7 Tips for Better Milky Way Photos

It’s springtime, which means that for most of us around the world, the core of the Milky Way galaxy, or the “Galactic Bulge,” will be prominently visible in the night sky roughly through the end of summer.

Think Like an Artist and Improve Your Photography

Have you ever struggled with getting creative in your photography, but whatever you have tried, it didn’t solve the problem? Artists think in a very special way. Knowing how can massively change your photography.

What's the Better Camera: The Sony a7 IV or the Canon EOS R6?

All of the major camera companies have released some incredible cameras in the last few years, but many of us do not need top-shelf features and would rather opt to save thousands of dollars by buying a more generalist option. Such cameras have come quite a way and can handle most demands, and this great video review takes a look at two of the best options, the Canon EOS R6 and the Sony a7 IV.

We Review the Aputure LS600x: A Viable Alternative to HMI Lights?

When Aputure released the LS 600d Pro, it took the market by storm and signaled an era of high-power LED coming. But when the LS 600X Pro came out, it took the D version and made it greater. I’ve been using the 600X Pro for the past month, and here are some of my thoughts on it.

The Unsung Heroes of Portrait Lenses

There are many staple lenses in portrait photography that are recommended to beginners and professionals alike. However, there is something of an unsung hero lurking in a different genre entirely that could complement your gear arsenal perfectly.

Should You Use an 85mm or 70-200mm Lens for Portrait Photography?

When it comes to portraiture, the wide-aperture 85mm lens has been the classic choice for years, but zoom lenses have come along quite a bit in the past decade, and with their impressive image quality, you might prefer the versatility of having a variety of focal lengths at your disposal. If you are wondering whether to use an 85mm or 70-200mm lens for your portrait work, check out this excellent video tutorial that will show you the pros and cons of each.

The New Mac Studio M1 Max: One Photographer's View After 5 Days

First: Some History

I've had a lot of Macs over the years. I remember the old PowerPC Macs, which performed OK against Intel-based PCs, but did have some heat issues under heavy loads. I went along with the transition to Intel in the Mid 2000s, and had a Mac Pro Intel-based machine, which replaced my identical-looking PowerMac G5. That served me well for many years because it was so upgradeable, but eventually, that machine no longer supported the latest versions of macOS, so reluctantly I bought an iMac in 2019, sporting a 3.6GHZ 8-CORE INTEL CORE I9 chip, and 8GB of memory. Like many...

A Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Right Shutter Speed for Your Photography

Along with aperture and ISO, shutter speed is one of the fundamental parameters that control the exposure of your image and give you the creative latitude for rendering the frame as you see fit. If you are new to photography and want to learn how to use shutter speed both to create technically correct photos and to explore your creativity, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know.

A Review of the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Lens

Ultra-wide angle zoom lenses with wide maximum apertures are popular for a variety of uses, ranging from astrophotography to weddings and events work. For Sony shooters looking for professional-level options, there is the FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, 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 usage.

A Surprisingly Easy Technique I Use to Get More Clients as a Professional Photographer

You can only be profitable as a photographer if you have clients. Clients are the good and bad about being an artist. On one hand, you are paid to do what you love, but on the other, they usually don’t care about the same stuff you care about. In this article, I will tell you exactly what your clients want from you.

Fstoppers Reviews the HEX Back Loader DSLR Backpack V2

HEX has been on a tear lately, releasing plenty of functional bags with some meaningful limited editions. The HEX Back Loader DSLR Backpack V2 continues the trend with a useful and stylish package that’s just about perfect for shooters with DSLR or mirrorless cameras.

4 Things I Was Never Told When Becoming a Photographer 

Photography may seem like a very glamorous career. The entry point is very low, and you can start with 0 investment: just use your phone. However, as you progress further and further, you may encounter that there are several things you didn't expect photographers to do. In this article, I will go through some of those.

A Guide to Photographing a Wedding Ceremony

Photographing a wedding is one of the most challenging and high-pressure scenarios a photographer can face, particularly since there are no do-overs, and they require you to balance a wide variety of skills and techniques, all while being creative at the same time. As such, being as prepared as possible before you ever set foot in the venue is crucial. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced wedding shooter guiding you through the process of photographing the ceremony.

Some Helpful Tips for Long Exposures in Landscape Photography

When it comes to landscape photography, long exposures are one of the most ubiquitous techniques you will see. Taking a long exposure involves more than simply cranking up that shutter speed, however. If you would like to improve your own work, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you some great tips for taking long exposures.

Which of These Fujifilm Lenses Will Satisfy Your Bokeh Craving?

Fujifilm makes some pretty impressive lenses, and in between their well-established X Series and the respected GFX medium format line, photographers have a lot of choices when it comes to narrow depth of field and bokeh. This great video compares an option from each line, the GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR lens and the XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR.

Why I Love Photography

Our reasons for finding our way behind the lens of a camera are as various as the courses we choose to take with our lives. Here are just a few of mine.

The Basics of Photo Licensing for Photographers

Photo licensing is not the most exciting topic, but it is one of the most important and one every photographer should have confidently mastered, as it has significant consequences on both your income and your ability to protect and control the dissemination of your images. If you are a bit unsure of the ins and outs of photo licensing, take a bit of time to watch this informative video tutorial that will help you master the basics.

The Most Important Skill in Landscape Photography

I love when a plan works in landscape photography and this was the way I was doing for more than 30 years now: planning and going to the spot, for "harvesting" the photographs. This led to fantastic results though, but there is one more way to get outstanding photographs, you had maybe never thought about before.

Are You Improvising in Your Landscape Photography Enough?

When it comes to landscape photography, knowing how to plan in advance will generally yield much more success than simply heading out and winging it. That does not mean you should never just grab your camera and see what you can find, however. In fact, doing that can actually be the better choice in some situations, and this excellent video explores just when you should consider doing so.

How to Fix Clothing Using Photoshop

Clothing can be an annoying finicky thing, bunching up in distracting ways, or getting torn and stained at the most inopportune times. While fixing a stain in Photoshop is often relatively straightforward, dealing with a bunched-up sleeve can be tricky, particularly since clothing often has a fixed pattern you need to keep intact to make the edit believable. This helpful video tutorial from a Photoshop pro will show you everything you need to know to get it done correctly.

How to Improve the Fujifilm X-T4: A Canon User's Perspective

I picked up a Fujifilm X-T4 about five months ago to use primarily as a backup camera and for street photography, video, and family use. Although I shoot with a Canon system in my studio, I fell in love with Fuji’s cameras years ago when I acquired an X-Pro1 and a few X lenses. In this article, I offer a friendly critique and some suggestions for Fuji to improve an already great camera system.

Is Leica Worth Five Times the Price of Fuji?

Leica is a legendary brand, well known for a very specific camera experience and a desirable, unique look to their images. Fujifilm has made significant strides in the past decade, though, and their X-Pro series offers an experience similar to a rangefinder with a variety of interesting advanced and hybrid features. So, is Leica worth its significantly higher price? This great video review compares the Leica M11 to the Fujifilm X-Pro3 to find out.

A Review of the Impressive Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM Lens

It used to be that most supertelephoto zoom lenses were significantly below the standards demanded by professionals, leaving you to either buy a stratospherically priced prime or make do. However, in the last few years, we have seen an explosion of better lenses, and one of the most impressive options out there is the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

Why I Chose the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro

It’s not just the price, which is considerably lower than any other camera in the market that gives the same quality. It's a camera like no other, and its digital film footage is pure eye-candy every single time I get into the editing booth.

Why I Sold My Photography Studio

A photography studio can be exciting and profitable. It can also have major pitfalls that you should be aware of.

6 Tips for Getting More Out of Your Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photography

When it comes to landscape photography, most photographers default to using a wide angle lens, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, a telephoto lens can create equally compelling images, of course, and if you have not tried one for your own work, now is the time to head out and give it a shot. This excellent video tutorial will give you six awesome tips to get the most out of it.

What Is the Difference Between Speedlights, Monolights, and Packs and Heads?

When it comes to lighting, the three main types you can choose from are speedlights, monolights, and packs and heads. These three all have their own merits and drawbacks, and if you are thinking about investing in your own lighting system, it is important to know which is best suited for your work. This excellent video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of all three options and help you decide which to choose.

Kodak Brings Back Beloved Gold 200 Film in 120 Format

Kodak Gold 200 film is a popular choice and one of the most affordable stocks you can get, but the 120 format version was discontinued, much to the disappointment of medium format film photographers. Well, after some well-known folk in film photography — at least insofar as social media — kept asking for it, Kodak decided to deliver.

My DSLR Is Broken. Is It Time to Finally Get a Mirrorless Camera?

It happened again. My DSLR has failed on set. While being used to it and calling in for repairs right away, I caught myself thinking whether the time has come to buy a mirrorless. Here are some points that I brought up while having this debate with myself.

A Review of the Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens

A good 50mm lens with a wide aperture is by far one of the most versatile a photographer can own, suitable for everything from portraiture to low-light events work and more. For Fuji shooters, there is the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR, and 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 Look at the Powerful and Rugged New DJI Matrice 30 Enterprise Drone

Most people are familiar with DJI's consumer drones, but beyond those, the company also makes some impressively powerful and specialized enterprise drones. The Matrice 30 Enterprise is the latest at that level, and it offers some impressive new features. This great video takes a first look.

A Friendly Reminder That No One Needs to See Your Photos

No, that title is not meant to insult you. In fact, it is meant to empower you. The vast connectedness of the Internet and social media can be a great thing, but it can also be a highly detrimental thing for creatives. The next time you are preparing to take a photo and wondering what the end product will be, remember that you watched this video and that no one needs to see your photos.

Skip Social Media Advertising and Grow Your Business With These Tips

Growing a business can seem like a nebulous task. It can feel like there are too many ways to do it, with each way being a crap-shoot. Before I made the switch to being a commercial food photographer, I ran a successful marketing agency. Let me share with you some tips to reach your ideal client and grow your business.

3 Straightforward Steps to Improve Your Portrait Lighting

Picking up artificial lighting can be a bit daunting for a lot of photographers, but if you want to take complete technical control of your portraits and expand your creativity, it is something you have to master at one time or another. If you are new to artificial lighting and unsure of how to get started, check out this helpful video tutorial that will show you three steps sure to get you on your way to using flash comfortably.

Tips for Creating Great Videos Quickly and for Free

Video content is more in demand than ever before, both in terms of social media and commercial applications. However, post-processing can be time-consuming and expensive, which puts many photographers off. In this video, Jan Wegener walks you through how to speed up your workflow and use a free editing suite.

The New Standard: Apple Displays

With the release of Apple’s new Studio Display, the new creative standard may be here. Are the specs and price good enough?

Simple Editing Tips for Better Landscape Photos

Landscape photography often relies on rather complex and involved edits that go deep into Photoshop, but you do not have to make deep edits to create a compelling image. In fact, you can often skip Photoshop altogether and rely solely on Lightroom. This excellent video tutorial shares some simple but helpful tips for creating better landscape image edits using Lightroom.

Are You Finding Photographic Inspiration?

You can spend all the time in the world working on your technique behind the camera and in post-processing, but if you are not feeding your creative mindset in tandem with that technical development, you are going to have trouble creating worthwhile images. This excellent video essay will teach you the importance of finding creative inspiration and its impact on your growth as a photographer.

A Deep Dive Into How Kodak Makes Film

With film photography once again becoming popular, photographers who wish to take it up must wonder where the current film stock is coming from. Is it from the remnants of film stock that was made years ago? Well, you'll be happy to know that Kodak still has production lines running at its factory and even happier to watch this deep dive into how they make the film that you shoot today.

NFTs Are Terrible: 6 Reasons Why You Should Avoid Them

Given the number of big name photographers and huge brands jumping on board the NFT bandwagon, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the plethora of problems surrounding the NFT market had evaporated. You’d be wrong. NFTs are a still terrible idea, riddled with problems.

3 Months With the Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7 IV mirrorless camera was probably one of the most anticipated cameras of the last decade, as the a7 III had set a high bar for versatility, quality, and affordability in a hybrid mirrorless camera. The a7 IV brought with it several new features and upgrades when it finally arrived, and this great video review takes a look at how it has held up after three months of usage.

Is This 50mm Lens Worth Its Modest Price?

Probably no lens runs a wider price range than the 50mm. You can pick up a new wide-aperture 50mm prime for anywhere from under $100 to well over $2,000 and just about everywhere in between. The most affordable options tend to have some serious limitations, though. The Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.8 offers an upgrade over those cheap models without breaking the bank, and this great video review takes a look at the image quality and performance you can expect from it.

Can the New OM System OM-1 Mirrorless Camera Keep Up With the Canon EOS R3?

The OM System OM-1 is here, and with its impressive upgrades and new capabilities, it challenges the paradigm of full frame or even APS-C cameras ruling the sports genre, at least on paper. Can it really keep up with top-level professional cameras, though? This great video review pits the OM-1 against the highly respected Canon EOS R3 to find out.

Which of These 50mm f/0.95 Lenses Is Best?

50mm f/0.95 lens options have exploded in the last few years, all offering an ultra-wide aperture at a versatile focal length in an affordable manual focus design. So, which of the options is best? This excellent video comparison takes a look at four of them: the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III, TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95, Brightin Star 50mm f/0.95, and the Venus Optics Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95.

A Buying Guide for Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras and Lenses

Canon took a bit of time to really hit the gas when it came to professional mirrorless cameras and lenses, but once the EOS R5 and RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM hit the market, the company started running and has not looked back since. Now that the company (and third parties) have a wide variety of cameras and lenses available, knowing what is right for you can be a little tricky. This great video buying guide will help you navigate the world of Canon mirrorless gear to find the best choices for your work.