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

Finding Creativity Through Color explores how an ongoing color self-portrait project can spark creativity, encourage risk-taking, and fuel long-term artistic growth. From playful, over-the-top beginnings to more refined and conceptual approaches, this series shows how working with color as a constraint can lead to deeper experimentation, stronger visual storytelling, and renewed motivation to keep creating—even when inspiration feels low.

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

52 Clicks | Week 4 | Micro-composition

We ended our first month in the Project 52 with micro-composition. This is an advanced concept that was brand new for most of us, and it certainly cannot be mastered in a single week. We all struggled to wrap our brains around exactly what it is. When broken down into its most basic parts, micro-composition is composing your image with the utmost care of all the details and how they interact with one another to create the larger scene. It is a technique we often use on some level without realizing it. When we intentionally use elements in a scene, or when we craftily arrange our subjects, or when we move around to get the perfect perspective, etc. These are ways in which we unconsciously use micro-composition. 

It becomes trickier when we are actively engaging these concepts because our minds tend to flick over to overthinking mode. Our biggest takeaway all week was to focus on the attempt and not the end results. We may miss the mark just a little as we go out and try new things, but we will never learn new things if we don't at least try them. Sometimes we learn the most when we try and then fail and then try again.

We are onto our next monthly theme in the p52. There's still time to jump in! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Stepping in front of the camera can feel intimidating for photographers who are most comfortable behind it. In my Wilde Wanderings Photo Project, I challenged myself to create one environmental self-portrait each month while exploring nature. Over the course of a year, this personal photography project pushed me outside my comfort zone and taught me valuable lessons about planning, adaptability, creative problem-solving, and giving myself grace. From icy winter staircases to crowded mountain docks and unpredictable weather, each image became more than a photo—it became a memory, a reflection, and a reminder that meaningful work doesn’t require perfection.

52 Clicks | Week 3 | Asymmetry

Asymmetry was the next theme in our month of composition in our Project 52. It was a new concept for some of us, and there may or may not have been some familiar grumblings about how the project is off to a challenging start. And I may or may not have smirked a bit with gleeful pleasure because isn't that the whole point? To challenge ourselves?

On top of the already challenging theme, a majority of us also faced weather challenges. As in, dangerous sub-zero temperatures that forced us inside with our cameras (Hi, that's me!). As you scroll through the participants images you'll see a common theme: snow, winter, frost, liars who make people believe winter is a lovely season, more false advertising on the idea of a winter wonderland, and...dogs.

It's not too late to hop in! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

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.

“Brown is the color of hearth and home — of dried herbs and stone-ground bread and freshly baked cookies.” Leatrice Eiseman

The first colour for 2026 is brown. Brown is anything but drab! It’s a beautifully warm, earthy colour that creates a feeling of coziness and nostalgia. Coffee, chocolate, crispy dried leaves, tree bark, stuffed toys, pets, architecture, we see so much of brown in our everyday lives that we can easily overlook its magic. 

Enjoy looking through all our brown images.

The second week of our composition month in our Project 52 was all about the rule of triangles. This sent a lot of us into overthinking mode as we hunted for triangles and/or tried to wrap our minds around the golden triangle composition. Incorporating triangles in your work is an easy way to make your images more visually engaging. Take a peek at a small sampling of the p52 participants' use of triangles.

If you're looking for a project that sparks your creativity and gets you thinking each week, there's still plenty of time to join us! Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Self-portrait photography doesn’t have to feel awkward or intimidating. Whether you’re documenting everyday moments with your kids or stepping in front of the camera on your own, self-portraits can be a powerful way to build confidence, create meaningful memories, and reconnect with yourself. In this post, you’ll learn simple, low-pressure ways to start taking self-portraits, from easy camera setups and movement tips to easing into faceless shots and embracing vulnerability—no perfection required.

And so we begin again. The 2026 Project 52 kicked off with what seemingly is an easy theme: center composition. The general consensus, though, is this composition is far trickier than meets the eye. I think you'll agree upon looking through a sampling of the participants' images below that they make it look easy.

We're just getting started on the p52, and there's still time for you to join! The project is open to anyone, no matter the skill level or genre. We have people from all over the world, and all are welcome! Sign up now to join!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

Winter photography offers a stunning mix of snowy landscapes, soft light, and cozy indoor moments — but it also comes with unique challenges. From managing exposure in bright snow to using color, perspective, and thoughtful editing, these six practical tips will help you confidently capture the magic of winter and create images that feel both beautiful and intentional.

In this post we share our Winner and Featured Artists for the December 2025 HOLLY JOLLY Photo Challenge at The Framed Focus!

52 Clicks | Week 52 | Word of the Year

To finish off our 2025 Project 52, our final theme was "word of the year." This isn't one we've done before, but it was interesting to see what words everyone picked to either represent the year that just passed or to guide the year to come.

And just like that, another project has come to an end. Cue the celebration and happy tears for surviving a year-long project! It's no small feat, and I'd love for everyone to take a moment to reflect on the journey. Disregard any negative voices that might be trying to tell you that you didn't complete it with all 52 images or there were a handful of images you didn't love or that you struggled or that you doubted yourself or, or, or... Our inner voices can be so loud and mean, but try to mute the negative self-talk and celebrate all the small wins and gains over the past year.

If you'd like to do the project with us this year, jump on in! We're just getting started and we'd love to have you. Sign up now!

xoxo,
Angie Mahlke

When you mention terms like "golden hour," "window light," and "even lighting," how does that resonate with you as a photographer? Does it ignite excitement for a photoshoot? Maybe it brings a sense of relief during a client session? Now, consider terms like "dappled light," "harsh light," and "direct sun." How do you feel now? Does it introduce a hint of stress? Lastly, let's talk about flash. Does it evoke a sense of calm or anxiety? Flash seems to have a negative reputation.