PHOTOGRAPHY LESSON: DAY 2 WITH MY SON

by: Shannon Kathleen Photography

Today marked the 2nd day of Art Class, Homeschooling Style.  This student of mine is incredibly eager to learn!!  This eagerness of his is more soul filling than I could ever imagine!

We hopped in the car with our cameras and drove down to Keller Lake Park in Maplewood, MN.  Our lesson today was more about noticing the little things… searching for and finding beauty. 

What we focused on:

1. Walking around and looking for beauty.
2. I instructed him again on watching his Shutter Speed and Aperture for taking in and taking out light in his images (keeping it very basic for him).
3. He also learned how to turn his lens off auto focus and switch to manual focus… he has become a lover of manual focus!!!
4. Working on different angles: from above, low to the ground, and shooting through objects.
5. Different lighting situations: dappled light, full sun with the sun behind the subject, and full sun with the sun facing the subject. Then adjusting Shutter Speed and/or Aperture for each situation.
6. Shooting on Blurpose — taking a blurry image on purpose.
7. Having fun. This is the most important element 😉

All images shot by Camden using a Nikon D5100 and a Nikon 50mm 1.4 lens; all in Manual Mode.

The following image my son took of me in some dappled light. Prior to taking the image we talked about including part of the bridge railing to use as a leading line to me, his subject. 

In this next Diptych image, the one on the left I took of him and the one on the right he took at that exact moment! 🙂 I love how he kept in mind our lesson about shooting through objects.. he purposefully included some of the flowers in the foreground to create layering in the image.

Here are a few more shots he took as we walked along. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him find a little flower, dandelion, and whatever he deemed beautiful to photograph 🙂

For these last few images he worked in harsh full sun light behind his subjects and how it creates a haze as well as taking images on Blurpose 😉

Thank you for following along! 🙂  When I asked him what he learned today he said, “shooting in different light and learning to shoot in different angles”.

At his dental appointment today the dentist asked him what his favorite subject is thus far in Home School …. he said, “Photography” 🙂 🙂 🙂 My life is complete ;

Shannon OMalley

Oh hey there, nice to meet you!

I’m Shannon, a Twin Cities-based (soon-to-be Dallas, TX!) photographer specializing in online dating profile photography, personal branding photography, business headshots, and senior portraits. Whether you’re updating your dating apps, refreshing your LinkedIn profile, building your business brand, or celebrating a senior year milestone, I create natural light portraits that boost confidence and help you stand out — authentically.

With 15+ years of experience — and a personal journey from single mom to entrepreneur (and a CBS feature along the way) — I know the power of a photograph to tell your story. From attracting more meaningful matches, landing dream clients, or marking life’s big moments, I create relaxed, real portraits that feel like you while making a lasting first impression.

I’m also the creator of the Empowered Evolution Mentorship Program for photographers, where I teach creative entrepreneurs how to build profitable photography businesses through intentional marketing, SEO strategies, and streamlined workflows.
When I’m not behind the camera, you’ll find me with my husband, my son, and our beautifully blended family, savoring life’s everyday moments here in Minneapolis–St. Paul (at least for now!). We’re relocating to Dallas, Texas in 2026 — and I’ll soon be offering my signature branding and dating photography experience in the DFW area.

📸 Ready for natural photos that actually feel like you? Whether you need dating photos, professional headshots, or personal branding portraits, I’ll guide you every step of the way so you feel confident and aligned with your next chapter. Let’s book your session today.

www.shannonkathleenphotography.com