Photography education for everyone
That’s our mission. Our passion. To offer photography resources in a variety of ways and in different learning styles. Resources created by established photographers who also have a passion for teaching, that are filled-t0-the-brim with helpful tools, tips, examples, technical skills, and also give you tangible take-aways to be able to implement what you learned.
From free resources to in-depth educational courses, we know that everyone’s needs and budget differ. Our mission is to provide hands-on learning opportunities no matter your skill level or budget.
The teenage years are a challenge. For both parents, and for our teens as they learn to navigate life with a bit more independence. They are given more freedom and preparing for life on their own. They pull away from us, which is bittersweet since we were once the center of their universe.
Going from a mom and photographer of littles to one of teens can be a rough transition. Gone are the days of adorable discovery and the wonder they experience every day. Those once delicious toddler and kid details have long gone. Those baby faces have been replaced with nearly adult looks that are sometimes awkward as they transform into fully grown people.
Just because those early days are long behind us, doesn’t mean those teen years aren’t important or magical to capture. In our opinion, these years are even more important to document... since this phase represents our jobs raising them coming to a close. Photographing teens requires a new approach, but the results are priceless.
Holly Awwad and Melissa Richard’s chapters of this course focus on working with your own pre-teens and teens in a variety of different ways that you can cater to the needs and personality of your own kids. They share valuable information and tips to changing the way you can approach photographing your tweens and teens and how to engage your children in the process. From incorporating their interests, to how to help with body positivity and turning to creative ways to use light, perspective and the surrounding environment to enhance your photos, these chapters are a wealth of resources to get you feeling energized and prepared to find a new way to photograph your teens and tweens.
If the idea of photographing teen clients leaves you feeling a little less than confident, Melissa Ortendahl’s chapter is for you! Melissa shares with you the top things you need to know to help both you and your clients feel at ease during their session. From pre-session consultation emails and questionnaires to the specific (and different) ways she works with her teen clients for both solo and family sessions - after reading this, you will have all the tools you need to knock it out of the park! Melissa also shares a little glimpse into photographing her own preteen and teen boys as well.
What’s Included in this course:
Three Chapters:
Holly Awwad: The Independent Years
25 Page Downloadable PDF
2 Videos Going Behind the Scenes Plus an Edit from each session
• BONUS 12 page PDF Posing Guide
Melissa Richard’s Chapter: Capturing Pre-Teens
31 Page PDF
2 Editing Videos
Melissa Ortendahl’s Chapter: The Teen Client Experience
20 page pdf
2 solo teen BTS session videos
1 family with teens BTS session video
1 session wrap up video
Pre-Session Questionnaire and email template
Check Out Our Brand New Courses!
A videography course created and taught by Nick Froese and Laura Froese
Many of us start with photography, capturing beautiful moments through the lens, but then the question arises – "What about video? Where do I begin? How do I handle the footage? What about editing, storytelling, selecting clips, gear requirements, and more?"
Well, wonder no longer! Laura and Nick Froese designed this course to guide photographers, like Laura, through the transition into the world of video. Led by Nicholas Froese, a videographer with over 20 years of experience, this course follows Laura's journey into this new medium. Join them, together, while Laura delves into videography, documenting their family adventures, and asking Nicholas a myriad of questions - even the silly ones - so you don’t have to!
This course focuses heavily on storytelling - both shooting and editing with a larger narrative in mind. We use Premiere Pro to edit, but the principles can be applied to any editing software.
Topics covered include:
Setting up your DSLR or mirrorless camera for video;
All that extra gear (and do I really need it?);
How to shoot for story and have it flow in a beautiful narrative;
The basics of editing, from technique to practical suggestions to help your story flow;
Delving deeper into editing and special effects;
The art of clip selection; and
Audio, export settings, and more!
And yes, we include bloopers, too ;)
In this course, you will receive the following:
63-page downloadable e-book
Instructor introduction video (I promise, it's hilarious)
3 instructional videos covering setting up your camera, gear, and looking at how to shoot a scene for story
5 editing videos covering everything from opening your program to exporting a finished product
5 BONUS videos covering:
Slow motion;
A complete family day-in-the-life video;
The sped-up, full edit of that video;
The full, uncut footage demonstrating filming a family making cookies; and
How to set up a gimbal.
Hooray! Are you ready for a theme park Vacay?! If so, then this online photography course is for YOU!
Join TFF Co-Founder Holly Awwad as she takes you on a Theme Park Vacation! She will cover everything from what to bring, to when to get there, and everything in between! Holly will guide you on how to choose your settings so you don’t miss important moments. And finally, she will teach you some editing techniques to make your trip photos MAGICAL!
• Be Prepared: Learn how to research for your trip and shot list, what to bring, what not to bring, and more.
• Timing is Key: Find out the best times for taking photos in theme parks (and we aren’t talking about the best time for light!).
• Where to Shoot: Get tips on the best ways to avoid the crowds, ways to find unique photo ops, and more.
• What to Shoot: Learn the must-have shots for documenting your trip, and creative ways to take photos to avoid having other people in your frame.
• Photo Projects: Holly shares her tips on getting the family involved and excited about taking photos in the park!
• Camera Settings: Learn Holly’s recommendations on how to use camera settings to make your vacation photos come to life in unique and interesting ways!
• Editing Your Trip: Holly will show you how to stitch photos together in Photoshop to make a large image of two images shot in tight quarters. She will also share how to remove unwanted people or objects from your vacation photos!
What’s Included:
• 30 page Downloadable PDF
• 2 start to finish editing videos on photo stitching and removingunwanted people/objects from your photos.
• 2 Creative Exercises
Meet the women behind The Framed Focus
Courses, Workshops, Freebies & More
Meet Your Instructors
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Holly Awwad
CO-FOUNDER | INSTRUCTOR
Michigan, United States
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Melissa Ortendahl
CO-FOUNDER | INSTRUCTOR
Massachusetts, United States
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Angie Mahlke
CO-FOUNDER | INSTRUCTOR
Minnesota, United States
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Laura Froese
CO-FOUNDER | INSTRUCTOR
British Columbia, Canada
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Kristen Ryan
INSTRUCTOR
Oklahoma, United States
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Melissa Richard
INSTRUCTOR
Alberta, Canada
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Elodie Meyer
INSTRUCTOR
Quebec, Canada
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Samantha Deakin
INSTRUCTOR
Derbyshire, United Kingdom
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Abi Coop
INSTRUCTOR
Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Louise Harmston
INSTRUCTOR
Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
At The Framed Focus, you have…
The Ability to Connect with Like-Minded Creatives From All Over the Globe: Join a vibrant community of photographers from around the world, eager to share tips, techniques, and inspiration to help you elevate your craft.
Access to Exclusive Learning Opportunities: Access a wealth of resources including tutorials, webinars, and masterclasses led by experienced photographers who love to (and are really freaking good) at teaching, tailored to all skill levels from amateur to professional.
Opportunities to Showcase Your Work: Gain visibility and recognition by sharing your photos in themed challenges and competitions, with opportunities to have your work featured and reviewed by seasoned photographers.
Opportunities for Collaboration and Growth in your Photography Journey: Participate in collaborative projects, get constructive feedback on your work, and build meaningful relationships with peers who are just as passionate about photography as you are.
