Tips for Presenting Your First Photography Workshop

I’ve been fortunate present photography workshops over the past 15 years. My focus is usually on lighting for beauty, but I’ve presented on other topics as well including how to pose a subject so they look natural on camera. I’ve also attended many workshops from both well-known photographers and lesser-known names as well. From being on both sides of the lectern, I’ve developed a good understanding of what makes a good photography workshop. Here are 3 tips you might consider should you find yourself tasked with presenting a photography workshop.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 Sports Lens Review

Sigma describes this lens as its "flagship" lens, but how does it perform in the hands of an independent reviewer? Take a look and find out if it lives up to the hype.

4 Reasons Professional Photographers Should Specialize

When you are new to photography, you will probably dabble in a wide range of different genres, which is a great chance to discover what excites you most. However, if you decide to make a living from photography, you will want to consider specializing in a single area. This fantastic video features an experienced photographer explaining four reasons why you will want to narrow your focus when you turn your attention to making money.

Are You Doing This on Instagram? If Not, You Should Be

Social media sometimes feels like the devil incarnate. But if you're a photographer trying to harness social media for your business or your brand, then you have to play the smart game. For Instagram users, this will help you.

Canon Breaks the Silence on Viltrox Lenses

News recently broke that Viltrox, a brand known for their affordable lenses, has stopped manufacturing for the Canon RF mount after rumors that Canon had asked them to pull their products. Canon recently confirmed that news, and it certainly raises questions about the future of third-party lenses for their mirrorless cameras.

We Review the Profoto A2: A Speedlight on Steroids or an Underpowered Monolight?

Profoto is busy developing their A series line of flashes. Just look at the recent focus the company has put out on the Clic modifiers, notably, launching the Clic softbox, which we reviewed some time ago. A few users commented that the A1 series flashes will be too weak to be used under certain settings with the Clic softbox, which got me wondering if there is a more powerful flash coming along soon. There was: the Profoto A2.

A Look at the Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens

A 24mm lens with a wide aperture is already quite versatile, but add in image stabilization and macro capabilities, and it becomes one of the most useful you can carry. For Canon shooters, there is the RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, and 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.

A Look at One of Canon's Most Legendary Lenses

Before Canon's RF mount, there was the EF mount, and before the EF mount, there was the FD mount. The FD mount is over 50 years old, but it had some groundbreaking lenses, and with the ability to adapt them to mirrorless lenses, we are seeing a real resurgence in popularity. This awesome video review takes a look at one of the most legendary FD lenses, the 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical.

5 Photographers That You Don’t Want to Be

There’s no single sure way to being successful as a photographer. However, there are a handful of examples around that definitely teach you what not to do if you want to attain success.

Do You Really Need a Wide Angle Lens for Street Photography?

A key component for many street photographers is context in a scene. To many, an image without space in the frame for the setting may be considered as a portrait and not belonging to any particular genre or style. Street photographers are so focused on context they gravitate towards rangefinders that let you see outside the frame. This commonly held approach to street photography lends itself to the ubiquitous use of wide angle lenses.

3 Great Poses for Photographing Women

In some sense, the objective, quantifiable nature of things like exposure settings and lighting ratios makes them a little easier to learn than something more subjective like posing, which is why a lot of photographers struggle with it. If you would like to improve your portrait posing, check out this great video tutorial that will show you three surefire poses for photographing women.

A Look at the New Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens

Tamron has released some mightily impressive lenses in the last years, including some that push the boundaries of design, such as the 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD. The company recently announced the 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD, which offers a huge range of focal lengths all in one package. What sort of performance and image quality can you expect from it? This great first look video takes a look.

5 Questions Every Photographer Should Ask Themselves at Least Once

Feeling lost on your photographic journey is common. So are being in a creative rut or having periods of low motivation. At times, we can all struggle to feel inspired to pick up the camera and get out there. A lack of direction, purpose, and reason can be the culprit for these aforementioned photography ailments. So, let’s dig into these questions and uncover the possible “whys” behind your keen need to capture.

You Can Watch TV on a Leica Now

If you're a Leica fan who also enjoys watching movies and television shows in the best possible image quality, you're going to like this.

Could You Move Your Photo Studio Outside?

The whole point of a studio is being free of the outdoors and having complete control over the shooting environment, so it would seem a bit strange to drag a multi-light setup and backdrop system into the middle of a field, but that is just what this photographer did, and the results are quite intriguing. This great video tutorial will take you behind the scenes and show you how it was done.

We Review the Canon EOS R7: How Does It Perform for Casual Photography?

There are two new Canon APS-C mirrorless cameras available. There is the EOS R10, a relatively simple camera, and there is the EOS R7, a camera that promises a lot of things and also delivers a lot. Canon Netherlands gave me this camera for a week when I went on a holiday. These are my findings.

How to Nail the Composition for Different Aspect Ratios

When you are shooting, do you think about what aspect ratio you need your finished shots to be in? Where will the photos go? Will they need to fit multiple aspect ratios for social, web, and other places? Here's a way you can make sure your images are perfect for each final ratio you need.

Amazing Desert Photography in Morocco

Photographing sand dunes can be a very productive photographic endeavor if you find a stretch of desert remote enough that not every inch of it is covered in footprints. In this article, I show you my favorite place to photograph dunes, and I give tips on how to get the most out of this sandy subject matter.

Incredibly Affordable Lenses for Leica Cameras

If you've ever dreamed of owning a Leica but quickly given up because you thought adding lenses to the bodies would send expenses into outer orbit, this will bring a big smile to your face.

How to Use Clamshell Lighting for Portraits

Clamshell lighting is one of the most classic and commonly used setups for portrait photography, and when done right, it can produce eye-catching and flattering results. If you have not used it before, check out this great video tutorial that will show you how to create a proper clamshell setup for portraiture.

Behind the Scenes: Check Out This Golden and Blue Hour Portrait Shoot

Finding the best light to bathe our subjects can be one of the most challenging parts of planning a photoshoot. We strive for those beautiful golden hour photos and sometimes completely dismiss other parts of the day. Harsh sunlight can be difficult and cloudy can be flat, but what about blue hour?

A Review of One of History's Most Important DSLRs

The late 1990s and early 2000s were the infancy of professional digital photography, and as such, they brought with them some groundbreaking cameras that laid the foundations for those we know today. One such camera was the Nikon D1, and this neat video review takes a look back at the camera, its performance and features, and what made it such a pivotal body.

From Headshots to Headlines: An Interview With Peter Hurley

Headshot photography has been making major headlines recently. A few weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal interviewed headshot guru Peter Hurley about the importance of a professional headshot in a quickly changing business landscape (The Perfect Professional Headshot Is Worth $1,000, and Maybe Even a Job).

Why You Should Consider Adding a 24mm Lens to Your Bag

When it comes to standard prime lenses, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm are generally the most popular. Nonetheless, there are plenty of other focal lengths out there, and one particularly worthwhile option is 24mm. This great video discusses why a 24mm lens can be such a compelling option and why you should consider including one in your arsenal.

Demystifying Lightroom’s Most Confusing Yet Essential Tools

A true master of a craft is someone who knows the right tools for the job and how to use those tools to maximize their capabilities in any given situation. Learn the best ways to use some of Lightroom's most mystifying yet vital tools.

Photography on a Budget

While photography definitely isn’t the cheapest business you could get into, you can definitely get started on a budget. Here are my tips for being prudent with your money as you start out.

This New Tabletop Game Looks Like D&D for Photographers

I love photography, and I have more than a passing interest in tabletop games. You can only imagine my excitement when I heard there was a tabletop game being developed which lets you play as a wildlife photographer trying to get the best shots!

Running a Photography Business With a Chronic Illness

If you've ever experienced a flare or diagnosis of a chronic illness while being self-employed, you'll understand the overwhelm of navigating your health and your business interests. It can be hard to focus on rest and recovery when you're fearful about the longevity of your business and the cash flow you need to live.

3 Straightforward Portrait Lighting Setups Using Only One Speedlight

Artificial lighting enables new creative opportunities and versatility that simply would not be possible otherwise, and it is a skill every portrait photographer should consider learning. Speedlights are an affordable and straightforward tool for learning artificial lighting, and this fantastic video tutorial will show you three basic portrait setups you can create with just a single speedlight.

How to Create Your Own Golden Hour

For years, photographers have understood that creating the best photograph possible means shooting in the best possible light. For natural light shooters, the best light often comes at a time known as the golden hour. This occurs when the sun is setting and the angle of the sun to the earth causes the light to travel through clouds and air pollution creating soft, diffused light. The color of this light is warm and the look is beautiful on all skin tones.

We Review the HEX Ranger Sling XL

The new HEX Ranger Sling XL bridges the gap between a large backpack and a traditional sling, combining elements of both for photographers who want to travel light without leaving almost everything at home.

Three Big Things Really Holding Back Your Photography

The foundation of success in anything you do is understanding what you should be doing and what you most certainly should not be doing. Are you guilty of these three issues holding your photography back?

Are You a ‘Fanny Pack Photgrapher'?

Under the category of so-ridiculous-that-I'm-not-sure-it's-real-but-kind-of-a-cool idea is a video that chronicles the life of a "fanny pack photographer."

A Common Mistake Photographers Make

No matter the genre you shoot, the world we live in often demands content churned out at a breakneck pace, and our attention spans are accordingly attuned to that speed. That can be a mistake that stops us from bringing home our best images. This excellent video essay discusses the importance of slowing down (quite a bit) and why it can bring you better photos.

Is This the Best Lens Available Today?

We are living in an age of incredible lenses that offer combinations of versatility, performance, and image quality that were unimaginable even just a decade ago. One lens makes a strong case for the best combination of those aforementioned factors, however, and it is from a manufacturer you might not expect.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (August 2022): Jessica Macrow

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2022, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

What Is the Difference Between a Speedlight and a Strobe?

If you are new to artificial lighting, the array of terminology and equipment can be a bit overwhelming at first. One of the most important distinctions is that between a speedlight and a strobe. Though the terms are sometimes used somewhat interchangeably, they are fundamentally different devices with distinct purposes. This great video tutorial will show you the difference between the two and what each is used for.

Helpful Advice for Better Landscape Photo Compositions

Composition is a particularly tricky aspect of landscape photography, especially since you have no control over the placement of the elements in the scene. If composition is something you struggle with, check out this awesome video tutorial that features an experienced landscape photographer offering some great advice sure to help you improve your photos.