Month in Review | January 2025

This year, I’m trying something new—committing to a monthly recap where I’ll share what I photographed, what I worked on, articles I published, gear I tested, and more. My goal is to give you a behind-the-scenes look at my creative journey while keeping you updated on what’s happening in my world of photography.

I’m excited to experiment with this format and see how it evolves throughout the year. Thanks for following along—I hope you enjoy this first edition!

Words That Inspire

“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.”
– Paul Strand

What I Photographed

January was filled with a mix of local charm and coastal beauty. I took a short trip to California’s Central Coast (mostly a family trip, but I managed to capture a few photos) and visited Old Poway Park to capture the rustic details of historic buildings and vintage trains.

What I’m Testing

This month, I’ve been getting hands-on with the FUJIFILM X-M5, and I’m having a lot of fun exploring its features. The creative possibilities with FUJIFILM’s film simulations have been incredibly inspiring, allowing me to experiment with different moods and tones straight out of the camera. I’m excited to keep pushing its capabilities and will share more thoughts in a future post!

New Toys In My Bag

This month, my new toy is the bag itself! Late last year, I backed the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack on Kickstarter, and I’m finally getting the chance to put it to use. Configuring it was a bit of a challenge at first, but the more I use it, the more I like it. The design is sleek and functional, though I do wish it had a few small compartments for essentials like batteries and memory cards. I might need to pick up their Small Tech Pouch to fill that gap. Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing a full review of the Outdoor Backpack soon!

What I Worked On

As many of you know, my day job is with Mylio, where I create educational content to help people better organize and protect their photos. Mylio Photos is my personal choice for managing my extensive photography library—from iPhone snapshots to fine art to scanned family photos. If you’d like to learn more about this impressive application, check out one of my favorite live presentations and webinars from January below, or leave a comment with your questions!

• Holiday Photo Chaos? Smart Tips to Get Organized (Mylio Photos Coffee Break)
• Capture. Organize. Print. (webinar in partnership with Mylio and Printique)
• Decluttering Your Digital Life (webinar for Mylio)
• Stay Connected: Simple Ways to Share Photos with Family (Mylio Photos Coffee Break)
• Rediscovering Hidden Memories: Unearth the Stories Behind Your Photos (webinar for Mylio)
• From Digital to Tangible: Preparing Your Photos for Print (webinar for Mylio)

Photography Tip of the Month

Try seeing the world through your lens in a new way. Many cameras offer different shooting modes, such as color profiles or black and white, which can completely change how you approach a scene. Lately, I’ve been shooting in black and white using the ACROS film simulation on the FUJIFILM X-M5, and it’s been an eye-opening experience. Stripping away color has pushed me to focus more on composition, texture, and the interplay of light and shadow. Whatever camera you’re using, experiment with different shooting modes—you might step outside your comfort zone, but you’ll likely find fresh inspiration along the way!

Until Next Time…

Thanks for following along! I’m excited to continue sharing these monthly updates and would love to hear what you think of this format. Drop a comment below and let’s chat!

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more behind-the-scenes content, and join my email list so you never miss an update. See you next month!