Discover six fun and festive ways to use off-camera flash this holiday season! From lighting up cozy indoor scenes to adding sparkle to snow and Christmas lights, these creative techniques will help you capture beautifully lit, magical holiday photos. Whether you’re mastering your OCF skills or just looking for fresh inspiration, this post will show you how a single flash can completely transform your winter storytelling.

In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the October TRICK OR TREAT Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!

52 Clicks | Week 43 | Blue Hour

In our final week of our Light O'Clock month in our Project 52 we tackled blue hour, which is the period just before sunrise and after sunset. It's famous for creating serene and tranquil moods with the cool blue and purple tones. Let's see how the p52 participants captured this type of light.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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For some of us, Halloween isn’t just one night… it’s a year-round state of mind. From costumes and creepy movie scenes to foggy forests and Photoshop composites, there are endless ways to capture the spirit of spooky season through your lens. Whether you love eerie vibes, playful costumes, or creative digital edits, this post shares Halloween photography inspiration that keeps the magic alive long after October 31st.

52 Clicks | Week 42 | Golden Hour

Last week in our Project 52 we tackled the oh-so-beloved golden hour. This is the type of light most photographers dream of, that golden glow hard to resist. Although there are some of us that struggle with this light, noting how difficult it is to get the skin tones just right. What are your thoughts on this light?

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Colour is one of the most powerful tools in photography. Colour can evoke emotions, tell stories, and transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary. In our Chase the Rainbow project we explore the beauty of a different colour each month. Whether that’s finding the colour in nature, around the house or setting up a scene with colourful props and clothing.

“The sky takes on shades of orange during sunrise and sunset, the colour that gives you hope that the sun will set only to rise again.” - Ram Charan

This month our colour was orange. Orange is optimistic, playful and exotic. A blazing sunset, a crackling campfire, a comforting bowl of pumpkin soup; virtually everything associated with orange signifies warmth and elicits positive emotions.

Enjoy looking through all the different images we have created with orange. 

52 Clicks | Week 41 | Overcast

Next up in our Project 52 "Light O'Clock" theme was overcast. This type of light can read dull, drab or boring, so it poses a unique challenge of how to infuse interest and drama. Let's see how the p52 participants fared in this situation. 

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Food photography can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right process it’s fun and rewarding. In this beginner-friendly guide, I’ll walk you step by step through my food photography process—from choosing natural light and backdrops to styling props, composing your shot, adding food, and editing. Whether you’re photographing a colorful dish or a cozy cup of coffee, these tips will help you capture mouthwatering images that look both professional and inviting.

52 Clicks | Week 40 | Full Sun

We've moved on to Light O'Clock in our Project 52. We will spend the month of October exploring different types of outdoor light. First up is the controversial full sun that people typically either love or hate, with little wiggle room in the middle. Its harshness can make it difficult, but by embracing this type of light, you have so many opportunities to create joyful, vibrant and creative images. Let's see how the p52 participants approached this type of light.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Maternity and newborn photography is about so much more than beautiful images — it’s about safety, connection, and helping families feel seen in one of the most important seasons of their lives. From intentional posing that helps expecting moms feel radiant to embracing the chaos that toddlers bring, these 10 tips will guide you toward sessions that are confident, creative, and client-centered. And if you’re ready to go deeper, my course Parenthood in Focus: A Maternity and Newborn Course gives you the behind-the-scenes insight, safety training, and real client sessions you need to take your work to the next level.

52 Clicks | Week 39 | Monochromatic

Our Project 52 finished up color month with the monochromatic color scheme. Although this is often a term used for black and white photography, it's actually defined as using different shades, tints, and tones of a single color. Monochromatic images create a cohesive, harmonious look that emphasizes mood and texture. See how the p52 participants used this color scheme so very brilliantly.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the September JOY Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!

52 Clicks | Week 38 | Analogous 

Our Project 52 moved onto the analogous color scheme in our month of color. If you're unfamiliar with this term, it refers to the colors touching on the color wheel, like blues and greens or yellows and oranges. These color combinations are oftentime harmonious, and they evoke specific emotions based on whether they're warm or cool in temperature.

The p52 participants used this color scheme thoughtfully, and I am yet again in awe of their creativity.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Every photographer faces creative slumps, but the key is finding ways to reignite your spark. From taking care of yourself and unplugging from screens to connecting with nature, experimenting with new techniques, and embracing weaknesses, there are countless ways to get inspired again. These simple strategies will help you push past ruts, discover fresh perspectives, and fall back in love with your craft.

52 Weeks | Week 37 | Complementary Colors

Our Project 52 moved onto complementary colors, which are the two colors across from each other on the color wheel. Blue + orange. Purple + yellow. Green + red. The p52 participants either set out to find these colors that occur naturally in nature or they were more creative in their approach to photographing the color combos.

Do you have a combination that you're naturally drawn to?

xo,

Angie Mahlke

Click here to join!

Colour is one of the most powerful tools in photography. Colour can evoke emotions, tell stories, and transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary. In our Chase the Rainbow project we explore the beauty of a different colour each month. Whether that’s finding the colour in nature, around the house or setting up a scene with colourful props and clothing.

"You make different colors by combining those colors that already exist” - Herbie Hancock

This month our colour was cyan. Cyan falls between green and blue in the rainbow colours, and includes loads of different shades such as turquoise, teal, petrol, aquamarine, peacock and so on. It’s a tranquil and fresh colour, making us think of tropical waters and sunny skies.

Enjoy looking through all the different images we have created with cyan. 

52 Clicks | Week 36 | Cool Colors

Cool colors convey a sense of calm, tranquility, and sometimes melancholy. Our Project 52 participants were tasked with using cool colors (blues, greens, purples) last week, and I think you’ll agree that they definitely understood the assignment.

What is your favorite way to use cool colors in your work? Or do you gravitate toward warmer colors?

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Street photography is more than pointing your camera at strangers. It’s also about noticing fleeting moments, playing with light and shadows, and capturing the story of everyday life. In this beginner’s guide, you’ll learn how to gain confidence shooting in public, compose striking images, and discover creative techniques like reflections, silhouettes, and patterns to elevate your street shots.

52 Clicks | Week 35 | Warm Colors

The whole month of September in our Project 52 is about exploring colors in our work. Just like any choice in photography, our use of color can be a powerful tool. Every color has an emotional connotation that can determine the intention of the image. Learning how to use colors to your advantage can make a huge difference in your work.

Last week we focused on warm colors, which are reds, oranges and yellows. These colors convey feelings of warmth, energy, and comfort. Look at how the p52 participants used warm colors and try to determine what their intentions were with their color choices.

xo,

Angie Mahlke

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Mini sessions aren’t just quick, low-cost shoots—they can be a powerful way to build consistent income and keep your photography business thriving year after year. When structured intentionally, mini session photography connects you with new clients, creates predictable revenue streams, and keeps you top-of-mind for families who may book you again and again.