The Hidden Ingredient of Portraiture

When it comes to portrait photography, it is not uncommon for photographers to have a focus on the technical aspects of their craft. However, what if the secret ingredient of portraiture is more than just nailing a technically perfect photograph? Portraiture is all about the human subject and displaying their authenticity with each photo taken. The hidden ingredient that can take an average portrait to an exceptional piece of work has everything to do with the human connection to the subject.

Portrait Photography in Bright Midday Sun

Natural light portraiture is forever popular, but as us photographers know, more light isn't necessarily better. In fact, like half-breed vampires, we shy away from the sun at its brightest during midday.

9 Things You Should Check Before Purchasing a Used Lens

The used market is always full of lenses, and given how well many photographers take care of their gear, you can often save a fair bit of money and still get a quality lens by purchasing preowned. There are a few things you should check before you agree to buy that lens you are eyeing, though, and this quick and helpful video tutorial will take you through them all to make sure you are not wasting your money.

Five Shots You Need to Get When You Are an Industrial Photographer

An industrial photographer is someone who photographs the people and the products associated with multi-million dollar companies that make machines and tools for industries such as power and electric, trucking, and construction. As an industrial photographer, you will photograph everything from a two-ton drill used underground to a two-inch screw that secures a safety harness used by workers from a state electric company.

The Lighting Modifier You Didn't Know You Needed

I own a lot of modifiers. My studio contains Broncolor Hazylights, old fresnels that are as rare as hens' teeth, and softboxes of pretty much every size from under a meter to so big I can stand inside them, but this latest addition is the one that has helped me.

How Does the Fujifilm X-T4 Hold Up After Two Years of Heavy Use?

When Fujifilm released the X-T4 in April 2020, it didn’t feel like a massive upgrade over the hugely popular X-T3, and even Fujifilm stated that the newer camera was intended more as a sister than a successor. After two years of heavy use, how does the X-T4 hold up in 2022?

Here’s Why I (Almost) Always Ignore My Light Meter

My first camera was a Minolta SRT-101. I loved that camera. It was an excellent tool for learning about photography and manual exposure. As it was completely manual in operation, the internal meter was my only guide for achieving correct exposure, outside of using an external source or just guessing. Fast forward 20-plus years and the way I use an internal light meter has remained largely unchanged. That all changed recently.

Which Standard Lens Is the Best Option for Nikon Shooters?

One thing is for sure: Nikon mirrorless shooters are not at a loss for choice when it comes to standard zoom lenses. With four native options from Nikon, plus the option to pretty seamlessly adapt F mount options, you might be wondering which lens in the crowded field is right for your needs and budget. This excellent video comparison takes a look at five options and all their pros and cons to help you make the right choice.

A Battle Between the Canon EOS R3, Nikon Z 9, and Sony a1 Mirrorless Cameras

Camera manufacturers have really found another gear the last few years, obliterating the old maxim that you could have things like resolution or shooting speed, but not both, by releasing cameras that can tackle literally any situation you can throw at them. So, who holds the current crown? This excellent video compares the Canon EOS R3, Nikon Z 9, and Sony a1 mirrorless cameras to find out.

Can You Shoot Landscapes at f/1.4?

When it comes to landscape photography, a narrow aperture and large depth of field is the norm, as we generally want to get everything from the foreground to infinity sharp. Of course, that is a creative decision, and just like any other such decision, you can do something else. So, is it worth trying landscape photographs with a narrow depth of field? This great video makes a good case for it.

A Simple Way to Shoot Highly Reflective Products

Shooting products in a studio environment is not the easiest form of photography. It takes patience, knowledge of light sculpting, and clever post-processing. People also incorrectly assume that you must have a great deal invested in equipment.

A Review of the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 Lens

In the past few years, in addition to a lot of ultra-premium lenses, there has been a second movement toward more affordable lenses that make certain compromises to provide good performance and image quality without breaking the bank. For Nikon mirrorless users, one such option is the NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 lens, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

A Message Every Photographer Needs to Hear

Creatives are inundated from all directions by messages meant to undermine their confidence in their work and to get them to focus on things other than the act of creating an image. If you find yourself a bit lost in the midst of all that right now, take a few minutes to watch this great video essay that contains an important message every photographer and filmmaker should hear.

I Got Banned From Instagram, It Was a Good Thing

Creatives love and hate Instagram. While everyone is on it, very few enjoy being there. The platform is constantly changing the way it prioritizes work, as well as banning creatives without any reason. I was one of the unlucky many to experience such a ban.

How to Handle Boring Light in Landscape Photography

One of the biggest challenges of landscape photography is that unlike most other genres, you do not get control over the light on a scene. And while you can follow the weather forecast and plan in advance, nature does not always cooperate. That does not mean you should just pack in your bag and head home, though. This excellent video tutorial discusses what you can do to still come home with great images when the sky is boring.

A Simple Two-Light Setup for Dramatic Portraits of Couples

The beauty of artificial lighting is that you can create whatever look you want, wherever and whenever you want. That does not mean things need to be overly complex, however. In fact, just two lights can offer a ton of versatility, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how to use them to create some dramatic and compelling couples portraits.

A Helpful Wedding Timeline to Ensure You Get the Best Shots

Being a wedding photographer takes a lot of skills, one of them being the ability to effectively manage time while corralling a large group of people. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to properly plan and schedule your timeline to ensure you get all the shots you need.

Using Window Blinds for Creative Portraits in Studio

When looking for things to add to your list of gear and props for your photography studio, some items may not be as obvious as others. Are windows blinds on your list? Here's how you can use Venetian blinds to add a different look to your portraits.

8 Months With the Fujifilm GFX 100S: How Does This Medium Format Mirrorless Camera Perform?

Perhaps no camera series has created a larger paradigm shift in the industry in the last decade than the Fujifilm's GFX series, which brought medium format prices into direct competition with the upper levels of full frame and modernized many of its capabilities at the same time. The GFX 100S is one of the most impressive options in the line, and this great video review discusses one photographer's thoughts after eight months with the camera.

How to Find the Best Landscape Composition in Small Steps

Photographing landscapes is easy. After all, landscapes are everywhere. Choosing a good composition is often much more difficult. It can be helpful to take small steps, slowly building up the most attractive composition. Let me show you how I often work for my landscapes.

Using V-Flats for Background and the Perfect Lighting

Are you looking for an easy way to achieve great lighting with minimal gear? Regardless of whether it's because you are starting off and have to stay within a certain budget or you simply do not want to carry and set up a lot of gear, here's an easy way to get perfect lighting.

How to Give Your Photos 3D Pop Using Color Grading

Three-dimensional "pop" is a sort of nebulous thing that portrait photographers often chase in certain lenses, as it can take an inherently two-dimensional representation of a person and make it feel more lifelike. You can also contribute to the effect through your editing, and this fantastic video tutorial will show you how to do it through some clever though not difficult use of Photoshop.

The Evolution of Sue Bryce's Portrait System

Like life itself, all things evolve and change over time. Though as business owners, photographers don't always know what that is going to look like.

Here Come More Exciting Canon Lenses

Once Canon brought the EOS R5 and RF 28-70mm f/2L USM to the market, they showed they were extremely serious about mirrorless innovation, and they have not looked back since. And it looks like they plan on keeping their foot on the gas, as more patents have emerged for interesting lens designs sure to please a lot of photographers.

7 Ways to Be Way More Productive in Your Landscape Photography

Some genres of photography allow you to produce a large number of images in a given span of time, while others tend to be more methodical and require a fair amount of patience. Landscape photography tends to fall into the latter camp, but that does not mean there are not things you can do to make yourself more productive on location. This helpful video will detail seven ways you can make yourself a bit more efficient and productive the next time you head out.

How to Take Beautiful, Backlit Portraits at Golden Hour

Golden hour is the holiest of times for photographers of many genres, however, it takes some technical understanding if you want to get the most out of it in your portraiture. In this video, Irene Rudnyk takes you behind-the-scenes of her beach portraiture shoot at golden hour to give you some tips.

How to Take Sharp Landscape Photos

When it comes to landscape photography, sharpness is often one of the top priorities. If that is something you want to improve in your images, check out this excellent video tutorial that details a straightforward process for coming home with sharp photos every time you head out with your camera.

Basic Lighting Setup for Capturing Catalog Images

Boutiques, clothing brands, and some stores usually require catalog images for their business and e-commerce websites. Would you be able to deliver clean catalog images? Here's how you can do just that!

8 Creative and Technical Tips for Better Long Exposure Photography

Long exposure photography is a beloved technique, utilized by many genres, as well as forming something of a genre itself. In this video, one photographer walks you through his process and some tips on how to get the best out of your own long exposure images.

Creating a Powerful Print From a Unique Camera

Before the digital era, you could still shoot panoramic photographs, but you generally had to resort to using a special kind of camera to do so, especially if you wanted the best possible image quality. This neat video follows a landscape photographer as he uses an absolute behemoth of a camera to create a special panoramic print.

Is the Fujifilm X100V Mirrorless Camera One of the Best Out There?

I have rarely been a big fan of fixed prime lens cameras, but the exception has always been the Fujifilm X100 series. What started out as a quirky and fun camera has evolved into a highly capable professional tool in its fifth generation — all without losing any of the unique personality that first endeared it to photographers. This excellent video review takes a look at the new model and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

This Photographer Is Having a Very Bad Day

The Winter Olympics are underway, and just like the summer version, the games have drawn a ton of photographers from all around the planet to capture some of the world's best athletes in action. One photographer is not having the best day, though, as they lost their grip on their camera, causing it to take a very, very, very long tumble down the ski hill, as NBC cameras captured its escape.

Make Insanely Difficult Masks Easy With This Little-Known Photoshop Tool

Masking is an important part of any decent photographer's post-production process. Sometimes, the masks are easy, but other times, they can be painfully time-consuming. However, if you learn about this hidden tool in Photoshop, your editing life will instantly become so much better.

These Are the Best Film Cameras to Buy in 2022

Film has seen quite a resurgence in the last few years, and after over a century of production, the number of used cameras available can be a bit overwhelming. If you are interested in getting into film but are not sure which camera is right for you, this helpful video will show you a variety of different styles at various price points to help you choose the right one for you.

A Review of the Powerful Nikon Z 9 Mirrorless Camera

The Nikon Z 9 has arrived, and it has officially brought the company back into competition with Sony and Canon for the most powerful full frame camera crown. So, just how good is the new body? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from it.

One Reason Why You Shouldn't Watermark Your Images

If you look around right now, chances are, you will come across something that's branded. Brand recognition is a big thing, especially in the commercial world of products. When it comes to your photography, should you still watermark your images?

How to Capture Amazing Detail in Your Drone Photography

In the last decade, drones have created a completely new genre of photography for the average consumer. Their biggest hurdle has been poor resolution and dynamic range but with these few tips, you can get a lot more detail out of your drone photography.

Can You Really Tell the Difference Between Medium Format and APS-C?

In this comparison, you probably can't tell the difference between identical images taken on a medium format and APS-C camera. But that doesn't mean that medium format cameras are a waste of money. As with most questions like this in photography, it really depends on what type of images you make and what you plan to do with them.

Seascape Photography 101: Everything You Need to Know

Seascape photography can be both rewarding and intimidating. The ocean can deliver beautiful photographs, but it also has the power to ruin your gear. Check out this in-depth video from Nick Page for several pro-tips that will help to both keep your gear safe and to come away with beautiful photographs.

Did Sony Kill the DSLR?

Back in 2006, Sony bought out camera manufacturer Minolta, triggering a sequence of events that has all but brought about the demise of the beloved DSLR.