Hey there Reader,

You might think that you need Patagonia, Iceland, or a three-day backpacking trip to become a better adventure photographer. You don't.

In fact, you probably shouldn’t wait for the big adventures to practice.

Because when that bucket-list moment finally happens, you don’t want to be standing there thinking:

Wait…what settings should I use?!

The little adventures are where you prepare for the big ones.

📸 Go photograph a local trail and practice telling the entire story instead of only photographing the view.

📸 Wake up for sunrise somewhere close to home and practice adjusting your settings as the light changes.

📸 Take your camera out in rain, fog, snow, or ugly weather and learn how to adapt when conditions aren't perfect.

📸 Give yourself a pretend assignment: “Photograph an adventurous afternoon in my town.”

These might not be the photographs that win National Geographic Photographer of the Year. 😂

But that's not really the point.

Every time you purposely go out with one skill you want to strengthen, you're building your photography muscles.

You're learning to find compositions faster. You're figuring out your camera without thinking about it. You're practicing storytelling. You're discovering what kinds of photographs are missing from your portfolio.

So when you do find yourself watching bears in Alaska, hiking through the Dolomites, or standing under the northern lights…

You're not learning how to photograph the moment.

You're ready for it.

This week inside Shutterbugs Gone Wild, I put together 10 beginner-friendly micro-adventures that strengthen your photography portfolio, including a challenge for each one.

You don't need an epic landscape or plane ticket - Just you, your camera, and somewhere to explore.

Because the big adventures might create incredible photographs...but the little ones teach you how to take them.

Stay adventurous my little shutterbugs,

Alexandra | The Bucket List Mermaid