52 Clicks | Week 13 | Sight

April is all about exploring the senses in our Project 52. We started the month with the sense of sight. There are so many possible ways to explore this theme, from the very literal interpretation of the eye to cheeky captures to more abstract renderings. The p52 participants definitely did not disappoint. It was a fun one to look through all their images.

If themes like this inspire you, you can still jump in the project! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Photo editing plays a key role in creating natural, consistent images. This post shares practical photography editing tips to help you refine light, color, and workflow so your edits feel intentional rather than overprocessed.

52 Clicks | Week 12 | Editorial

We finished our month of storytelling with a brand new theme for us: editorial. Oftentimes when we have such a broad theme, especially one that is a bit trickier, we tend to overthink. I prefaced the theme by instructing the p52 participants to first think of what sort of publication they'd like to shoot for (fashion, food, landscape, parenting, a hobby one like fishing, knitting, photography, or a newspaper). Then once they got that sorted out, then brainstorm what story they wanted to tell. As you look through the images, try to guess what kind of publication they chose.

If themes like this inspire you, you can still jump in the project! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Planning a theme park trip? Discover how to capture magical family memories without missing the fun. These simple photography tips will help you shoot smarter, pack lighter, and stay present during your vacation.

52 Clicks | Week 11 | Decisive Moment

When all elements in your frame come together is what we call the decisive moment. The subject is in just the right place. The composition is spot on. The light is beautiful. The timing of all these things comes together at the same time for you to click the shutter and capture that perfect image. That was what we were working on last week in our Project 52. See what decisive moments the p52 participants captured for this theme. There's still time to join. Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Manual mode doesn’t have to be intimidating. This beginner-friendly guide explains how to shoot in manual mode by breaking down the exposure triangle, camera settings, and common mistakes photographers make when moving beyond auto. If you’re ready to take control of your camera and photograph with confidence, this post is the place to start.

52 Clicks | Week 10 | Emotion

I think it's safe to say we all want to evoke emotions with our work. We want people to feel something. That was the goal last week in our Project 52. There are so many ways to approach the theme. The most obvious, of course, is to capture human emotions. Laughter, tears, pouting, joy. But you can also make people feel something without the outward display of human emotions. By your composition, perspective, use of color, atmospheric details, light, and so many other tools. The p52 participants utilized these and more! There's still time to join. Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Understanding photography lighting basics can transform the way you shoot. This beginner’s guide covers natural light, artificial light, light direction, and common lighting mistakes… plus how learning to work with light can bring more consistency and intention to your photography.

In photography, colour does far more than add visual interest. It shapes the mood of an image, draws the viewer in, and helps communicate the story. In our Chase the Rainbow project, we celebrate colour by focusing on a different shade each month. Whether that’s seeking out the colour in nature, spotting it at home, or styling a scene with thoughtfully selected props and clothing, the project encourages creativity and seeing the world through a more colourful lens.

“It's clear, it's fresh, like a mint candy.” Margaret Atwood 

March’s colour is mint green! Mint green is cool-toned shade of green that evokes a sense of freshness and renewal. It’s a calming, uplifting colour that captures the lightness of early spring, symbolising growth, balance, and a fresh start.

Enjoy looking through all our mint green images.

52 Clicks | Week 9 | Movement

With the light month complete in our Project 52, we're moving onto storytelling. One of the easiest and most visually interesting ways to tell a story in photography is to add movement. Whether the movement is stopped, blurred or implied, the action provides great storytelling context. 

It was fun watching the p52 participants experiment with new techniques like panning and intentional camera movement. That's what the project is all about after all, learning and trying new things. If this appeals to you, there's still time to join. Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Switching from photography to video can feel overwhelming at first. Suddenly you’re thinking about movement, sound, editing, and storytelling… not just light and composition.

But here’s the good news: you already have the foundation.

Photography teaches you to see emotion and anticipate moments. Video simply asks you to capture what happens before and after that single frame. Instead of freezing time, you begin preserving it as a sequence with wide shots to set the scene, close-ups to reveal feeling, and natural sound to bring it to life.

Once you shift from thinking in moments to thinking in movement, video stops feeling intimidating and starts feeling powerful.

In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the February 2026 CONNECTION Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!

52 Clicks | Week 8 | Artificial Light

Artificial light is one of those things that most photographers avoid. We prefer natural light. But understanding how to use artificial light can be a great tool for your photography, and a fun way to infuse creativity into your work. Let's see how the Project 52 participants used artificial light last week, and maybe you can get inspired to dig into this type of light for the future. You can still join us! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

We sat down with Élodie to explore the evolution of her artistic path, the philosophies behind her teaching, and the transformative power of connecting with your own unique vision. Whether you're just picking up a camera or years into your craft, this conversation might just help you listen more closely to the creative voice that’s been waiting to speak.

52 Clicks | Week 7 | Directional Light

Directional light is technically light that comes in from any direction, but as photographers we often think of this as being the dramatic light coming from the side. Think deep shadows and slices or pockets of light. This type of light is fun to play with and use creatively. But directional light doesn't necessarily need to bring the drama. It can be soft front light and diffused window light and subtle ambient light. This week's theme in our Project 52 was really open to any and all light, and I think you'll see this while looking through the participants' images.

If you're looking for a little push to be creative this year, you can still join us. Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Film pulls something out of me that digital never quite can. It slows me down, demands intention, and asks me to trust what I see before I ever know the outcome. After years of building a business rooted in precision and performance, I found myself craving something different. A return to texture. To patience. To imperfection. What started as nostalgia has become something much deeper - a creative reset that reminds me why I picked up a camera in the first place.

52 Clicks | Week 6 | Backlight

The light last week in our Project 52 was all about embracing that backlight. Backlight can be a tricky one to master if the light source is strong and unfiltered. It can be great for more artistic shots, like silhouettes, dramatic rim light and starbursts. If the light is filtered (behind trees, curtains, etc) or at a time of day when it's softer (golden hour, for example), you can use it to create beautiful portraits. See how the p52 participants used this type of light last week.

And if you're wanting to join in our challenge, it's not too late. Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Photographing teens and preteens can feel intimidating… especially if you’re used to working with younger kids who happily perform for the camera. As kids grow, they become more self-aware, protective of their space, and less interested in being told how to pose. The good news? You don’t need stiff posing or long sessions to get strong images. With a few simple shifts (like keeping things quick, respecting boundaries, and directing instead of posing) you can create natural, confident photos of teens whether you’re photographing your own kids or working with clients.

In photography, colour does far more than add visual interest. It shapes the mood of an image, draws the viewer in, and helps communicate the story. In our Chase the Rainbow project, we celebrate colour by focusing on a different shade each month. Whether that’s seeking out the colour in nature, spotting it at home, or styling a scene with thoughtfully selected props and clothing, the project encourages creativity and seeing the world through a more colourful lens.

“Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.” – Lilly Pulitzer

February’s colour is pink! A symbol of nurturing love, femininity, and kindness, pink combines the strength of red with the purity of white. Pink ranges from a soft, innocent baby pink, to an exotic and optimistic coral, to a vibrant, playful magenta, with each shade evoking a different mood.

Enjoy looking through all our pink images.

52 Clicks | Week 5 | Low Light

February in our Project 52 is all about light. The first type of light we tackled was low light. This light can be tricky, forcing you to switch out of auto mode to manual to have greater control of your settings. Don't be afraid to bump up the ISO, though. If exposed properly, you are able to minimize the amount of noise in your image. Another trick for focusing is to use manual focus since our cameras can struggle to grab focus while in autofocus in these low lit conditions.

Look at all the ways the p52 participants used low light last week.

There's still time to jump in the project. Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke