Welcome to the Texas Women Photographers Circle Meetup Group. Our members include beginners; hobbyists; and full-time professional photographers. Our mission is to support other women interested in photography and support their photography-related businesses. We want to welcome everyone to join us and enjoy the art of photography; fuel your creativity; mentor; inspire (and be inspired); but more importantly to build relationships with other photographers across the state and Texas (and beyond).
You can find us on Instagram @TexasWomenPhotographers.
Every month on the 1st Thursday at 7:00 PM (central) please join us for a virtual meetup hosted by the Moderators, Linda Nickell, Sue Puetz, Charlie Hickman and Brandie Koch.
UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
Session 31 - October 24, 2024
Chasing Landscapes with Brandie Koch
In this session, Texas WPC moderator, Brandie Koch will be sharing her experience and what she has learned from travel in her family RV, photographing retreats and various places she’s traveled in the pursuit of landscape photography. Her first choice for landscape is always the dramatic shot and Brandie will discuss those shots where the stars magically align. Landscape can be a finicky genre, so she’ll also share her other favorite photography genres like macro, wildlife, environmental portraiture and small scenes that she incorporates when that drama doesn’t unfold. Brandie will inspire you to think of landscape as the whole scene and giving you tools to fully capture all the beauty in the scene beyond the main attraction.
Session 30 - August 1, 2024
The Intentional (Wildlife) Photographer with Sandy Zelasko
What does it mean to be an intentional photographer? Join Sandy Zelasko for an hour of thought-provoking ideas to improve your mindset when planning a photo shoot and while capturing imagery in the field. It takes practice, patience and focused intent to create your best images. Develop your skills beyond a reactionary shooter and start creating art as an intentional photographer. Sandy will share tips and techniques to calm your mind and focus on the task athand to better accomplish your photographic vision whatever the subject might be.
Session 29 - June 6, 2024
Capturing the Beauty Around Us: Nature Photography in Focus with Cheri Freeman
Let's go outside! A look at landscape, wildlife, floral, and closeup photography.
Learn the many facets of nature photography; from simply sharing a moment to learning a life lesson, capturing the natural world around us creates joy and makes connections.
Plan your shoots with intention. We will discuss some simple scouting tips-but be prepared for the unexpected!
Let’s get close up and personal: zoom or macro? We’ll discuss which lens works best for the subject and conditions.
Instagram: @imagesbycherifreeman
SESSION 28 - MAY 2, 2024
Black Light Photography with Darlene Perkin
Join Darlene to discover how you can have a lot of fun and put a unique spin on ordinary objects using black lights. Getting dynamic shots under regular lighting can be challenging so how do you get great shots with black lights? Darlene will show you some simple setups including what you need to get started and ideas for stunning glow-in-the-dark images.
SESSION 27 - APRIL 25, 2024
Slow it Down and Have Some Fun with Long Exposure with Valerie Hoffman
Looking to create some new and more compelling images? Then learn to see the world in slow motion.
Shutter speed is often the last thing we think about when creating our images, giving preference to aperture and depth of field. If you like to photograph sports or wildlife, then you often focus on using a fast shutter speed, looking to freeze the action. But what if we go the other direction and slow it down, by using shutter speeds that intentionally show motion?
Learning to see through the creative thought process of using slower shutter speeds can help you create some exciting and more compelling images that will WOW your viewers!
Join Valerie Hoffman as she shares some tips and techniques and some of her favorite subjects for creating slow motion photographs.
www.valeriehoffmanphotography.com
Session 26 - MARCH 7, 2024
The Beauty of Wildflowers. With Gayle Fetick
Since moving to Texas Gayle Fetick has enjoyed learning about and photographing Texas wildflowers. Over the years, she has traveled in the US and found wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and the desert areas of Arizona. Gayle started a photography hobby years ago in St. Louis that included photographing flowers at the Missouri Botanical Garden and then got interested in wildflower photography thereafter in Texas. In this session, she’ll share some of her tips on finding and photographing wildflowers in the Lone Star state.
https://gfetick.myportfolio.com/
Session 25 - February 1, 2024
“Fine Art Fantasy Portraiture” with Devon Foster
We have all seen the cheesy 80s fantasy movies with knights in shining armory and damsels in distress.
This class is for those with fantastical day-dreams who are wanting to use their camera for works of art.
Let’s go beyond the silly stereotypes and create a realm of magic. Learn to direct the scene and tell your own story.
Session 24 - January 4, 2024
Top 10 Tips for Photographing Wildlife with Jennifer Leigh Warner
How an animal is standing, walking or flying can make or break your image. Waiting for that critical moment when the stride is just right and knowing exactly when to press the shutter can make ordinary subjects into extraordinary images. During this presentation by professional wildlife and conservation photographer Jennifer Leigh Warner we will focus on how to capture wildlife portraits, intentional motion and turning wildlife images into a work of art.
Session 23 - December 7, 2023
The Wonder of Wandering with Tricia Zeigler
A photo journal of wandering backroads close to home. Texas backroad explorer, Tricia Zeigler will share her stories on finding the shot that is “different” and ways she stays motivated and inspired as she explores and looks for hidden treasures that make beautiful photography subjects.
Session 22 - Thursday, November 2, 2023
“Getting Your Photography into People’s Homes” with Amy Davies
Having done several art shows and festivals, Amy Davies has found that her nature photography style lends itself to being popular among non-photographers and people decorating their homes. She feels this can be a big win for nature as it creates conversations and reminds people of a beautiful world outside of their dwellings. Amy will discuss her process of how she shoots, edits and displays her photos to make them standout and appeal to a crowd making them a more accessible version of nature photography.
Instagram: @quietsunphotography
Session 21 - Thursday, October 5, 2023
"Achieve Creative Goals with Confidence” with Brie Stockwell
Many of us procrastinate and stall out in pursuit of creative goals like finishing an ebook, selling prints, creating a website, and more. More confidence is the key to forward momentum so we can finally finish what we start. Join Brie Stockwell, creative coach and photographer, to learn why confidence is so important to our creative work and some real life tips on how you can use it to achieve YOUR creative goals.
Session 20 - Thursday, September 28, 2023
“Changing Seasons in the New Jersey Pine Barrens” with Kristy Adams
Within the most populated state lies an expanse of wilderness known as New Jersey Pine Barrens Named for the sandy, acidic, and nutrient-poor soil, the New Jersey Pine Barrens is the largest remaining example of the Atlantic Coastal Plain ecosystem. Despite its name, the Pine Barrens are far from barren. These specialized soils support a diverse array of plant species from orchids to carnivorous plants. Many animals call this place home as well. In order to protect the area's ecology, Congress passed legislation in 1978 to designate 1.1 million acres of the Pine Barrens as the nation’s first national reserve.
Kristia Adams has lived in the Pine Barrens for her entire life. From the upland areas to the shorelines, she will take you on a photographic journey through the changing seasons within the New Jersey Pine Barrens. She will share the unique spirit of the pines through landscapes, florals, and animal images.
Instagram: @kristiaadamsphotography
Session 19 - Thursday, August 3, 2023
“Serving Non-Profits as a Photographer” with Sue Puetz
I jumped into volunteering as a photographer by accident. I had an owl box in my oak tree, hosted a Screech Owl mated pair and noticed one was in despair and the other one was missing. I dismounted the box and rushed it to an animal rescue center. They discovered an adult female and, to my delight, 3 babies, all just fine. Impressed with their facility and their purpose, I offered my photography service and the relationship was sealed.
I will share lessons learned in volunteering for a non-profit: how to get started with purpose, how to create a mutually beneficial plan, how to keep the relationship thriving and the mistakes to prevent.
Session 18 - Thursday, July 13, 2023
“Life Lessons from Photography” with Bridgett Piernik-yoder
There are always new technical things to learn when it comes to photography, but photography can also teach or remind us of essential life lessons.
Bridgett will share five life lessons she has gained from photography and encourage you to consider what wisdom or life lessons photography has brought you.
https://www.instagram.com/bpiernik/
SESSION 17 - Thursday, June 1, 2023
“Self-Publishing a Photography Book” with Shanda Akin
Shanda is a professional photographer based in Durango, Colorado. She is self-publishing a landscape photography coffee table book “The Beauty of Durango.” It is the culmination of a project she has been working on since 2018 that will hit the streets this October. While it is an exciting endeavor, everything from the publisher to the paper choice can be overwhelming and discouraging. Join us as she shares what she has learned, some of the tools available to make it happen, and the overall nitty gritty of self-publishing a photography book.
Session 16 - Thursday, May 4, 2023
Backyard Beauties: Beautiful Bugs with Mika Geiger
Join us as we discover the grace and allure of Texas bugs. Macro photographer Mika Geiger will discuss the surprisingly varied world of insects that live in your backyard and beyond, and why you want to welcome (most of) them and photograph all of them.
We'll examine the roles these insects play in a healthy environment and ways you can support their diversity. From pollinators to beetles, these tiny creatures make gorgeous subjects for photography. Mika will share techniques and tips to help you highlight their often overlooked beauty.
Session 15 - Thursday, April 6, 2023
“Discover The Softer Side of Photography” with Valerie Hoffman
One of the best ways to create more unique and compelling images, is to render them in a way that is not normal, or natural to the human eye. There are a variety of ways to do that, but one is in the realm of Soft Focus Photography.
Pennsylvania-based photographer and workshop instructor, Valerie Hoffman is going to paint this subject with a broad brush, and show a variety of ways that you can create unique images that stand out from all the rest; images that will stop the viewer in their tracks and cause them to wonder-and imagine.
We will discuss the more obvious ways-such as soft-focus lenses and accessories, as well as the role aperture, lens choice and distance to subject can play. We will also look at how newer features in cameras offer several great options for you to use, as well. These include in-camera focus bracketing and stacking, in-camera double or multiple exposures and more! Join Valerie as she shares some of her favorite images, tips and techniques.
www.valeriehoffmanphotography.com
Session 14 - March 2, 2023
“Creative Flowerscapes” with Lori Lankford
Nature photographer Lori Lankford will share creative techniques to capture spring flowers and gardens. She will share creative compositions, in-camera shooting methods, working with natural light, and capturing macro and larger-scale garden scenes. These techniques and tips will inspire you to get out in a garden this spring!
Session 13 - February 2, 2023
“The Reluctant Photographer” with Pam Hymer
When life gets in the way, mentors and friends keep pushing me out of my comfort zone...
Most of us have been there in one way or another. Someone out of the blue says "hey, great pictures have you ever thought about..." That knot in your stomach appears and those little subconscious negative thoughts start but you smile and thank them. You listen to what they have to say and think, I'd love to do that but, (there's that but) Sometimes it takes a lucky conversation, a great mentor, and or a friendship to push you through.
Session 12 - January 5, 2023
“Destination Unknown - Tips to Travel for Landscape Photography”
with Kathy Chassie
In this next session of The Happiness hour, join traveling photographer Kathy Chassie to learn tips and tricks to plan ahead for your next adventure. Kathy has traveled extensively throughout the US, several trips in Canada, and most recently in Europe - always with her camera as her best travel companion!
https://www.instagram.com/kathychassiephotography/
Session 11 - DECEMBER 1, 2022
“Strike A Pose” with Jama Pantel
Being in front of a camera can be hard for anyone, but with a few simple “rules” anyone can pose like a pro…even when you’re posing yourself or with your family. Once you learn the “rules” it’s easier to break them in flattering ways.
Family and portrait photographer, Jama Pantel joins us to share some of the tools of her trade just in time for all those family and holiday parties.
SESSION 10 - NOVEMBER 3, 2022
THIS SESSION was not RECORDED
“Stories from the Wild; And How to Photograph Them” with Karine Aigner
What does a city girl do in the country? Make friends! Photographer Karine Aigner takes you on a journey of her relationships with four native Texas species; species that ten years ago, she knew nothing about. While each tale is a completely true experience between human and wild--intuition, not planning, was the core of their success. Learn how heartbreak turns into love, and how love turned her relationships into photographic stories. Befriending the wild is a lesson in patience and time.
Karine's work focuses on the relationships between nature, and humankind--and in her journey to tell the worlds stories, she unexpectedly found her own in the harsh prickly pear landscape of South Texas.
Karine’s work is found on the pages of National Geographic, Audubon, BBC Wildlife, WWF Magazine, Ranger Rick, Terra Mater and a variety of other publications.
Session 9 - October 6, 2022
“The Deep Beauty of Flowers” with Nancy Farney
Flowers as macro photography subjects require the photographer to slow down, be present and be still. Hidden within flowers is beauty seen at both a surface and a deep level, but without slowing down, one will never find the deep beauty. Flowers have secrets to share, curves and color, light and shadow. I will be sharing my flower images and their secrets; in color, black and white and infrared. I have been photographing flowers for over 10 years, so my collection is quite extensive.
https://www.instagram.com/farneyphotography/
SESSION 8 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2022
“The Accidental Photographer” with Leslie Sessums
From momtog just getting out of the house on the weekends and helping a friend to a 13 year career in photography. Dabbling in all genres has taught tips and tricks for any skill level. Learn how to find the travel gems that are hiding in plain sight, with a little planning.
https://www.instagram.com/lesliesessums/
Session 7 - August 4, 2022
Hummingbirds—Where Do They “Hide?” with Judy Royal Glenn
Judy Royal Glenn has photographed a plethora of hummingbirds due to spending a lot of time in the field. Her research of these tiny wonders helped her create the Hummingbird Trail at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Judy will share her research, techniques, tips, and more to help you photograph the tiniest of birds. Judy will also talk about and offer video tips.
https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com/
https://www.instagram.com/judyroyalglennphotography/
Session 6 - July 7, 2022
“Composition for Wildlife Photography” with Ruth Hoyt
Wildlife photographer and workshop guide, Ruth Hoyt shares tips she uses when composing photographs of birds and other wildlife. There are four aspects in every photograph that she considers essential in making a great photograph. She’ll touch on the importance of focus, exposure, composition, and content (story). To help your wildlife images stand out, she’ll dig a little deeper to help you understand how composition plays an important role in helping viewers connect with your wildlife subjects.
Session 5 - June 2, 2022
“Artist Statements, BIOS, and HeadshotS, and Why You Need Them” with Karen Riley
In this session, Karen Riley will explain what an artist statement is and how to create one for your work. Find out how to use your About Me Page (Bio) to show how you are credible, approachable, and likable to your audience. But more importantly, when an audience understands your process as a creative, it helps them connect with your art. Finally, Karen will give you some ideas about grouping your work and describing the pieces in a meaningful way.
Session 4 - May 5, 2022
“Solo Travel Adventures - Tips for Female Photographers” with Martha Montiel
Are you prepared and ready for your next (or maybe your FIRST) solo photography adventure? As women, we need to be extra cautious and more prepared when venturing out on our own. Does it suck? Yes, but is it necessary? Absolutely! Martha will share her planning process and offer tips to get you ready for a solo trip that help you feel safer and more prepared for your next adventure.
https://www.marthamontielphotography.com/
https://www.instagram.com/marthamontielphotography/
Session 3 - April 7, 2022
“The Ultimate Guide to Landscape Photography” with Jessica Cepele
Learn the techniques used to create compelling landscape photography images. Master the ability to read a scene and create dynamic compositions. Gain the confidence to make great images in any situation. Take your landscape photography to the next level!
https://www.jessicacepele.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jessicacepelephotography/
Session 2 - March 3, 2022
“Everyday Magic” with Kelly Ishmael
Every day we are presented the opportunity to be a witness to beauty, wonder, and magic in our ordinary lives. Join lifestyle photographer Kelly Ishmael as she shares the inspiration behind her “Everyday Magic” series. In this presentation, Kelly will share some of her favorite kinds of magic to capture with her camera and show you how to find the places where science and magic meet to create delightful, compelling photographs.
https://mindingmynest.com/instagram-friends/
https://www.instagram.com/kellyish/
Session 1 - February 3, 2022
mIX, mINGLE, and Meet the moderators (and, let’s talk about Instagram)
Thursday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. is our 1st Thursday Meetup. Join moderators, Charlie Hickman, Leslie Sessums and Linda Nickell on Zoom. We are preparing to launch the Instagram page @texaswomenphotographers so it’s a perfect time to talk about what Instagram can do for you.
Our guest speaker is Heather Foster of Star Street Creative who will present,
"Instagram for Photographers" with Heather Foster
Heather is Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager, who will talk about Instagram and why it's time to rethink how photographers can use the popular app. She'll go over simple and attainable strategies to use the platform to increase photographers work's visibility and convert followers and admirers into intriguing opportunities and possible income generators. It's so much more than just posting pretty pictures.
Moderator, Linda Nickell is an active user of Instagram, she curates multiple feature accounts to inspire and promote the work of other photographers. Linda will offer some of her insight and share some tips on how to use Instagram to promote your work but more importantly how to have fun and not get caught up in how many followers and “likes” you get. Linda was selected by TexasHighways.com as “The Texas Travel Photographers You Need to Follow on Instagram.” You can connect with Linda at lindanickell.com or on Instagram @coznlinda.