One of the things I’m most passionate about as a Pittsburgh photographer is not just creating beautiful images, but helping others grow in their photography journey too.
Recently, I shared an Instagram post walking through exactly how I got the shot — breaking down the camera I used, lens choice, camera settings, the time of day the photo was taken, and the thought process behind the composition, including elements like framing, leading lines, and working with sunset light.
Why create this kind of content?
Because when I was first starting out in photography back in 2011, right after graduating high school, this is exactly the kind of behind-the-scenes photography education I was searching for. I wanted to know more than just what made a photo “look good.” I wanted to understand the technical decisions behind it: why a photographer chose a certain lens, how they approached natural light photography, how they thought through composition, and what settings helped bring their creative vision to life.
At the time, finding detailed educational content for beginner photographers wasn’t nearly as accessible as it is now. So much of learning photography came through trial and error.
That’s a big part of why I love sharing posts like this now.
If breaking down my process - from camera settings for sunset photography to explaining composition techniques like leading lines and natural framing - helps even one photographer learn something new or feel more confident behind the camera, then it’s worth sharing.
Photography can feel overwhelming when you’re starting out. There are so many moving pieces: understanding your camera, learning light, mastering composition, and developing your own creative eye.
If my behind-the-scenes photography content can help make that learning curve a little easier for someone else, I’m grateful to be able to give back in that way.
Whether you’re a beginner photographer learning manual mode or someone simply curious about the creative process behind an image, I hope these “how I got the shot” posts offer practical insight and encouragement for your own photography journey.
Enjoy!
