Advanced Photography Course Customer Stories

Motherhood is, for most of us, very rewarding (at least half the time lol!). It’s also a 24/7 job, with amazing bits, crap bits, and everything in between. Kind of a blur at times! Now you might be wondering what this has to do with photography…

Personally, I found the busy-ness of raising a small person meant I put my own needs and wants last. I couldn’t do many of the things that made me, me, so I lost touch with myself as a person. I identified as a mother… but beyond that, I couldn’t remember who I was, what kind of person I had been before children.

And then I found photography.

It was a creative outlet, just for me. I could do it anywhere, any time, so it fit in with all.the.things. To this day, when I’m taking photos, it centres me. And I know it’s not just me!

Today I’m excited to introduce you to Carla Leland, one of our Advanced Photography Course Grads. Carla lives on her husband’s third generation ranch located on the edge of the western North Dakota Badlands in the US, where they raise registered Red Angus cattle and the next generation of cowboys! Her eldest son, Trey, turns 3 this week, and their newest little cowboy is due any moment now! And I mean that literally… Carla is in labour as I type!

Read on to learn how impactful photography has been for Carla…

Photography as Me Time

I used to ride and train horses every day to fill my “me” time. My horse time was my stress reliever and gave me a sense of self and accomplishment. But since having my first son, and now preparing for my second son, I don’t get the opportunity to ride nearly as much as I did.

I struggled to find “me” again and felt as though I had lost that person. So I decided to take up photography… it filled the void, and I am loving it!

My camera goes everywhere with me on the ranch, and it’s something I found I can do with my son (most of the time!). He’s become my favorite assistant – helping me to get the “ears up” on the cows or horses when we go out, and pointing out pretty scenery. “Oh mommy, that’s pretty! Take a pitch-cher with your cam-mra, mommy!” (nawww!).

Level Up Your Skills

Once I graduated from the Enthusiast Course, I knew I wanted to keep going with my photography, to keep learning and improving my photos. I really loved Lou’s teaching style and the Grad’s group, so knew I would get a lot out of the Advanced Course.

I dived into the very next one, and I am so thankful that I talked myself into signing up!

The Advanced Course really pushed me out of my comfort zone to try new things, and expanded on the concepts learned in the Enthusiast Course.

I love how much it helped me with my creative compositions, especially the concept of different perspectives which was a game changer for me.

Lighting is a real challenge for me too, as many of my photos are taken outdoors in harsh sunlight.

But I’ve been able to improve my use of whatever light is available to me, by using the methods we covered in the Advanced lighting module.

Without even realizing how much you’re learning, you practice with all these individual steps, both technical and creative. And when you bring them all together, that’s when you see how much you’ve advanced, and it is so rewarding.

The CLG Difference… Why Us?

I tried a few free online tutorials to get a grasp of manual mode, but I was never successful until I found Click Love Grow. Their point of difference are the way the lessons are broken up, along with the positive feedback and critiques from professional instructors on all your lesson photos; the live calls with Lou during the course; and the knowledge that the CLG instructors genuinely want you to succeed.

This is what makes the CLG family the great community that it is!

A Community Like No Other

My absolute favorite aspect of the course is the group of women I have met. I have new friends from around the world that share my passion for photography. Everyone is so willing to share their journey and help each other learn.

I love seeing everyone’s growth (not just my own!), and especially the huge successes for the women and friends that I have come through the courses with.

Exceeding Expectations

When I took the Advanced Course I was initially only looking to improve my skills so that I could take better photos for our own ranch advertising, and also take some nice photos of my son as he grew up.

But then lots of friends and neighbors started requesting family photos, along with requests for prints of our ranching lifestyle that I’ve taken. I’d like to also take event photos at some barrel racing and team roping events in our area. So now I find myself in the process of putting together a website and starting my own photography business!

I am so thankful I took the plunge and signed up! The Advanced Course really pushed me to try new things, and expanded on all the concepts learned in the Enthusiast Course.

Congratulations Carla! By the time I’d finished writing, Carla had welcomed to the world her new little cowboy, yet to be named. Mum and bub doing well.

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!