Learn the foundations of photography.
Create beautiful images.
Chronicle your life.
They grow up fast, yet the days drag on and on. It really is the longest shortest time.
It is a time worth documenting and a good time to work on your photography skills.
Children photograph so well. They are funny, clever, cute, joyful and playful, all things begging to be documented for the family album.
We snap away at their lives trying to frame that feeling and hold onto it forever. But then the image isn’t exactly how it felt in the moment.
This course is designed to teach you the secret sauce of photography: Knowing how to use light and composition to your advantage and make photos that evoke the feelings you want to savour.
I want you to make better photographs of your everyday life. In fact, I’m dedicated to helping families become better chroniclers of their lives. When the’ve flown the nest you can open that album and see how hard you worked and how far they’ve come.
Here is what you will take away from the Learning To Speak Bear photography course:
- Understanding the camera. Any camera.
- How to work with light.
- The power of a good composition.
- Getting a handle on the thousands of images made, and put them in an album.
Each module will walk you through a segment of photography and give you homework to practice for yourself. The course is built so you can skip back and forth as you learn, because as with learning any big new thing, repetition is key.
When you have questions, each module has a handy comments section where you can ask questions.
I made this workshop with caregivers in mind and named it after my photography book on motherhood. Your everyday matters, and I hope this course will give you confidence to document it.
Your Instructor
Hello! I’m Kristine, photographer, journalist, educator and photography coach. I have photographed presidents, rock stars, kings and queens, actors and my most favourite: everyday folks. My work has been published worldwide in magazines and newspapers, and I both write and photograph long-form feature stories, my primary focus being our everyday connection to our geography and how we live. I build online courses for photographers wanting to expand on their work and connect with their inner storyteller, because if there is one thing at the core of everything I do it is story.
TESTIMONIALS
“Kristine is a great teacher and a joy to listen to. She has such a peaceful way of communicating beautiful and big truths. I really enjoyed her insight into making different and meaning photographs.”
— Stephanie Lyell, USA
“I deeply appreciate that Kristine brought back that joy in learning. Her knowledge, effort, time and humanity put into her workshop make it highly authentic. You learn about photography ánd the photographer inside you.”
— Mieke Haesaert, Belgium
“Kristine’s ability to translate her expertise into guidance for her students is unmatched. Her courses are carefully and throughly designed and delivered. Anyone who puts in the work will see results and feel proud of their progress. She’s nurturing and practical and super fun to be around.”
— Katie Jett Walls, USA
“Kristine is an incredibly kind and thoughtful teacher. She has a way of seeing the world and connecting with people that is very genuine.”
— Emilie P., Canada
WHAT’S INSIDE…
1 - The Manual Camera
Cameras can be intimidating, they come with SO MANY BUTTONS! Don’t worry, I’ll teach you to use the important things so you can get comfortable and find the joy in making photos.
- What is Aperture
- What is Shutter Speed
- What is ISO
- The Exposure Triangle
- 70 minutes of recorded instruction broken into pieces
- Homework tailored to the lesson
2 - The Light
If there is one module you MUST NOT MISS it’s this one. Photography doesn’t exist without light. In fact, the word photography is from phos for light and graphê for drawing. In this module we will talk about how light works. It’s magical.
- Outside Light
- Inside Light
- Light Temperature
- Using Light Intentionally
3 - The Compositions
We’re going to break our pictures down into pieces and learn how to fit photos together in a way that tells a story and pleases the eye. You’ll learn the rules and when to break them and practice over and over to build the compositional muscle.
- Compositional Rules
- Breaking Compositional Rules
- Layering Your Frame
- Story Elements
4 - The Humans
Making photographs of fellow humans can be challenging. There is something super special in a bond formed through a photograph, and in this module we explore ways to approach people to make photographs that feel authentic to them. And you.
- Asking Permission
- Their Story
- Your Story
- The Collaboration
5 - The Everyday
This is the magical space where photographs are important. The days where nothing and everything happened, those are the days we re-visit in our memory, the days we crave, especially if kids are involved.
- Cumbersome Expectations
- As Is
- Routines
- Why Document The Everyday
6 - The Album Selection
One of the best feelings in the world is holding your photos in your hands, on paper. The printed photos is everything. And the best way to enjoy a selection of family photos is in a carefully curated and beautifully printed album. In this module we explore easy ways to select your images to find the ones that speak together. Then we’ll get them ready to print and put them into a book.
- The Edit
- Toning Images
- Putting Them Together
- Printing Pictures
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm really busy, I don't have time to learn...
This workshop is built by a mom for parents. I understand busy. You will be able to do this workshop at your own pace. I have a suggested calendar set up for you, but if you fall behind then pick it back up. I will say though: As with any learning you get what you put in.
I've never used a camera before...
This course is built to learn to see as a photographer, no matter how much or little you’ve used it before. You will learn to use the camera, any camera, and harness the light and compositions that make beautiful pictures. From the ground up. No experience needed.
I've already used a camera for years, I don't need the basics...
That’s ok, you can skip the lessons you feel proficient in. This is a comprehensive workshop where you learn all things photography, and even if you already know everything about using your camera, a refresher in light and composition doesn’t hurt. You’ll also learn to photograph kids, edit and sequence and get images ready for that album you might have on the backburner…
What is the homework?
In each module I will give you work to do so you can practice your photography. These assignments are made so you can do them again and again without them getting too monotonous. I know this because I use the same assignments for myself when I need to kick into gear, and practicing our basics never gets old. Even the most seasoned pianist still practices their scales. The goal is to help you build muscle memory so you can make images on instinct.
How long do I have access to this course?
I promise access to my workshops for at least a year. I can’t promise beyond that because life throws curveballs but as long as the course stays on this platform and I’m around to monitor it you have access. So between one year and my lifetime.
Will you be available to ask questions?
Yes. While this is a self-paced workshop and you learn on your own time, you can always reach out to me or ask a question in the comment section. I’m dedicated to help you move forward so I make myself available to ask questions. Please reach out. I’m a person and care about all my students, even if I don’t always meet them.
What does self-paced mean?
It means all the lessons and work is pre-recorded and delivered to you in modules. This gives you the freedom to finish at your own pace, but also the responsibility to keep yourself accountable. I offer mentored workshops where I’m there to hold you accountable, and you can also reach out to me if you want to take this workshop with help, I can make that happen for you.
Can I do the course with a friend?
Absolutely but they will also have to register. I am one person running a small business to feed my kids, so it’s not allowed to share your login with people. However, if you are two friends who want to do this together but have limited means, I’m open to give a discount to the second user. I want you to have a good learning experience while also allowing my business to run sustainably.