DIGITAL PHOTO MENTOR

Photography tips, tutorials and guides for Beginner and Intermediate Photographers.

About Darlene & Digital Photo Mentor

Wanna know if you’re in the right place?

If you can relate to any of these things you just might be, so stick around!

  • Do you take pictures?
  • Wish you could learn to take better pictures?
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Maybe you’ve tried to become a better photographer but…

  • You’re frustrated that your photos don’t turn out the way you want and you can’t figure out why.
  • You don’t have time for a traditional class between your crazy work hours, time with family, and life in general.
  • You’ve seen ads for classes that sound interesting but they’re all too far away.
  • Some of your past photography instructors have moved too fast, leaving you to sit and suffer silently and learn nothing in class.
  • You feel you are too “mature” to learn something new or don’t want to look foolish.
  • You’ve spent a lot of money on a good camera, but digital photography is just too confusing, and you’re afraid you made the wrong choice.
  • You’ve tried some classes but feel like they never cover exactly what you’re missing, or answer that specific question you have that no one ever seems to ask.
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Hi, my name is Darlene Hildebrandt

Through my experience working with photography students like you, I’ve come to understand that many aspiring photographers have a lot of the same questions, issues, and even fears.

I help people learn how to use their cameras, troubleshoot and solve their problems, and get past their fears through articles here on the website, private tutoring lessons, going out with them on workshops and photography tours, as well as in my online courses.

I’VE BEEN IMPRESSED BY HOW MUCH INFORMATION YOU GIVE AWAY

I was thrilled to download your e-book and to be so encouraged with the challenges you put before us in the book. I am impressed with how much information you give away and inspired by that. I am a beginner to photography, and the projects are very helpful. I am not naturally creative in this area and so your info has been helping me “look and see”.

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Catherine

Website reader
10 photography challenges for beginners

10 Photography Challenges

Free e-Book to help you take better pictures without having to invest in any new gear! Ready for immediate download.

By submitting this form, you will also receive an email about once a week to notify you about new photography articles we have published on the web site.  We will process your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU’VE PUT INTO THIS.

A couple of weeks ago, I subscribed to your newsletter and I must say … the tips are just great.

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Phillip

Website reader

I feel your pain, and I’m here to help!

Through regular articles written by me and selectively chosen guest authors, you’ll get step-by-step information on the challenges you’re most interested in overcoming.

Topics including the ones below, are just some of the things you can read about here. The list is constantly expanding as a new article is added weekly.

Join the discussion

These seem to be the most popular articles at the moment. Have a look through them and then join the discussion using the Disqus interface below each of the articles. You can register and log in with Facebook, Google or Twitter if you like, so it’s really easy to participate.

How is this site different from others like it?

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There are probably hundreds of sites about learning photography.

This site is different because of . . . well, frankly—me! My aim with this site is to be approachable and responsive to your needs.

Tell me what you want to know, and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll do my best to find a guest writer that does. Post a comment on an article, or ask a question, and I will answer it. Contact me here on the site, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

I am a real person and an actual photographer with over 35 years of experience as a professional. I can help! Please participate in discussions and comments on the articles, I’d love for you to join in with us.

Photography is magic to me, it always has been. I love sharing it and seeing others like you feel the magic too! – Darlene

But first and foremost I LOVE seeing the light bulbs go off, and I live vicariously through your eyes as you achieve your photography goals. I love the win/win it creates as you get to express the creativity that perhaps you didn’t even know you had—and I get to experience photography anew, through the passion and wide-eyed wonder of someone new to the art.

Just writing this makes me all giddy inside!

Who am I?

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And where do I get off telling you how to take better photos?

I am the face behind Digital Photo Mentor. I have been a professional photographer for over 35 years. As such, I have photographed everything from soup to hay—literally—including doing food photography; weddings; family portraits; and corporate events and products.

After a forced change of direction (a.k.a. divorce), I left my photography studio behind and moved on to other aspects of photography—including sales, fine art, and travel. I’ve finally landed on teaching and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve written for and have been published on websites and in newspapers around the world, and I was also the Managing Editor of Digital Photography School for 5 years, one of the most popular photography sites on the internet.

Teacher:

I taught several workshop-style classes in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada including:

  • Travel Photography – how to get better photos on your next trip
  • Night Photography – a very popular class that often includes a field trip
  • Available Light Photography – learn about using natural light for better people photos
  • Street Photography – how to photograph on the street, including strangers, safely and have more confidence

Photo tour leader:

I currently lead photo tours to Morocco, Cuba and Japan. Small intimate groups of mature photographers of all skill levels, and spouses (non-photographers) welcome as well.

Workshops:

I also do workshops for photographers of all skill levels in Alberta and British Columbia Canada and may add an Eastern Canadian workshop that would be situated to suit Canadian and North Eastern US students.

The tour exceeded my expectations.

We saw and did so much more than if i was there on my own. I feel that I got a better value as a photographer going on this tour than if I was on a regular non-photography tour.

I would recommend this tour because you get a lot of value for your money and time.

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Garth Helland

Photo Tour Participant

dps-logo-1000Managing Editor of Digital Photography School:

After writing for Digital Photography School for nearly 2 years, I was the Managing Editor of that site from November 2013 until September 2018 (5 years).

10 photography challenges for beginners

10 Photography Challenges

Free e-Book to help you take better pictures without having to invest in any new gear! Ready for immediate download.

By submitting this form, you will also receive an email about once a week to notify you about new photography articles we have published on the web site.  We will process your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

THE 10 CHALLENGES GOT ME BACK SHOOTING

I have been doing photography on and off for years but get paralyzed by all the new techniques and technology. I am using your “challenges” as a means of ignoring all those pieces that scare me and hopefully get me back into the “shoot” of things.

Thank you so much for sharing your information.

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Jackie

Website reader

My personal vision

My vision is to help you be a little more creative, expand your horizons, and maybe even push your boundaries a little. I strive to provide a safe place to learn about photography and yourself as well as a chance to try new things and meet new people along the way.

Cheers,

Darlene signature black


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