class by summer murdock

The Magic of Motion

Stillness only goes so far. People look most alive when they're moving, and so do photographs.

This hands-on workshop teaches you how to work with movement and blur intentionally. You'll learn how to guide your subjects into authentic motion vs rigid posing, and how to use your camera to capture it. Learn to use slow shutter, motion blur, panning, intentional camera movement, zoom pulls, and even a bit of multiple exposures and tilt shifts, to freeze and blur movement in ways that add life and dreaminess to your images.

I'm interested
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COURSE LENGTH

4 weeks

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class start date

19th Oct 2026

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INVESTMENT

$300 / $450

Independent / Guided

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summer murdock

“I used to think sharp meant success. I used to think blur meant I missed the shot. I was wrong.”

Many photographers spend a lot of energy chasing sharpness and believing that following the rules will lead to a “successful” image. The Magic of Motion challenges that idea. In this workshop, photographers learn to get out of their heads and into their bodies, letting go of perfection and learning to create images that feel like dreams.

Yes, the class covers the technical stuff. You learn how to work intentionally with slow shutters, panning, multiple exposure sequences, tilt shifts, and intentional camera movement. But also, explore what happens when the camera and the artist are allowed to move freely.

When someone stands still too long, they tighten. When they move, something opens. The same is true for the artist behind the camera. Movement changes the energy of the person being photographed, and it changes the photographer as well.

For photographers feeling burned out or weighed down by perfection, motion can be a relief. When your identity becomes tied too tightly to getting it “right”, every click of the shutter starts to feel heavy. Blur becomes an act of resistance. It invites experimentation and play, reminding photographers that photography is a practice, not a performance.

In The Magic of Motion, blur and movement are both technical skills and creative catalysts, helping photographers let go and create with presence and freedom.

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summer murdock
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    • Why soft, imperfect images often feel more emotional and alive than technically perfect ones.

    • How to guide natural movement instead of rigid posing by getting your subjects moving and into their bodies

    • How subtle gestures created through movement can bring an image to life

    • How to combine relative sharpness and blur within the same frame to create images that feel layered and alive.

    • How to create panning images with the background in motion and the subject in relative focus

    • How to create intentional camera movement including vertical swipe, spin, zoom pull, and still → move

    • How to create motion through multiple exposure sequencing

    • How to experiment with tilt shift and selective focus to create blurry dreamlike feel.

    • How to use motion as a catalyst when perfectionism or burnout creeps in

    • A brief exploration of Ken Wilber’s idea that humans develop many kinds of intelligence—including our awareness of the body and our sensitivity to beauty—and how both shape the way we photograph motion.

    • The surprising history of blur in photography and why softness has always been part of the medium.

    • Study the work of some master photographers who used blur and motion intentionally to create powerful, expressive images.

  • This four-week interactive class will include:

    • Daily interaction with your teacher answering any questions you might have about the materials presented

    • Video lessons to supplement each of the written lessons

    • 3 assignments with individual feedback videos for guided students

    • bonus assignments to help reinforce the lessons

    • Weekly “office hours” zoom meetings are held where you can ask Summer questions live

    • an informal, live Q&A where all students in the class will have to opportunity to chat, interact, and ask questions live

    • The emphasis of this class is to get images right IN camera but Summer will share her simple editing process via some sediting videos

  • A DSLR or mirrorless camera and a firm understanding of shooting in manual mode.

  • Interactive classes are held online and registration opens seasonally.

    Guided students can participate fully in class, by asking questions, submitting assignments, and getting personalized feedback from your teacher.

    Independent students have full access to class content and can participate in class discussions —they just don’t get teacher critique and feedback on images or assignments.

“Summarizing this class in a few sentences is a challenge. I absolutely learned a lot about technique and photographing different types of motion. But there is so much more I gained from taking this class. Summer guides an immersive journey into what makes a photo feel alive and how to embrace that in your own photography. Part technical, part philosophical, part experimental and always full of heart, this class helped me to not only improve as a photographer, but also to truly grow as an artist. Summer has an incredible gift for meeting each student at their own level. She encourages, inspires and gently challenges the individual artist in everyone. I have no doubt that the lessons I learned in this class will become a foundational part of my photography journey.”

Kristi Volkmer
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MEET THE TEACHER
A woman smiling with her hair blowing in the wind, standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, during a foggy day.

Summer

Murdock

Hi, I’m Summer. From high-pressure commercial shoots to barefoot days photographing in the water purely for the love of it, I live for the mix of challenge and flow.

While I’m passionate about documenting my own life, it’s lifestyle campaigns for brands that keep the lights on. Since 2013, I’ve been teaching The Magic of Light, and in 2016 I founded this amazing space—now run alongside Bec Griffiths.

I’m endlessly inspired by the quirky things humans do, and by my favorite creative elements: light, water, motion, and Mother Nature.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me outside as much as possible—traveling, exploring, and adventuring with my family and friends, with my camera dangling from my neck of course.

See Summer's instagram
Visit Summer's website

Summer is the founder and co-owner of Illuminate Classes. She has served as an Adobe Lightroom Ambassador, created presets that live inside Lightroom, and her work has appeared in national campaigns for brands including Garmin, Disney, Pillsbury, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Summer is also a sought-after speaker at creative conferences like Adobe MAX.

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Any questions?

Email your teacher directly here and they will get back to you.

A woman with long hair and glasses looking at the camera, wearing a floral dress, against a cloudy sky with the moon visible in the background.
A young person running outdoors through a field with a blurry background during sunset, wearing a grey beanie, a beige jacket, and brown pants.
A young boy with blonde hair, shirtless, standing against a dark background, with a motion-blurred face and head.
Black and white photo of a young girl swinging on a swing set outdoors with trees in the background.
A gray and white cat sitting on green grass with small yellow flowers, seen from between a person's legs, with a building in the background.
Woman riding an electric bicycle on a paved path with trees in the background, motion blur indicating speed.
A young girl with blonde hair in a braid, wearing a blue romper, standing on a yellow tactile paving strip, watching a moving train at a station.
A woman in a bikini standing on a surfboard in the water, with her arms outstretched for balance.
A person skateboarding on a ramp at a skate park with blurred green trees in the background.
A young girl lying on her back on grass with her arms raised, wearing a denim jacket, her face blurred due to motion.
Two young girls playing with hula hoops on a sidewalk in a grassy park area, with houses and trees in the background during dusk.
Blurred image of a woman with long hair outdoors among green foliage, with a motion effect that causes her face and part of her hair to appear smeared.
A girl in a pink skirt and blue jacket spinning on a sidewalk at sunset with trees and houses in the background.
A young girl in a white dress swinging on a swing set with a blurred green background.
A young girl running on a snow-covered suburban street with mountains in the background during winter.
Children playing on a backyard deck decorated with hanging paper lanterns, with a table and chairs, and a white fence surrounding the yard.
A person with light skin swimming underwater, wearing a tank top and shorts, with safety and pool warning signs on the wall in the background.
Person lying on grass field with legs raised in the air, seen from above.
Two women swimming in the ocean during sunset, with one woman in the foreground and the other behind, with sunlight reflecting on the water and a house with palm trees in the background.
Street view of a pink building with a storefront selling textiles and accessories. Colorful skeins of yarn hanging above the entrance, with shoes and small items displayed on racks at the entrance. Two motorbikes with blurred motion pass in front, in
Abstract blurred image of a person with blond hair, holding their arm across their body, with a dark background.
A girl with a helmet and striped dress standing on sidewalk watching two blurred bikers riding past near the beach, with palm trees, a red and white sign, and a bench in the background.
Close-up of a person's bare legs and feet running on a rocky beach, with motion blur.
Faded, blurry image of tall, dry grass or reeds in a field with a hazy sky in the background.
Black and white photo of a young girl with long hair standing on grass, wearing a cape with a cat illustration and striped leggings, looking directly at the camera.
A person dressed in red walking in a barren, dusty landscape with hills and a clear sky.
A young girl running outdoors in a mountainous area during cloudy weather, wearing a gray coat and black boots.
Three children on a swing hanging from a metal frame, swinging quickly through a blurred outdoor background.
Black and white close-up photo of a woman with closed eyes, partially obscured by her hair.
A person standing on a ski lift chair in a foggy, snowy landscape with trees and snow-covered ground.
Multiple hands raised in front of a sunset over the ocean, creating a layered, transparent effect.
A black and white photograph of a young woman with straight hair and bangs, standing indoors, looking directly at the camera. There is a ghostly, blurred profile of her face in motion to her right.
Inside a rustic shop or warehouse with a corrugated metal roof, a person stands with a red suitcase, silhouetted against sunlight, near shelves and stacks of goods. Blurred figures are seated on the left, and large blue sacks or covers hang in the ba
A person in a wetsuit riding a surfboard on the ocean during sunset or sunrise.

What other students had to say

This class is freeing! Sure, it is fun to learn these new techniques and new way of looking at things, but more than that, it is incredible to be given the authorization to throw the rule book out the window and just play. I desperately needed that reminder right now and didn't even know it. Thank you!”

Jess

The Magic of Motion exceeded my expectations, and I had high hopes based on The Magic of Light which I’ve taken twice. Summer’s lessons are thorough, detailed, packed with information, and her images alone are reasons enough to be a student. She breaks down the many techniques in a clear, organized manner, and infuses her tips and tricks generously throughout the course. This is perfect for the photographer who is looking to create and play, to learn or sharpen skills, to be free and boundless, and to indulge in 4 weeks of fun in an encouraging, safe space. Most of all, Summer gave me permission and inspiration to make photos just for me. I’m excited for all future Magic of Motion students - to experience this month-long journey for the first time is truly magical.”

Lisa
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“This was a truly inspirational class that pushed me outside of my comfort zone of taking and sharing photos that appealed more to me and my vision rather than what's considered the "norm". I loved learning new techniques and experimenting to see how I could capture motion and/or blur in my photos.”

Kerri
Check out reviews from Summer's class the Magic of Motion
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Interactive Class Registration opens August 26th

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