Something that often pops up in our conversations with past students is the different goals and outcomes of our two main courses… the Enthusiast Photography Course and our Advanced Photography Course.

For most of us when we begin, we’re looking to capture well-balanced images, to gain confidence with our cameras and take sharp, in-focus photos out of auto mode, and knowing how to juggle those dials and settings on our camera.  All these goals being exactly what we teach and achieve in our Enthusiast Course.  We lay the photography foundations, we set the scene and get you operating the camera fully out of auto.

But then something happens along the way… once you’ve mastered the basics, once you’re comfortable, and you’re using soft light for photos like a pro… you get hungry for MORE!

You want to play with light that’s more dynamic – you want the challenge of pushing yourself even further creatively.. and that’s exactly where Advanced steps right in. And because you’ve mastered those basics and laid the foundations, you’re then ready to launch into the next realm of photography.

This is exactly what Christie experienced and we’re so excited to share her story today!  She shoots a beautiful range of images from her little one, to client work, families, and artistic women’s photography and I can’t wait to chat to her more in our upcoming Q&A!

Meet Christie!

I’m originally from the UK and have been living in Australia for 6 years now, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. I have a little girl who is turning 2 in September, and I work part time as a Senior Commercial Finance Manager for one of the world’s leading media and entertainment organisations, and the rest of my time is spent on my photography business.

In taking the CLG Enthusiast Course I finally knew how to use my DSLR in manual mode, so I was confident and had a good foundation in the technical as well as light and composition. I really enjoyed taking photos, and they were good, but I wanted them to really pop! Also, I started out just wanting to be able to take better and more creative photos of my baby girl, but soon I also started playing with the idea of being able to do this as a side hustle.

Before the Advanced Course I always took photos of my daughter in soft light, because it was safe and easy and it’s what I knew. But the lesson on low key and high key exposure styles taught me how to achieve a dark and moody look in camera, by learning what kind of light I needed, and how to shoot for it.

This lesson was a game changer, it had a huge impact on my photos, and it helped me find the style of images I love to take!

Another game changer for me was the Lightroom editing course that comes with the Advanced Course. I learned how to use editing to turn an ok photo into an amazing photo, with just a few tweaks (as long as it was technically sound straight out of camera). This was really eye opening for me!

I embarked on a series I call “celebrating the female” as a way to celebrate the strength and beauty of every woman. Whether it’s an amazing athlete like a pole dancer, or a woman who wants to do something for herself and have a beautiful photo of themselves taken, such as my Women In Men’s shirts photos, I just love having the opportunity to celebrate how incredible every woman can be.

Why Click Love Grow?

Where do I start!? Firstly the instructors on the courses are just wonderful!

They are so supportive and give really constructive feedback, in a way that doesn’t make you feel negative or disappointed about your image, just encourages you to keep trying.

Secondly, the courses are structured in such a way that anyone can find time to take them. I had a newborn when I first started with CLG and managed to complete the Enthusiast and Advanced courses whilst on maternity leave. Now I have a crazy toddler, work part time and I am working on my own photography business, and I am still able to carry on learning with CLG and take part in their creative workshops.

Finally, the CLG community that Lou has created is just amazing.

The support and guidance that comes from the members in this community is overwhelming, you never have to feel nervous about posting a photo here, you will always be met with kind words.

This is so important as where else are you going to share all the wonderful photos you are going to create after the courses?!

Before & After

A before and after set of images, side by side is a really powerful way to show the progress you can achieve in just 10 weeks when you join the Advanced Course. So please enjoy Christy’s fabulous before & after images!

Before Advanced Photography Course

After Advanced Photography Course

Many thanks to Christie for sharing your experience and beautiful images! If you want to see more of Christie’s photography check her out at Christie Victoria Photography.

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!