If you photograph portraits, chances are you have a preferred public (perhaps private) space that captures your imagination. But what if your favorite spot didn't want you there anymore?
Learn These Nine Model Poses Before Your Next Shoot
It doesn't matter what kind of photography you do; if you shoot people, then knowing a few key posing ideas can really help to take your images to the next level.
Seven Lesser Known Lightroom Shortcuts
I've seen a lot of Lightroom tutorials and tips videos; most seem to cover the same few shortcuts. Mark Denney covers some great lesser known features in this video, including a tip for changing the spot removal selection I've never seen before.
Why Makeup Matters in a Portrait Shoot
When shooting a portrait, we focus on the lighting, the model, the equipment, and the accessories, but one factor often overlooked is the importance of a professional makeup artist. Quality makeup elevates the output. In this video, Gavin Hoey emphasizes how a professional makeup artist brings a difference to a portrait shoot.
Overanalyzing: When Is It Too Much and When Does It Hold Value?
People love to find deeper meanings in photographs, films, music, paintings, etc. But what if some of those works of art were never meant to have the symbolism we find in them?
When and Where to Get a Model for a Photoshoot and How Much to Pay
When you're getting into genres of photography that require working with models, navigating the landscape of who to hire, when to pay, and more can be a bit confusing. This great video will tell you exactly when you should pay for a model, when you should offer a trade, and where to find them.
12 Photo Challenges to Push Your Creative Boundaries
When was the last time you took a photo with your DSLR? The time before that? And before that? Maybe a photo challenge will help you to consistently pick up a camera.
Tips for Reducing Event Day Anxiety
Experiencing bouts of anxiety when working fast paced events like a wedding is quite commonplace, clearly there is a lot riding on you the photographer. Truthfully a lot of that stress, we tend to create for ourselves. Let me explain how with thoughtful preparation ahead of time, I minimize to an extent those periods of uneasiness.
Seven Reasons Why Flash Portraits Are Better Than Natural Light
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?
An In-Depth Look at the New Update to Photoshop's Content Aware Fill
Content Aware Fill is easily one of Photoshop's most powerful tools. Adobe has updated it to be even more powerful, so Photoshop Cafe's Colin Smith has just created a helpful video to help you maximize the new features.
The Photoshop Secret that Will Change the Way You Edit Color
It seems simple, changing a colored object to black in Photoshop, until you try it. If you’ve ever had a Photoshop fail when attempting to convert color to realistic, pure black, and you're looking for a solution, you’re in the right place.
Fairy Tale Boat Photoshoot with Natural Light and Flash
All it takes to create a dreamy fairy tale photograph is a great location and a lovely subject. In this video you will see different ways you can photograph a beautiful girl in a boat.
How to Produce 65mm Sensor Sized 12k Footage With a Super 35mm Camera
Most of have probably created a panorama at some point by stitching several images together. Some of you may have even tried the Brenizer method to mimic the look and feel of a larger sensor. I wonder, how many of you have stitched video clips together to mimic large-format cinema cameras?
Understanding the Differences Between Raw and JPEG
You have likely heard that you should capture your images in raw rather than JPEG, but do you understand why? Here is an explanation of the advantages of shooting in each mode and why raw is the way to go for an amateur photographer.
Independent Expert Says White House Doctored Video to Make Reporter Look More Aggressive
Earlier this week, CNN's chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, had his White House press pass suspended after a confrontation with President Trump and a White House aide. Now, a video expert has claimed that the video the White House tweeted in defense of the decision has been doctored to make Acosta look more aggressive.
When to Not Use a Polarizer in Landscape Photography
Using a polarizer in landscape photography is often advised. And with reason: colors will be enhanced, reflections in water and on the leaves can be removed, and skies can turn deep blue. But it is not advisable to use a polarizer as a standard filter, because there are situations when it can turn against you.
A Few Tips to Make Your Photos Stand Out Among the Fstoppers Community
The Fstoppers community is full of talented photographers producing images beyond the average photographer’s capabilities. When you view them all together in a gallery, there are certain things that make excellent photographs stand out beyond the mass of above-average images being shared regularly. Here’re a few of the things that catch my eye.
Landscape Photography Should Be About Adventure, Not Trophies
Landscape photography used to be about discovering new places and creating incredible images that no one had seen before. Nowadays, it feels like it's more about checking the location tag of something spotted on Instagram and photographing a scene that has already been shot to death.
Now Is the Perfect Time for a Flickr Comeback
I suspect that many of you can relate when I say that Flickr will always hold a special place in my heart. When I think about the photo-sharing platform founded in 2004, I am filled with nostalgia of a time when things were simpler and arguably better for photographers looking to share their work and find a community of like-minded creatives.
How to Make the Jump From Amateur to Professional Photographer
Making the jump from amateur to professional photographer can be both an exciting and scary thing, and it’s important to know how to do everything correctly. Make sure you do all these things before you open for business.
How to Take Horrible Landscape Photographs
One of the best ways to know how to take good photos is to know what makes for a terrible photo. This hilarious video will show you how to take terrible landscape photos so you know what makes for a good landscape photo.
The RED Hydrogen One: Disappointing, Overpriced, and Mediocre
RED is a company that's known for making some of the best cinema cameras currently in production. They're known for producing super-high-resolution cameras, but they're also known for their eye-watering price tags. RED has recently produced their first ever smartphone, and so far, the reviews don't look great.
Gura Gear's Triumphant Return: New Kiboko Backpacks Launched
My favorite bags are back: Gura Gear has introduced, or I should say reintroduced their Gura Gear Kiboko bags. Now on version 2.0, they look to bring back everything that made the originals so highly regarded, and they are available for preorder now.
The Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Is Available for Preorder, Slated to Ship in December
Irix Lens is on an impressive streak with their product releases, and their latest lens is now available for preorder and is expected to ship in late December. With a reasonable price tag and some impressive design behind it, this lens is sure to make an impact once it hits the market.
Improve How Your Images Look on Instagram Using Photoshop
Do your photographs on Instagram not look as good as they do on your computer screen? Are you looking for something to improve the look of your photos on Instagram? Well, watch this video to improve their appearance on Instagram.
Is There a Low-End MacBook for Photographers?
Apple don’t have a flagship product at the low end, so which one should you pick?
Winner of the Flashlight Photo Challenge
At the beginning of October, I challenged photographers to make amazing photographs using only a flashlight, and the winning image is a testament to the creativity of the Fstoppers community.
Five Steps to Photography Greatness
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.
Why Networking With Other Photographers Is Important
Running a photography business can be a lonely job. When you take the plunge into running a small business full-time, you quickly realize how solitary the work can be. Here’s why it’s so important to meet and build relationships with other photographers.
Realizations From the Other Side of the Camera Lens
A little over a month ago, I got married. Now that the dust has settled, I thought I might share some realizations I had from being on the other side of the camera lens for a change.
Canon, Fuji, Nikon, and Sony Go Head to Head in This Color Science Battle
Color science is something that pops up in camera debates from time to time. We all hear about how amazing Canon's colors are or maybe a little bit of smack talk towards Sony's color rendition, etc. Tony Northrup recently decided to apply the scientific method to the big four camera brands (Canon, Fuji, Nikon, and Sony) to see who really has the best color, and the results honestly surprised me a lot.
How To Get Better Scans From a Flatbed Scanner
Here are five different techniques that can be used to get better image quality out of your existing flatbed scanner.
The Rise of the Android Camera?
Can the smartphone camera leverage the capabilities of the rapidly developing, open source and hugely capable Android operating system to displace traditional firmware? Will this finally integrate camera and computational platform? One manufacturer thinks it might have the answer.
Photographer Creates Cameras for 1,000-Year Long Exposures
An artist and philosopher created special cameras to document the next 1,000 years of environmental change.
Get a Great Deal on an Excellent and Affordable Canon L Series Lens
Canon's L series lenses are known for being high quality, durable optics that produce stunning image quality, but their prices tend to be quite high. However, I've always thought this Canon L lens is very well priced, and with this great deal, it's a total steal.
'Monsoon V': Mike Olbinski Is Back With a Stunning New Storm Chasing Time-Lapse
I first met Mike Olbinski back in 2009 or 2010, during the golden age of Flickr and personal photo blogs. Back then, most everyone I knew was focused on preening their websites, almost all of whom used the same ProPhoto Blog template.
Is It Time to Upgrade Your Camera Gear?
Photographers and videographers tend to pay a lot of attention to their gear and what new and exciting products are on the market, but knowing if it's time to upgrade is a different matter. This great video examines that topic and how you'll know if it's that time.
An Important Principle for Understanding How Much to Charge for Your Photo and Video Work
When you're starting a photo or video business, one of the toughest things to learn is how to price your services and products. This great video gives a simple, easy-to-follow principle that makes it a very straightforward process.
Refined Power: Fstoppers Reviews the 2018 12.9-Inch Apple iPad Pro
When I reviewed the iPad Pro last year, I was impressed by its power, beautiful screen, battery life, and portability. The 2018 version of the device takes what Apple had last year and refines it further, introducing new features and improvements. Check out our review of the newest iPad Pro.
Liquifying Your Boudoir Images: Less Is More
When it comes to liquify, less is usually best. Unless you have a model or client who specifically asks for heavy shaping, chances are you are going to have an unhappy client if this tool is overly used.
3 Quick and Inexpensive Ways To Control Ambient Light For Your Portraits
It doesn’t always take expensive equipment to make big changes to the mood of a shot. Here are a couple ways I found to improve my portraits with a tool I didn’t so much buy as I found laying in the trash.
Ansel Adams: Photographing With Intention
When you get beyond shutter speed, f-stop, ISO, and the other settings that distracts you from focusing on the photograph, there is a “next step” in all photographers' journeys.
A Noob’s Guide to Post Processing Composite Landscapes in Photoshop Pt. 1
One of the most powerful ways to take your landscape photography to the next level is to blend — or “composite” — exposures of the same landscape from different times of the day.
Artists Create Giant Aurora Alien Cats
While we are inundated with beautiful images of the northern lights online and on social media, I think it's safe to say you've never seen aurora art like this before.
The Newly Announced Leica Q-P: Understated Excellence?
As a company, Leica Camera is one of the more reserved brands. They understand their respective market and also understand what kind of cameras appeal to their customer base. Their latest camera, the Leica Q-P, continues this by offering a high-quality, compact full frame camera in a more discreet body.
Why Instagram is Crucial to Lead Generation for Photographers
There is a lot of debate within the photo community on the importance of a social media presence. As social media has increasingly evolved as an essential in daily life, it’s time for photographers to stop fighting against the current. No matter your niche, there is value in participating in an online presence. Instagram is a particularly important tool for photographers to generate leads.
A Smarter Way to Recover Shadows and Highlights
Maybe you're one who prefers a strong HDR process, perhaps you'd rather stick to simply adjusting the highlights and shadows sliders in Lightroom, or just maybe you want a little bit more control over your image. Well, fortunately for you, and thanks to Nino Batista, here is a fantastic tutorial for harnessing such control.
The Full Story Behind Ansel Adams' Most Iconic Photograph
Behind every good picture, there is usually an equally interesting story to go with it. This world-famous shot by Ansel Adams is no exception and may just change how you think about landscape photography.
What Place Does Documentary Wedding Photography Hold In This Industry?
If the majority of what we and our clients see online are beautiful couples' portraits, is there a place for reportage wedding photographers, and how would you step into it?
The Future of Creativity: Fstoppers’ Exclusive Interview With Apple and Adobe
It’s an awfully exciting time to be a creative, as the tools we use are becoming more portable, more powerful, and more connected. Fstoppers sat down with Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, and Scott Belsky, Adobe’s Chief Product Officer and Executive Vice President of Creative Cloud, to discuss how new tools are empowering creatives and where the future will take us.