I always love when I get a few days to get caught up on all my YouTube subscriptions and watch what other photographers are creating. One of the photographers I always look forward to seeing new content from is Detroit-based fashion and lifestyle photographer, Jessica Kobessi.
Lighting isn't just about following tried and true recipes to get standard shots; it's about experimenting to create something unique. This great video shows how experimentation can lead to shots you never anticipated.
You might be familiar with a few common ways photographers use a v-flat for their shoot, are there other ways you can use a v-flat? Here are some non-traditional ways you can use V-Flats on set and on location.
If you have never experienced how cool Sony’s eye autofocus feature is, then you need to check this out. Once it is enabled, you will find when you are photographing people, you will rarely miss a shot because of missed autofocus.
We all have our pictures online. But do we have a picture that defines who we are as a professional and what we do? In this competitive world where your digital presence is a business card, what difference does a professional portrait make?
While observing other photographers using v-flats, I would say most use them in two different ways. Here are the five most common ways to use a v-flat.
When four amazing photographers are in the same location shooting the same model, there is bound to be a little competition. But add in three unknown challenges with a set of difficult limitations, and you have a recipe for great entertainment.
Nathaniel Dodson of Tutvid brings us another lesson in Photoshop mastery, as he flies through a portrait edit lickety-split. If you're a little green to editing portraits, however, you might want to view this video a few times, because the methods are widely used.
If you've ever found yourself in an impromptu situation where you knew you could get a really cool shot if you just had a little bit of extra light, the techniques in this video might knock your socks off with their simplicity and creativity.
I didn't study photography in any official capacity — not unless you count a quick Google whenever there’s a term I don’t understand. So naturally, I'm biased in the argument about whether studying photography is worth it. But in my opinion, the most valuable asset to a photographer is something that cannot be searched on the internet, nor can it be taught.
Lens manufacturers go out of their way to design a lens that will eliminate lens flare. So why would you want to cause lens flare purposely and how would you go about it?
What do you think to these portraits? Well lit, high quality, quite professional? What about if we told you they’re not photographs at all, that these people do not exist, and that the images are generated entirely by artificial intelligence?
The Christmas holiday brings to mind images of children in their home, opening the gifts Santa left the night before. One pictures the entire family in their pajamas sitting around the living room as wrapping paper flies and the children’s faces light up with surprise. However, for too many children, this image is replaced with the hard, cold reality of celebrating Christmas in a hospital. But The Heart Project along with Santa are out to change those images for a few lucky children.
As photographers, we often find ourselves in a rut,taking things too seriously and forgetting just how fun it can be at times. These photographers decided to challenge themselves by trusting their experience to get the shot. No metering, no EVF, and no chimping.
Are you shooting with one of the mirrorless wonders that are quickly taking over the photography world? If so, you don't want to miss this little tidbit of information.
With the holidays coming up, you might be thinking of offering family portrait sessions or simply putting together a shoot for your own family. This quick video will give you some great tips for getting the best portraits you can in as little time as possible.
If you have ever wondered how to set up your camera for shooting portraits, then make sure you read every single word of this article in order to discover the best camera settings for natural light and flash portraits.
One of the most popular genres of photography and perhaps one of the best for beginners to try is portraiture. This great video will give you a quick guide to planning a successful portrait photoshoot.
They say never to work with animals, but that’s one piece of advice photographer Grace Chon is paying no mind to. She’s just released new images from Hairy, the adorable photo series which [illustrates] dogs before and after they’ve been groomed.
In this article, go behind the scenes of a recent shoot and see how I shot, lit, and edited this 1920s inspired shoot.
The mall, removed. The cheesy decor, gone. The long lines, nope. Santa Sessions have become all-the-rage and photographers are making these shoots more of a high end experience. I witnessed a shoot first hand and to be honest, $10k seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s what I learned.
Wildlife photographer Simon Dell has made the most of the wildlife inhabiting his garden by assembling a village in which his resident mice can live and play, providing them with such amenities has provided him with the opportunity to snap some closeup portraits.
Don't have thousands to spend on lighting gear? One of the most valuable lighting methods you could find out there also happens to be the cheapest: a window. The best part about it, is that it is free!
A newly-released documentary photo series has captured Japanese businessmen collapsed on the street, exhausted, and intoxicated following crippling work pressures.
In this article, take a behind the scenes look into how I shot this fall-themed shoot in my 8x8-foot living room.
Ok, I'll be the first to admit that shooting blindfolded isn't something you will likely ever have to do, unless you have some really weird clients with very specific needs. Nonetheless, it's a fun challenge, and it's quite enjoyable (and hilarious) to watch!
Rain during a couple’s portrait session can be hugely annoying for a wedding photographer. A dramatic rain shot can be the silver lining, but only if you’re fully prepared, especially on the lighting front.
Peter Hurley is a master of headshot photography with his ability to connect with clients and draw out the most flattering poses from his subjects. This Black Friday, Fstoppers is discounting all of Peter Hurley's tutorials. See the details below or visit the Fstoppers Store to see every deal being offered during the holiday season.
As fall draws to a close and we head into the colder winter months, the scenery around us shifts for the season. If there is something that you'll miss the most from the warmer weather, what would it be?
Merrell, an outdoor footwear brand, wanted a photography concept that would celebrate diversity on trails, but in a way that felt genuine and reflected reality. While outdoor brands usually look towards more of a traditional commercial photography approach, Tim Kemple had something else in mind to achieve their goals.
Do you crave the look of a high-end, hand-painted portrait backdrop for your studio, but don't want to shell out the bucks for such a luxury? Why not grab your favorite roll of seamless paper and fake it ‘til you make it?
Explore in this lighting tutorial three ways of stepping up your headshot photography game.
Yes, photographers can and do have bad days. Following your favorite photographers on Instagram, it might seem that all the photographers in the world are cruising along while you alone battle horrible days. And guess what, bad days are more common than you might think. So, it is important that we as a community learn and help each other survive bad days. I’ve created an action plan for myself that has helped me overcome difficult days and I hope this will help you as well.
If you're serious about improving your Portraits, then pull your seat in a little closer. Because in this article you’re about to discover 7 compelling reasons why, using flash is much better for your Portraits than just regular natural light. But first, can I ask you a question?
A chilly September morning. The crispness in the air added weight to the solemn moment. My composition was all figured out. I patiently waited for the final elements to come into place.
When someone asks me how long I’ve been doing photography, it’s a complicated question. I worked in the film industry for years and still do. Many of those concepts and techniques are directly translatable — composition, exposure, color, etc. I fooled around with photos, but I didn’t really start photography, putting my life on a whole new path, until someone told me not to.
"Laughter is the best medicine," they say. Find out how I used photography and laughter to overcome feelings of sadness in this photo series called "The Beauty of Laughter."
When taking a portrait of an artist, I find it is always a good idea to try and tell the story of the artist through the image. If someone is a musician, the aesthetic of a photograph should help you understand the type of music they play. Similarly, if someone is a drag queen – I try to photograph them in a way viewers can instantly ‘get’ their character. Join me behind the scenes in photographing Mango Sassi, a Drag Queen from Toronto, ON, and have a look into what it can take to create a collaborative image!
Frequency separation can be a very overwhelming technique used most commonly for skin retouching. It is a technique that is very easy to overdo and destroy texture when not used correctly. If you are unfamiliar with this technique, where do you start?
Get ready, get set, and go. How a short five-minute exercise could help improve your photography and you could have fun doing it.
As a street photographer, how far do you go to engage with strangers? Crash Taylor, currently a UK based photographer, not only asks strangers to pose for a portrait but also asks to reveal their deepest wish. Find out how he does it!
Set up photo shoots at home, as in inside your house? Yes, it really is something you should consider doing and here are several excellent tips for how to go about doing it.
Three years ago, I suddenly became obsessed with the colorization of old photographs. It soon led to me creating a time-lapse of the largest colorization job I'd had, which took over 14 hours to complete.
As a portrait photographer, you’ve probably considered hiring a professional makeup artist to prep your clients. In this first part of a two-part series, a professional makeup artist tells us everything we need to know about making professional makeup a part of our portrait photography offerings.
Los Angeles-based photographer Derrick Freske put his new iPhone XS Max to the test by doing an entire photoshoot exclusively on his new device.
An unknown couple shared a moment of joy when one of them dropped to one knee to propose atop Taft Point in Yosemite National Park on October 6. Photographer Matthew Dippel serendipitously captured the big moment in the gloaming, and now the search is on to find the mystery couple.
One of the most fundamental parameters of lighting is the height at which you place the light. This excellent video will teach you everything you need to know about properly placing a light source or reflector at the right height.
Every photographer today has a digital portfolio of some kind but only a very few have spent the time to create a printed book. In this video, we look into three very differently designed printed portfolios.
One New Jersey-based photographer has unveiled a photo series reimagining the Ken doll as various modern-day gay stereotypes, including a beauty blogger, a drag queen, and a Disney prince.
With every new generation of class-leading camera phones comes new claims of their ability to compete with professional-quality camera equipment. In this short test, the Northrups puts the brand new iPhone XS head to head with a consumer DSLR with a kit lens and a top-end Nikon boasting some super-sharp glass.
