Guest Writer

We often talk about photography as a craft or a hobby, but if we’re being honest, the greats don’t treat it that way. For the pros, photography isn’t just a career. Photography is an obsession. We live in a world where we’re told to seek "balance," but I’m here to give you permission to do the opposite. This video will show you exactly how I break lighting down through the art of obsession.

There are things I lived through in 2025 that became larger lessons for my career. Some of them were uncomfortable. Some of them paid off immediately. Some of them took patience. I’m sharing a handful to give you a head start on 2026.

Let’s cut the fluff! If you’re relying solely on social media trends, aesthetic reels, or gifting your clients cupcakes to stay top-of-mind, you’re missing the long game. In an industry drowning in performative marketing, the most powerful and most slept-on strategy is simple: ethics.

Your contract is either your career’s best friend or a ticking time bomb. I’ve been in this business for over 15 years, and I’ve seen creatives lose thousands of dollars, and in some cases, entire portfolios because they didn’t write things down clearly. Photographers, if your contract doesn’t say this, you’re in trouble.

You want to level up as a photographer? Then start stealing. Not in the “rip off another artist” way—I mean stealing knowledge by reverse engineering every photo you admire. This is what I've done in my newest video, which will give you an incredible perspective.

Photographers talk a lot about gear, technique, and style, but one of the biggest factors in whether you get hired (or keep getting hired) has nothing to do with your camera. It comes down to how you show up as a team member. A member of my private community asked how I hire for my sets and for staff. I decided to create a casual video about it, and I’m hoping you are able to benefit from my experience.

I recently shot with a brand-new model who had never been in front of the camera before. No prior shoots, runway experience, nothing. Just raw potential and an open mind. Instead of hiding the awkwardness that comes with a first-time model shoot, I did the opposite—I let the camera roll and documented everything, hoping it helps other photographers.

I've created a video to show how you can make mood boards. In fact, I've done a rebrand via mood boarding for Selena Gomez and her Rare Beauty brand. There are profits in play if you learn how to mood board correctly. I hope this video helps you.

Who pays for a test shoot? Let’s settle this once and for all.

Let’s be honest: look book photography isn’t glamorous. It won’t get you a Vogue cover or a viral campaign, but it will get you paid. Repeatedly. Reliably. And if you're smart about it, it can become one of the most consistent and lucrative income streams in your photography business.

A few weeks ago, I was walking through Whole Foods when I saw a piece of broccoli that, oddly enough, reminded me of a Joshua Tree. Seriously. That random grocery store moment ended up sparking an entire photo shoot on the spot, and, more importantly, a deeper reflection on how I can use tools like AI in my photography without letting them take over.

Let’s talk Beyoncé. Specifically, that now-iconic Cowboy Carter promo photo that’s been everywhere. In my latest video, I break down exactly how I would recreate that look on a budget—and how you can too, with one or multiple lights.

There’s something magical and brutally honest about photographing at night.

You can have all the talent in the world. You can learn perfect lighting, sharp edits, flawless vision, but if you're not surrounded by the right people, none of it will matter. That’s the part no one tells you. Talent isn’t the issue. The real issue is isolation.

If there's one skill that sets professional photographers apart, it's lighting. You can have the best camera, but I can beat you with a BlackBerry camera with the right lighting. OK, not really, but you know what I mean.

There are two powerful areas we can use to take our photos to the next level. Yet, they are rarely written about in photography articles.

In my latest video, I accept vulnerability in photography, focusing on two pivotal aspects: refining street photography skills on camera and mastering the psychology behind pricing your photography services. The first is scarier for me.

As photographers, we are aware that, in general, people are not naturally comfortable being photographed. In this article, I want to show you a fundamental technique that I use to achieve energetic, real, and authentic couple portraits.

Running a photography business can often feel like a solitary journey, and if you're not careful, it can take a toll on your career.

Determining the right pricing strategy is one of the most challenging aspects for photographers aspiring to build a successful business.

The beauty of photography lies in the art of discovery, capturing images that are uniquely your own, and avoiding the cliché "downtown Los Angeles" stamp on your work.

This video is for the photographer who wants to give up. Have you ever felt like throwing in the towel when things seem to spiral downward? If you have, you're not alone and I created a video that I hope will inspire you to continue.

I had the privilege of observing people I greatly admire making a living doing what they love. At the outset of my career, my friend, Dago, who directed tour videos for artists like Madonna, Ricky Martin, Celine Dion, Pink, and many others, noticed my keen interest in pursuing a creative path. He observed me closely, even as I occasionally posed some rather absurd questions.

I originally heard about the Helios 44-2 lens when my editor said it might be great for the skin. It took four weeks for the arrival and about 12 months before I had the free time to use it for a full day. 

If you want a warm film look for your photographs or videos, you might want to consider one of the easiest ways to come closer to a film look. That is halation, or a light bloom, and I'm going to show you how it's done through a diffusion filter.

Starting a photography studio can be an exciting and fulfilling endeavor, but it can also be challenging to make it profitable. Here are a few tips to help you create a successful and profitable photography studio.

Have you ever looked at a scene and thought it was just a bit too sharp, almost harsh? It can be overwhelming, right? But, at the same time, you don't want to make your shots blurry in an attempt to soften things up. Well, that's where diffusion filters come in.

Photographing female models can be an exciting and creative process, but it's essential to approach it with professionalism and sensitivity. Here are some tips based on my own experience to help you get the best results during a photo shoot with a new model.

Photographing male models can be a challenging but rewarding experience for a photographer. In order to create stunning and memorable images, it's essential to direct the model and guide them into confident poses that showcase their best features.

TikTok studio rentals are going to be a huge trend in the future for photo studios looking to increase their profitability. With such a competitive market, it can be difficult for photo studios to succeed.

You're going to book more photography clients in 2023 because we're going to uncomplicate things. People are people, and photo clients are the same, whether it's an ad agency, a new mom, a bride-to-be, or the CEO of a startup. 

You can make a lot of extra revenue from photography if you think outside of the traditional box.

You can watch endless videos about lens reviews and Instagram for photographers on YouTube. Very few channels offer business advice that moves the needle for photographers. 

I'm not a fan of Canon's recent decision to ban some third-party manufacturers from selling RF mount lenses. It's a smart short-term financial decision, but the long run is a different story.

You’ll get many opportunities to photograph someone for free or to offer you work for less. You don’t have to take all of them or even any of them. As a successful photographer, you’ll need to learn to say "no" more often than "yes" and how your career development depends on saying "no" to the wrong people. This blog post will guide you through the different scenarios and how to protect yourself.

Yes, the video says it's for posing women, but it works for everyone. It's for posing, it's for comfort levels, and it will help you run a more successful set. Here are three of my tips for helping models have a more successful photoshoot. 

Here are four great tips to give you an advantage with your shoots, whether for a job or as a hobby. 

Photographers opt for the simple hourly wage, and while it's better than working for free, I still think it's bad for the long-run. I can only imagine the comment section from hourly photographers at the bottom of this blog post! 

You've heard your industry colleagues say it. You've read the news articles and listened to the business pundits. The economy is in a recession, and your photography business is suffering.

Here are five tips that save you money and get you high-quality backdrops. This is important because you must stand out as a successful photographer, and we all know that blending into the crowd isn't exactly the best way to book clients.

Running a photography business is challenging and earning your first client can be tough. In this article, I will show you how to charge for photography in the three stages of a beginner photographer's career. 

Millions of photos are uploaded each day, but we don't know who took them, unless they are properly credited. With proper credit, you can actually book more jobs, and it's a remarkable way of expanding your network. 

The title said photographers who charge by the hour are like vending machines of the photography world. There is everything wrong with that, and my quest is to help you earn more money.

Let's go on a location scout for my music video. The needs for photographers and directors can be similar, and how you approach the location scouting can really help you have a smooth production.

Photography studios can be very profitable if you create them the right way. Photography studios can earn you $100K in medium markets and up to $200K+ in some of the larger markets. In addition to photographers renting the studio, there are other alternative methods to booking your studio day and night. There are workshops, yoga classes, private dinners, and even YouTubers needing a space regularly.

There are a lot of photography myths regarding pricing and money. In this, I will cover big myths and expand on them in the video.

You are going to learn how to book more photo clients now! It’s easier when you ask the right questions. This blog will guide you through the first client meeting. It's the most important meeting where they decide who to hire and for what budget.

A photography studio can be exciting and profitable. It can also have major pitfalls that you should be aware of. 

Photographers who want to dabble with video and have some apprehension will learn from this post. While video and photography are not identical, they have great overlap in concepts and it's likely that you know more than you think.