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Chrissy Donadi

Nature and Landscape Photographer, Artist, Educator, & Speaker

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Fireflies dancing across the river at night in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Featured Post

🐛 Ask Me Anything: From Lightroom to Lightning Bugs | Trail Marker 07

TRAIL 2025 | MARKER 07 Hey Reader, Summer has arrived in full swing, bringing fireflies, thunderstorms, and the delightful chaos of summer break. Instead of settling into my usual slower rhythm, I’ve been bouncing between photo trips, project deadlines, and kiddo adventures. It’s a little wild, but energizing in its own way. In June, I snuck away to the Smokies to photograph the fireflies, then zipped up to speak at the Nature Photography Weekend at Grandfather Mountain. It was my first time...

23 days ago • 7 min read
Tree in Cades Cove at sunrise in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

TRAIL 2025 | MARKER 06 Hey hey! How are things going? Spring has been relentless here, in the best possible way. I’ve been doing my best to navigate the ever-wobbly seesaw between family and photography, though it just keeps flying up and down. There’s no true balancing it, and I think that’s just how it’s meant to be for now. A few weeks ago, I had the joy of teaching at the Out of the Great Smoky Mountains conference with Out of Chicago. It was an incredible experience—equal parts inspiring...

2 months ago • 6 min read
Butterfly among three Trillium flowers in Appalachia

TRAIL 2025 | MARKER 05 Happy World Backup Day! Spring has officially arrived—the cherry blossoms are showing off, and the trees are just about ready to trade in their winter sticks for fresh layers of green. There’s something about this season that always gives me a little boost—a nudge to refresh routines and take better care of the things that matter. March 31st is World Backup Day—a little holiday (okay, maybe not Hallmark official) to remind us how important it is to protect the digital...

4 months ago • 5 min read
Crocus Flowers Showing the First Signs of Spring

TRAIL 2025 | MARKER 04 Hello March! March always feels like the start of a race—stretching, warming up, knowing that any moment now, the season will burst into spring greens and vibrant colors across the landscape. Winter’s quiet slumber is giving way to signs of life, and I’ve already spotted my first crocuses and snowdrops peeking through on my afternoon walks. Also, happy belated International Women’s Day to all the incredible women! 🎉 I recently shared a reel highlighting some of my...

5 months ago • 4 min read
Essential Landscape Photography Camera Gear

TRAIL 2025 | MARKER 03 I've been deep in preparation for LIVE!, which means long hours at my desk. The temperature took a huge swing into the 70s°F (20s°C), making it tough to stay indoors. But once the weekend wraps up, it'll all be worth it because I'm going to be brimming with creative sparks ready to catch fire. Every year, the energy and camaraderie from the LIVE! conference kicks my photography into high gear, and I know I'll be outside with my camera a whole lot more. In this trail...

6 months ago • 4 min read
Red cardinal in winter snow storm

TRAIL 2025 | MARKER 02 Winter’s quiet beauty has a way of slowing me down and sharpening my attention to the small details—frost patterns forming overnight, the way light transforms a familiar landscape under fresh snow. But these colder, darker days can also test my creativity. That’s why this month, I’m revisiting an article from the archives all about finding inspiration in winter’s stillness. Still, I can feel the creative rust settling in. That’s why I’m relieved that in less than two...

6 months ago • 5 min read
25 Landscape Photography Goals for 2025

TRAIL 2025 | MARKER 01 Warm wishes as we step into 2025! The last two months have been a whirlwind—ICYMI, we welcomed a new little one in November, and life has felt like a beautiful, messy transformation ever since. This year, I’m bringing that energy into a refreshed newsletter. Each edition will now follow "markers" to guide your photography and creative journey, much like trail landmarks. This month, I’m sharing 25 photography goals for 2025, a quick reminder from the archives on creating...

7 months ago • 4 min read

Hey Reader, How has your photography been shaping up this season? November turned my world upside down—but in the best way possible! My husband and I welcomed a little girl into our family. She arrived a few weeks early, so last month's photography plans had to pause as we focused on family. But good news! I’ve caught up on enough sleep this past week to finish curating this year’s list of Best Gifts for Nature Photographers. And guess what? We're still doing the giveaway, though we've...

8 months ago • 3 min read

Hey Reader, How is the fall color your way? This past week, I took some time to photograph the approaching peak colors in the mountains of Pennsylvania—where I grew up. I make it a point to return each fall because being surrounded by those autumn hues brings back so many nostalgic memories. It’s the perfect way for me to recenter before all the end-of-year festivities begin. Now that I’m back in the office, I’m excited to dive into finishing some new articles and videos to share with you...

10 months ago • 4 min read

Hey Reader, It’s that time of year again when I find myself wondering, “How is it already…?” But here we are — October is upon us, and there’s a lot happening this month! To ensure you don’t miss any of the photography news I have to share, you’ll receive two newsletters this month. In this edition, we’re diving into the first answer in my Ask Me Anything series, which addresses a common issue: syncing your Photoshop edits with your Lightroom catalog. Plus, don’t miss Out of Chicago's free...

10 months ago • 4 min read