Your camera gear doesn't define how good you are at taking portraits, but the lenses you pick do matter—a lot. Choosing the right lenses affects your flexibility and helps shape your distinct style as a portrait photographer.

A few years ago, I first heard about the retouching software Retouch4Me when one of our readers asked me to review it for the Fstoppers Youtube Channel. I immediately fell in love with the software and added it to my workflow. This year, they have added some features we have all been waiting for, so let's look at what is new with this powerful skin retouching software.

Infrared photography lets you see landscapes through an entirely new perspective, capturing scenes invisible to your naked eye. It allows you to transform ordinary scenes into visually striking images that reveal hidden contrasts and textures.

Many beliefs about photography hold you back more than you realize. Breaking free from common myths can unlock creativity, making photography more enjoyable and your images more compelling.

Adobe Lightroom recently rolled out an update with a new masking tool, significantly altering how quickly and effectively you can edit your photos.

Travel photography is at a crossroads, struggling between authenticity and uniformity. Smartphones, AI-generated images, and overtourism are transforming what it means to photograph places and cultures.

Your entry into photography might feel like a massive ocean of techniques, gear choices, and social media comparisons. Most people talk about shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition, and basic post-processing. Those topics matter, but they don’t reveal the quieter corners of the craft.

You’ve got the camera. You’ve got the talent. You even have a slick little website that screams “I take this seriously.” So why does it feel like you’re shouting into the void? Spoiler: it’s not your work, it’s your SEO (or, more accurately, the lack of it).

Photography is a notoriously expensive hobby, but lack of funds doesn’t have to stifle your creativity. Here are great alternatives to expensive gear and annoying subscriptions.

Choosing the right camera system can significantly impact your photography experience and results. Understanding what different systems offer beyond the standard choices like Canon, Nikon, and Sony can help you find a setup tailored exactly to your needs.

You can’t argue that the world of film is making a comeback in a big way. This begs the question: Is shooting film an artistic and bold choice or just a trendy throwback?

The OM SYSTEM OM-3 mirrorless camera has been generating attention for its blend of vintage aesthetics and modern features. Can it compete with cameras with larger sensors? This review takes a look.

The Fujifilm GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR lens covers a versatile zoom range for Fujifilm’s medium format GFX cameras. Here's a look at how it performs in use.

Adobe just released a significant update to Photoshop, bringing powerful new tools that simplify editing. These changes mean you spend less time struggling with selections and adjustments and more time on your creative vision.

In this review, we’re diving into the Viltrox 35mm f/1.2, a lens that surprised me in the best ways. I’ve had this thing in my hands for more than a month and have used it on multiple sessions now, and—spoiler alert—this is one of the best and most affordable 35mm lenses for Sony.

Color grading your images can transform how people feel when viewing your work. Knowing how to do it right in Lightroom can mean the difference between a flat photo and one that connects emotionally.

Another year, another Insta360 release. While that sounds like an anti-climactic statement about the new X5, it's not meant to be. While there may not be any headline-grabbing features like higher-resolution footage, there are a few improvements that make the camera just a bit more livable than the X4.

In a world that sees more and more travel every year, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find places that aren't crowded and haven't yet been photographed from every possible angle. But those places still exist; you simply have to search harder.

Landscape photography often carries a widespread myth—the belief that bad light equals bad photos. Many photographers, especially those starting out, follow the conventional wisdom that only certain times of day, particularly golden hour, produce the best images. This belief has been perpetuated by social media, tutorials, and even some photography experts. But here’s the truth: the myth of “bad light” is limiting, and it’s holding you back from expanding your creative potential.

You may have heard you should shoot in raw, but why use a format that's bulkier and takes more work? Let's explore the benefits.

Some locations get overlooked because they seem too familiar—but every so often, a photographer comes along and shows you just how wrong that thinking is.

The term "cinematic" gets thrown around a lot, often without a clear understanding of what truly defines it. For anyone serious about video production, knowing the elements that genuinely create a cinematic experience is crucial to elevating your work beyond just visually pleasing footage.

Panorama photography presents unique challenges, both in the field and during post-processing. For years, PTGui has been a favorite powerhouse tool for photographers needing more control and better results than the basic stitching tools provide. Now, with the release of PTGui 13, this already excellent panorama stitching software gets a significant update, focusing on a streamlined DNG-based workflow, performance boosts, and useful new features. Is it worth the upgrade?

Understanding the differences between raw and JPEG is essential because it shapes your editing options, image quality, and storage requirements. Knowing when and why to choose each format can significantly influence the quality and versatility of your final images.

When Sigma announced the new 300-600mm f/4 DG OS Sports lens, it quickly caught attention due to its combination of extreme focal length and professional-grade optics. If you're serious about wildlife, sports, or nature photography, a lens like this can transform your approach.

When it comes to creative portraits, sometimes the simplest things can make or break your vision. Likewise, there are times when small details in a scene can give your portraits that little something special.

Retouching portraits often requires complex software and a steep learning curve, but Lightroom can simplify the process significantly. Mastering skin retouching within Lightroom helps streamline your workflow and produces natural, flattering results without additional costs or complexities.

Your next MacBook isn’t just about specs—it's about matching your creative needs with the right tool. Here's whether the Air or Pro is right for you.

Wabi-Sabi is a traditional Japanese philosophy that encourages seeing beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. This approach can transform how you experience photography, offering depth to the everyday moments you capture.

Photography has always been about capturing light to preserve moments. For over a century, that meant exposing a roll of film and then disappearing into a darkroom or waiting for a lab to develop the images. It’s easy to forget how different this process was before digital cameras came along. In the 1970s, the idea of instantly seeing a photo on a screen felt like science fiction. Yet it was in this era of film and chemicals that a young engineer quietly built a device that would change photography forever. What follows is the story of how the first digital camera was invented and how it transformed the way we take and share photos.

Adobe Firefly’s new AI tools—text-to-video and image-to-video—offer innovative ways to transform your creative workflow.

When photographers debate lens quality, few brands stir up as much discussion as Zeiss. The Zeiss 55mm f/1.8, despite being over a decade old, still attracts plenty of attention—and debate.

Adobe MAX is a gathering of photographers, filmmakers, and designers who want to see the latest innovations the company is working on and learn from other creatives who have mastered using the company’s software to fulfill their creative vision. There was no stated theme for this year’s event, but it was apparent to me that Adobe is making an effort across all its platforms to reduce tedious tasks in the creative workflow.

William Eggleston famously described himself as being "at war with the obvious," a compelling concept for any photographer to consider. Exploring what exactly counts as obvious—and why steering clear of it might make your work stand out—can help you create photographs people remember.

There are dozens of tripods on the market, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. None are suitable for every circumstance. The new model from Falcam TreeRoot, the Quick Lock Pro R240T, has a very specific use, and I put it through its paces to find out whether I need one.

AI technology has dramatically changed how Photoshop tasks are tackled, and embracing these tools can significantly streamline your workflow.

Adobe just introduced a powerful masking feature in Lightroom Classic and Adobe Camera Raw, changing the way you edit photos.

Five years ago, I humorously "leaked": a rumor that Canon was about to release the RiP, a camera with a vertical sensor designed for Instagram influencers. Sadly, the RiP never came to market, but the concept may have inspired Fujifilm’s intriguing new camera.

The business value of social media can’t be overstated, but not everyone wants to vamp in videos—the common path to stardom. Luckily, you don’t have to, says Janis McGavin, director of marketing and social media for the Los Angeles Center of Photography. “How do I know this?" she said. "I’ve done it.” She took the LACP’s following from zero to 18,000 followers (and growing) without appearing on camera. If you follow a few basic principles, you can expand your audience and your business without stepping in front of the camera (and even more if you do).

Timing makes or breaks photography. Being ready for the right moment transforms average shots into memorable images.

Swirly bokeh lenses offer a distinctive look and ability to produce artistic images. If you're interested in photography that goes beyond technical sharpness and explores creative possibilities, this lens might be worth a closer look.

The Leica LUX app brought some fresh tools to mobile photography, but handling your phone like a real camera? That’s where the LUX Grip steps in. This isn’t just a Bluetooth shutter button. It’s an ergonomic extension that is meant to give you a DSLR-style hold while unlocking full control over your iPhone’s native features and LUX app functionality.

Skylum is rolling out a spring update to their popular AI-based editing program, Luminar Neo. Users should start seeing the update today when they launch the application.

Lightroom's latest adaptive color profiles have photographers asking if traditional presets might become obsolete.

Today, Adobe is hosting its Adobe MAX conference for creatives in London, UK. The event showcases new software innovations and offers classes geared towards helping users maximize their ability to create and modify their art using the brand’s software.

One of the toughest parts of photography isn’t mastering camera settings or lighting setups—it’s actually about keeping the person you're photographing engaged. Your excitement doesn't automatically transfer, so learning how to clearly convey your ideas becomes essential.

Give your eyes a destination and a route to get there. Our job as artists is to find a place we want to direct the viewer’s eye to, find a way to direct them there, and then to show them what it is we want them to see. Everything else is just visual clutter.

Contrast is one of those subtle elements that can elevate a photo, turning a flat image into something dynamic. Understanding how to manage contrast, especially in midtones, is essential to capturing richer, more vibrant images.

Knowing how to make your subjects stand out clearly from the background can dramatically improve your photos. Getting this right means viewers will focus exactly where you want them to.

You don’t need a passport. You don’t need a model. And you sure as hell don’t need permission. What you do need is your camera and a little curiosity.