Shooting with Intention – Capturing Cohesive Travel Stories (Smartphone Camera) with Lisa Carney

This seminar is for CreativeLive subscribers only. Not subscribed? Start here!

This session moves from foundations into a practical “how to shoot” workflow on the road, focusing on capturing sequences and mini-stories instead of one-off hero shots. Using examples from real travel assignments and mobile shoots, Lisa will walk through how to move through a scene, refine a subject, and build variety (wide, medium, detail) while staying connected to the story’s core idea. The class includes demos of in-camera tools (focus, exposure, burst, panorama, and live-view decisions on phone and camera) plus time for students to ask about their own travel shooting challenges.

This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Lisa Carney.

Please note this is Part 2 of Lisa's "Travel Series," though it can be taken individually. Part 1 is "Seeing on the Road," and Part 3 is "Finishing the Story."

What You'll Learn

• Approach a new location and quickly decide what the story is and which scenes to prioritize.
• Create cohesive story sequences (establishing shots, moments, details, transitions) instead of disconnected single images.
• Adapt when conditions are “bad” (harsh light, crowds, clutter, weather) and still come away with strong images.
• Use mobile and camera features (focus control, exposure compensation, burst mode, portrait mode) to support your narrative decisions.
• Think like an editor while shooting so you come home with a usable, coherent set of images for albums, social, or portfolios.

Who It's For

• Travelers and content creators who want more cohesive travel photos from a smartphone camera.
• Beginner to intermediate photographers who want a repeatable workflow for shooting sequences, not just one-off images.
• Photographers who struggle with challenging travel conditions, such as harsh light or crowds, want practical ways to adapt.
• Anyone building albums, social posts, or portfolios who wants to return from a trip with a complete, usable set of images.

How to Join

• This class is available exclusively to CreativeLive subscribers. Not a subscriber? Join here.
• The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You’ll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate.
• To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited.
• A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You’ll receive this link one hour before the class start time.

About the Instructor

Lisa Carney is a high-end retoucher who has spent over two decades working with the most dynamic players in the print, motion picture, and television industries.

Besides being a regular presenter at the Adobe MAX conference, her teaching roster runs the gamut from beginners to professional retouchers, and includes universities, design studios, movie studios, corporations, and private students.

Lisa has worked with all major movie studios and many television networks, including Disney, Buena Vista, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Sony, Universal, Newline, Columbia, MGM, ABC Television, ESPN, TNT, CNN, CBS, CW, Warner Brothers, and Sony.

Advertising credits include Burger King, Baskin-Robbins, Lowe's, Jordana Cosmetics, Strategic Perceptions, Mattel, Chrysler, Mercedes, Mazda, and Best Buy.