Advanced Course Grad Stories

Are you confident shooting in manual mode… but you’re lusting to take more creative photos?

Maybe you’ve hit the ‘Learning Plateau’ where you’ve mastered those initial skills, but after an initial jump in skill, you’re not seeing the same improvements and no matter how much more you practice, you’re feeling stuck.

Let me assure you it’s toooootally normal, (both the plateau-ing and the super frustration that comes along with it. Gah!)  There’s nothing worse than seeing other people’s work and thinking ‘why don’t my photos look like that’

So I wanted to share with you what those next steps look like, and the things that I know make all the difference, after having taught thousands of women photography:

📸 Step #1 is to go deeper on your technical mastery. Knowing not just how to use your equipment, but to advance your understanding of lighting scenarios, and the intricacies of exposure will increase your confidence and allow you to capture exactly what you envision.

📸 Step #2 is to expand your creativity.  Stepping outside your comfort zone to explore and shoot in styles that you may never consider, but will arm you with the skillsets and know-how to evoke mood, feeling and strength of purpose in your images.

📸 Step #3 is to receive expert critique and feedback on your work.  You can’t see what you can’t see… and having someone identify the strengths and weaknesses in your imagery is invaluable so you can take the steps to improve and strengthen in your work.

And when it’s laid out like that, it doesn’t sound so scary right?  When we’re feeling stuck, the best antidote is to develop a plan of attack.

Which is exactly why I’ve created our Advanced Photography Course… to walk you through each of these steps in detail and with support.

And it’s helped hundreds of women already, and all this week, we’ve been interviewing fabulous, talented ladies who’ve achieved their goals thanks to this course!

So today I’m super excited to introduce Merissa! 

Not only did she come through our courses, but she’s now part of our team here at Click Love Grow.

Merissa Wakefiled lives right near the beach in Melbourne, Australia so it’s no surprise it’s her favourite place to shoot.

You’d think that being mum to her 3yo daughter and currently baking another one is enough busy for this lady. But she also works for the Cancer Council Victoria, is an instructor here at Click Love Grow, and in 2017 she launched Merissa Wakefield Photography. Clever cookie!

Read on to learn how our Advanced Course has changed her photography…

1. What led you to do the Advanced Photography Course?

I took the Click Love Grow Advanced course in 2017, straight after completing the Enthusiast Photography Course.  I wasn’t ready to stop learning, and was keen to jump straight into learning more!

Lou’s teaching style encouraged me to continue my learning through Click Love Grow rather than look elsewhere, as the concepts were so well explained and easy to grasp, and I knew I’d benefit from the lessons in the advanced course.

2. Did the course meet your goals?

The course was great.  I liked that it went deeper into concepts like light, composition and editing.

I loved that we had two weeks to really explore each topic and the class size meant we all shared and got to know each other. 

The feedback on every image submitted was invaluable too.

3. How did the course impact your photos?

The course made me more aware of what I was seeing through the viewfinder.

Instead of pointing and shooting and hoping for the best, I became more intentional with the way I used light and how I composed an image.

At the end of the course I was able to confidently shoot, knowing that I was able to produce an image to be proud of.

4. Where has it taken your photography?

Since completing the advanced course I started my business, Merissa Wakefield Photography, with a focus on relaxed family photography.

The course helped me define the kind of photographer I want to be.  As a result I knew I was predominantly drawn to specific kinds of light, and now I offer my client sessions during the golden hour to ensure I can always capture special moments with the best possible light.

I am also an instructor at Click Love Grow, and I love to be able to help women learn and understand photography.

Being a graduate of CLG courses gives me a unique insight into their journeys and I love watching their photography grow!

5. What was your favourite aspect?

I still use the concepts I learned in the Advanced Course in my photography today.

I loved the lessons on backlighting, which is now my favourite kind of light.

But I think the absolute best thing was the friendships I made during the course with women from all over the world.

6. Would you recommend the course?

Absolutely.  Photography is about so much more than learning to shoot in manual mode.

The course is perfect for women who are looking to take the next step in their photography and really explore the concepts and techniques to make truly great photos.

7. We love a before and after photo…

If you’re already shooting in manual mode, on our Advanced Photography Course you will learn to shoot with confidence in any scenario, and push yourself creatively to find and develop your style through intensive 1:1 critique on your work.  Our next course is starting soon… join our wait list to get an email when we go on sale!