Great Fall Waterfall Photo Ideas

Fall is here in many places, and with it comes tremendous photography opportunities of all sorts. One interesting way to take advantage of those gorgeous colors is to integrate waterfalls and moving water in the shot. This great video tutorial will show you some awesome ideas for autumn photography with rivers and waterfalls.

Should You Devote Your Time and Money Into Creating a Spec Ad?

The issue of whether or not photographers should work for free is a polarizing one. Some of us feel we should not haul thousands of dollars worth of lighting and camera gear to a location and spend a full day shooting just to gain a reward that comes in the form of intangible exposure. Others feel doing regular collaborations with like-minded peers to produce new work is valuable in nurturing a photographer’s creative process.

How and Where to Focus to Get Perfectly Sharp Photos Every Time

It doesn't matter how great your composition is or how spectacular your colors might be, if your image is not crisply focused, then you most likely need to toss it in the trash. Learn how to nail your focus for tack-sharp images every time.

Good Advice for New Landscape Photographers

Landscape photography is a popular and well-established genre, and as such, there are certain established practices and advice given to budding photographers. And while a lot of it is good, some can pigeonhole you into styles or techniques that are actually detrimental to your development and the images you create. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer debunking some common advice and showing why you are better off going another way.

The Joy of the Fujifilm X100V Mirrorless Camera

The Fujifilm X100 series of mirrorless cameras has long been popular for both its image quality and for the shooting experience it provides. If you have never used one and are curious about what it is like, check out this excellent video review that discusses just why it is such a fun camera to work with.

A Year With the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7 series has become one of the most highly respected and popular lines of mirrorless cameras, well known for offering an excellent balance of photo and video features that allow creatives to produce professional work in just about any situation. So, is the a7 IV still the hybrid camera to beat? This great video review takes a look at how it holds up after a year of usage.

A Quick and Easy Photoshop Portrait Retouching Workflow

When it comes to retouching skin, there are several ways to accomplish the same task, some more efficient and easier than others. If you would like an easy way to quickly and effectively edit skin in Photoshop, check out this great video tutorial that will show you just such a workflow.

Which Canon Mirrorless Kit Lens Is Right for You?

While Canon initially focused on full frame cameras and lenses with the RF mount, the release of cameras like the EOS R7 and EOS R10 and associated RF-S lenses has shown that the company also intends to develop APS-C options in tandem with the full frame line. For those APS-C cameras, there are two relatively new lens options, the RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM and RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. Which one is right for you? This excellent video comparison will help you pick.

Long Exposure Portraits: 6 Creative Ideas to Try on Your Next Shoot

Some of my favorite creative photography techniques to use are those that allow us to capture moments in ways we could never see using just our eyes. One technique, in particular, that I turn to for capturing unique portraits involves using long exposure, aka shutter drag. Long exposure portraits open up a number of creative possibilities and often result in “wow” moments with my clients. Putting the technique to use does require some skill and preparation, but it’s easy enough to master once you know the basics.

A Review of the New Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens

Tamron has established itself as a maker of both pragmatic lenses at practical prices and more unique designs that the photo world has not seen before. The new 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is one of those more unique designs, offering an interesting focal length range that sits between two more traditional zoom ranges (16-35mm and 24-70mm). This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art Lens

Macro lenses with short telephoto focal lengths are some of the most useful and flexible optics a photographer can own, giving you access to a world of detail all around us, but also doubling as a fantastic option for tack-sharp portraits and more. The Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art offers that versatile combo at a relatively affordable price ($799), and this great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it.

How Do You Find Your Photography Niche?

The overwhelming majority of professional photographers will tell you that if you want to find success, you need to specialize. However, when you are first starting out, you will probably find a lot of different genres exciting. So, how do you narrow it down to the right focus for you? This awesome video tutorial features an experienced professional photographer laying out a three-step plan for finding your niche as a photographer.

5 Mistakes Beginners Make When Printing Their Photos

Printing your photos and holding a tactile representation of your hard work is a wonderful and exciting experience, but creating a proper print is a skill and area of knowledge unto itself. If you are just starting to print your photos and want to ensure you do not waste your money, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you five common mistakes beginners make when printing photos and how to avoid them.

Do You Really Need That Ultra-Expensive Lens?

Canon makes some really impressive lenses, but of course, they come at prices that match that stellar performance. Do you really need that to spend that much, though, or would you be better off going with a more affordable option? This interesting video compares two 50mm options from the company to help you decide.

How to Remove Shadows With Frequency Separation

If you want to lift your retouching skills to the next level, you should familiarize yourself with frequency separation and how it can aid you in various photo editing tasks. One of those can come up in cityscape and architecture photography. Especially during blue hour and nighttime, you can get unwanted shadows in your photos. In this article, I explain how to remove those with frequency separation.

Helpful Landscape Photography Secrets and Productivity Tips

Creating a successful landscape photo takes a combination of planning, patience, technique, vision, and sometimes, just a bit of luck. Professional landscape photographers have some common habits and productivity hacks they use both to be more efficient and to ensure that they come home with the best possible images. This great video tutorial will take you through some of those habits and hacks to help you improve your landscape work.

A Beginner's Guide to Selecting the Right Aperture for Photos

In tandem with shutter speed and ISO, aperture is one of three fundamental exposure parameters that grant you the technical and creative control over your images that you bought a specialized camera for in the first place. If you are new to photography and wondering what aperture is and how it works, check out this great video tutorial that will give you a practical guide to using it for taking better control of your photos.

What's New in Photoshop 2023?

The latest version of Photoshop is here, and it brings with it some pretty nifty features that will both save you time and help you make better, more precise edits. If you are wondering what is new, what it can do, and how to use it, check out this great video that will give you an overview of what to expect and where to find it.

4 Lighting Secrets for Better Portraits

Creating successful portraits is a complex task that requires a lot of specialized knowledge and techniques, but just like any other genre of photography, having a complete mastery of lighting is near the top of the list of requirements. If you would like to improve your portraits, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you four lighting secrets that will put you on the right track.

DaVinci Resolve Coming Soon to Your iPad

Today, Blackmagic Design announced that its prominent post-production platform, DaVinci Resolve, will now be available on the Apple iPad.

Would You Fall for This Suspicious Photography Assignment?

Photography scams are something that we all need to be on guard against. These scams often come our way in the form of poorly worded emails that we instantly delete. Atlanta wedding photographers Jaimie Dee and her husband Kyle were recently targeted by a rather elaborate variation of a classic photography scam. Fortunately, they didn’t fall for the con. How might you fare if you were targeted by the scam detailed below?

A Review of the New Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens

The new Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD is one of the more interesting lenses to come along in a while, offering an intriguing focal length range that sacrifices reach at the long end compared to a 24-70mm for the ability to go wider than the usual 24mm, putting it somewhere between a standard zoom and an ultra-wide angle zoom. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

How to Master Mood in Landscape Photography in Under 5 Minutes

Landscape photography isn't just about photographing beautiful landscapes. It's about creating a connection with your viewer, and one of the best ways to do that is through mood. See how you can master mood in your landscape images in less than five minutes.

Gear Up for Real Estate Photography on a Shoestring Budget

One of the most consistent opportunities we have as photographers to earn money with our cameras is photographing real estate and hospitality properties, such as Airbnb rentals, and contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take a huge investment to offer quality images for this purpose.

10 Crucial Lighting Mistakes Beginner Filmmakers Make

While there are a lot of differences between video and photography, one fundamental truth remains: your lighting makes or breaks your creations. And just like photography, there are some common lighting mistakes that new filmmakers tend to make. This excellent video tutorial will show you 10 such mistakes and what you can do to fix them or avoid them in the first place.

How a Photographer Runs His Business

Running a successful photography business that brings in sufficient income takes a lot more than simply being good with a camera and knowing how to light a shot. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced professional discussing how he runs his business and offering some helpful insight.

We Review the Rotolight PRO NEO 3 and PRO AEOS 2

When the Rotolight package was delivered to my doorstep, I was apprehensively excited. I was apprehensive because light is everything in photography, and LED lights are notorious for disappointing me. But I was not disappointed. To say I had to rip myself away from playing with it in the studio to type up my review would not be an exaggeration. This light is prodigious.

Improvised Cinematic B-Roll With Available Lighting

Cinematic footage is a great way to showcase a product and add a level of professionalism to your video work. However, it can be daunting to know where to start, and the options can get expensive. If you want simple and effective ways to up your video b-Roll game without breaking the bank, look no further than this accessible tutorial.

5 Things I Look for in a Cinema Camera

The definition of a “cinema camera” seems to be ever evolving. So what are some of the things that set them apart from mirrorless?

A Review of the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens

24mm lenses with wide apertures are some of the most versatile out there, offering a reasonably wide (though not overly so) focal length in tandem with a lot of light-gathering and subject-isolating power. The Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM takes that versatility and adds in macro capabilities and image stabilization, making it quite the intriguing option. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Using AI to Restore Old Photos Actually Works

It's absolutely mind-blowing how much artificial intelligence has come to play a central role in photography. There's the presence of it in everyday usage in smartphones, with things like portrait mode and night sight, but now, even more powerful tools are available to desktop retouchers. Just check out how it works on this 70-year-old photo.

Is a Beauty Dish or Octabox Better for Portraits?

Beauty dishes and octaboxes are two of the most common lighting modifiers out there, with almost every portrait studio in existence owning at least one of the two, if not both. They are not identical, though, and each renders your subject in a unique way, which is why it is important to understand the differences so you can pick the proper one for your style and clients' needs. This great video tutorial will show you a deep look at the two options, how they differ, and which is appropriate for different situations.

Protect Your Photography Business

In the midst of cancel culture, it's easy to make a misstep as a photographer. Sometimes, a seemingly harmless act could tarnish your reputation. I created this video because following these actions helped me, and I hope that it also serves you.

Is This the Ultimate Wedding Photography Lens?

Wedding photography generally requires at least two and often several lenses to get through the entire day, and as such, any lens that can take the place of a few offers a significant increase in convenience. The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD is one such lens, and with its tremendous focal length range and wide aperture, it looks like a potentially fantastic option for wedding photographers. This great video takes you through a wedding day with the lens to show you how versatile it is.

YouTube Reverses Course on Making Users Pay for 4K

Recently, some YouTube users started reporting that their ability to watch 4K videos was hidden behind a premium subscription, leading to outcry. Thankfully, that experiment has been walked back.

Why I Used to Hate Making Wedding Albums

Before I created Fstoppers, I was a full-time wedding photographer. Over that time, I designed a handful of wedding albums as both show albums and as client albums. To be honest, I never really enjoyed the album-making process. Now, the tables have turned, and for my wife's first year anniversary gift, I decided to make an album with images from my own wedding. How will my wife respond, and will I enjoy the process? Let's find out!

6 Important Lessons Learned From Shooting With Long Lenses

Shooting with long telephotos lenses is an entirely different experience that requires some specialized techniques and considerations. If you are new to working with those extra-long focal lengths and looking for some helpful advice to ensure you get the best possible shots, check out this fantastic video tutorial that discusses six important lessons.

Here’s Why You’re Not Getting Paying Clients

There's a part inside us all that wishes we were getting paid or paid more for our photography work. However, it's often the case that there are some perfectly logical reasons why we're not. Here are some great examples of why you're not getting paid clients.

A Review of the Do-it-All Canon RF-S 18-150mm F/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens

Cameras like the EOS R7 and EOS R10 have shown that Canon is serious about APS-C mirrorless cameras in addition to their quickly growing full frame line. As such, the company has begun to create RF-S lenses specifically made for those smaller sensors, with one such lens being the RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM, which covers a huge range of focal lengths for a wide variety of needs. This excellent video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Incredible Greenland Photo Battle Between a Wide Angle and Telephoto Lens

Iceland may be the standard dream destination for many photographers, but have you thought about Greenland? It is absolutely stunning, and after seeing this, I challenge you to disagree. But if you go there to shoot the icebergs, the rugged mountains, and the turquoise waters, should you use a wide angle lens or a telephoto lens?

How Lightroom's Brush Tool Can Help You Make Better Photo Edits

Most people think of Lightroom as the place for organizing their photos and performing light edits and Photoshop as the destination for more intensive work. However, in the last few years, the former has made some major strides that make it a serious editing tool. This great video tutorial will show you how to use a combination of the new masking features and the brush tool for creating more compelling landscape image edits.