Test Shoots Are Important for Portfolio Building

Photographing for free can hurt your brand or build a whole new business branch. There are photographers who work for free because they are afraid to charge. Then, there are photographers who work for free in the form of test shoots.

Is the Fujifilm X100V a Secret Macro Camera?

Fujifilm’s X100 line has been one of the most popular compact camera choices over the last decade. Even diehard shooters of other brands buy one for their everyday carrying. Starting with the X100 in 2010, the series is now in its fifth iteration with the X100V.

Are Good Photos by Horrible People Worthy of Your Attention?

Perhaps one of the biggest moral debates I have with myself is when I look at the good work of “bad” photographers — work that has a life of its own and work that has become culturally significant. Yet, that work has a dark side to it: the creator. Is it possible to look at photographs without ever thinking about the photographer behind them?

A Review of the Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R5 received most of the fanfare when it was first announced alongside the EOS R6, but the latter is no slouch, and in some ways, it might be the more appropriate and balanced camera for a lot of photographers and filmmakers. This great video review takes a look at the camera and the kind of performance you can expect from it in the real world.

For Seascapes, One Setting Can Make or Break the Shot

Seascapes can be beautiful and it's almost impossible to shoot the same image twice, so the genre can keep pulling you back in. However, one setting almost rules them all when it comes to the final image; get it wrong and you can leave with nothing.

When and How to Use Soft and Hard Light

There are many combinations and properties of light, all of which have different consequences and effects on both the technical and creative aspects of your images. One of the most fundamental properties every photographer needs to know is the hardness of light, and this excellent video tutorial will show you both when and how to use soft and hard light for portraiture.

The Rumor About Canon’s Next Lens Is Completely Unexpected

A rumor describing Canon’s next lens for its full frame mirrorless cameras has taken everyone by surprise: a 5.2mm f/2.8L “dual fisheye” designed for virtual reality. What is Canon planning, and who is this lens for?

Review of the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

It was only a matter of time before Canon would release a true macro lens for the RF mount. Instead of an RF version of the ever-so-popular EF 100mm macro lens, Canon had a little surprise up its sleeve. I got a chance to review this amazing lens.

Editing Tips for Photos Shot Into the Sun

Shooting into the sun can do anything from providing a nice visual element and contrast to creating stunning rays that cascade across the frame. Because of the extremely bright (and often partially blown out) source of light in the frame, it can sometimes require some specialized editing techniques, and this helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to produce the best possible images.

A Beginner's Guide to Planetary Astrophotography

As we transition from summer to fall, two of the most photogenic planets, Jupiter and Saturn, have passed the point of closest approach (opposition) to the Earth for the year. Yet, they still make great targets for planetary astrophotography, especially since they are now high in the sky soon after sunset. As another bonus, photographing these planets does not require traveling to a dark sky site. This kind of astrophotography can be done from our backyards.

How Photography and Architecture Are Intertwined

Architectural photography is an art form that is intrinsically dependent on the mind of another creator. Without architecture, there would be no architectural photography. Normally, one wouldn't imagine this to be a two-way street, but this insightful video posits a different view.

The 5 Biggest Mistakes a Seasoned Photographer Made as an Artist

Photography is an art form, and sometimes, we can forget to treat it as such and to help ourselves grow as artists. This excellent video featured a seasoned photographer detailing five mistakes he has made as an artist and how to avoid or fix them.

Is Photo Mechanic Plus a Lightroom Killer? An In-Depth Fstoppers Review Part 2: The Image Catalog

In Part 1 of this In-Depth review, I outlined the core philosophy of Photo Mechanic Plus before going on to summarize and test the ingestion process. Arguably, this is the star in the crown however, Camera Bits have now added an image catalog allowing it to manage your photo archive. Read on to find out how it performs, as well as a comparison with Lightroom's own catalog.

Wedding Photography
Critique the Community

Wedding Photography

We Critique Your Most Exciting Wedding Images

I can't believe October is finally here because in one week, I will have finally tied the knot and experienced my first wedding as a groom.

Closed for new submissions. Voting is open.
A Look at One of the Coolest Cameras of Yesteryear

One of the neatest things about early digital photography was that because few things were really standardized, there were numerous interesting designs and experiments with features. Sony's Mavica line was one such example of this, and this awesome video takes a look at the camera 24 years after its release.

A Look at Cinematic Mode on the New iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 is here, and it brings with it a bevy of improvements and new features, particularly in the camera department. One of the most exciting new capabilities is Cinematic mode, which allows filmmakers to shoot footage with shallow depth of field and focus pulls, and this great video shows off what it is capable of.

Fstoppers Reviews the Insta360 Go 2: Leveling Up the Action Camera

On the surface, it doesn’t look like Insta360’s latest entry in the GO lineup is all that different from its previous model. Looks, in this case, are very, very deceiving. The Insta360 GO 2 fixes every issue with its predecessor and in the process, has become a versatile and eminently usable camera in its own right.

Do You Need a High-Megapixel Camera?

For several years, it seemed like the megapixel wars of the early digital era had died down, but in recent years, numbers have started to skyrocket again. So, do you really need all that extra resolution, or can you get by with a cheaper camera with a normal megapixel count? This awesome video discusses the topic.

A Look at the Nikon Z fc Mirrorless Camera

The Nikon Z fc is one of the more unique cameras we have seen from the company, offering their latest mirrorless capabilities in tandem with a retro design that brings back the sort of manual controls from past film cameras that made photography a very tactile experience. With its small size, neat design, and affordable price, the Z fc looks like a potentially popular option, and this great video review takes a look at what you can expect from it.

What Camera Features Would You Be Lost Without?

Experienced photographers only need the basic camera settings of focusing, metering and exposure. It’s necessary having a grasp of these fundamentals, but extra features and technologies make our lives a lot easier. Here are ten I need. What are yours?

5 Tips to Help You Take Better Headshots

Headshots are a tricky genre, as they require you to not only have skills behind the camera and with your lighting, but also with posing and your ability to make people feel comfortable in front of the lens. If you would like to improve your headshots, check out this great video tutorial that features five helpful tips from a top-level photographer.

Would You Spend $8,000 on a Manual Focus f/1.2 Lens?

Leica’s reissue of its renowned Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 lens carries a hefty price tag, and yet, despite being $7,895, it’s currently back-ordered or out of stock at most major retailers. What do you get when you drop eight grand on a manual focus lens with 16 aperture blades?

It's Not Just About the Images You Make

If you’re thinking about going into photography full time and make a profession out of it, it might be worthwhile considering the skills other than getting a good photograph. Let’s discuss the somewhat soft skills required.

The Biggest Marketing Mistakes Photographers Keep Making

Why do we keep seeing photographers make the same photography marketing mistakes? In this video, I take a look at the mistakes I see photographers making time and time again and look at how to avoid such pitfalls.

How to Fix a Badly Lit Portrait in Adobe Lightroom

As photographers, we come across many different scenarios, and it might not be possible to get the perfect shot with the perfect lighting 100% of the time. It could've been that we didn't have the right gear with us or that we were in a rush. Either way, that shouldn't be a reason to shy away from trying to get the best possible shot and bringing it to life in post-production. In this video and article, I'll be showing you how to fix a portrait with bad lighting in post using Adobe Lightroom.

Natural Talent Is a Made-Up Excuse to Not Move Forward

Natural talent is something often attributed left and right to people. Talent is quite mysterious; no one can put their finger on what it is. If it’s there, you can make it, but if it’s not, you cant. But is it all a made-up excuse? It might be.

DxO Announces Nik Collection 4.2

Nik Tools (now called the Nik collection) has been around since 1995 as an Adobe plugin. Google bought the tools, then dropped them, and DXO rescued the popular photo-editing aids in 2017. They've undergone continuous upgrades since then, and this new version will please Mac users with the new M1 chips.

Elia Locardi's New Eight-Part Long Exposure Tutorial Series Is Here

Today, Fstoppers has teamed up with NiSi filters to launch a brand new, free tutorial series with landscape photographer Elia Locardi. Not only are we releasing new video lessons every week, but we are also giving away over $600 worth of free gear with every video. Welcome to our long exposure adventure in Puerto Rico!

How to Make a Product Video Shot on a Tripod More Dynamic

Daniel Schiffer is an editing master. In this video, he walks us through his editing to make a video shot completely on a tripod more dynamic. He does this by adding movement, scaling the video using keyframes, masking, and then ultimately adding some effects to complete the video.

Did an APS-C Canon EOS R7 Just Get Another Step Closer?

Canon enthusiasts are waiting patiently to find out if the manufacturer will add APS-C sensors to its R-series cameras and a new rumor brings the possibility of a model such as an R7 — perfect for action and wildlife photography — another step closer.

Incredible Beach Photos on the Leica M6

Leica branded cameras have very few ‘features.’ Instead, they favor craftsmanship and quality and the Leica M6 is no exception to this.

When Should You Give Up on Your Photography?

Creative entrepreneurs have a different hill to climb compared to other professions. Other professions have a set path to follow. Sign up for the right classes, then pass the predetermined tests, and qualify for a piece of paper that tells the market you are good enough.

3 Helpful Tips for Better Colors in Your Fall Photos

Few events bring more photographers out with their cameras than the leaves changing in fall, and no matter what you shoot, it is a fantastic opportunity to capture beautiful shots of dramatic colors and landscapes. Of course, managing and editing color properly is of the utmost importance with such photos, and this great video tutorial will give you three helpful tips to make sure you are creating the best edits possible.

A Review of the Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 GM Lens

A wide-aperture 50mm lens is one of the most versatile optics a photographer can own, suitable for everything from portraiture to low-light events work. For Sony shooters, the FE 50mm f/1.2 GM offers an extremely wide maximum aperture and features geared toward professional use, and this awesome video review takes a look at the sort of image quality and performance you can expect from it in practice.

A Review of the Fujifilm GFX 50S II for Portrait and Wedding Photographers

Fujifilm's GFX medium format mirrorless cameras have turned industry paradigms on their respective heads, modernizing medium format with newer features normally reserved for smaller cameras and bringing prices into direct competition with the upper levels of full frame bodies. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera for portrait and wedding photography and what you can expect from it.

This Is the Worst Photography Advice I’ve Ever Had

When it comes to photography and the quest to improve, there is no shortage of advice out there. Some of it's great, some of it is rather questionable, and some of it is utter nonsense. Here's some of the worst advice I've received over the years.

3 Techniques for Creating Amazing Cinemagraphs

Cinemagraphs can be a great and unique medium for showing your work, but they are tricky to get right, particularly if you want a seamless loop. In this tutorial, learn three different techniques for creating the best looking cinemagraphs you can.

Canon Vs Sony: Could You Tell the Difference and Win $10,000?

The ongoing battle between Canon and Sony when it comes to video performance can stir up some heated debates. Check out how seven well-known YouTubers fare when trying to spot the difference between all-but-identical footage with a prize of $10,000 on the line.

How to Use the New Photoshop Sky Replacement Features

Earlier this month, Adobe updated the sky replacement features in Photoshop CC. This feature can make an image pop or make it look over-processed and fake. Make sure you know how to get the best out of this powerful Photoshop feature and create strong, realistic images.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (September 2021): James Quantz Jr

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 2021, 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.