On the 12th Day of #DSLR ...

Welcome to The 12 Days of DSLR. This year you don't have to wait - you can read all 12 posts immediately!

We revisited and updated 12 of our most popular posts to give you the jumpstart on making the most of your DSLR camera. This series is aimed at first-time DSLR owners as well as those who want a little more guidance for how the make the most out of shooting with a DSLR.

Day 1: Know your settings and camera zero

Day 2: Shutter speed overview

Day 3: Depth of field and aperture

Day 4: All about your camera lens(es)

Day 5: Best accessories for your DSLR, part 1: bargains

Day 6: Best accessories for your DSLR, part 2: splurges

Day 7: What the … white balance

Day 8: Composition basics

Day 9: Zooming vs. cropping: watch your background and move your feet

Day 10: Black and white photography

Day 11: Snow photography tips

Day 12: At-Home Photography

Find endless photography inspiration at home! Day 12: At-home photography contains ideas sorted by whether any planning (or supplies) are required, from no-prep, minimal prep, and some advanced planning required. Everyone can find something new to try. 

12 Days of DSLR, all in one place: 

Day 1: Know your settings and camera zero

Day 2: Shutter speed overview

Day 3: Depth of field and aperture

Day 4: All about your camera lens(es)

Day 5: Best accessories for your DSLR, part 1: bargains

Day 6: Best accessories for your DSLR, part 2: splurges

Day 7: What the … white balance

Day 8: Composition basics

Day 9: Zooming vs. cropping: watch your background and move your feet

Day 10: Black and white photography

Day 11: Snow photography tips

Day 12: At-home photography

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Want to learn more? Boost Your Photography: Learn Your DSLR is available from Amazon. Get the most out of your camera with practical advice about the technical and creative aspects of DSLR photography that will have you taking beautiful pictures right away.

December's 2nd A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography

A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography is a twice-monthly post rounding up all the great content available on BYP that has been published during this same time of year, across the years. It's a quick way to catch up on content you may have missed, including seasonal and time-sensitive photography tips and ideas.

• Shooting Modes, part 3: aperture priority. Aperture priority is a shooting mode you need to know. Find out the best situations to use aperture priority and how to know which aperture to choose. 

• Shooting Modes, part 4: manual mode. You've made it - the big kahuna! Find out how to master manual shooting mode.

• Top 5 Posts about Camera Settings. To kick off the new year, check out this look back at the Top 5 posts of all time about camera settings.

• Creative Christmastime Photography. Check out this collection of creative holiday photographs for some inspiring ideas for your own photography.

• Must Have Accessories for Your New Camera. Have a new camera? This post lays out the basic accessories that will get you started off on the right foot.

• Favorite Photography Books and Authors: part 1. This first post on my favorite photography books and authors focuses on authors who explore the bigger picture of photography and will inspire you will ideas for composition, design, and more.

• Favorite Photography Books and Authors: part 2. This post introduces some of my favorite photography books and authors that explain the more technical side of photography. Nail your settings with these great books.

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December's A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography

A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography is a twice-monthly post rounding up all the great content available on BYP that has been published during this same time of year, across the years. It's a quick way to catch up on content you may have missed, including seasonal and time-sensitive photography tips and ideas.

• All about Bokeh. Bokeh is an incredible effect from lights and blur, and the holiday season is a perfect time to experiment with bokeh. This post will walk you through how to create fabulous natural bokeh shots.

• Shaped Bokeh. The next step in bokeh photography is to create shaped bokeh. This post will walk you through this simple DIY hack for shaped bokeh photographs. 

• Shooting Modes part 1: program mode. Learn how to use all the different modes your camera provides during this month-long series. This first post starts from the beginning by getting you off of Auto mode and into Program mode.

• Shooting Modes, part 2: shutter priority mode. After mastering Program mode, find out how and why to use Shutter Priority mode.

• Holiday and Photoshop Posts over at Craftsy. This next post features a collection of posts over at Craftsy including advice about how to photograph your holidays (without going insane) and how to use exposure compensation for perfect holiday lights.

• Yes, You Need a 50mm Lens. A 50mm lens is a major upgrade from your kit lenses, and this post lays out a series of arguments (and photographs) to show you what you might be missing. Plus, at around $100 USD, a 50mm lens is also a steal! 

• Dramatically Improve Your Photography for Less than $20. Looking to make a big impact in your photography for very little cost? This post lays out a variety of super-inexpensive upgrades that can drastically improve your photography.

• How to Photograph Outdoor Holiday Lights. Capture incredible shots of outdoor Christmas lights displays with these easy tips. Find out when, where, and how to shoot.

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November's 2nd A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography

A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography is a twice-monthly post rounding up all the great content available on BYP that has been published during this same time of year, across the years. It's a quick way to catch up on content you may have missed, including seasonal and time-sensitive photography tips and ideas.

• How to Shoot Your Children (With a Camera). This guest post by photographer Elizabeth Van Orden shares 7 easy-to-implement tips to take your children photography from humdrum to wow!

• Great Gifts for Photographers (and Yourself). Treat yourself or the photographer in your life with something special this holiday season. This post offers a collection of must have and super-useful photography gifts and accessories at a variety of price points. 

• Form and Volume, elements of visual design, part 3. The third post in this series features the third dimension - how to exploit light and composition to highlight the form and volume of your subject.   

• Texture, elements of visual design, part 4. The final post in this series focuses on ways to find, highlight, and accentuate texture in your photographs.

• Photography Gifts for the Holidays. Now is the time to start planning for holiday gift-giving. This post offers a wide-range of ideas and possibilities for how to use your photography to create lasting, memorable gifts. Check out the post for some great ideas!

• Where to Order Photography Gifts. Part 2 helps you answer the question of where to order those photography gifts. Read on for a detailed comparison of three popular online photography retailers: Cafe Press, Snapfish, and Shutterfly. 

• Thankful for Food Photography. Thanksgiving got me thinking about food photography. This collection of quick tips will help you with the settings, strategies, and stylings to make a big difference in your food photography.

• Shoot Successful Self-Portraits. Selfies may be all the range among millennials, but any one can get in on the action with these helpful tips! Strategies for self-portraits as well as some ideas and inspiration - even for the camera shy.

• Make the Shot: Slow Sync Photography. Get the full behind-the-scenes treatment for this slow-motion knife shot. No Photoshop or digital trickery involved!

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• Send updates the day they are posted (2-3 per week)
• Send updates just once a week

November's A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography

A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography is a twice-monthly post rounding up all the great content available on BYP that has been published during this same time of year, across the years. It's a quick way to catch up on content you may have missed, including seasonal and time-sensitive photography tips and ideas.

• The Line: elements of visual design, part 1. This month-long series explores different elements of visual design, beginning with the most basic: the line. Read on to find out how to use lines to improve your photography.

• Shape: elements of visual design, part 2. This post moves the conversation about visual design from the one-dimensional line to two-dimensional shapes. See examples of translating images and scenes into their component shapes.

• Photography Collages: start a collection A collage can be a great way to display and share your photography. Think about a common topic, theme, or style that can unite your collage. This post includes further details and examples to inspire you.

• Photography Is .... What does photography mean to you? Read my reflection on how photography is timing, patience, and luck. 

• Yes, Go Chasing Waterfalls. Tips, tricks, and all the advice you need to shoot successful waterfall photographs.

• Find Time for Photo Books. Now is the time to get started turning all those incredible photographs into permanent, printed books! This post will help you over the hurdles of beginning, planning, and arranging to move you towards completion. Holidays gifts, here you come!

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• Send updates the day they are posted (2-3 per week)
• Send updates just once a week

October's 2nd A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography

A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography is a twice-monthly post rounding up all the great content available on BYP that has been published during this same time of year, across the years. It's a quick way to catch up on content you may have missed, including seasonal and time-sensitive photography tips and ideas.

• Spooky Levitation How To. Take your spooky shots another step with this easy how-to for levitation using digital manipulation and Photoshop. Find out how to seamlessly blend images for exactly the look you want.

• Depth of Field: it's more than just aperture. You probably know that depth of field is controlled by the aperture of your lens. But do you know what other factors influence your depth of field?

• Learn Your Camera Lens: accessories. Part 3 provides an informative overview of common camera lens accessories, including lens caps, lens hoods, and filters. Find out what you need and how best to use it.

• Local Photography: Photograph the Harvest. Now is a great time to get out and explore your local surroundings - visit a farm, pick your own pumpkins, or try your hand at apple-picking. This post lays out some suggestions for how best to capture the bounty of the season.

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• Send updates the day they are posted (2-3 per week)
• Send updates just once a week

October's A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography

A Year Ago on Boost Your Photography is a twice-monthly post rounding up all the great content available on BYP that has been published during this same time of year, across the years. It's a quick way to catch up on content you may have missed, including seasonal and time-sensitive photography tips and ideas.

• How to Photograph Ghosts. In a single photograph, capture a spooky or ghostly creation - no Photoshop or digital manipulation necessary! Learn how to use a long exposure for this fun effect.

• An Introduction to Night Photography. Get a whole host of ideas for night photography from this compilation post!

• Learn Your Camera Lens: What's in a Name? Part 1 in the 'Learn Your Camera Lens' series focuses on all of the information provided in the name of your camera lens. Find out all the information you can from your lens name, and find out how best to choose a future lens.

• Learn Your Camera Lens: the lens itself. Part 2 in the 'Learn Your Camera Lens' series carefully lays out all of the detailed pieces and parts of your camera lens. Learn what all the numbers, dials, buttons, and switches mean and how best to use them in your photography. 

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• Send updates the day they are posted (2-3 per week)
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