When I first held my brand-new DSLR camera, my heart was full of hope. I had just welcomed a baby girl into my life, and like so many new parents, I was determined to document every milestone, every giggle, every sleepy smile. I had visions of sunlit portraits, soft-focus candids, and memory-filled photo walls that would make my heart swell with pride. I imagined capturing her as she grew, frame by frame, with all the beauty and emotion I saw through my eyes.
However, that excitement quickly gave way to something else entirely. Disappointment. Frustration. Confusion. The images I took didn’t match the ones I had envisioned. They were dark, blurry, oddly colored, or just plain dull. Where was the magic? Why didn’t this expensive camera deliver the stunning photos I’d dreamed of?
At first, I blamed the camera. Maybe it was faulty. Maybe I hadn’t chosen the right model. But somewhere deep down, I began to realize the truth—it wasn’t the camera. It was me. Or more precisely, it was my lack of knowledge. I was shooting in auto mode, relying on the camera to make the creative decisions. And it simply couldn’t do what I imagined without help from me. I needed to learn. I needed to get out of the auto.
Lost in Settings and Self-Doubt
“Easy,” I thought. “I’ll just stop using auto mode.” I imagined it would be like flipping a switch. Surely, all I had to do was learn a few basic settings, and everything would fall into place.
But that’s when things really got hard. Shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance—words I had never heard before suddenly seemed like a foreign language. I tried watching videos and reading photography books, but it all blurred together. The exposure triangle made no sense to me. One setting changed another, and the image didn’t turn out how I expected. I was more lost than before.
Each failed attempt chipped away at my confidence. I’d try to take portraits of my daughter, but they didn’t look anything like the images I’d seen on social media. I wondered how those other parents were doing it. I felt like I was missing some critical secret that everyone else knew. Every time I pressed the shutter button, I hoped this one would be the photo I’d be proud to print and frame. But it never quite happened.
I wanted to tell a story through my photography, to reflect the love and warmth I felt in my heart. But instead, I found myself with memory cards full of mediocre snapshots. And worse, I felt defeated.
Subah’s Story Echoes Mine
This isn’t just my story. This is the journey of countless other parents, especially mothers, who buy their first DSLR with a dream of documenting their children’s lives. Subah Sinha, a graduate of the Enthusiast Photography Course, walked the same road. Her story begins with a camera, a new life stage, and a deep desire to capture it all beautifully.
Subah is a mother of three based in Sydney. Originally from India, she moved to Australia over a decade ago. She’s a wife, a former dentist, and someone who discovered her passion for photography after the birth of her children. Like many of us, her interest in photography started casually, but it grew stronger with every milestone she wanted to preserve. Her tools changed over time, but her dream remained the same—to tell her family’s story through photographs that radiated warmth and connection.
Her turning point came after investing in a new Nikon DSLR. She knew she wanted to do more than point and shoot. But she found herself in the same place I had been—stuck in auto mode, searching for the magic button that would turn snapshots into artistry.
The Endless Search for a Guide
Like many beginners, Subah tried everything she could to learn. She signed up for free tutorials, attended beginner workshops hosted by her camera brand, and bought books she hoped would finally make the exposure triangle click in her brain. But none of it worked.
The problem wasn’t a lack of effort. It was the lack of clear, structured guidance. These resources assumed a level of technical understanding she simply didn’t have. They were either too shallow to be useful or too complex to digest. Most importantly, they lacked a human element—a mentor or community who could explain things in a relatable, encouraging way.
Subah's frustration grew, especially as she attempted to take portraits of her own children. She knew the moments were special, but her photos didn’t reflect that. She wanted to freeze time with beauty and clarity, but she ended up with images that didn’t speak to her heart.
Then, one day, she stumbled upon an ad that caught her eye. She had seen it many times before, scrolling through Facebook, but this time she decided to look deeper. The course claimed to be different. It promised to teach real photography without overwhelming jargon, and it featured testimonials from women just like her. Women who had started with no experience and learned to take photos they once thought impossible.
Subah clicked, read the reviews, and took a leap of faith.
Taking the Leap into a Real Photography Course
After trying and failing to learn from various resources, Subah was hesitant to invest her time and money again. But something felt different this time. The testimonials resonated with her on a personal level. These weren’t stories from technical experts or professional photographers with years of training. They were from everyday women who had once stood in the same confused, overwhelmed place that Subah now found herself in.
She first dipped her toes in by joining a free course. It was simple, engaging, and most importantly, understandable. It didn’t bombard her with jargon. It didn’t assume prior knowledge. For the first time, photography felt like something she could grasp. That short course gave her a glimpse into what learning photography could be like if it were explained with empathy and care.
Encouraged by the experience, Subah joined the main program. What she found wasn’t just lessons. It was a welcoming, supportive environment built for women like her—mothers, hobbyists, aspiring creatives—who needed not just information but inspiration and structure.
The Enthusiast Course quickly became a turning point. It wasn't just the content that changed things; it was how it was delivered. Each concept was carefully broken down. Instead of flooding learners with terminology, it began with the basics and built upward step by step. The idea was not to intimidate but to empower. The goal wasn’t perfection—it was progress.
Learning with Structure, Not Confusion
What made this course stand out for Subah was its structured approach. Unlike previous workshops and online tutorials that skipped from topic to topic or overwhelmed her with dense theory, this course laid down a clear foundation. Every module was a stepping stone that connected to the next.
Subah began to understand exposure. Not just the triangle of ISO, aperture, and shutter speed—but how each setting interacted with light and movement. She learned to control blur and depth of field, to manipulate brightness, and to create the aesthetic she wanted.
But more than that, she began to recognize the why behind each setting. It was no longer guesswork. She wasn’t shooting and hoping. She was shooting with intention.
Each lesson included practice challenges. These were not optional extras—they were central to the learning process. Subah would go out, camera in hand, applying what she had just learned. Then she’d submit her work and receive feedback—not robotic corrections or generic tips, but thoughtful, encouraging critiques that recognized her progress and nudged her toward growth.
This kind of learning allowed her to fail without fear. Every mistake was an opportunity. Every critique was delivered with kindness and clarity. Slowly, her confidence returned.
The Power of a Supportive Community
Perhaps the most unexpected gift the course gave Subah was a community. From the outside, it might seem like just another online photography course. But inside, it was a thriving, collaborative space filled with women supporting one another.
This wasn’t just a group where you posted photos and waited for likes. It was a space of genuine connection. When Subah uploaded her images, she received more than feedback. She received encouragement. She was cheered on, guided, and inspired by women who were also learning and growing.
Some of them were just starting out, like she was. Others were more advanced and had taken the same path before her. But all of them remembered what it felt like to be at the beginning, and they offered support with empathy and warmth.
She didn’t have to worry about asking “silly” questions. She didn’t feel judged for sharing a photo that wasn’t perfect. In fact, she was often told that those “imperfect” photos were the most powerful because they showed vulnerability and progress. The community taught her that photography isn’t about reaching a destination quickly. It’s about the journey.
Even after completing the course, Subah remained active in the group. It became a space she could return to anytime she needed advice, inspiration, or just someone to understand the challenges of balancing creative pursuits with motherhood and everyday life.
Discovering the Light
Among all the topics covered in the course, one stood out to Subah as her personal favorite—light. The lesson on natural light opened her eyes in a way she hadn’t expected.
Until then, she hadn’t thought much about where light was coming from, how it fell on her subject, or how it affected mood and color. But once she learned how to truly see the light, everything changed.
Suddenly, her walks around the neighborhood were different. She noticed how the early morning sun bathed the world in soft yellows and pinks. She watched how shadows moved throughout the day. She saw the magic in the golden hour before sunset and began to chase it deliberately with her camera.
Light was no longer an obstacle or a mystery. It became her partner.
She learned how to place her subject so that the light illuminated their face beautifully without harsh shadows. She discovered backlighting and the dreamy, halo-like effect it created around her children’s hair. She stopped shooting with the sun directly behind her and started experimenting with angles that gave more depth and emotion.
It was in this lesson that she had one of her biggest lightbulb moments. She realized she didn’t need expensive gear or studio lights. She just needed to learn how to work with what was already around her. With that understanding, her images began to glow—literally and emotionally.
A Creative Awakening
With each new week of the course, Subah felt herself unlocking another piece of the creative puzzle. She wasn’t just learning how to operate a camera; she was learning how to express herself through it.
The course introduced her to composition principles that helped her organize elements within the frame. She explored color theory and learned how to use complementary tones to create harmony or contrast. She discovered the emotional impact of different focal lengths and how to guide the viewer’s eye through an image.
One of the most transformative parts of this journey was the realization that photography wasn’t just technical. It was deeply personal. Every decision—from what to include in the frame to how to edit afterward—was an act of storytelling.
Subah began to experiment more. She tried different genres—portraits, still life, landscapes, lifestyle shots of her children in their everyday routines. She stopped worrying about whether the photo was “perfect” and started focusing on whether it felt true to her.
This shift in mindset liberated her. She no longer needed validation from outside. The joy was in the process. And that joy radiated through her photos.
Growth Beyond the Course
The structured course may have ended, but Subah’s growth didn’t stop there. With the strong foundation she had built, she began pursuing photography more seriously.
She invested time in practice, applied what she had learned, and refined her editing skills. Slowly but surely, her portfolio began to grow. Family and friends started asking her to take their portraits. Strangers reached out through word of mouth. Before she knew it, she was turning a passion into a career.
Today, Subah is a full-time family and newborn photographer based in Sydney. She runs her own business, works with clients, and continues to grow as an artist. Her photography style is warm, natural, and full of heart, just like her journey.
She now spends her days capturing the love between parents and children, documenting the tiniest newborn features, and freezing real, unfiltered moments of joy. She is living the dream she once thought had slipped through her fingers.
And the best part? She gets to be present for her own childre,n too. Her schedule is flexible, her work is fulfilling, and her creativity is thriving.
From Confidence to Craftsmanship
With a strong foundation now beneath her, Subah’s photography began to take on a more polished, intentional quality. The learning curve had flattened just enough that she no longer felt afraid of her camera settings or unsure about how to tackle a shoot. Instead, she felt empowered. For the first time, she could look at a scene, understand the light, visualize the final image, and know exactly how to bring that vision to life.
Subah’s confidence translated into consistency. Her images started to tell deeper stories. Each one captured more than a moment—it captured emotion, character, and connection. She was no longer guessing or mimicking what she saw online. Her photography now had its own voice, one shaped by her values as a mother, a creative, and a storyteller.
But she wasn’t satisfied with just taking better pictures. She wanted to take memorable ones. She wanted to be proud of every image she delivered to a client or hung on her own wall. This led her down the path of mastery—refining composition, understanding color palettes, experimenting with minimalism, and slowly building her editing style. Her journey had begun with curiosity, then frustration, and now it had matured into a pursuit of artistry.
Challenges Along the Way
Subah’s path to becoming a professional photographer wasn’t without challenges. Despite the growth she had achieved, she still battled moments of self-doubt. Photography is a field saturated with talent, and impostor syndrome can creep in even when you’re succeeding.
There were times she questioned whether she was truly ready to take on paying clients. Would they be happy? Would they notice her inexperience? These fears are familiar to anyone stepping into a new professional identity, especially in a creative field where so much of the work is subjective and personal.
Time management was another hurdle. As a mother of three young children, Subah’s time was stretched thin. Balancing client sessions, editing work, family responsibilities, and personal rest required careful planning and realistic boundaries. Early on, she had to learn to say no to projects that didn’t align with her values or schedule. It was hard, but necessary.
Another challenge was pricing. Like many creatives, she struggled with putting a monetary value on her work. Photography was her passion, and she feared charging for something she loved. However, as demand grew and she invested more time, effort, and equipment into her craft, she began to see the importance of valuing her skills. Through guidance from peers and mentors, she learned to set prices that reflected the quality of her service and allowed her business to grow sustainably.
Developing a Personal Style
As Subah continued to evolve as a photographer, she realized the importance of defining her unique style. It was no longer about simply taking “good” photos. She wanted her work to be recognizable, to evoke specific feelings, and to reflect her personality.
She began paying more attention to the elements that made her heart sing—soft natural light, warm tones, candid expressions, and genuine connection between people. She leaned into lifestyle photography rather than posed studio portraits. She preferred capturing families in their homes, at the park, or during quiet golden hour walks. Her images celebrated imperfection, authenticity, and the beauty of real life.
Editing became another avenue for creative expression. At first, editing was just about fixing exposure or contrast. Now, it was about enhancing mood and storytelling. Subah developed a signature look—soft and warm, rich in golden light, with subtle yet impactful color grading. It took experimentation and time, but eventually, she found a post-processing style that matched her vision.
This consistency in both shooting and editing made her portfolio stronger. When people visited her website or Instagram page, they immediately understood what she offered and how her work felt. This clarity helped attract clients who shared her aesthetic preferences, which made every shoot a more joyful and collaborative experience.
Building a Business from Passion
Subah didn’t set out to become a professional photographer. Her journey began as a way to document her family’s life. But with her skills growing and her love for photography deepening, turning it into a business became a natural next step.
Starting a business meant learning a whole new set of skills—marketing, branding, client communication, scheduling, invoicing, and more. She created a name and identity for her business, designed a website, curated a portfolio, and began offering sessions for friends and acquaintances. Word of mouth played a big role in those early days. Each happy client referred someone new.
She was deliberate about growing slowly and steadily. She didn’t want to compromise quality for quantity. Her sessions were personal and thoughtful, and she took the time to get to know her clients before each shoot. Whether it was a newborn session or a family picnic, she made sure the experience was as meaningful as the final photos.
Social media became a powerful tool for Subah. She didn’t just post photos—she shared stories. Each caption revealed a little about the family she photographed or her own journey as a photographer. This honesty and openness helped her build trust and connection with her audience.
Creating Emotional Connection Through Photos
Subah’s strength as a photographer lies in her ability to capture emotion. Her images go beyond aesthetics; they touch the heart. She has a talent for finding the quiet in-between moments—the gentle hand on a child’s back, the joyful laugh shared between siblings, the peaceful pause as a baby sleeps in a parent’s arms.
This ability stems from her own experiences as a mother. She knows how fleeting childhood is. She knows how quickly those little details—tiny toes, wisps of baby hair, spontaneous laughter—disappear. Her photography became a way of honoring those moments for others, just as she had once longed to do for herself.
Clients often tell her that her photos make them cry—in the best way. They see themselves in a new light. They notice things they didn’t realize in the moment. A look. A hug. A tear. Photography, for Subah, became a tool not just for preservation, but for reflection.
Her approach is calm and patient. She doesn’t rush or stage every detail. She lets the session unfold naturally, offering gentle guidance when needed, but always staying open to what the moment brings. This relaxed style puts her clients at ease, especially children, who respond best when they’re free to be themselves.
Finding Joy in Every Shoot
Despite having turned photography into a full-time profession, Subah hasn’t lost her joy. In fact, she loves it more now than ever. Each session is an opportunity to meet new people, hear new stories, and create something beautiful and lasting.
She finds joy in the small wins—the toddler who finally smiles, the nervous parent who relaxes, the light that turns golden just at the right time. These moments keep her inspired. No two shoots are the same, and that variety keeps the work exciting and rewarding.
She also celebrates her growth. Sometimes she looks back at her old photos and marvels at how far she’s come. What once felt impossible is now second nature. The camera settings that once confused her are now tools she uses with ease. The fear of shooting in manual mode has been replaced with the thrill of creative control.
Even editing, once a chore, has become a part of her artistic process. She enjoys fine-tuning each image, knowing that the final result will bring joy to a family for years to come.
Balancing Work and Family
Running a photography business while raising three children is no small task. But Subah has found a rhythm that works for her family. She schedules sessions around her children’s needs and makes time for both work and rest. She is intentional about not overbooking herself so she can be fully present in both her roles as a mother and a creative.
Her children have become part of her photography journey. They are often her test subjects, her assistants, and her inspiration. Her camera is part of their lives, and they understand and respect the passion their mother brings to her work.
This balance wasn’t achieved overnight. It required honest conversations with her family, self-discipline, and a lot of trial and error. But over time, she built a lifestyle where photography enhances her family life rather than competes with it.
Giving Back to the Community
Subah is deeply grateful for the guidance and community that helped her grow, and she has made it a mission to give back. She stays active in online photography groups, especially those that helped shape her early journey. She offers advice, encouragement, and tips to new photographers who are just starting out.
She also mentors aspiring photographers in her local community, offering support through workshops, portfolio reviews, and one-on-one chats. Her message is always the same—if she could do it, so can they.
Her story is a powerful reminder that learning photography isn’t about talent or expensive gear. It’s about mindset, dedication, and the willingness to keep going even when the results aren’t immediate.
A Shift in Perspective
As Subah reflects on how far she’s come, she recognizes that the biggest change hasn’t been technical. It has been internal. When she started, she was filled with self-doubt. She worried that she would never understand photography. That she had waited too long. That she didn’t have the time, the talent, or the tools to succeed.
But over the weeks and months, something shifted. Every successful photo, every kind piece of feedback, and every breakthrough moment chipped away at that doubt and replaced it with confidence. Subah didn’t just learn how to use a camera—she learned how to trust herself.
She stopped comparing herself to others. She stopped chasing perfect shots and started chasing meaningful ones. She stopped asking whether she was good enough and began asking what kind of story she wanted to tell. Her mindset transformed from fear and hesitation to clarity and joy.
That shift, she believes, is the true gift of learning photography in the right way. It doesn’t just make you a better artist. It changes the way you see the world, the way you experience your life, and the way you connect with others.
What Makes a Course Truly Work
For Subah, the turning point wasn’t just the content of the course—it was the environment it created. She had taken classes before, watched tutorials, and read photography books. But none of those experiences gave her what this course did—a clear roadmap, a human connection, and a sense of belonging.
What made the difference was that the course met her where she was. It didn’t assume anything. It didn’t talk down or rush forward. It respected the beginner’s perspective while gently guiding her into more advanced concepts. It gave her space to practice, reflect, and grow at her own pace.
Even more importantly, it encouraged her to share her work in a supportive space. The feedback was never critical for the sake of criticism. It was uplifting, honest, and specific, focused on helping her see what was working and what could be improved. That kind of feedback built her up instead of tearing her down.
The community wasn’t just a side benefit—it was central. In a field that can often feel isolating, having a group of women cheering her on made all the difference. It kept her motivated. It kept her accountable. And it gave her the courage to keep going.
Why Subah Recommends It to Everyone
When people ask Subah whether they should learn photography, her answer is always yes. Whether it’s for personal memories, a creative outlet, or a potential career, photography has the power to enrich your life in unexpected ways.
But she adds one more piece of advice—find a course that truly understands what it means to start from scratch. Look for one that supports you beyond just the technical. Look for mentors who care about your journey. Look for a community that lifts you up.
Subah believes that photography is for everyone. You don’t need to have artistic experience. You don’t need to have the most expensive camera. All you need is a willingness to learn and a place that helps you believe in yourself.
She often tells others that if they can relate to the feeling of disappointment when their camera doesn’t deliver, if they’ve struggled with auto mode, or if they’ve dreamed of capturing beautiful moments but don’t know how, then they are exactly where she once was. And if she could do it, so can they.
From Mother to Memory Maker
Subah started this journey as a mother who wanted better pictures of her children. Today, she is a memory maker—not only for her own family but for others as well. She captures the tiny wrinkles on a newborn’s feet, the laughter shared between siblings, and the look of awe on a parent’s face as they hold their baby close.
She creates photographs that people treasure. Images that hang on walls, sit in frames on desks, and live in albums passed down through generations. Her work is more than art—it’s a legacy.
And she still remembers the day she almost gave up. The day she thought photography wasn’t for her. The day she believed she had made a mistake buying a camera.
What changed everything was not giving up. What changed everything was finding the right place to learn. The right people to believe in her. The right environment to grow.
She is still learning, still evolving, still creating. But now, she does it with joy, confidence, and gratitude.
Conclusion:
If there is one thing Subah hopes others take from her story, it is that beautiful photography is not reserved for professionals or the naturally gifted. It is for anyone with a desire to learn and a heart full of love for the moments they want to capture.
Maybe you’re where she once was. Maybe you just bought your first camera. Maybe you’ve tried and failed. Maybe you’ve taken photos that don’t feel like what you hoped. Maybe you’ve said to yourself, “I’ll never get this.”
But you will. With the right tools, the right guidance, and a little patience, you will.
Because photography is not about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about paying attention to the light, the moment, the connection. It’s about slowing down and seeing your world with new eyes.
Whether you want to photograph your children, start a business, or explore your creativity, know this: you are not too late. You are not too inexperienced. You are right on time. And your story—just like Subah’s—is ready to be captured.
So pick up your camera. Look for the light. Trust your eye. And begin.