If you’re a one-person crew or working with a small team on photo production, you’ll know the pain—especially when it comes to lighting setups. It can be one of the most frustrating parts of a shoot. It’s not just about turning a light on. It’s the constant need for micro-adjustments: tilt it a little more, feather it to the edge, raise it higher—only to realize the angle’s off and you have to bring it back down again. When your light is way up there, you never really know how much to tilt until it’s already in the air.

Your sister needs engagement photos. Your college roommate is getting married. Your neighbor wants family portraits. They all know you're a photographer, and they all expect the "friends and family discount." It feels natural to help the people you care about, especially when you have a skill they need. So you cut your rates in half, or maybe shoot for free, thinking you're being generous and strengthening relationships.

Contrast can make or break your images, and knowing how to control it precisely is essential. Getting beyond the basic slider in Lightroom opens up powerful editing options that enhance your creative control.

Lenses like the Sigma 35mm f/1.2 Art and Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM have long dominated the fast 35mm space on Sony E-mount. But Viltrox, with its new 35mm f/1.2 FE LAB, is aiming right at the high end. Is this latest entry in Viltrox’s already impressive LAB series a competitor for the best-performing 35mm on E-mount?

Sony's a1 II is their latest flagship camera, boasting top-tier specs and the best performance Sony currently offers. But despite these exceptional features, this camera isn't necessarily the right choice for most photographers or content creators.

Magic Eye stereograms swept through the 1990s as a cultural phenomenon, capturing imaginations with their ability to transform a flat image into a mesmerizing 3D scene. For many, they became an intriguing challenge that separated those who could instantly discern the hidden depth from those left squinting at a frustrating blur (aka me).

What gear do you need to photograph landscapes with the Milky Way? The good news is that you don't need the most expensive, fanciest gear to get amazing Milky Way photos.

The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 combines the power of a high-end laptop with the versatility of a tablet. This 13.4-inch 2-in-1 packs cutting-edge hardware in a sleek CNC-milled aluminum chassis, aiming to deliver pro-level performance for photographers, digital artists, and programmers on the go. In this in-depth review, we’ll explore its design, display quality, performance benchmarks, thermals and battery life, connectivity, cameras and audio, and overall user experience to see if it lives up to the hype.

Godox has announced three new LED lights and light mats: the FL100R, FL200R, and FL200SR. The company positions these full-color LED panels as affordable lighting solutions for small studios and independent content creators, building on their existing KNOWLED F series.

When it comes to landscape photography, choosing the right lens isn't just a detail—it shapes your entire creative process. Many photographers default to wide angle lenses, but exploring telephoto options can completely redefine your images.

Today, I’d like to share three simple rules for success in art and in life that have helped me through both the ups and the downs.

One need only look at GoPro's stock price, once at almost $94 in 2014 and now trading at less than a dollar, to recognize that maybe action cameras — and other niche, specialized cameras — aren't the best ideas. Still, that hasn't stopped me from buying a good many of them over the years, and after watching this video, I have some feelings.

Understanding camera drive modes is critical if you want crisp, professional-looking images. Knowing how and when to utilize these settings can significantly improve the clarity and composition of your photographs.

Alison Conklin is a Fujifilm creator who has spent more than two decades capturing emotional, candid imagery for weddings, engagements, families, and editorial clients including Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, and Brides. She tells us what gear is indispensable, what she learned from Linda McCartney, and why instinct tops technical skill.

The camera industry is littered with the corpses of products that looked revolutionary on paper but crashed spectacularly in the real world. These aren't just minor missteps—these are epic failures that cost companies millions, confused consumers, and taught us valuable lessons about what not to do. Here are the cameras that failed hardest, and the brutal reasons why.

The Fujifilm X half is a unique compact camera that blends modern features with the feel and simplicity of analog photography. If you've been curious about a smaller camera that captures images with a distinct retro vibe, this might be an intriguing choice to explore.

Composition is one of the most talked-about aspects of landscape photography. You hear it everywhere: follow the rule of thirds, use leading lines, balance your frame. These principles are undeniably useful, but the problem is that they are often treated as absolutes rather than guidelines. The notion that there is a single "perfect" composition is one of the most pervasive myths in landscape photography, and today, we will break it down.

Photography myths can clutter your approach and limit your creativity. Knowing which advice to discard can drastically improve your results and reduce unnecessary frustrations.

Understanding your camera's exposure modes goes beyond basic settings; it's about taking control of your creative outcomes. Using the right mode in the right situation can significantly influence the quality of your photos and your growth as a photographer.

If you've ever felt confused deciding whether to use Photoshop or Lightroom for color adjustments, you're not alone. Adobe’s latest updates have added to this confusion by offering overlapping color editing features in both apps.

As creators, we're constantly managing massive raw libraries and hefty high-resolution video clips. External hard drives quickly turn into clutter, and direct-attached storage can limit flexibility when switching between devices. Network Attached Storage (NAS) is the logical next step, but historically, high-performance solutions with features like 10GbE have been prohibitively expensive. Enter the UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus: promising robust hardware, content-creator-focused capabilities, and affordable 10GbE connectivity. In this review, I tested it to see if it genuinely delivers for demanding creative workflows.

Photoshop's latest update introduces cloud-based processing for the Select Subject tool, aiming to dramatically improve the accuracy of selections. If you frequently cut subjects from images, particularly complex ones, this feature significantly simplifies your workflow.

Every Sony Alpha camera has powerful features tucked away in its menus. Knowing about them can drastically change your results and prevent potential mishaps during important shoots.

Photographers talk about lighting all the time—how to shape it, soften it, bounce it—but we don’t talk enough about how lighting can tell a story. It doesn’t just illuminate a scene; it sets the emotional tone and builds the narrative.

If you feel like administrative tasks take more time than actually taking photos, it’s probably because your workflow needs a revamp. A clear, efficient workflow is key to making your photography business sustainable and enjoyable.

Your personality might be quietly shaping the type of photography you're naturally drawn to. Knowing your personality type could unlock a better understanding of your photographic strengths and struggles, particularly when shooting genres that feel difficult or uncomfortable.

The L Mount was first introduced by Leica in 2014. It was developed as a new lens mount standard designed to unify full frame and APS-C mirrorless systems. What began as a proprietary mount for Leica cameras evolved into something much more significant with the formation of the L Mount Alliance in 2018. This partnership brought together Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma—three industry heavyweights with distinct strengths: optical heritage, video innovation, and third-party lens versatility. The idea was simple yet ambitious: to create a shared ecosystem of cameras and lenses under a single mount, offering users cross-brand compatibility and long-term investment value.

Apple’s little silver square has always been a study in contrasts: tiny yet ambitious, quiet yet powerful, simple yet surprisingly adaptable. The latest model—powered by the new M4 family—raises the bar again.

Photography, often a silent yet powerful witness to disasters such as the recent California wildfires, now finds itself at the forefront of recovery efforts, becoming a source of support, memory preservation, and communal healing.

Ricoh Imaging has officially announced the development of the GR IV, the newest model in its GR series of compact digital cameras. Scheduled to be released in Autumn 2025, the GR IV continues the GR tradition of prioritizing high image quality, responsiveness, and portability, aiming to be a versatile and highly capable snapshot camera.

Wide angle macro lenses are a rare breed, but the Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro lens brings intriguing possibilities to your photography. Its unique ability to merge ultra-wide perspectives with macro capabilities offers you creative flexibility that standard lenses can’t easily match.

Nikon has announced that, starting June 23, 2025, prices on its products in the U.S. will increase due to newly imposed tariffs. This move comes as the company navigates significant shifts in trade policy that are affecting the broader photography industry.

Religious freedom and civil rights collided once again in a federal courtroom, where a judge ruled that faith-based objections can override state anti-discrimination protections under specific circumstances.

While tilt-shift lenses are most commonly associated with architectural and landscape work, they offer some seriously underrated creative potential in wedding photography, especially when it comes to portraits and environmental storytelling.

Choosing between shade and backlighting for outdoor portraits can dramatically affect how your subject appears. Knowing when to use each can elevate the quality and style of your photography significantly.

Every photographer faces the decision about what cameras to own, but it's not just about brands like Canon, Sony, or Nikon. It’s about understanding the role each camera plays in your photography, matching gear with purpose to truly improve how and why you shoot.

Lightroom Classic offers powerful tools, but many users overlook the potential of luminance and color masks for enhancing landscapes, especially skies. Knowing how to skillfully apply these masks can significantly improve your photos, adding depth and drama.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on upcoming Canon announcements, there's one release rumored to significantly shake up the market. With increased resolution, powerful video upgrades, and improved autofocus on the horizon, this Canon model could make it worthwhile to reconsider whether your current gear still meets your needs.

Samsung is exploring a smartphone design that allows users to swap out camera lenses, similar to how photographers change lenses on traditional cameras. This concept, detailed in a recent patent, suggests a future where mobile photography could be significantly more versatile.

Share a photo in an online community, and you’ll likely receive all kinds of feedback. Some will offer praise; others will point out flaws. But there’s one skill many photographers overlook—one that could hold the key to making your work stronger.

Fujifilm has announced the X half, a new premium compact digital camera that draws inspiration from traditional half frame film cameras. The X half camera aims to merge compact portability with modern digital convenience, targeting photographers seeking dedicated devices complementary to their smartphones.

It’s been a while since I’ve used a lens that felt like a must-have. That's because most lenses have simply been upgraded versions of past offerings. But this lens is different.

Lightroom contains powerful tools hidden just below the surface. Knowing these can significantly improve your workflow, giving you more control over your images.

This flash accessory pack is a must-have for anyone with the Neewer Q4 flash. Furthermore, they increase the versatility and, therefore, desirability of the flash. Here are some examples of what the modifiers do.

Cheating in filmmaking isn’t about cutting corners—it's about creatively solving problems by bending reality to sell a convincing illusion. Understanding how to use these subtle techniques can dramatically improve your skills and make your videos look professional without expensive gear or elaborate setups.

When you're looking to capture a sense of place or a cinematic feel, shooting on location isn’t always practical or affordable. Using a digital projector might be your solution to creating vivid, believable scenes without leaving your studio.

Adobe Photoshop’s frame tool recently got a substantial upgrade that makes it more versatile and useful, especially if you're creating unique visuals or presenting images for sale. This tool often goes unnoticed, yet it opens up new creative options and practical applications.

If you're still editing your photos in Lightroom Classic the same way you always have, the addition of AI-powered masking could significantly change your approach. Adobe's updates have transformed what used to be complex adjustments into simple and powerful masking tools that provide better results faster.

Do you struggle to see your camera screen in bright light or fine-tune critical focus? This compact tool might be the simplest upgrade to transform how you shoot in the field, without changing your camera. Here's why a 7-inch external monitor could be the piece you didn’t know you were missing.