We are super excited to announce that the official Camera Coach YouTube channel is up and running! Find us (try searching for Camera Coach Channel) and subscribe to enter the March/April giveaway! Be on the lookout for a new video every week (or simply click the bell for notifications). Next up is a series on camera basics. Enjoy!

​Also, please comment with any content ideas!

This month's challenge is textures! Whether you've just a camera phone or a new DSLR we want to see your best shot of something up close. Find the extraordinary details in the ordinary. To join of fun just share your image with us on Instagram (@camera.coach), Facebook (@photocameracoach) or Twitter (@camera_coach). To compete for a prize please visit our photo challenge webpage.

50mm

What is the next step up from your kit lens? Try a prime lens! It's a lens with a fixed focal length (which means it won't zoom), but it gives you great sharpness and a wider aperture. Some are pretty affordable, too. Options under $250 include 50mm and 35mm for Nikon, and 50mm and 24mm for Canon. There are other manufacturers that make a 50mm, like Sony (about $200-$250) and Pentax (about $275).

Because of their reasonable pricing and fast shipping we purchase a lot of our equipment through Amazon. We also recently joined their associate program, so, if you're in the market for a new lens please support us by using the links below!

35mm

​The month of February was very eventful for us at Camera Coach!

We started off the month covering homecoming basketball games for Rapoport Academy and Saint Edward's University. Then we took pictures at the father-daughter and mother-son date nights at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. And we rounded out the month by shooting the annual Midway FFA livestock show! You can click here to check out our most recent galleries.

On the training front, Rapoport Academy 6th grade photography students explored the history of the development of the camera, made pinhole cameras and completed two photo projects ("shapes & colors" and "textures & patterns"). Keep a look out for the project highlight galleries on our Facebook page.

We are excited about some new developments coming up! Stay tuned for more on March!

Our last summer camp for 2016 finished up last week! It was a blast watching the kids' creative sides come out. We want to thank everyone for their support, and we can't wait to see what next summer holds! Until then, enjoy this small collection of unedited photos taken by Rapoport Academy 7th graders during camp.

Keep those cameras primed and ready as you celebrate Independence Day! Show us some fireworks, a patriotic scene , or how you celebrate the holiday and you could take home a prize.

1st Place Award: 8" Tablet
2nd Place Award: The Ultimate Selfie Stick Bundle
3rd Place: $25 Best Buy Gift Card

Check out our contests page for more info and updates...

Have you ever taken a picture with your digital camera and had it come out blurry?! Not fun, is it? Well, over the next couple of weeks we're going to explore some of the causes and remedies for blurry images.

When someone tells me "my pictures keep coming out blurry" I usually ask, "Is your subject moving or stationary?" This is because in most cases the specific cause of the blur can be narrowed to one (or more) of three options:

1. The photographer is causing the camera to move during the shutter release
2. The subject is moving too quickly for the current shutter setting to freeze it
3. The camera cannot focus because the subject is too close to the lens

Let's take option #1... If the subject was not moving that means the cause was "camera shake", which means exactly that. Most people don't  realize the amount of movement they introduce to the equation when pressing the shutter release button (especially with cell phones and small point-and-shoot cameras). Try stabilizing the camera by bracing your elbows against something firm , resting the camera on a table, or using a tripod. You also might want to try increasing the shutter speed to eliminate the blur.

We'll dive in to shutter speed next time, so stay tuned!