Highlights from The Beginner Photography Podcast Workshop

#560 In this special “Workshop Episode” of the podcast, I,
Raymond Hatfield, share my thoughts and experiences fresh off
hosting our very first in-person workshop in Chicago. After nine
years of connecting with listeners online, I finally brought
together members of our community for a full day focused on
photography, education, and camaraderie. This episode is a
personal reflection on how meaningful it was to see faces behind
the names, and why getting together in person can be a
game-changer for learning and growth.


KEY TOPICS COVERED
The Power of In-Person Workshops - Bringing listeners
together in Chicago broke down the walls of digital connection.
Everyone experienced firsthand how learning alongside others,
asking questions in real time, and building bonds can accelerate
growth in ways online learning rarely can. I saw people relax, open
up, and walk away with real friendships and new
confidence.Foundational Skills: Light, Composition, and Camera
Settings - I designed the content to help both beginners and
experienced photographers by focusing on the essentials—how to use
your camera, how to “see” light, and how to compose compelling
images. I shared personal images, good and bad, to spark
discussion, and guided everyone through hands-on practice,
including a photo walk with a model.Streamlining Editing with
Imagen AI - I talked about my early struggles with editing and
how it almost made me quit at the start. Now, with tools like
Imagen AI—which learns your editing style and speeds up
post-processing—I can spend more time doing what I love: shooting.
The workshop gave attendees hands-on exposure to this workflow,
empowering them to consider new tech solutions to old challenges.

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS & CONCEPTS



“Getting it Right in Camera”: For me (and now for Kim!),
this means achieving the look I want straight out of the
camera, not just aiming for the “perfect” exposure meter
reading. It’s about matching your image to your style and not
being afraid to shoot for your own vision.


Quality of Light: Quality isn’t just about how bright
the light is; it’s about its softness, direction, and how it
shapes your subject. Understanding and controlling these
qualities, even when using flashes or dealing with tough
outdoor light, can level up any photo.



DISCUSSION & REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How have your experiences learning photography in person
differed from learning online?What does “getting it right in
camera” mean for your own style, and how do you apply this when
shooting?Can you share a breakthrough moment you’ve had with light
or composition?What’s your biggest editing headache, and could
something like Imagen AI help you enjoy photography more?

RESOURCES:
Check out Imagen AI - beginnerphotopod.com/imagen
See Behind-the-Scenes Workshop Photos  -
https://adobe.ly/44oOIxe


Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/


Connect with Raymond!


Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at
https://beginnerphotopod.com/group

Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show -
https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa

Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet -
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/




Thanks for listening & keep shooting!