews, researching types of lenses designed for portraiture (my niche) and everyday use. Every zoom lens I found was waaaay out of my price range. Most of the websites wholeheartedly suggested investing in a prime lens like the 85mm or 50mm.

At first, I wondered how tedious it would be to have to move to and fro if I wanted to zoom in or out (it can be, but not usually), and if the lens was compatible with my camera (it was), and if it would be as versatile as I needed it to be (oh boy, it was!). I wasn’t sure that a fixed lens would live up to the all the reviews I’d read.

But I decided to take a chance.

I bought a Nikon 50mm f1.8 lens from B&H. The lens arrived a couple days later, I put it on my camera, and all the worries I had previously felt about it instantly disappeared. The lens has been amazing since day one! It’s fast, has perfect focusing, and the bokeh and depth of field is beautiful! The only time I ever take it off of my camera is when I need to take wider shots (That’s when I use my kit lens…yes, it still works!).

I use the 50mm for closeups, portraits, concerts, food photography, vacation shots…practically everything! It is one of the best photography investments I’ve ever made. If you’re in the market for a great jack-of-all-trades lens, check out a 50mm! You won’t be disappointed.

P.S. There’s still time to snag the AWESOME Ultimate Photography Bundle before the sale ends on Monday, February 27th at 11:59 p.m. EST! You’ll get amazing resources worth $4,100+ for just $97! Get yours before it’s gone!

My Favorite Photographers are Here to Help You!

February 22, 2017 By: Megancomment

What if I told you that just for one week, 32 world-class photography educators were joining forces and practically giving away 41 of their most essential teaching resources in one amazing package, for the most affordable price ever?

Well, that’s exactly what’s happening right now with the Ultimate Photography Bundle, back by popular demand!

As a teenage photographer, I know how daunting it can feel to have the camera, the lenses, the software and everything else you need, but then to think about spending big bucks on expensive courses and books? Forget about it.

But with the Ultimate Photography Bundle, you’ll get 10 eCourses, 16 eBooks, 4 videos, and 11 practical tools (like editing presets and printable reference cards). Altogether, it’s worth $4100 but you pay just $147. Can you believe it?

These top-quality resources cover all the topics that matter to the serious photographer – camera essentials, family photography, editing, inspiration & style, landscape, wedding photography, and the business of photography.

With these 41 world-class products you’ll learn how to:

find perfect lighting every time
consistently pose and shoot pro-quality portraits
edit and organize like the experts
build a thriving photography business
and finally start taking the photos you’ve always dreamed of.

Even better? You’re about to learn from the pros. I mean, we’re talking about Jeremy Cowart, Zach and Jody Gray, David Molnar, Cole’s Classroom, and so many more. I’ve followed these photographers for years, and I am super excited to be a part of this amazing group of photographers who have come together to equip, empower and educate aspiring photographers just like you to pursue your dreams. That’s right – I AM A PART OF THIS AMAZING GROUP! 6 issues of Teen Photographer are in the bundle, including the Baby Edition!

There’s just one catch…a deal this good can’t last forever. This bundle is available for six days only, and then it will disappear! I would hate for you to miss out on this!

If you’re ready to get your own Ultimate Photography Bundle, go here right now and grab it!

If you’d like to learn more about the specific resources it includes (I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!) then by all means, go here and check it out in detail.

Don’t forget—the bundle goes off sale on Monday, February 27th, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST. And if you’re still on the fence, there’s really no risk in getting it anyways because they’ve got a full 30-day happiness guarantee. <–now that’s cool!

Start Taking Better Photos With Free Classes

February 15, 2017 By: Megancomment

Hey, friends!

I am thrilled to let you know about a series of FREE webinars that is starting today! If you want to get to know your camera better, learn how to photograph and edit like a pro, and grow your business, then you don’t want to miss this series!

Start Taking Better Photos With Free Classes Graphic | Megan Roberts DiverseReflections.com

These webinars will be led by some of my favorite pro photographers, so I know you will take away a wealth of knowledge from each of them! You can sign up for any or all of the webinars – all you need to do is sign up separately for each one.

Here are the links to sign up:

Demystify Your DSLR – February 15 at 7pm CST – SIGN UP HERE