568 IHeart: Photography Tips & a GIVEAWAY!

I get a lot of questions about organizing every single day, but I also get another question SO frequently that has nothing to do with organizing at all...

"Can you offer any tips on taking great photos?"

The reason I haven't really addressed the question in the past is because I don't consider myself an expert in photography in any way.  I pick up my DSLR, try a couple of settings and feel lucky to get some great pictures.  I honestly have little clue what I am doing, I just fake it well!

So I am beyond fortunate today to have a professional stepping in to offer a GREAT giveaway to you!

Kristen Duke is a professional photographer in Austin, TX, and I am just taken away by her incredible work!

She offered to lend me a helping hand with my camera, by sharing with me her e-Book, Say No to Auto!

I already feel like I know my camera SO much better.  She offers up three simple steps to understand camera settings and a clear understanding of HOW to use those settings when shooting in a manual mode!  Never thought I would shoot in manual, but now thanks to her book, I am not scared to go for it!

The first thing I noticed and LOVED is that she actually shows you where to find all of the settings and buttons on the camera itself.  That alone is helpful, and she focuses on both Canon AND Nikon so it is tailored to those that shoot in either!

She talks about all of the terminology surrounding photography like shutter speed and ISO and offers up easy to understand definitions of all!  Then, she walks you through different scenarios so you can understand HOW to use your camera settings based on the environment.  She even touches on lighting and how to shoot based on where your light source is coming from, which was a huge help for me!

Her book is for the beginner {which was PERFECT for me!}, or someone that has been trying to understand their manual settings for awhile.  There are so many books out there that highlight every little thing you can learn about your camera, and while they are fabulous, for the beginner they can be very overwhelming.  Kristen's book has 17 pages that offer all it takes to understand the 3 basic steps to understanding manual camera settings.  She believes that once the basics she offers are understood, then some of those more detailed 100+ page photography books will make much more sense.

Her book is offered in either an electronic E-Book or a hard copy version!

Today, Kristen is offering up a giveaway, so you can learn more about your camera, photography and enhance your current skills!  And if you can't wait until the end of the giveaway to get your hands on a copy of her book, you can purchase now and she will refund you if you win!

Here are the details:

• Giveaway is for a hard copy book {$20 value!} and a BONUS workshop e-notebook which chats about finding the best light, lenses and gear, posing suggestions for candid and smiley shots and some basic Photoshop techniques with screen shots {$25 value!}
• Giveaway is open everyone! {anyone outside of the US will be given the E-Book vs. the Hard Copy due to shipping rates}
• Giveaway is open from Tuesday, November 8th through 9:00 p.m. central time, Monday, November 14th, and the winner will be announced right here on Tuesday, November 15th.
  
• One winner will be selected using random.org.
• Please ensure I have your blog or email address so I have a way to contact you if you win.

To enter:

• "Like" Kristen Duke Photography on Facebook and leave a comment here stating that you did {required}
• Visit the Kristen Duke Photography and subscribe to her incredible posts, and leave a comment here that you did.

Thanks everyone and good luck!

Psssst!  She is giving away one of my Household Binder Everything Printable Kits on her blog, check it out here!