I love photography! I’ve been taking pictures ever since I can remember.

I love God too! And of course, I love Him infinitely more than I do photography. But this combination of love for God and photography makes for great devotions in the morning with the Lord. What should I do differently as a Christian photographer? What does God have to say about taking pictures . . . or stuff like light, quality, simplicity, modesty, technique? How can I use my photography to advance God’s Kingdom better? How do I know what pictures are glorifying to him or not? How does God want me to be interacting with folks I’ll be working with today?

These were the kind of thoughts that were running through my head the other day when I read Galatians 5:24-25 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” What does it mean for a photographer to crucify the flesh with it’s affections? How does a photographer walk in the Spirit? Anyone interested in photography must know how to answer these questions! From the content of my pictures to the motivation behind why I’m taking pictures, I must ask myself if I am within the boundaries of God’s Word. Does what I display to the world speak of truth, honor, holiness, purity, loveliness, and reputability as commanded in Philippians 4?

Answering these kind of questions was the main motivation for the CAPTURE North Carolina photography workshop I taught last month. Yes, we traveled to some stunning locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway to capture the best hours of light, we practiced hands-on the myriad of techniques that transform snapshots into “wow” pictures, and we spent a fare share of time in the classroom editing, critiquing, and learning how to take the next step in our skills. But while knowledge is certainly important, learning to walk in the Spirit by developing Scriptural convictions in photography was our first priority and greatest challenge!

Consider joining us now for exploration and education at lenspiration.com. Develop your skills. Consider your convictions.

– James