← ALL ONLINE COURSES

Improve your Focus & Get Sharper Shots

Understand the settings & techniques that affect focus and learn how to get consistently sharp images.

2 HOURS of video tuition

Self-paced learning

Lifetime access

NZD $49 ($99)

BUY THE COURSE →

Is this course for you?

This course is designed for photographers who understand the basics of using their camera but are frustrated when their images don't look as sharp as they expected - particularly when viewed at full size.

YOUR PHOTOS AREN’T ALWAYS SHARP

Your images can look perfectly fine on the back of your camera, only to appear soft or blurry when you view them properly on your computer.

YOU’RE UNSURE WHICH FOCUS SETTINGS TO USE

Focus modes, focus areas, aperture and image stabilisation can be confusing, and you're not always sure which settings are right for the situation.

YOU WANT SHARPER RESULTS FRONT TO BACK

You want to understand depth of field, and advanced techniques such as focus stacking so you can achieve maximum sharpness.

What you'll learn

Practical techniques to help you understand focus, choose the right settings and capture sharper photos.

SETTINGS

Understand the settings, focus modes and focus areas that influence whether your images are sharp.

DEPTH

Learn how aperture affects depth of field and how to achieve greater sharpness from foreground to background.

DISTANCE

Understand hyperfocal distance and how to use it to maximise the area of your image that's sharp.

LENSES

Discover how your choice of lens and focal length can affect depth of field and the sharpness of your results.

GUIDE

Learn the best techniques for shooting handheld vs tripod, plus when to use image stabilisation - and when not to.

IMPACT

Learn how focus stacking can overcome depth of field limitations when you need sharpness throughout the entire scene.

Learn from an experienced photographer & educator

I'm Meghan Maloney, an award-winning New Zealand landscape photographer, Sony Digital Imaging Ambassador and photography educator. I've spent years photographing landscapes across New Zealand and around the world, and I bring that real-world experience into every lesson I teach.

My courses focus on practical techniques you can actually use in the field and at home - helping you understand not just what to do, but why you're doing it.

AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER

SONY DIGITAL IMAGING AMBASSADOR

EXPERIENCED PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATOR

Course Curriculum

    • Why sharpness matters

    • Understanding what affects focus

    • Choosing the right focus mode

    • Choosing your focus area

    • Ideal camera settings

    • Back-button focusing

    • Understanding depth of field

    • Why aperture matters

    • Foreground-to-background sharpness

    • Understanding hyperfocal distance

    • Where to focus within your scene

    • Balancing aperture and sharpness

    • How lens choice affects your results

    • Focal length and depth of field

    • Getting the best from your lenses

    • Choosing the right lens for the scene

    • Techniques for sharper handheld images

    • Getting the best results from a tripod

    • Understanding image stabilisation

    • When to use stabilisation

    • When to turn stabilisation off

    • Reviewing your images for sharpness

    • When focus stacking is needed

    • Choosing your focus points

    • Capturing a focus stack

    • Keeping exposure and settings consistent

    • Combining images in Lightroom & Photoshop

    • Checking sharpness

    • Common focus-stacking problems

“Meghan has a great way of explaining things that could be easily technically challenging. Takes it step by step, and makes it achievable.”

Vanessa Cumming, Online photography session attendee

Course FAQs

  • After purchasing, you'll receive an email from me with everything you need to access your course online. You can then log in and work through the lessons whenever it suits you.

  • You’ll have lifetime access to the course, so there’s no deadline to complete it. You can work through the lessons at your own pace and return to them whenever you’d like a refresher.

  • This course is ideal for photographers who understand the basics of using their camera but want to achieve sharper, more consistent results. It's particularly useful if you've ever been disappointed to discover that an image you thought was sharp in-camera looks soft or blurry when viewed on your computer.

  • You don't need to be an advanced photographer, but a basic understanding of aperture, shutter speed and ISO will help you get the most from the course.

  • You'll learn about the camera settings that influence focus, including focus modes and focus areas, as well as practical techniques to help you choose the right approach for different situations.

  • You’ll learn how to maximise sharpness using aperture, depth of field and hyperfocal distance, when to use focus stacking for front-to-back sharpness, and how to get the best results whether shooting handheld or on a tripod.

Ready to capture sharper photos?

Understand what affects focus, choose the right settings and use practical techniques to achieve sharper, more consistent results.

NZD $49 ($99)

BUY THE COURSE →

Lifetime access · Self-paced learning · Learn from anywhere

Copyright Meghan Maloney Photography 2026