top of page
The Lens
Hey there! I'm Keith, just a regular guy who loves photography, family, and sharing my thoughts. This blog is all about my life, my craft, and the things I ponder about. Thanks for stopping by
Subscribe and let's dive into this journey together!
Behind the Lens
I’ve spent years looking at the world through a viewfinder. It changes how you see things. You start noticing the quiet, everyday details—the way early morning light hits a patch of grass, or the split-second expression on someone's face. This blog is my way of slowing down to capture those fleeting moments, sharing them exactly as I see them.
The Digital Crossroads
The world is changing fast, and AI is shifting the way we live, think, and create art. I’m fascinated by it, and maybe a little curious about where it's all heading. You won't find any complicated technical jargon here. Instead, I want to talk about how this new digital world mixes with human creativity, and what it really means for our everyday lives.
An Open Invitation
This space isn’t a guide or a lecture; it's just a collection of honest observations, mistakes, and discoveries. Every post is a short story from my corner of the world. Pull up a chair, look around, and let's see what we can discover together.
Subscribe to hear of future posts & news
All Posts
A Typical day for me is.....
I usually wake up between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. I start my day with some stretches and light exercises to help my body get moving. Once I’ve done this, I may take the dog for a short walk outside. I then eat breakfast and usually get stuck into some reading or another activity on the computer in my office. I then attend to my caring responsibilities, preparing breakfast and looking after the person I care for. Around mid-morning, I usually get around to doing some photography, w
Keith Burton
Jul 74 min read
Life, AI, Photography, And What Comes Next
Today marks a bit of a fresh start for my blog. For the past three years, I’ve mainly used this space to write about photography. At first, that meant sharing my thoughts on building a small studio, improving my portrait work, and hopefully moving towards a few more commercial shoots. That was the plan. But life has a habit of moving things around a bit, doesn’t it? Over time, I’ve realised that I need this blog to become something a little wider. Still about photography, yes
Keith Burton
Jul 63 min read
Would you join a live session on using AI as your photography assistant?
I’m thinking of putting together a live online talk and demo for photographers who are curious about AI, but not necessarily interested in using it to generate images. This would be about something much more practical. I want to show how AI can help with the bits of photography that often get in the way of actually taking pictures: planning trips, organising kit, managing schedules, keeping track of ideas, reviewing what worked, and making better decisions afterwards. The ses
Keith Burton
Jul 62 min read
Getting back to the joy of photography
I have been thinking recently about how easy it is to make photography more complicated than it needs to be. Not the technical side, although there is plenty of opportunity to make that complicated too. I mean the whole business of planning photography. Planning projects. Planning shoots. Planning themes. Planning locations. Planning lighting setups. Planning what the final image might look like before I have even picked the camera up. Now, don’t get me wrong. Planning has it
Keith Burton
Jun 214 min read
Logging off, but not disappearing
I recently read Logging Off by Nick Spalding, and I really enjoyed it. It is a funny, easy-going book, but underneath the humour there is a message that feels very familiar. The story follows Andy Bellows, a man whose life has become completely tangled up with technology, social media, apps, notifications and all the little online habits that slowly creep into everyday life. Eventually, he is pushed into trying a digital detox, and that is where the comedy, chaos and reflecti
Keith Burton
Jun 202 min read
Unlocking Your Creative Potential Through Photography Competitions and Peer Critique Sessions
In this post, I will share my personal experiences with competitions and critique groups, explain the benefits of constructive feedback, and explore how these opportunities foster creativity and drive progress.
Keith Burton
May 118 min read
Reinventing the Camera Club: Making Photography Communities Relevant for Today
By Keith Burton 🎧 Listen to the Podcast Version - CLICK HERE I’ve also explored these ideas in a companion podcast, where AI-generated voices bring the discussion to life in a conversational format. It’s a slightly different take on the same themes—perfect if you prefer listening over reading. During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to work closely with my local camera club, helping guide a rapid shift toward digital engagement and sharing. What started as a necessity qui
Keith Burton
Apr 103 min read
Making plans and my ideas board for 2026
In my local camera club newsletter, just before Christmas, we were asked to consider the question 'What photography exploits do you plan to pursue in 2026? Well, I have been away from regular photography activities and the camera club for most of the past two years, and this question has been getting me thinking. You see, I had a busy year of shooting in 2023, during which I travelled and worked on many projects, both indoor and outdoor. However, I had a sudden, unexpected vi
Keith Burton
Jan 52 min read
Why I have reduced my time on social media
It's been a year since my last blog post, as I've been fully engaged in our whole-house renovation project throughout 2024. This shift in focus has prompted me to reevaluate my previous plans for last year. Spending so much time online while working with the builders has highlighted my need to adopt healthier online habits. I now want to make positive changes to support my personal growth and my photo creative journey ahead. It didn't seem significant at the time since I only
Keith Burton
Feb 28, 20253 min read
Is it time to dump Lightroom (Classic)?
I have been a Lightroom Classic user and advocate for almost a decade. Although I had tried the cloud-based CC version multiple times, I always found it needed more functionality. I needed more essential features found in LR Classic to suit my needs. I also have a vast catalogue of over 50,000 images, so managing them requires a well-designed tool and significant storage space. However, Lightroom has undergone significant changes during the last year, bringing about some prom
Keith Burton
Jan 21, 20243 min read
Mobile Phone Photography
Capturing life moments through photography has never been easier than with smartphones. They have revolutionised how we capture and share our experiences, allowing anyone to be an aspiring photographer. However, with the abundance of options and settings available, mobile photography can be overwhelming for beginners. To help you get started, this article provides a walkthrough of ten essential tips that will help you get the best out of your mobile phone photography. 1. Cl
Keith Burton
Jan 12, 20245 min read
A few thoughts on AI and Photography/Photo Art
Over the past few years, I have experimented with various genres of photography, including landscapes, events, still life, and portraits. In 2023, I became interested in AI. As I started experimenting with a few tools, I was initially concerned that this might affect my photography skills, but I am excited about the possibilities of this unique challenge. Art has come a long way since cave dwellers would express their thoughts and ideas through pictures drawn on walls. Over t
Keith Burton
Jan 6, 20242 min read
Creative 2024
I have had an incredibly productive 2023 since retiring from full-time employment in April. I have been fortunate to undertake several high-quality portrait shoots in studios and outdoors, working with some fantastic models. I have also taken significant steps towards setting up a semi-retirement job in family portrait photography and have had the pleasure of doing some beautiful shoots for a select group of clients. Unfortunately, during the final months of 2023, I had to de
Keith Burton
Dec 26, 20232 min read
The advantages of printing photos over having them digitally.
There are many reasons why you should have prints your photos. Here are just a few: To preserve your memories. They can be safely stored in albums or frames for several years and retain pristine quality. Digital files do not degrade or fade over time and will last indefinitely if backed up properly. The most likely problem with digital images is that they will be lost due to technical issues such as a hard drive crashing, a smartphone lost or damaged, or the online storage se
Keith Burton
Aug 27, 20232 min read
Is AI the end of photography ?
This image was machine generated by AI !!! AI is now spreading to all aspects of our life, and if you use a computer at home or work, you will find the 'Terms and Conditions' for all major software is now being updated to cover AI. Microsoft has just updated their T&Cs and added many references to AI tech in all its products. So AI use is one topic on many photographers' minds right now and how that affects them. On the one hand, it's a scary prospect, the end of creative Ph
Keith Burton
Aug 15, 20234 min read
Rain does not have to stop play...
This wet summer weather has made me think about the lost opportunities for getting out and taking photos, but wet weather shouldn't be seen as an obstacle in photography but as another chance to be creative. As someone who takes photos for fun, as well as a service for my customers I am aware that rainy days can stop the most keen photograther from getting out to take pictures. We should not allow the rain to determine if we can take pictures; use this change of weather creat
Keith Burton
Aug 5, 20232 min read
Six top tips to Prepare for your Portrait Photos (Yourself and Young Children)
Photo by Marissa Lewis on Unsplash Having a professional portrait session can be an enjoyable and thrilling experience. However, preparing adequately is crucial to make the most of your session. Below are some valuable tips to prepare yourself and your young children for portrait photos: 1. Choose your outfits wisely. When taking photos, your clothes can make a difference in how you look and feel. Choosing outfits that highlight your ideal body shape and make you feel confide
Keith Burton
Jul 22, 20233 min read
Choosing Props for Your Photography Session
Clients often ask me if they should bring any props to their portrait shoot. For newborn and toddler shoots, we have a small collection of age-appropriate props in the studio, and we will be creating a gallery of these on the website so you can select them before your session. It's worth considering bringing a beloved toy or teddy bear to help your children feel more comfortable in the potentially unfamiliar environment of the photo studio. Including props in your portrait se
Keith Burton
Jul 13, 20232 min read
Getting that different perspective
During my recent retreat in North Yorkshire, I had the chance to indulge in hobbies I usually overlook at home. Specifically, I spent a couple of days exploring drone photography. Although I've owned a drone for some time, I rarely use it for photography at home. The experience while using it on my break has taught me that drone photography presents unique differences and challenges compared to traditional hand-held camera photography. Flying the drone from our holiday cottag
Keith Burton
Jul 4, 20232 min read
Is it too late to start a Photography business?
I had to ask myself: "Is now a good time to start providing portrait photography services?" Artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about a significant transformation in photography. Now, even inexperienced individuals can capture good photos with ease. Here are some specific examples of how AI is being used in photography: Autonomous cameras: Some can now be programmed to take photos without human input. These cameras can use AI to identify subjects, set exposure, and even
Keith Burton
Jun 21, 20232 min read
<<< Select Blog Category
bottom of page