Finally, Create What You Envision.

Master your camera in manual mode.

A course made for beginner and intermediate photographers across all genres.

Ditch the confusion of manual settings with a simplified roadmap. Begin capturing the sharp, professional, soul-stirring images you actually envisioned .

Nail Sharp Focus

Capture Gorgeous Light

Embrace Your Talent

Become A Visual Storyteller

BEGIN TODAY

Join 500+ students!

Janet

“The Mastering Manual Mode course is exceptional. Nancy does a wonderful job providing you with all the info you need to know. She has the hidden nuggets that just aren’t in other courses.”

Student Transformations

Side-by-side comparison of a female softball player wearing a helmet and striped uniform holding a bat in a batting stance, with the left image labeled 'before' showing her in a plain jersey and the right labeled 'after' showing her in a black striped uniform.
Comparison of two romantic couples, one sitting on the grass at sunset and the other standing on the beach holding hands at sunset.
Before image: A girl riding a horse outdoors during daytime. After image: Two girls riding horses at sunset in a field.

My students were struggling with:

  • Dark, blurry, and disappointing images

  • Online tips weren’t clicking

  • Beginning to question their natural talent

  • Wondering how those gorgeous Instagram images were taken

  • Confusion with camera settings, missing the perfect moment

  • Thinking maybe the camera wasn’t good enough and spending hundreds on better gear

  • Editing images for hours trying to salvage their photos

A young woman with long hair, wearing a white off-the-shoulder sweater and dark jeans, is smiling outdoors near tall grass Nancy Smiley Photography.

Mastering Manual Mode results in:

  • Capturing the photos you admire on Instagram in real light, every time

  • Constant sharpness and great exposure, without 10 minutes of frustration first

  • Confidence in your skills and enjoying photography with ease

  • Knowing what camera settings to adjust for any lighting or subject

  • Creating photos you’re proud to share

  • The ability to finally have a successful business

A man lifts a young girl into the air while a woman sits on the ground smiling and holding a flower, all outdoors in a grassy field with trees in the background during sunset.
ENROLL FOR $249

What you’ll learn:

  • The Exposure Triangle

    Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, and how they all work together.

  • Manual Mode

    You’ll master taking images in manual mode on your camera.

  • Metering & White Balance

    Gain the tools and knowledge to achieve perfect color and tone.

  • Natural Light

    Explore light during golden hour, as well as indoor light and other natural outdoor light.

  • Creative Lighting

    Learn to get creative with silhouettes, shadows, and reflections.

  • Sharp Focus

    Discover the four pillars of focus and how to achieve fast, tack sharp focus quickly and without fail.

  • Composition

    Understand some of the basic principles and rules of composition to add interest to your images.

  • Intentional Photos

    Every image tells a story; learn to captivate the viewer’s eye by shooting with intention.

  • Portrait Perfection

    Get the guidelines to capture stunning portraits.

  • RAW vs JPEG Images

    Understand image quality and which one suits you best for your photography.

  • Intentional Motion Blur

    Get creative with focusing techniques to achieve different results.

  • & so much more!

Sign Me Up
A woman holding a baby up close with their foreheads touching, both smiling.
A man and woman face each other closely, holding hands with an engagement ring visible, outdoors during sunset.
Course Total Value: Over $740 -- Your Investment: Only $249

What is waiting for you inside the course…

  • Six comprehensive modules — a $497 value

    • Each module has video lessons that you can watch at your own pace.

  • Printable cheat sheets and notes — worth over $49

    • You can take the cheat sheets on the go when you’re still learning, and print the notes for studying when offline.

  • Homework

    • Simple yet effective exercises to really bring your knowledge to life and help you perfect your craft so you instantly see results.

  • Over-the-shoulder demos with my camera — a $199 value

    • Watch as I set up my camera and put the learning material in action.

  • Answers to common questions

    • Each module has an FAQ where you can dive into all of the questions that I’ve been asked time and time again!

  • An exclusive student community

    • Unlock access to our exclusive community, where you'll find encouragement and support. Share your images, learn from peers, and receive my personal guidance.

  • Lifetime (& instant!) access — priceless!

    • You take this course at your own pace, and re-visit as much as you’d like. All of the lessons are available, no dripped content!

  • Bonuses (Yours FREE Today!)

    • The Lens Library (A $10 Value) – The essential, comprehensive guide that stops lens confusion and guarantees you buy the right gear the first time.

I WANT IN!

Here are some shared experiences of Mastering Manual Mode from my incredible students:

Customer review about a photography course Nancy Smiley Photography, praising its content, helpful tips, and recommendations for growth.
A screenshot of a text message from Janet sharing her positive experience with a photography course from Nancy Smiley Photography, mentioning Nancy's helpful guidance and her renewed confidence in using her camera.
A customer review on an online platform praising a photography course from Nancy Smiley Photography, expressing satisfaction for clear explanations that met their expectations.
Screenshot of a social media comment from Kimberly expressing excitement about finishing a photography course from Nancy Smiley Photog filled with nuggets, praising someone for being exceptionally knowledgeable, and encouraging others to do the same.
Screenshot of a positive customer review about a photography course from Nancy Smiley Photography.
Screenshot of a social media comment from Marvin thanking Nancy Smiley Photography for composition and light modules.

The Curriculum

Module 1: Building Blocks

  • Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO

  • Depth of field (blurred backgrounds)

  • How to adjust exposure settings quickly

Module 2: Manual Mode

  • Metering

  • Custom exposure

  • Histograms

Module 3: White Balance

  • Understanding white balance options

  • Gray cards & Expodisc

  • RAW vs JPEG

Module 4: Sharp Photos

  • Nancy’s Four Pillars of Focus

  • Focusing for large groups

  • Back button focus

  • Advanced focus techniques and features

  • Focus troubleshooting

Module 5: Natural Light

  • Natural light indoors and out

  • Golden hour

  • Silhouettes, shadows, and other creative light

Module 6: Composition

  • Perfect portraits

  • Shooting with intention

  • Showcase lines, frames, and shapes

  • Storytelling images

Get Instant Access

Get Instant Access

Meet the Teach

Hi, I’m Nancy! I’m here to help.

Are you tired of feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by photography? I specialize in helping photographers move from confusion to confidence. With my clear and practical teaching style, I break down complex concepts into easy-to-follow steps.

Mastering Manual Mode has been so successful, I'm confident I can help you capture the stunning images you've always dreamed of—of the people, moments, and beauty that surrounds you. I personally guarantee this course will transform your photography!

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • You’ll create a username and password right here on my website! You can log in anytime and pick back up where you left off.

  • Forever! No really, you have instant and lifetime access to Mastering Manual Mode. Take your time, take it twice if you want!

  • Yes! This is the best step for you. Not to toot my own horn, but thousands of people just like you have thanked me for being so easy to understand! By starting off right with a course, you're avoiding the years of struggle that others who try to DIY photography face! 

  • You betcha! There are several students who are experienced, but enrolled in the course to fill the gaps from the knowledge that they tried to get on their own, and end up just getting frustrated over! If you're still not getting the images you've always dreamed of, you're going to get incredible value from the course!

  • No! You can take this course no matter the camera you have. Beginner or advanced gear, Canon, Sony, Nikon - it doesn’t matter!

  • Absolutely! Anyone who wants to learn photography, inside out and comprehensively, will benefit greatly from the course! Whether it is birds or wildlife, portraits, street, macro, everyday life, or anything else, you will get ALL the knowledge necessary in this course. However, if you only want to learn ONE thing (such as macro) then this course is not for you - we're all about capturing the beauty of every day!

  • In the course you will find an FAQ for each module, with answers to all of the most common questions received. If you feel like you need personalized help, you might benefit from a 1 on 1 coaching call.

  • I truly want you to succeed in this course. That’s why you can enroll risk-free for 14 days.

    If you complete at least the first two modules and feel Mastering Manual Mode isn’t right for you, just email me within 14 days and you’ll receive a full refund — no hard feelings.