Learning to use my Canon 600d

Just over a year ago , Mr T bought me a Canon 600D . I was so thrilled  but it has taken me a little while to get used to it & start getting images that I can be proud of. The great thing about a DSLR is that you can snap away & take a mountain of images , delete the ones that are bad & keep the successful ones.This camera has many great features & is lovely to use.Never having a DSLR before & only ever using a compact camera or phone camera , this was a big change for me.
I started learning to use it by taking a short 10 week course locally. I had no clue about f stops & ios's! I really needed to learn this. The course was held at Unique Cottage Studios & we really enjoyed it.It was about general photography & not just about using DSLR's but that was not an issue. Other people had compact cameras & bridge cameras. We all learnt so much. At the end of the course , we had a trip out on the Spalding Water Taxi which apart from being great fun , we managed to photo lots of wildlife from the boat !
From this course it gave me the basis to go on & get some reasonable pictures. I still needed learn more. I had been bitten by the bug of getting better pictures. Youtube & Google have been great sources of information. Its amazing what you can find that is totally specific to what you want to know. I taught myself to Tat on New Years Eve this way.Today I have been reading up about was to get great images when your subject is a child. The post I used is here . The best tip on the same website , Its always Autumn , is this, Give Kids a reason to look at a camera, Pez Sweetie Dispenser !I love these little sweet dispensers & now I have a reason to buy one , or two....! I am so doing this!!
The next step I took in my photography journey was going to a photo shoot. Mr T knows a guy who is really into photography. He was organising a shoot to give local up & coming models , MUA's & stylists a chance to work on a shoot & gain experience at little cost to themselves. No one has rights over the images & they can be used in any way. I went along a took back ground shots. I learnt from my mistakes & gained a whole lot of experience & information. I really do think you have just got to jump in & get on & do it. It was pretty scary for all of us. I have just done my second shoot & through talking to those who attended previously I found that most of them felt the same apprehension & nervousness. Its not easy , but it gets easier as you learn.
Here are a few images from the first photo shoot . The location was at Fydell House , Boston, & it was organised by Paul Hutchinson .

Since this shoot, I have learnt so much. I now know how to change the light levels. See the difference below!

We have just had our second shoot & I cant wait to show you the results of those , once I have done some editing in  Adobe Photoshop

I hope I have shown you a little about my journey into photography & its not been too boring. I have lots to show you coming up , so do please check back here soon.
Have a great day ,
Lilibet , xxx