best place to start as a beginner photog?

[zak]

We have always had kinda-fancy cameras and I always shoot on auto (don't judge me!). I am an ISFJ and if I can't do it right and follow the rules, it ain't worth doing! ;)

Point me in the right direction, please? I just want some nicer pics of my kiddos I am not going to start a business or shoot other people. :grin Just my own beautiful subjects. :)

[chasingbutterflies]

I really liked ClickinMoms Shooting101 class. I got a lot out of it. I'm by no means a good photographer yet but I now know how to use my camera on manual, which is really valuable to me.

http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmu/

[Llee]

Kara Baker, of Kara Baker Photography (http://www.facebook.com/KaraBakerPhotography), runs online classes every so often that have had rave reviews (a friend of mine, for full disclosure ;))

[Marielle]

The simplest way is first get this book from the library:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584797495?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

He also has a version for family/non kid portraiture too and his writing style is easy to read.

Then if you'd like a straightforward way to learn your camera a bit more read this one too:
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Photographs-Camera/dp/0817439390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347250068&sr=1-1&keywords=nderstanding+exposure

Nothing against the pay to play business model but there are a good amount of simple resources available for a newbie. If you need another rabbit hole the free forums at I love photography were endlessly helpful.