Often, photographers get caught up in capturing reality, aiming to recreate what they see as accurately as possible. However, a more impactful approach might be to embrace creative expression, using your camera as a tool to convey mood and atmosphere rather than just the physical details. This shift in perspective opens up a wealth of artistic possibilities, helping you produce work that resonates on an emotional level.

A recent catastrophe led me to acquire a Peak Design Travel Tripod. In reviewing this for you I thought I would describe the process for choosing the best model to suit you.

Creating a strong image is more than just pointing a camera—it’s a detailed process of planning, capturing, and finally, editing. The editing stage in particular is where you bring out the colors, light, and mood you intended, creating a finished piece that truly reflects the moment and story you envisioned.

Using natural light effectively can make or break a shot, especially in outdoor portraiture where the light source and your subject’s position work together to create the image’s mood. Understanding how to position yourself and control lighting lets you create depth and definition without overwhelming your subject with artificial light.

We know that the right memory card can make all the difference. Whether capturing fast-paced action or shooting in extreme conditions, having a reliable and high-performance card is essential. Enter the T-Create EXPERT UHS-II SDXC Card.

The Fujifilm XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 R LM WR lens is an updated, versatile option for Fujifilm users, designed to replace older kit lenses while handling the demands of higher-resolution sensors. This lens is lightweight, well-suited for everyday use, and provides good performance across a wide range of photography needs. It’s aimed at those who want reliable image quality without the bulk.

Ensuring your images look the way you intend on any screen is a challenge you may not often think about, but it’s critical for presenting your work accurately. While you may put considerable effort into editing, adjusting colors, and fine-tuning contrast, the truth is, if your screen isn’t calibrated, your images may look entirely different to someone else.

When it comes to lenses, photographers who hear "ultra-wide" and "fast apertures" are usually bracing for an equally impressive price tag. The Viltrox 16mm f/1.8, however, seeks to deliver excellent optical quality and unique lens features at a reasonable price—in this review, I’ll see if Viltrox can execute a truly great ultra-wide prime.

Eyes are often the focal point of a portrait, and enhancing them can take your images to a new level. With a few creative Photoshop techniques, you can add captivating detail and depth to the eyes, making them stand out without looking overdone.

The Fujifilm GF 110mm f/2 R LM WR lens is a premium portrait option with impressive specs designed for medium-format shooters looking to elevate their work. Known for its smooth bokeh and sharpness, it pairs well with Fujifilm’s GFX cameras, making it a popular choice among professionals who need quality and detail for large prints or high-end commercial work.

As the season of goodwill, giving, and receiving rapidly approaches, what do you buy an established photographer if you want to spend more? Here are some big presents for those photographers nearest to us, or ideas your loved ones might consider for you.

A telephoto lens might not be the first lens that comes to mind for photographing products, but this recent version of Sony’s 70-200mm offers it as an additional use case. Let’s see what it can actually do.

Photography is filled with “rules” designed to help you capture better images. From the rule of thirds to leading lines, these guidelines shape how many of us approach a scene. However, there’s one core principle that can drive every photograph you take.

Recently, I was flown out for the first time as a photographer, and this is everything I learned from the experience, as well as what I would change for next time.

The upgraded model of the already popular Canon EOS R5 comes with several notable improvements that make it a compelling option for sports and event photography. With high-resolution capabilities and new autofocus features, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II promises to handle everything from action shots to detailed landscapes without missing a beat.

135mm lenses are often near the top of the list of desirable portrait lenses. Two that stand out right now are the Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE and the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB FE. Both have a lot to offer at competitive prices, but there are some notable differences between them.

Let’s walk through the top seven mistakes (because, let’s be honest, ten is too many, and five just feels lazy). Here’s the thing: your website is your storefront. It’s how people find you, decide if they like your work, and, ideally, hire you. But if it’s buried in search results, slow to load, or difficult to navigate, you might as well be taking those gorgeous photos and tossing them into the digital void. Whether you’re wondering why your site isn’t showing up on Google or why potential clients aren’t booking after visiting, this list will help you turn things around.

The best thing about the internet is that there are so many sources of photography education out there. The worst thing about the internet is... that there are so many sources of photography education out there. So how do you sort facts from lies told so often that they’ve acquired the status of fact?

While tools like Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo are great Swiss Army knives for photographers, sometimes a more specialized tool is called for. In this artificial intelligence-driven age, two new tools on the block, Aperty and Evoto, leverage this technology and aim it squarely at portrait photographers. Which one is better?

The king of kit lenses is dead. Long live the Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS!

Understanding how colors interact within an image can make a profound difference in how it’s perceived. Color adjustments can separate elements, guide the viewer’s focus, and even bring a certain “depth” to your photos.

Separation in an image can significantly change how viewers experience the photo. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or intricate close-ups, using separation effectively can guide attention and set the mood.

Being a professional photographer is about more than just the exposure triangle.

Self-doubt and imposter syndrome can plague even skilled photographers, making it difficult to recognize genuine progress in your craft. Understanding the key indicators of photographic growth helps you acknowledge your achievements and maintain momentum in your creative journey.

A friend sent me an advertisement for AI-generated headshots recently, and I was surprised by how good the images looked. It got me thinking about the future of headshot photography.

With the introduction of iPhone 15 and USB-C connectivity, it’s now possible to record video footage directly onto an external SSD. To support this, DigiEra introduced a compact, lightweight SSD that is MagSafe compatible. DigiEra provided me with a black 1TB version for review.

Several days ago, KEKS—a company you most likely know from their line of hot-shoe mounted light meters—announced their release of the new KEKS Rapid-Winder for classic Leica bodies. Designed to fit the M1, M2, M3, and classic MP, this accessory is a recreation of the original Leicavit MP and is designed around the same internal structure and materials.

When it comes to cleaning up images in Photoshop, understanding the best tools for the job is essential. You might think AI tools are the obvious choice, but the classic Clone Stamp and Healing Brush tools can sometimes be more effective. These older methods are reliable, and knowing when to use each can save time and give you more control over your editing.

Landscape photography often comes with challenges that aren’t always apparent until you’re in the field, and knowing how to handle them can make all the difference in your shots.

When editing landscape photographs, there are many ways to get from point A to point B. In this tutorial, we'll cover using Adobe Camera Raw to get the most out of your raw files.

Using a full frame lens on a crop sensor camera—or the other way around—has its quirks, especially when it comes to field of view, resolution, and camera settings. Understanding these factors can help you make better lens choices for your camera setup, giving you more control over your shots.

Photographers often get stuck in traps that drain time and energy without adding value to their craft. These mistakes can be discouraging, leading some to abandon photography altogether. However, identifying these pitfalls early on can save you a lot of frustration, helping you grow without unnecessary setbacks.

Peak Design, known for their straps, bags, and carry accessories, has partnered with Carryology, releasing special editions of their popular products. I was sent a few of these, so consider this a hands-on first look at them.

If you’re looking for a new, creative way to shoot landscapes, this may be the video for you. Tom Woods' video might inspire you to capture your own motion-blur seascapes or use this technique for another creative landscape scene.

James Cameron’s "Titanic" had a production journey nearly as epic as the historical event it portrayed. With a staggering budget of $200 million—equivalent to the original ship’s cost after inflation—the film was a huge risk. Hollywood was skeptical, anticipating Titanic to be a financial disaster. Yet, Cameron’s commitment to recreating the real-life tragedy down to the smallest detail changed everything, turning what could have been a box office iceberg into one of cinema’s most successful ventures.

You’ve poured your blood, sweat, and tears into your art. Now, it’s time to make sure it is preserved.

When you’re shooting fast-paced wildlife or demanding sports, the right camera can make all the difference. Canon’s new EOS R1 aims to be that difference, equipped to handle action photography, where timing, speed, and image quality are key.

The new Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens shines, offering impressive capabilities for those looking to elevate their portrait work with a professional touch, and it does so at a remarkably affordable cost.

Managing colors is one of the most important things photographers need to get right. It’s true for portrait, landscape, and wedding photographers—all of us. And there are a lot of approaches to getting the color right.

The latest M4 MacBook Pro marks another substantial upgrade in Apple’s pro laptop lineup, bringing a blend of powerful performance and practical new features. I've used it over the past week, and here are my thoughts.

Hasselblad has unveiled the XCD 3.4/75P, a new addition to its XCD Portable (P) lens series, designed for versatility in portrait, street, and still-life photography. This lens introduces a standard focal length to the XCD P lineup, providing a 59mm equivalent focal length on full frame, while maintaining portability and high optical quality.

Today, Nikon has announced the next generation of its DX line of cameras with the new Nikon Z 50II.

Is there a difference between a photograph and a picture? In my mind, yes! A picture is a snapshot documenting a person, place, thing, or moment without intention. A photograph is created with intention, process, and technique.

Using unique lenses can add artistic flair to your shots, and the TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 Swirly Bokeh lens is one of those options, offering a distinctive, swirling bokeh effect. This lens, designed for full frame mirrorless cameras, doesn’t prioritize sharpness but instead provides an out-of-focus background with a swirling, almost dreamlike quality that can add depth and style to certain images.

Negative space involves large areas of emptiness that direct attention to the focal point of an image, creating a sense of simplicity and depth. This technique can add balance to a composition, enhance its mood, and simplify otherwise cluttered scenes. It’s especially effective in high-contrast environments where shadows and light can be used to sculpt the frame.

Remember the smell of film rolls and the feel of manual focus?

Photographing forests isn’t always straightforward. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the dense trees, tangled branches, and layers of textures that can make it difficult to find a clear shot. The forest can seem chaotic, but with a few simple techniques, you can transform a seemingly complex scene into a captivating photograph.

Choosing a photography workflow isn’t about following a set formula. Each step you take—from picking up the camera to final editing—is part of a sequence that can shift depending on your style, subject, and even personal preferences. There’s no “correct” way to approach it, so flexibility is key.

Modern lenses are perfectly sharp and crisp. But perfection is overrated and can be rather boring. I have a solution to add some character back into my photography and videos.