You may be surprised to hear that your point-and-shoot is capable of capturing some pretty awesome photos…your camera phone, too! That’s why we can’t wait to share with you what we have planned for next month’s workshop. We’re calling it “On the Spot | Making the Most of your Point-and-Shoot and Camera Phone,” and it’s all about getting creative with the camera you have with you!

We’re so excited about this new workshop that we wanted to give it a little interactive twist! And that’s where you come in…

Do you have a photo that you’re especially proud of…one that was taken with either your point-and-shoot or camera phone? We want to see it! We’re looking for everything from family memories to creative and artistic photos. If we use your photo in our workshop, we’ll send you a $20 Love that Shot Gift Card to say thanks! Spend it however you like…on a workshop subscription or any of our products!

You may enter up to SIX point-and-shoot or camera phone photos

Make sure the photos you send are at a high resolution (minimum 180dpi). Think print-ready, not web-ready, even though they will be displayed on the web, they need to be large enough to be seen at full-screen

Send submissions to michelle@lovethatshot.com, with “On the Spot Photo Submission” in the subject line

Submission deadline: Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 11:59pm EST

By submitting your photo, you give Love that Shot permission to use your photo in this workshop and in promotional materials such as videos or advertising, etc. We will not use your photo in any other way. You retain copyright.

Equal to my love of classic cars, is my passion for photographing vintage boats. I love the details. The reflections. The all-around quaintness of these wooden beauties. Most of all, I love to find the story. It’s fun to photograph all the intricate details of vintage boats, but what makes them so special is the history behind them. The memories they hold.

I’d like to share with you a few of my favorite nautical photographs. These are all amazing examples of storytelling through boat photography. First, are three photos taken by photographer David Mould. To sum them up in one word…Stunning! There are three elements in each of these photos that work together so seamlessly. These elements are: the sky, the mist, and the reflections. All three depend on one thing…can you guess what it is?…

Photo Credit: David Mould Photography

Photo Credit: David Mould Photography

…the calmness of the water. The peacefulness of this water allows the reflections of all three elements, the sky, mist, and boat itself to come together to tell a story. A story of peace. A slower time. A time since forgotten, perhaps?

Photo Credit: David Mould Photography

These two photos by Michael Berman tell a story of action and adventure! The composition is absolutely stunning with the flowing lines of the sails and the dramatic black and white processing.

Photo Credit: Michael Berman

Green Apple Photography captures a story of love and adoration in these two gorgeous photographs of a bride and groom. The warm glow of the sun is just the right amount of light to frame the couple beautifully.

Photo Credit: Green Apple Photography

The next two photos are by photographer John Guider. I love the soft fogginess in this first one. It adds mystery to the story. Whereas, the point-of-view in the second photo adds a sense of adventure as if you, the viewer, are inside the boat ready to embark on a new journey.

Photo Credit: John Guider

Photo Credit: John Guider

Now, this photo by Lady Tori Photography captures the story of a forgotten soul. Just think about how much this boat has seen throughout the years. Think about the many waves that have tossed him about. The photo is beautifully composed and leads your eye towards the lonely horizon in the distance. Gorgeous!

Photo Credit: Lady Tori Photography

I love everything about this photo by Tom’s Digital. The movement in the clouds radiating from the center of the photo. The cool, soft light over the boats lined up on the shore makes it so serene and inviting.

Photo Credit: Tom’s Digital

These last two photos are just so dang cute! Photographer Barb Uil captured the wonder of childhood perfectly. Everything from the subject matter to the processing and everything in between work together to make these photos fun, adventurous, and completely imaginative!

Photo Credit: Barb Uil, JinkyArt Photography

Photo Credit: Barb Uil, JinkyArt Photography

There is a story to be told with vintage boat photography…are you ready to uncover it? Check out our self-paced online workshop, “The Vintage Way | Classic Car and Boat Photography,” and discover for yourself just how fun it is to shoot these vintage wooden beauties!

This month, the theme for our critique and Q&A is Vintage. Since we’re learning about classic car and boat photography this month, we’d love for you to submit a photo featuring a car or boat in some way…don’t have a photo of a car or boat? That’s fine, if you have a photo that expresses the vintage theme in any way: family heirlooms, architecture, post-processing using textures, we’d love to see it! This is your chance to ask us anything and get feedback on your photos. This week-long event will be open today through Thursday, May 17, 2012 (5:00pm MST).

Workshop Subscribers, if you’re taking “The Vintage Way” workshop this month and have questions for us, this is the perfect time to ask!

Continuing with this vintage theme, we’re hosting another fun “Show and Tell” photo challenge next week right here on the blog. This is your opportunity to show off a vintage photo you’ve been working on for a chance to be featured on the cover of this month’s Love that Shot Magazine! It’s a photo link-up, where you upload a photo to your blog/Flickr, insert our button to let your friends know you’re playing along, then link it up to our blog. Easy! (See our FAQs for more information).

So get your photos ready, and meet us over in the community…ready, set, GO!

Summer is just around the corner, and if you’re like me, you have a lot of different types of activities planned…vacations, family outings, maybe even a car show or two to photograph? *wink*wink* …as you know, we’re highlighting car and boat photography on the blog this month!

You’re going to want a fun, stylish bag that’s also durable enough to accompany you on all of these different types of activities. One that you can set on the ground when you need to and not worry about getting scuffed. One that’s compact enough to take with you on short photo ops, but can hold other lenses and accessories, too.

Meet, Evie by Golla. She’s the perfect balance between style and functionality. She’s a beautiful shade of turquoise with a fresh modern floral design, and truly the camera bag for the everyday photographer.

She can be carried over-the-shoulder or cross-body messenger-style, keeping your gear at the ready. The front flap stays closed by two magnetic closures on the bottom edge, but can also be made more secure by using the velcro strap on the side.

Evie’s best feature is on the inside! Look how much she can hold…I’m able to carry my Nikon D60 with my 18-55mm lens and strap attached, my 55-200mm lens, my Lensbaby Composer and Macro kit, with room to spare! The padded inner walls are adjustable, making it easy to customize the space for whatever accessories and lenses you may have.

The front zippered pocket is roomy enough for a few business cards, extra memory cards, and my cell phone. The zipper keeps it all safe and secure.

Plus, she even has a small outer pocket on the outside of the flap. The perfect spot to slip some extra spending cash…you never know when you’re going to need an ice cold beverage to cool you down in the warm summer sun.

And to finish things off nicely, she even comes with rubber feet…so go ahead and set her on the ground. She’s tough, she can handle it!

Perfect for the everyday photographer, Evie’s quite affordable, selling for approximately $55 through Amazon. To see the complete selection of Golla bags, including point-and-shoot carriers, laptop bags and sleeves, and more, visit golla.com. And enjoy your summer full of photography and fun with the family!

This month, we’re featuring classic car and boat photography…my absolute favorite subjects to photograph, and to talk about…don’t say I didn’t warn you!

To kick things off, I want to share with you a few of my favorite classic car photos from across the web. You may already know, I love to tell a story with my photos, and whenever I get the chance I like to add life to them as well. These are all great examples of storytelling, adding personality and charm, or just plain being awesome in and of themselves!

Take this first photo for example. I mean, what’s not to love about this photo by commercial photographer Tim Wallace! The dramatic lighting falling over the car, the strong shadows and reflections, the location…it’s all working together in a beautiful way.

photo credit: Tim Wallace

The composition is what really draws you in to this photo by photographer Ana Ramirez. You just have to fall in love with those highlights and reflections. This is what makes car photography so fun!

photo credit: Ana Ramirez Photo

In my research for amazing classic car shots I didn’t expect to find wedding photography, but what a surprise it was! Talk about storytelling. This photo by Turn Loose the Art says it all.

photo credit: Turn Loose the Art

I love photographing cars in motion, and this photo by Sven Fennema is a fantastic example! The entire package: the blur of the tires, the composition, the location, the processing…absolutely stunning!

photo credit: Sven Fennema

The details are where it’s at! Classic cars have so much personality. In the emblems, ornaments, etc. This photo by Bruce Tracy (he happens to be my uncle), is such a fun example of a great detail shot. The depth of field blurs out the background leading the focus right to the hood ornament. The luscious color of the deep plum and the shadows make the perfect backdrop as well.

photo credit: Bruce Tracy

The simplicity of this scene is amazing. I particularly love how the lime green of the car plays off the vibrant blue in the sky. Photographer Mark Stevens lit the car beautifully and it’s positioned perfectly within the frame. It’s inviting and almost a little mysterious all at once. The makings of a great story!

photo credit: Mark Stevens

This line-up caught my eye from the get go! Photographer Joe Lohr captured the coloring in the cars beautifully, and I love how the light rays in the sky make an almost starburst pattern, leading the eye right to the center of focus…the cars themselves. Such a fun photo!

photo credit: Joe Lohr Photography

Everything about this photo by William Horton is Gorgeous! Yes, with a capitol “G.” The overall coloring of the photo is so soft and luscious. I love how the greens in the furthest mountains play off the green of the vehicle. The processing is just enough to make this photo look as if it were taken during the car’s prime years…as if the driver just stopped along the roadway on a bright sunny day to take in some beautiful scenery. I’m going to say it again…Gorgeous!

photo credit: William Horton

And to finish things off nicely…what’s not to love about this couple sharing a kiss in front of this classic car! Pairing the bright vibrant oranges and yellows of the fall foliage with the soft aqua in the car was absolutely brilliant! Photographer Clinton James captured the story quite beautifully.

photo credit: Clinton James Photography

If you’re interested in getting started in storytelling through classic car and boat photography, then I’d love for you to join me for my new workshop “The Vintage Way | Classic Car and Boat Photography.”

Growing up in my family, it was hard not to develop an appreciation for all things heavy metal…and I don’t mean the music! Even when I was five years old I was hopping out of a Chevy Camero when my Mom took me to school. In my teen years, when other girls had posters of the Backstreet Boys and 98° on their walls, the poster that hung over my bed was of a Ford Mustang GT.

Oh yeah, and my first car…it was an ’83 Ford F150 Short Box that I purchased sans engine. I know, right! What was I thinking? But when you have access to two pretty awesomely skilled mechanics (a.k.a. Dad and Brother), you don’t think of things like that being a road block. It’s more of an adventure! They turned my little guy into a lean, mean, rumbling machine. “He” became a part of the family.

Fast forward to today, and you understand my passion for photographing cars. But not in the way you’re used to…

In my new workshop, “The Vintage Way | Classic Car and Boat Photography,” you’ll learn how I infuse life into my photos and how I look for the details to enhance the story. I’ll go over the three different types of shooting situations and locations, as well as which in-camera settings work best. I’ll even share with you my composition techniques for storytelling.

There’s no expensive equipment needed for this style of shooting, and you may be surprised to find out that you already own the lenses needed. Psst, I use my kit lenses a LOT!

Here’s what you get:

• An 85-page online book covering everything from locations to composition. I shoot vintage boats much like I do cars, so you’ll find a section on boat photography, too!
• 3 bonus video tutorials covering the basics of editing in Camera RAW (white balance, exposure, clarity, etc.), creative editing using textures, and minimizing distracting color casts and making chrome look more realistic.
• Access to me (Misti), so ask me anything!

Next time your husband wants to take off to go see a car show, offer to go with him and make a date of it! You may need to pick him up off the floor first (the news of you being interested in cars may come as a shock to him), but you’ll have a blast capturing the beautiful details of those classic muscle cars as he visits with other car enthusiasts about custom chrome carburetors and special order struts!

This workshop isn’t for those looking to get into commercial car photography; it’s for the everyday photographer who might want to break out of the box and try something new. So, if you’re ready to capture cars and boats in a new light, come along with me as we explore photography in a new way…the Vintage Way!

“I must say I appreciate your work, it is first class! I have learned a lot of new things already and am super excited for all of those future workshops!”

-Kimberly, Canada

Learn more about our workshops subscriptions here.

Michelle and I have enjoyed seeing your beautiful flower photos and want to thank all of you who participated in our “Show and Tell” photo challenge. The photo we chose to feature on our Magazine cover was submitted by Kim Stevens. The minute we saw it, we gasped! We love the soft purple, the focus is fantastic, and the composition just drew us in from the get-go! It’s the perfect fit for this month’s issue of Love that Shot Magazine.

Love that Shot Magazine | Spring Flowers Issue | Table of Contents

Have you been inspired to get outside and start shooting the beautiful spring blossoms? We’d love for you to share links to your photos in the comments below.

Have you ever had a photo that you knew needed to have a special place on your wall? Well, this photo of my husband and I standing in front of the UP house is that photo for us. We saw the movie back when we were just two crazy kids…well, we’re still those crazy kids, only now we’re two crazy married kids! We loved the movie so much we found ourselves quoting it all the time. So it became our movie. You know, like many couples have a song.

A few months ago, Steve and I jumped the border into Utah to visit family and couldn’t help but stop by the real life Up house on our way through. So, as you can imagine, this photo has special meaning for us and needed an equally special home on our wall. In steps The Organic Bloom…they’ve taken the frame outside the box, giving the photos they hold a style all their own. And finally, my special photo has a home!

Meet Mary Anne. Dressed in black, she’s ready for any formal ensemble or classic soiree.

Surrounded in swirls, she shows off her sweet personality with ease.  She’s a bit rough around the edges, too!

She comes ready to hang (either landscape or portrait).

And she cares about beauty, so she takes extra precautions in protecting your walls from scratches. So thoughtful!

Mary Anne has several friends. They come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes and have very distinct personalities. If you’re a professional photographer and would like to offer these beauties to your clients, then follow this link. Not a professional photographer? No worries, just follow this link where you’ll be able to find your closest connections.

Already own a Bloom frame? Let us know which one and what your favorite feature is in the comments below!

Think of something that you love, something that makes your heart skip a beat and puts a smile on your face. Something that is one of your favorite things in the whole world. For some it might be horses or snow or a pet; for others it might be chocolate! For me, it is flowers. You all know by now that I love flowers. There’s something about them that just makes me happy. I know I didn’t learn to love flowers, the love was written into my soul long before I ever discovered it. We’re kindred spirits. We’re bosom friends! (I’m an Anne of Green Gables fan too!)

Knowing when my little flower friends are going to be blooming is important, so I don’t miss the opportunity to photograph them. I’ve put together a list of flowers and what seasons they bloom in, so you don’t miss your chance!

The Northern Hemisphere celebrates spring in the months of March, April and May, while those living in the Southern Hemisphere enjoy it’s beauties in September, October and November. Spring is when most flowering plants begin to bloom, while flowers that bloom only during spring are called Spring Flowers.

Summer season finds floral growth at it’s finest because of the warm to hot weather. Summer arrives in the Northern Hemisphere in June and continues through August, while in the Southern Hemisphere it goes from December to February. In the North Pole and Iceland, summer is the season of the Midnight Sun! The land of the Midnight Sun may refer to any of the world’s northern regions above the arctic circle.

Harvest time ushers in the season of Autumn, with it’s breathtaking show of foliage changing colors! You’ll find Autumn from September through November in the Northern Hemisphere, and September through November in the Southern Hemisphere.

The winter season has it’s own show of beauty which can be found in the Northern Hemisphere from December to February, and from June through August in the Southern Hemisphere.

Are you anxious to start photographing these beautiful flowers? Need somewhere to start? In my new online workshop, “Blossoms & Blooms | Getting Started in Flower photography,” you’ll learn what equipment you need to get started, where to find flowers, what to look for in a good flower subject, which Shooting Modes work best in flower photography, and exposure, light, and composition basics. Click here to get started!

Want to “Show and Tell” one of your awesome flower photos in our photo challenge? Great, we want to see them! Link-up your photo below for a chance to have your photo featured on the cover of our April magazine series (read more about our new magazine format here). Our link-up is open to anyone and everyone, so share the news with your friends and have them join the fun, too!

To enter your photo in our Flower photo challenge, just follow these simple steps:

• You must link directly to your blog post, not your blog’s home page. Are you entering a FLICKR photo? Click here for a how-to on how to enter your photo. Facebook photos don’t play nice with our link-up tool, so we will no longer accept photos linked-up from Facebook. We apologize for any inconvenience.
• Add our button to your post (our button is located towards the bottom of our sidebar to the left).
• Please do NOT watermark the photo you submit, as we cannot use it on the cover of the magazine. Photographer credit will always be given.

**By entering your photo in this challenge, you give Love that Shot permission to use your photo on the cover of Love that Shot Magazine. Some cropping of your photo may be needed to fit the vertical format of the magazine (i.e. if your photo is landscape/horizontal).

Thanks for entering! Check back next Friday (April 27, 2012) to see if your photo is chosen as the cover photo for this month’s flower photography magazine series, and permanently archived among our previous issues on our magazine page…with photographer credit of course!