Is confidence holding you back from taking the next steps in your photography learning?

If you’ve been looking at our course options you’ll know that we offer both a beginner and an advanced level photography class. And if you’ve already mastered manual mode, our Advanced Photography Course is the perfect next step.

But, if you’re like a lot of our students, you might be wondering if you’re ‘advanced’ enough to take the Advanced Course. Well, let me reassure you – you don’t need to be advanced to start out, this course is about learning to become advanced!

Deb Signorelli had this exact same worry. She had mastered manual mode, but she wasn’t sure if she was ‘good enough’ to take the next step. And as she discovered when she finally took the plunge, the only thing holding her back was her own self-doubt…

 

Meet Deb!

I’m a mum of three gorgeous – and now fully grown – boys, who still live at home with us in beautiful South Australia. I work full time as a nurse, and have my own little photography business on the side. I’m also a self-confessed photography project addict, currently working through my third Project 52, which involves taking a photo every single week for a whole year!

Beyond Manual Mode

I had been shooting in manual mode for a couple of years, and I knew my way around my DSLR pretty well. But I couldn’t help feel my camera – and I – were capable of so much more, and mastering the basics had definitely given me a thirst for knowledge. Now that I knew what all those little buttons and wheels on my camera did, I wanted to learn EVERYTHING about photography!

But I didn’t really know where to start.

There seemed to be a lot of photography courses aimed at teaching manual mode, but I was looking for something more… I wanted to learn in depth about light and composition and exposure!

A Chance Encounter

I had just about given up finding a course that offered what I was searching for, but those good old Facebook algorithms were hard at work, and one day, purely by chance (or perhaps by said algorithms!), Lou popped up on my newsfeed in a Facebook live.

She was sitting in her car and chatting about Click Love Grow, and it really resonated with me because she seemed so down-to-earth and friendly, so I clicked ‘follow’.

After that, I started seeing all these amazing photos from CLG grads popping up in my newsfeed, and it really piqued my interest. I wanted to know how to take beautiful shots like that too!

 

The Course I’d Been Searching For

When I first saw the promos for the CLG Advanced Photography Course, it looked like exactly what I was after. So you might think I jumped straight in!

But I didn’t…

Instead, I sat on the sidelines for a bit, struggling with self-doubt. I wondered if I should take the Enthusiast Course first, but I was already confident in manual mode and I didn’t want to go back to the basics. So eventually, I decided to back myself and sign up for the Advanced Course!

When I got in there, I realised that I wasn’t the only one feeling nervous. Worrying about being ‘good enough’ seemed to be a common theme. But Lou and the instructors were super supportive and encouraging and reminded us that we didn’t need to be ‘advanced’ to take the course. The course was all about learning to BECOME advanced!

 

A Whole New Level Of Learning

If I had to choose a fave lesson, it would definitely be either the high/low key lesson or the portraits lesson. Learning how to look for and find the light, and then how to use it, was such an eye-opener. I also loved the editing lesson, but in truth…

Every single one of the lessons in the Advanced Course just blew me away.

I also loved that the course was so flexible. I work full time, but the course was designed with busy lives in mind so I found I had plenty of time to absorb all of the info and try each of the challenges.

The detailed instructor feedback was such an instrumental part of the learning process.

Also, the live Q&As with Lou really helped me to get my head around some of the trickier concepts and techniques that we covered.

The Confidence To Believe In Myself

The support and encouragement of the instructors was invaluable during the course, as is the ongoing learning and growth I’ve found in the CLG Grads community.

One of the greatest gifts the Advanced Course gave me is the confidence to believe in myself.

My only regret is that I didn’t jump in sooner! Since finishing the course, I’ve even started my own little photography business.

Honestly, my advice to anyone who might be sitting on the fence like I did is simple – JUST GO FOR IT!

Before & After

We love a good before and after set, and Deb’s is just amazing! Her before shot is well exposed with nice use of soft light, but through an expert use of dramatic window light, posing and positioning, her after shot is a really dynamic and engaging portrait with total wow factor!

 

Thank you Deb for taking the time to share your CLG experience and gorgeous photos! If you want to see more of Deb’s work you can find her over here.

If you’re shooting in manual mode, our Advanced Photography Course is the next step. You will learn to shoot with confidence in any scenario, and push yourself creatively to develop your style through intensive 1:1 critique on your work.  Our next course is starting soon.. click HERE to find out more!