MY ACCOUNT
Checkout
photographers
SHOP

Youtube

Creating a Soft Image in a Harsh Environment

New Youtube Series!

filed in:

I'm Katelyn James Alsop, a photographer, educator and momma who believes any photographer can have a profitable AND purposeful business.

WELCOME

Top Categories

Browse All

read more

WEDDINGS

Browse All

EDUCATION

Browse All

PERSONAL

A wintery boston wedding

w/ inside, dark ceremony

KJ ALL ACCESS

WATCH ME SHOOT weddings
Come join over 3,000 other photographers from around the world & become my virtual third shooter! 
FREE TRIAL
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ

Browse Series

 Baby James Story

Our Home

Our Kids

Ask Anything

It’s an exciting day in Youtube land! We have just launched a brand new series that we’re really excited about!!!! So often when I’m going through KJ All Access episodes and editing our behind the scenes coverage of our wedding days, I find myself noticing a lot of scenarios that require a lot of thought and problem solving in order to create a FINAL image that I love!!

In our KJ All Access episodes, I spend hours breaking down my thought process, mistakes and victories that we experience during wedding days and portrait sessions. 

This image is what I consider a WIN!! Why? Because it took a lot of thought to create it!

This shoot took place on the property of a modern fine art museum in Richmond, Va. 

 

This location was beautiful, but it was stark and lacked soft textures that could add depth and visual interest to an image.  By the time we came to the end of outfit one, I thought “you know I have to find a way to step it up a notch” and make this location more visually interesting.  

 

After locating a simple FLOWER POT, I was able to come up with a solution! ……

In this video you’ll see me take this potted hydrangea and turn it into a beautiful foreground that surrounds the couple and creates visual interest! 

 

However, was it as simple as just “shooting through the petals”. 

 

No. There is so much that goes into making this type of shot actually work and I’m sharing all of it in this brand new Youtube video!!

In this video you’ll see me do a few things:

  • Set the stage for the situation I was in that explain the issues I was experiencing during the shoot
  • Actually WATCH me set up this shot behind the scenes during the real shoot!
  • Watch and hear me make adjustments in order to make the image what I envisioned in my head! 
  • See the settings for the image
  • Hear me explain what was working and what wasn’t! 
  • Get a quick lesson in composition management!!!

 

You get access to this all for FREE! Enjoy and if you’re a photographer wanting to learn from Behind the Scenes, you can start TODAY! Signup for our FREE TRIAL HERE!

Thanks for reading!

— Katelyn

Blair + Ashley | Engaged Downtown Annapolis Engagement Session

This is one of those sessions that will go down as a classic. It doesn’t get more beautiful than an early fall, downtown Annapolis engagement session with gorgeous light!

READ MORE
Engaged

On Sunday evening, I posted a reel on my Instagram about something NEW that I tried in the photography world and WOAH did it create an uproar.

ai vs. private editors
READ MORE

Ep. 28 | AI vs Private Editors My Honest Thoughts

Education
Wedding Day 101 Bridal Party Portraits

Wedding Day 101 : Bridal Party Portraits How to make this fast & efficient!

On the Youtube channel today, we’re continuing the Wedding Day 101 series!!

READ MORE
Youtube
The Do's and Don'ts of a WorkCation

Ep. 27 | The Do’s and Don’ts of a WorkCation! how I get away to get work done

Today’s Podcast is a mix of exactly what I hoped that this podcast would become….

READ MORE
Education

On the Youtube channel today, I am sharing how I achieved one of the most epic shots of my career…in SCOTLAND! 

HOW TO AVOID OVEREXPOSED SKIES
READ MORE

How to Fix Overexposed Skies This will help!

Youtube
3 Tips on Building Something from Nothing

Ep. 26 | 3 Tips for Building Something From Nothing And how we started an Acton Academy

Today’s episode has two purposes! The second part is for any business owner!

READ MORE
The Katelyn James Podcast

READER FAVORITES

"Best money I have EVER spent on education! ... and I've spent a lot!”

- Kara Abbey, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"I love all the lessons I'm learning from KJ All Access! Thanks Katelyn!”

- Shannon Drummond, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"I find very few educational resources worth it ... this one is!”

- Kate gansneder, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Recently signed up for KJ All Access and it's EVERYTHING!”

- Kassidy Mowery, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Being able to see behind-the-scenes of Katelyn interacting with her clients has been SO impactful!”

- Angie mcpherson, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"Recently signed up for KJ All Access and it's EVERYTHING!”

- Kassidy Mowery, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER

"SO worth it! It's amazing the amount of knowledge you get out of them!”

- Brittany Lowe, ALl ACCESS MEMBER

"I learned just as much in one All Access as I did in a whole course! SO GOOD!"

- Joanna Krueger, ALL-ACCESS MEMBER
10 Steps to Starting Your Photography Business
Helping a friend survive a season of Infant Loss
How to photograph a first look in Harsh Light
OUR KJ COUPLES REUNION
A Lake Como Destination Wedding - Greg and Kate
A Letter to the Go-Getters fearful of Motherhood

The KJ blog
must-reads

The KJ Blog is where you get to know me, where you meet our KJ Couples and see their beautiful wedding days, where I have been building an archive of education for over a decade and where I let you see a peek into our life, our home, and hear about our purpose! 
don't miss the
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ
Arrow KJ

YOUTUBE

Join 85,000+ others and learn, grow and get connected via our Youtube Channel! This is where I'm constantly sharing new content, talking all things gear, business, tips, tricks and letting you into the behind-the-scenes of our everyday life! 
MORE FREE EDUCATION + CUTE BABIES ON
WATCH NOW

"I have invested in all of KJ’s education!

The way she teaches makes so much sense and I’m so grateful for her! My business will be forever changed!"

- Renee Nicolo

"KJ education has been life-changing

 It has elevated my work so I could quit my day job and work from home with our baby boy!"

- joanna k.

"I'VE INVESTED IN SO MANY RESOURCES... 

and none compare to what I get from KJ!"

- LAUREN M.