Megan Browne had a DSLR and she knew how to use it. Kinda sorta.

In fact Megan had been using manual cameras since film days, but despite trying to learn in multiple ways, she’d never fully grasped manual mode. Over time she found herself using her camera in auto most of the time.

But when she went on maternity leave with her son, she felt a burning desire to do something for herself that could include her children. That something was photography, but first she needed to learn manual mode properly, and get that monkey we call auto mode off her back!

The happy ending is she did learn, and some… but the real story is, what is it that Click Love Grow has that no one else does? What was different this time around? Read on and Megan will tell you!

When you’re missing pieces of the puzzle…

I’ve always had a camera in my hand. People at work would ask me to take the photos at events and, as a school teacher, this was pretty frequent! But I didn’t know if they asked because they thought I was okay at taking photos, or I was the only person they knew with a DSLR!

I studied photography back in high school, which is where I learned the basics of manual mode (on a film camera!). But even though I grasped what each of the three elements of manual mode did individually… I could never understand how they worked together to take a great photo.

Then shortly after I graduated high school I purchased the cheapest DSLR I could afford, but unfortunately digital didn’t make it any easier. I still lacked confidence in manual mode, and a combination of that and laziness led me to use it in auto mode more and more.

Getting help…

Shortly after having my second bubba, I was craving to do something just for me. Something that I could do with the kids rather than scampering off at night, because let’s face it, who has the energy to do something at night with two kids under 3?

Photography seemed like the logical choice because I already had a camera, I could do it at home, and most importantly I really enjoyed it. So I decided I really wanted to learn more.

So when I went on maternity leave with my first bubba, I was given a 2 hour photography class as a gift. It was an in-person workshop, wandering around the city taking photos with an instructor.

The instructor went through the fundamentals of manual mode, but it still didn’t sink in. As the time frame suggests, the class was limiting, and it felt rushed. I left wanting to ask more questions and bounce my ideas off her, but the only option I had was to Google and that only goes so far. I finished the workshop still craving more.

Then I found Click Love Grow and I’m so glad I did!

The Enthusiast Photography Course was going to help me take beautiful photos of my kids and teach me all the fundamentals that I had forgotten, in addition to skills I was yet to learn.

As a bonus, I could do it online, at home, in my own time.

Learning with Click Love Grow

The content was terrific and you have access to very detailed lessons for life! I love that they were delivered both as notes and as a video with examples and clear explanations. I don’t know about you, but I absorb a lot more information with a visual aide so for me it was the perfect way to learn.

It’s hard to narrow down to just one thing I loved about the course, because what isn’t there to love about Click Love Grow?

But if I had to pick one thing, it would be the community. This is what really sets CLG apart from other courses… you have a whole community behind you. Not only the CLG team but a whole tribe of other like minded people who wanted to achieve similar goals, so for that reason it felt very personal.

Someone is always there to answer your questions, and you can share your work and get in depth feedback. You also get to view the work of all of your classmates and this, along with the weekly lesson challenges, is incredibly motivating.

I have made so many wonderful friends through Click Love Grow that I’m sure I would have never met otherwise.

Finally got there…

The Enthusiast Course was exactly what I needed. I finally learned how to use my camera the way that it should have been used all along and take photos I’m proud of.

Now I have total control of exactly how I want a photo to look without compromise.

This was a shot I took before I did the Enthusiast Course, and not only did I know nothing about light… but I can’t believe I didn’t even consider light!

As for the creative side of things, I have a sound understanding of the technical aspects of DSLR photography, so I have the confidence to take more chances and break the rules to achieve a vision I might have for a photo.

My camera rarely leaves my side now. I have so much more confidence in myself and my abilities as a ‘mum with a camera’. I now take photos of my kids that I’m proud of and happily display them on my walls.

What started as a learning experience for myself has now evolved into something much bigger.

I’m currently in the process of starting my own family and newborn photography business, and I couldn’t be happier!

Don’t waste any more time!

I regret not having done this course sooner. Then my daughter’s baby album would look as beautiful as my son’s!

If you’re a mum and you want to take gorgeous photos of those little (and big) people in your lives, I can’t recommend this course enough!

Even if you’re an aunt, a grandma, the mum of a fur baby (or not!), the course gives you the fundamental skills you need for manual photography, light and composition that you can apply to any subject, and delivers it in a really unique way which makes all the difference.

Thank you Megan for your fabulous words and beautiful photos! If you want to see more of Megan’s work, check her out over here!!

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!